The sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a major pest of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) (Glumiflorae: Poaceae) in Brazil and has been controlled efficiently with the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Addition of a silicon source to the soil induces resistance to insect pests in the host plant and can be integrated with other pest-management

Insects are known to be negatively impacted by noise from anthropogenic sources. Recently, pest control methods have been developed using specific airborne (sound) and substrate-borne vibratory signals. However, there is limited information available on the effects of non-specific vibrations on pest insects, especially those not known to use sound or vibration for communication. Here, we tested whether

Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum are key pests of stored grains globally. These two species often occur together in infestations, and are seldom found outside the agricultural environment. Understanding the movement of these beetle pests is crucial for the development of management strategies, in particular to prevent the spread of phosphine resistance, which is a serious issue in many

Roots can recruit beneficial microorganisms to suppress plant pathogens. However, conventional and organic practices differently shape the soil microbiome and consequently the root protection. Here, we investigated the suppressive activity of soil microbiome against the root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita in horticultural areas under organic or conventional practices and the microbiome profiles

The invasive stink bug Halyomorpha halys, native to East Asia, is a severe agricultural pest of worldwide importance, and chemical insecticides are largely sprayed for its control. Negative impact and failures of chemical pest management led to consider classical biological control as one of the most promising methods in a long-term perspective. The Asian egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus is the

The bark beetle Ips typographus is the most destructive insect pest in Norway spruce-dominated forests. Its potential to establish multiple generations per year (multivoltinism) is one major trait that makes this beetle a severe pest. Ips typographus enters diapause to adjust its life cycle to seasonally changing environments. Diapause is characterized by developmental and reproductive arrest; it prolongs

Temperature is an important environmental factor in agriculture, affecting individual organisms and the entire farmland ecosystem. Global warming has become more tangible, which may negatively affect pest biological control due to the generally weak thermal tolerance of natural enemies. The mirids Cyrtorhinus lividipennis and Tytthus chinensis (Insecta: Hemiptera: Miridae) are important natural predators

Sulfoxaflor, a novel sulfoximine insecticide, has been widely used to control sucking insect pests. In order to investigate the resistance mechanisms and potential adaptive costs (e.g., in feeding behavior and life history) associated with sulfoxaflor resistance, a sulfoxaflor-resistant (Sul-R) A. gossypii strain with 40.19-fold resistance was established by laboratory selection. This Sul-R strain

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a highly destructive insect pest of several crop plants and threatening global food security. The current Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) data set was analysed to predict the potential worldwide distribution of FAW under present and future climate change scenarios in 2050 and 2070 under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway

Characterizing the olfactory responses of insect pests is critical for developing biological control options and pest management strategies in the field. Such responses form the basis for evaluating interactions between plants and insects, as well as providing evidence to support the use of non-crop plant types in pest suppression tactics. To evaluate the potential aversion or attraction of Bemisia

Decision making in pest management is a challenging task. While pest dynamics are often quite uncertain, such decisions are often based on tenuous assumptions of certainty (economic injury levels and marginal utility approximations). To overcome such assumptions and adequately consider uncertainty, we apply decision analysis to evaluate management strategies used by farmers in the Colombian Caribbean

The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is an invasive insect-borne pathogen, which causes lethal diseases to important crops including olives, citrus, almonds and grapes as well as numerous forest, ornamental, and uncultivated plants. Outbreaks of Xf-related plant diseases are currently occurring in the Mediterranean region, causing substantial losses to various agricultural sectors. Several models

The widespread use of pesticides along with the simplification of the landscape has had undesirable effects on agroecosystems, such as the loss of biodiversity and the associated ecosystem service biological control. How current production systems can be remodelled to allow for a re-establishment of biological pest control, while preserving productivity, is a major challenge. Here, we tested whether

Yield loss caused by insect pests remains a substantial problem in agriculture. Chemical control, with potential negative effects on non-target organisms, is still the main tool for pest management. For pest species with limited dispersal capacity, rotation of the crop in time and space has potential as an alternative management measure. This is particularly important in organic farming, where most

The absence of natural enemies in newly invaded areas is a key factor in the successful invasion of alien species. Whether a specific parasitoid can be domesticated to attack a nonnatural host that has no reported parasitic enemies in invasive areas remains unclear. Here, we analyzed two invasive mealybugs (PSS-Phenacoccus solenopsis and PSI-Phenacoccus solani) and a specific parasitoid of P. solenopsis

Because rats are commensal organisms that depend on human activities for food, shifts in human behavior will have pronounced effects on local rat populations. In the spring of 2020, social distancing measures were implemented globally to curtail the spread of SARS-CoV-2. This presented a unique opportunity to obtain information regarding the immediate effects of shifts in human behavior on rat populations

Intraguild predation (IGP)–the predation of a natural enemy species upon another one sharing a prey species–is relatively frequent in both natural and agroecosystems. This may reduce pest control and the establishment of predator populations during mass release of biological control agents or in multi-predator systems due to increased mortality of predators. IGP is exacerbated in isolated and space-limited

The multicolored Asian ladybeetle, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Col, Coccinellidae), is recognized as one of the most invasive insects in the world. It has reduced the native coccinellids populations in several areas, and it is considered a threat for biodiversity at large. A significant trait, favoring its invasiveness and its dominance over indigenous ladybeetles, is intraguild predation (IGP). IGP

Plant domestication has commonly reduced levels of secondary metabolites known to confer resistance against insects. Chili pepper is a special case because the fruits of different varieties have been selected for lower and higher levels of capsaicin, the main compound associated with defence. This may have important consequences for insect herbivores and their natural enemies. Despite the widespread

The invasive Vespa velutina has been widely referred as an effective predator of honeybees. Despite the potential risk to pollination services provision and honey production, there is no accurate quantification and assessment of its real consequences for honeybees. To date, the identification of the honeybee and other insects in the diet of V. velutina has been investigated by direct observation of

Some plant protection organizations use biosurveillance to identify heightened risks from exotic plant pests or generally inform safeguarding. Biosurveillance programs typically focus on individual species but accumulate useful trend data over time. We extracted information from 1,612 articles from PestLens, which has collected open-source reports about plant pests exotic to the USA since 2007. The

Thrips hawaiiensis is a common thrips pest that damages the flowers of various plants. The differing population sizes of T. hawaiiensis among host plants suggest its preference and performance vary among host plants. In this study, the host fitness of T. hawaiiensis for different flowers was assessed through field investigation. The behavioral responses of T. hawaiiensis to the color and volatiles

Pest management strategies relying on agrochemicals could be altered by climate change, because of the temperature-dependent toxicity of the compound involved. Many studies have explored the response of targeted pests to pesticide and temperature. Pesticides are seldom strictly selective and also affect nontarget pests. Surprisingly, the way temperature may shape these side effects of pesticides remains

Finding ways to improve the sexual competitiveness of laboratory reared males have proven beneficial for the sterile insect technique. Exposure to essential oils enhances male mating success in several species of Tephritidae fruit flies. In Anastrepha fraterculus, males exposed to volatile compounds released by fresh guava fruit exhibit an increased courtship frequency and mating success. Here, we

The Bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris Burmeister (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), an invasive pest of Palearctic origin, has become a problem in the Western Hemisphere, attacking brassica and other crops. The Bagrada bug was first reported in Chile in 2016, and despite the availability of some efficacious synthetic insecticides, B. hilaris is a growing problem. Currently, few international studies have been performed

Spodoptera frugiperda has been reported in China since the beginning of 2019, threatening maize production and raising questions about interactions with indigenous pests on maize. Spodoptera frugiperda is in the same feeding guild as the indigenous species Ostrinia furnacalis, with both pests attacking maize plant tissues such as whorls and tassels. In this study, the interaction of these species was

We assess the effects of changing land use and crop management on alfalfa insect abundance by comparing it in 50 alfalfa fields when they were inserted in landscapes with different proportions of arable crops and orchards. Land use in a buffer of 500 m was assessed, and alfalfa insect abundance was estimated with sticky yellow traps. The number of catches of several herbivores and predators was related

Plant viruses can change hosts in ways that increase vector contacts, virion acquisition, and subsequent vector dispersal to susceptible hosts. Based on this, researchers have proposed that virus-induced phenotypes are the product of adaptations to “manipulate” hosts in ways that increase transmission. Theoretical models of virus spread in crops support this proposition; “manipulative” viruses spread

A correction to this paper has been published:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01393-0

Gram-negative binding proteins (GNBPs) are important in the innate immune system of insects in recognition of fungi pathogen, such as Beauveria bassiana. However, this information in aphids is not clear, which might be exploited to develop a novel aphid control strategy based on integrating RNAi and B. bassiana. Here, we firstly identified two GNBPs, ApGNBP1 and ApGNBP2, using the model aphid Acyrthosiphon

We provide an overview of both traditional and innovative control tools for management of three Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), invasive species with a history of damage in forests, nurseries, orchards and urban areas. Xylosandrus compactus, X. crassiusculus and X. germanus are native to Asia, and currently established in several countries around the globe. Adult

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01386-z

Successful pest management using parasitoids requires careful evaluation of host-parasitoid interactions. Here, we report the performance of larval ecto-parasitoid wasp, Bracon brevicornis (Wesmael) on important agricultural pests, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Biology of B. brevicornis was studied on different host instars under laboratory and cage setup. In no-choice

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is an oligophagous pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. Host plants of the DBM possess epicuticular wax, but thick wax is unfavorable to the selection of oviposition sites for female DBMs. How the DBM responds to host plant wax regarding oviposition site selection is largely unknown. The glucosinolates and wax levels in the cotyledons and true leaves

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01376-1

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is heavily targeted by insecticide applications. Methoxyfenozide is highly effective against T. absoluta with reduced side effects to natural enemies. This work aimed to (1) genetically and biochemically characterize resistance of the T. absoluta GBN population to methoxyfenozide, (2) establish cross resistance

Queensland fruit fly is one of the most economically important horticultural pests in Australia. Sterile insect technique (SIT) is now being reconsidered and upscaled to combat this pest so reliable discrimination of released sterile Q-flies from wild flies in monitoring traps is important for effective SIT operations. Stable isotopes provide a permanent chemical marker to discriminate sterile and

Co-occurring herbivorous pests may have shared or divergent responses to plant- and insect- derived cues, creating challenges for effective pest management in agroecosystems. We examined how behaviors of two endemic specialist herbivores of Cucurbitaceae crops, squash bugs (Anasa tristis, Hemiptera: Coreidae) and striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are affected by

Silicon (Si) accumulation in plants is widely recognised as an effective physical defence against chewing herbivores. However, its effects on some feeding guilds such as cell-content feeders are understudied despite being severe economic pests (e.g. Tetranychus urticae). Moreover, most studies focus on direct impacts of Si, but there is growing evidence that Si also impacts indirect defence. We examined

Aphids are one of the major agricultural pests in the world. Their pest management in pepper greenhouses is based on integrated control with release of natural enemies and pesticide treatments used in specific conditions. Essential oils may be used as an eco-friendly alternative for the control of this pest. In this work, we study the repellent effect of essential oils and pure compounds against aphids

Although synthetic pesticides are still used to control insect pests, greater efforts have been made to develop healthier and more environmentally friendly pesticides. Because of their insecticidal properties, botanical essential oils (EOs) are considered as promising alternatives to the use of synthetic insecticides. However, little is known about mechanisms underlying the insecticidal activity of

Argentine stem weevil adults (ASW, Listronotus bonariensis) feed on the leaves of agricultural grasses and their larvae mine the pseudostem, causing extensive damage that can result in plant death. Plants emit volatiles that serve as signals to host-searching insects and these odours can be altered by both herbivory and fungal endophyte-infection. This study investigated whether ASW adults utilise

The advent of ‘conservation agriculture’ (CA) farming using zero- or no-tillage practices and an accompanying change in crop rotations in the last 10–15 years has potentially led to less disturbance of mouse burrows and increased cover and food supply. Given the irregular outbreaks of mice in grain cropping regions in Australia and the damage they cause, it is important to understand when and where

Excessive mineral fertilizer input results in little extra yield but exacerbates insect herbivory and affects environmental health and ecosystem services. The use of organic fertilizer is considered to have promise for mitigating those impacts. How organic fertilizer amendment modifies crop resistance to insect herbivory and modulates biocontrol services on a landscape scale has not been well studied

Chitin synthesis inhibitors are successfully used in pest control and an excellent option for integrated pest management programs due to their low non-target effects. However, field-evolved resistance of lepidopteran pests to chitin synthesis inhibitors and the selection of laboratory-resistant strains to these products has been already reported. Therefore, to support efficient resistance management

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring entomopathogenic soil bacterium, has been the active ingredient of sprayable Bt biopesticides for over a century. Insecticidal Bt Cry proteins are particularly well suited for use as plant-incorporated protectants in transgenic crops (Bt crops) due to their specificity against insect pests and safety for non-target organisms. The sustainability of

Discovering mechanisms of plant–virus–vector interactions is fundamental to understand their ecology and evolution and to apply this knowledge in plant protection. To study the influence of varying Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) transmission efficiencies on host plant preference of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) clones, we performed host choice experiments with two barley cultivars (BYDV susceptible cv

The Walnut Twig Beetle (WTB), Pityophthorus juglandis Blackman, is a small bark beetle native to Mexico and Southwestern USA recorded for the first time in Europe (NE Italy) in 2013. WTB attacks walnut (Juglans spp.) and wingnut trees (Pterocarya spp.) and is the vector of Geosmithia morbida Kolarík et al., a pathogen causing the thousand cankers disease (TCD). WTB and TCD represent a serious threat

Ecologically and economically harmful wood borers and bark beetles, which have the capacity to expand geographically through the international log trade, require mitigations to prevent their spread. Detailed phenological knowledge of these pests across the wood-product supply chain can support systems approaches to phytosanitary risk management. Forest insect activity from 3.5 years of monthly, fortnightly

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01364-5

Evidence of cannibalism is usually associated with higher population density, or lower food plant quality, and has been reported in half of all terrestrial, herbivorous insects. However, we found that cannibalism can still occur in Spodoptera frugiperda when only two larvae had been provided with an abundance of corn leaves, a high-quality food. We analyzed the causes of cannibalism, its benefits and

Asobara japonica (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Ganaspis brasiliensis and Leptopilina japonica (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) are Asian larval parasitoids of spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). This study evaluated these parasitoids’ capacity to attack and develop from 24 non-target drosophilid species. Results showed that all three parasitoids were able to parasitize host larvae

Seasonality influences the abundance and activity of forest insects. Harvesting during periods of reduced activity could minimise colonisation risk on logs and reduce the need for phytosanitary treatments. We describe the winter colonisation dynamics of Pinus radiata logs in operational harvest sites in New Zealand and assess the probability of log colonisation as a function of captures in flight interception

Different types of insect feeding can activate distinct plant resistance mechanisms and trigger the generation of specific volatile compounds. Transcriptomic changes and the genomic basis underlying plant defense in response to chewing herbivores or phloem-feeding insects have been relatively well investigated, while better insight into molecular mechanisms underlying the plant defense response, in

In South America, especially in Brazil, four members of the Spodoptera complex, Spodoptera albula (Walker, 1857), S. cosmioides (Walker, 1858), S. eridania (Stoll, 1782), and S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith, 1797) are important pests of many crops, in particular corn, soybean and cotton crops. Spodoptera eridania and S. frugiperda have recently invaded Africa and caused serious crop damage, and S. frugiperda

Many predatory coccinellids conflict with hemipteran tending ants, because they both use hemipterans as resources. Lady beetles are important in the ecology of ants and their reciprocal relationship with hemipterans. Volatiles released by lady beetles have diverse biological significance in intraspecific communication, attraction, and aggregation. However, whether the semiochemicals from lady beetles

Historically, Bt maize hybrids have been produced with the Bt alleles in a hemizygous state. Homozygous Bt transgenes increase the expression of Bt proteins in plants; however, recent studies have only briefly explored the zygosity of Bt transgenes in maize hybrids and its effects on the control of lepidopteran pests. In this study, we investigated whether an additional allelic dose of the single Bt

Radio frequency plasma (RFP) could provide reliable, compact, cost-effective irradiation applications against insect pests of stored food and feed products. Sensitivity of red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum to RFP has been investigated using an irradiation applicator system with the two types of inert gases, argon (Ar) and helium (He), at 100 W for five exposure time levels of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 90 s

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which is native to the Americas, has recently invaded Africa and Asia. There, it has become a major pest of maize (Zea mays). The variety of methods used to assess feeding damage caused by its caterpillars makes it difficult to compare studies. In this paper, we aim at determining which leaf damage rating scales for fall armyworm are

Biological control, or biocontrol, is the exploitation of living agents (incl. viruses) to combat pestilential organisms (incl. pathogens, pests, and weeds) for diverse purposes to provide human benefits. Thus, during the last century the practices and concepts involved have evolved in separate streams associated with distinct scientific and taxonomic disciplines. In parallel developments, there have