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

Native to Southeast Asia, the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, rapidly invaded America and Europe in the past 20 years. As a crop pest of soft-skinned fruits with a wide range of host plants, it threatens the fruit industry worldwide, causing enormous economic losses. To control this invasive pest species, an understanding of its population dynamics and structure is necessary

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01357-4

Over the past three decades, highly increased whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) populations have been observed on the staple food crop cassava in eastern Africa and associated with ensuing viral disease pandemics and food insecurity. Increased whitefly numbers have also been observed in other key agricultural crops and weeds. Factors behind the population surges on different crops and their interrelationships

The southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula, is a worldwide pest of many important crops. RNA from N. viridula nymphs and adults was sequenced and assembled into a transcriptome. Orthologs of genes coding for proteins involved in RNA interference (RNAi) pathways and potential target genes for RNAi-mediated control of this pest were identified by searching the transcriptome. The watery saliva, lumen

Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae) is an adult endoparasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae:Scolytinae), which has been introduced in many coffee producing countries as a biological control agent. To determine the effectiveness of P. coffea against H. hampei and environmental safety for release in Hawaii, we investigated the host

Trap crops are used for pulling the pest load from the main crops toward themselves. Here, we report a switching by a polyphagous pest, Spodoptera litura, from trap crop castor to main crop eggplant during its mid-larval development. In the eggplant–castor mixed field, adults oviposit exclusively on castor. However, 3rd and 4th instar castor-grown larvae migrate to eggplants. Host choice assays for

Larval frass in herbivorous lepidopterans is mainly composed of plant-derived material and microbes from the gut. Despite the fact that frass from conspecific larvae repels female moths in Spodoptera littoralis from oviposition, the role of frass volatiles on larval foraging behavior is largely unknown. Here, we show that larvae of S. littoralis walk upwind to larval frass volatiles in a wind tunnel

Despite of the efficacy of heteropteran predators in biological control of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), the high costs of their production due to the use of expensive factitious prey limit their wider use. Therefore, studies on their adaptability against fluctuations of prey supply may offer valuable inputs for optimal use of prey in their rearing. Here, we present a detailed

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a constant threat to sustainable production of numerous economically important crops globally. Management of T. urticae is heavily reliant on the application of synthetic acaricides. However, T. urticae has rapidly developed resistance to most of the acaricides available for its control due to its very broad host plant range, extremely short

Halyomorpha halys is an Asian pentatomid that has recently invaded several countries worldwide, where it has become a severe pest. Classical biological control focused on the scelionid egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus appears to be the most promising long-term solution. However, non-target risks need to be included in cost/benefit analyses. Physiological host range tests were conducted by offering

Detecting the number of invasions is crucial to understanding the process of invasion and perhaps the success of some invasive pest species. Detecting multiple invasions can be difficult using partial mitochondrial COI, however, due to lack of variation. To examine the post-invasion history of Bemisia argentifolii (also called B. tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 and B biotype) in Australia and test

Carlina acaulis root essential oil (EO) is one of the most potent mosquito larvicides (LC50 < 2 ppm). This EO is mainly composed of carlina oxide (> 90%). Poor water solubility and rapid degradation from UV light and oxygen in the environment limit the real-world use of this EO. Herein, we developed nanocarrier-based formulations, namely micro- and nanoemulsions (ME and NE, respectively) containing

Unlike fireflies and other bioluminescent organisms, lanternflies (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) do not produce visible (400–700 nm) lights as their common name might suggest. However, they can be captured by thermal cameras at long wavelength infrared (8–14 μm). In this study, we tested infrared thermography as an innovative way to detect spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White), a newly discovered

The endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia is being developed as a tool to suppress mosquito populations and their transmitted pathogens, with successful field trials in multiple countries having resulted in efforts to scale up the capacity to mass-produce mosquitoes for release. However, major challenges exist to achieving this goal, including concerns that mass-reared mosquitoes will adapt to laboratory

The whiteflies of the Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) complex (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) are serious agricultural pests that cause severe losses to vegetable, ornamental and fiber crops, including potato plants, mainly as a vector of economically important viruses. Among the most important viruses affecting potato is tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) (Closteroviridae: Crinivirus), which is semi-persistently transmitted

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is one of the most successful invasive pest ants in the world. We evaluated ylang ylang oil, an essential oil of fragrant yellow flowers of the tree, Cananga odorata, in our effort to search for attractants and repellants for S. invicta management. The results showed that ylang ylang oil elicited clear dose dependent EAG (electroantennography) responses

The invasive pest fall armyworm (FAW) has posed significant threats to Chinese agriculture since first reported in 2019, but it is still unclear exactly how the magnitude and distribution of threats vary between Chinese provinces. Here, we calculated the total potential cost of FAW to each of 31 Chinese provinces and identified the provinces posing the greatest threat to the rest of China. We found

The spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an insect pest of soft-skinned fruit, native to Eastern Asia. Since 2008, a world-wide dispersal of D. suzukii is seen, characterized by the establishment of the pest in many Asian, American and European countries. While the potential for invasion of continental Africa by D. suzukii has been predicted, its presence has only been shown for