False codling moth (FCM), Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a priority pest on citrus, stone fruit, and table grapes. Current control focuses on the adult stage; however, each stage of the life cycle of the insect should be targeted. The potential of local biocontrol agents against FCM immature stages were investigated. Several entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) and entomopathogenic

In recent years, damage by Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on commercial fruit crops has reached a critical point in Iran. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is considered the most effective strategy for the area‐wide suppression or eradication of tephritid fruit flies, particularly the medfly. In this study, an area of citrus trees, including

Dispersion‐reproduction trade‐offs are important to explore the evolutionary mechanism of dispersal strategies and the adaptive significance of dispersion in insects. In our previous study, variations in hindwing length were found in Japanese populations of the leaf beetle Galerucella grisescens (Joannis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). They were distinctly divided into either long‐winged (LW) or short‐winged

Host plant resources are a major issue in gall‐insect ecology. Soil fertilization may affect both plant quality and indirect defenses, as well as the prey quality of herbivores for predators. The soil fertility hypothesis (SFH) claims that gall‐inducing insects infest more plants growing on poor than on fertile soils. Until now this was studied and supported only by observations in natural tropical

Studies of insect movement are hampered by the small size of insects and the associated difficulty in tracking them in the environment. We tested the potential of quantum dots (QDs) to mark large numbers of insects very quickly. Our results demonstrate that green CdTe (cadmium tellurium) QDs were effective markers in the laboratory and can be applied to large numbers of insects very easily. Successful

The relationship between oviposition preference and offspring performance is critical to an understanding of the interaction between herbivores and host plants. Although the topic has been addressed widely in plant species‐herbivore systems, it has rarely been investigated in plant stage‐herbivore systems. In this study, we evaluated oviposition preference and offspring performance of the rice leaf

In the face of global climate change, the understanding of how aphid‐symbiont relationships are affected by heat shock is critical. We evaluated the effects of heat shock on the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and its obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola Munson et al. by means of quantitative PCR in treated aphids and their offspring. First‐instar aphids received

Planococcus lilacinus (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a global flower and fruit pest, and a severe infestation is currently seen in the sugar apple (Annona squamosa L., Annonaceae) orchards of Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, China. Biological control with entomopathogenic fungi is safe, effective, and long‐lasting, and has potential for the control of mealybugs. In this study, we analyzed the

Calcium signaling is associated with actin cytoskeleton rearrangement. It is required for expressing cellular immune responses of insect hemocytes. Eicosanoids mediate immune responses by cytoskeleton rearrangement against various pathogen infections in insects. The objective of this study was to investigate cellular immune responses of a mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The

Trichogramma species (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are known to use the host’s sex pheromone as a kairomone in foraging strategies. Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) deposit scales on eggs during oviposition, which may be a mechanical barrier or facilitate the action of parasitoids due to the presence of semiochemicals. This study identified the compounds in S. frugiperda scales

Successful application of entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agents requires a selection of highly virulent isolates with the ability to tolerate abiotic stress factors. Herein, we evaluated the entomopathogenic activity as well as the effect of ultraviolet‐B radiation (UV‐B) and water stress on conidia germination, viability, and fungal growth of three Fusarium isolates, namely, Fusarium oxysporum

Two strains of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), are found in New Zealand. One strain was recorded in 1934 mainly from outdoor Lupinus arboreus Sims (lupin strain, a non‐pest); the other strain was first recorded in 1992 and is found mostly on greenhouse crops (greenhouse strain, a pest). To test whether this differential pest status may be explained

Outbreaks of lesser spruce sawfly, Pristiphora abietina (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), on conifers regularly occur in Turkey and other European countries. Chemical pesticides have been used to contain outbreaks, but those may damage the forest and disturb natural enemies. To minimize the use of chemical pesticides in the management of this forest pest, we identified the entomopathogenic fungi