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Simple Summary: The red palm weevil is an exotic and highly endangered pest that is extremely harmful to palm plants. In order to effectively control this pest, we propose an algorithm to automatically detect and count adult red palm weevils in traps. Previously, the trapping and counting of adult red palm weevils was done manually. The population density and damage level were then inferred from the number of adults trapped to guide control efforts. However, the efficiency of this method is very low. The algorithm proposed in this paper solves the drawbacks of manual counting, and the recognition accuracy reaches 93.8%, which also improves the efficiency of agricultural monitoring. The red palm weevil (RPW, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is an invasive and highly destructive pest that poses a serious threat to palm plants. To improve the efficiency of adult RPWs' management, an enhanced YOLOv5 object detection algorithm based on an attention mechanism is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the detection capabilities for small targets are enhanced by adding a convolutional layer to the backbone network of YOLOv5 and forming a quadruple down-sampling layer by splicing and down-sampling the convolutional layers. Secondly, the Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) attention mechanism and Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) attention mechanism are inserted directly before the SPPF structure to improve the feature extraction capability of the model for targets. Then, 2600 images of RPWs in different scenes and forms are collected and organized for data support. These images are divided into a training set, validation set and test set following a ratio of 7:2:1. Finally, an experiment is conducted, demonstrating that the enhanced YOLOv5 algorithm achieves an average precision of 90.1% (mAP@0.5) and a precision of 93.8% (P), which is a significant improvement compared with related models. In conclusion, the enhanced model brings a higher detection accuracy and real-time performance to the RPW-controlled pest pre-detection system, which helps us to take timely preventive and control measures to avoid serious pest infestation. It also provides scalability for other pest pre-detection systems; with the corresponding dataset and training, the algorithm can be adapted to the detection tasks of other pests, which in turn brings a wider range of applications in the field of monitoring and control of agricultural pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Reducing the use of pesticides that harm natural enemies of crop pests is important to pest management. Currently, there is limited information on how herbicides might affect natural enemies. We carried out an analysis of existing data to determine how herbicides affect natural enemies and which herbicides are the most harmful. Herbicides increased natural enemy mortality and reduced their longevity and efficacy as predators. Predatory mites and predatory true bugs were more susceptible to herbicides than other groups of natural enemies. Spiders and parasitoid wasps were the least susceptible. However, parasitoid wasps are often tested in their "protected" juvenile stages within their hosts, and the data may under-represent the sensitivity of adults. Some potential glyphosate replacement herbicides were more harmful than glyphosate. There was little or no data available for many herbicides and beneficial insects, indicating that much more research is needed on this topic. A critical component of integrated pest management is minimizing disruption of biological control by reducing the use of pesticides with significant non-target effects on natural enemies. Insecticide non-target effects testing for natural enemies has become increasingly common, but research examining the non-target effects of herbicides on natural enemies is scarce, and recommendations regarding herbicide selectivity are non-existent. We used meta-analysis to summarize laboratory bioassays testing non-target effects of herbicides on arthropod natural enemies and identify patterns in taxon susceptibility and active ingredient toxicity. Data were extracted from 78 papers representing 801 total observations. Herbicides increased natural enemy mortality and decreased longevity, reproduction, and predation. Mesostigmatan mites and hemipterans were the most sensitive to herbicides, and spiders, neuropterans, and hymenopterans were the least sensitive. Mortality was higher in juvenile predators versus parasitoids but did not differ between adults; parasitoid juveniles are likely better protected within the host. In terms of acute mortality, metribuzin, glufosinate, and oxyfluorfen were the most harmful herbicides. Only nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, pendimethalin, phenmedipham, atrazine, and urea did not increase natural enemy mortality. The large effect size of glufosinate is particularly concerning, as it is the most likely replacement herbicide for glyphosate in many crops. Many active ingredients remain under-studied. Our analysis indicates that herbicides have a strong potential to disrupt biological control in cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Invasive alien species, such as Carpomya vesuviana Costa (Diptera: Tephritidae), threaten global biodiversity, agriculture, and public health. This study used advanced modelling techniques to predict the potential distribution of C. vesuviana and understand its environmental impacts. The findings suggest that climate change is driving the geographic expansion of C. vesuviana, primarily in Asia, Africa, and Australia. The species is projected to shift poleward by the 2090s, as the species will have shifted to the polar regions under the influence of climate change. Effective management strategies are crucial to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of its expansion. Invasive alien species (IAS) significantly affect global native biodiversity, agriculture, industry, and human health. Carpomya vesuviana Costa, 1854 (Diptera: Tephritidae), a significant global IAS, affects various date species, leading to substantial economic losses and adverse effects on human health and the environment. This study employed biomod2 ensemble models, multivariate environmental similarity surface and most dissimilar variable analyses, and ecological niche dynamics based on environmental and species data to predict the potential distribution of C. vesuviana and explore the environmental variables affecting observed patterns and impacts. Compared to native ranges, ecological niche shifts at invaded sites increased the invasion risk of C. vesuviana globally. The potential geographical distribution was primarily in Asia, Africa, and Australia, with a gradual increase in suitability with time and radiation levels. The potential geographic distribution centre of C. vesuviana is likely to shift poleward between the present and the 2090s. We also show that precipitation is a key factor influencing the likely future distribution of this species. In conclusion, climate change has facilitated the expansion of the geographic range and ecological niche of C. vesuviana, requiring effective transnational management strategies to mitigate its impacts on the natural environment and public health during the Anthropocene. This study aims to assess the potential threat of C. vesuviana to date palms globally through quantitative analytical methods. By modelling and analysing its potential geographic distribution, ecological niche, and environmental similarities, this paper predicts the pest's dispersal potential and possible transfer trends in geographic centres of mass in order to provide prevention and control strategies for the global date palm industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The reduviid genus Sycanus Amyot & Serville, 1843, possesses higher aesthetic value and plays a crucial role as a natural enemy in the control of agricultural and forestry pests. However, Sycanus from China has not undergone a comprehensive review for over four decades. Based on both molecular data and morphological evidence, we conducted a systematic review of the 14 Chinese Sycanus species, including a description of three new species. Due to the variability of body coloration and morphological similarity among closely related species, unresolved issues and debates still persist in the taxonomic study of the genus Sycanus from China. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation for Sycanus in China based on a COI DNA barcoding dataset comprising 81 samples. The results revealed that all the samples could be classified into 12 species by integrating molecular analyses with morphological comparison. This paper provides a comprehensive systematic review of the Sycanus species found in China, including descriptions of three new species: S. taiwanensis Zhao & Cai sp. nov., S. flavicorius Li & Cai sp. nov., and S. hainanensis Wang & Cai sp. nov. Furthermore, it is proposed that S. croceovittatus Dohrn, 1859, S. leucomesus Walker, 1873, and S. villicus Stål, 1863, are three synonyms of S. bifidus (Fabricius, 1787); S. bicolor Hsiao, 1979, is a synonym of S. versicolor Dohrn, 1859; and S. hsiaoi Maldonado-Capriles, 1990, is a synonym of S. marginellus Putshkov, 1987. Additionally, brief biological information is provided for two species, S. falleni Stål, 1863, and S. croceus Hsiao, 1979. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Grasshopper and cricket (Orthoptera) mass occurrences represent an unusually large increase in populations of certain species. Grasshopper species known as locusts are well known to cause severe damage to many crops. The severity of each outbreak depends on the species and on a wide range of ecological factors, including temperature and rainfall regime. In Croatia, a small country in SE Europe, there has never been systematic research on these Orthoptera species, and this phenomenon is regarded as a rare event despite several huge outbreaks being reported in the past. For the first time, all known mass occurrences of grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, bush-crickets, and mole crickets (of the order Orthoptera) from Croatia are summarized. The study represents a historical overview of all Orthoptera mass occurrences known based on the literature but also provides many new records. It seems that Orthoptera mass occurrences are not rare in the country at all, especially in the Mediterranean part. The present situation suggests that thorough research into locusts as agricultural pests in Croatia should be conducted to determine the potential threat to the local economy and with special emphasis on the Adriatic region. The trends of climate change in the Mediterranean imply a rise in locust destructiveness risk in the near future and invites further research. During the last century, well-known locust species, such as Calliptamus italicus and Dociostaurus maroccanus, have produced outbreaks of varying degrees in the Balkans. The literature data on outbreaks in the region are scarce, and Croatia is not an exception. This study summarized the data on 23 Orthoptera mass occurrences in Croatia from 1900 to 2023 from 28 localities, representing 12 species. This is a low level of outbreak activity compared with other locust and pest grasshopper species in other parts of the world. The species with the most reporting is C. italicus with altogether six mass occurrences, while second is Barbitistes ocskayi and Miramella irena with three records, and in the third, place D. maroccanus and Gryllotalpa sp., each with two mass occurrences having been reported. One of the most notable swarms is that of Anacridium aegyptium which occurred around Šibenik in 1998, and this paper provides the first account of it, 25 years after it took place. The most recent outbreaks took place in 2022, and the most notable one was that of D. maroccanus swarm in Štikovo. The 2022 and 2023 reports were brief and muted, despite the affected agriculturists claiming significant damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Various types of rice pests cause huge losses to rice production every year in China. In this paper, a deep neural network for pest detection and classification via digital images is proposed. The targeted optimization is improved for the pest characteristics. Our experiments determined that our model has a higher accuracy and detection speed compared with other methods. In addition, it can be more widely used in pest detection surveys for various crops. In recent years, the occurrence of rice pests has been increasing, which has greatly affected the yield of rice in many parts of the world. The prevention and cure of rice pests is urgent. Aiming at the problems of the small appearance difference and large size change of various pests, a deep neural network named YOLO-GBS is proposed in this paper for detecting and classifying pests from digital images. Based on YOLOv5s, one more detection head is added to expand the detection scale range, the global context (GC) attention mechanism is integrated to find targets in complex backgrounds, PANet is replaced by BiFPN network to improve the feature fusion effect, and Swin Transformer is introduced to take full advantage of the self-attention mechanism of global contextual information. Results from experiments on our insect dataset containing Crambidae, Noctuidae, Ephydridae, and Delphacidae showed that the average mAP of the proposed model is up to 79.8%, which is 5.4% higher than that of YOLOv5s, and the detection effect of various complex scenes is significantly improved. In addition, the paper analyzes and discusses the generalization ability of YOLO-GBS model on a larger-scale pest data set. This research provides a more accurate and efficient intelligent detection method for rice pests and others crop pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Over the past two decades, researchers around the world have conducted studies to identify volatile compounds that serve as attractants for one of the most important agricultural pests, the western flower thrips (WFT). In this review, the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to find published studies and to extract the information generated worldwide to determine the overall attraction of the reported compounds using a meta-analysis approach. This systematic review shows that the most-used compounds worldwide are those based on pyridines, which show a high attraction ratio. Methyl isonicotinate is the most studied of these compounds. Data from the meta-analysis accurately estimated the potential attraction of other novel compounds that could be used for integrated pest management strategies, such as monitoring WFT populations or mass trapping. A call for new research evaluating and developing new products with these novel compounds is made. The study of the semiochemicals of the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a relevant topic that spans the last two decades. Approximately a hundred articles published on this subject from 2000 to 2022 can be found in academic databases, representing approximately 5% of the research on this important pest. These topics have generated a platform for novel research with a high potential for development. However, to move on to a new research step, an effectiveness evaluation of the compounds discovered so far is necessary. This review conducted a systematic analysis of the research focused on the semiochemicals (kairomones, pheromones, and attractants) for this pest. Papers from the past three decades on WFT attraction to semiochemicals were collected from databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The number of individuals attracted to compounds was extracted from the papers and compiled for analysis. With this information, an attraction ratio was calculated. Forty-one possible attractants were found in the literature, with methyl isonicotinate being the most-studied compound so far, with the third-highest attraction ratio. δ-Decalactone was the compound with the highest attraction ratio, but it was one of the least studied. A meta-analysis of the WFT choosing proportion was performed for the compounds with more trials found in the literature. The predicted mean choice percentages for methyl isonicotinate (MIN) and Lurem-TR, the MIN's commercial product, were 76.6% and 66.6%, respectively. There was a convergence among the analyzed studies showing a high degree of research focus on the same group of nitrogen-containing compounds (mainly the pyridine structure). These findings call for future research to diversify the discovery and evaluation of attractive compounds in this relevant study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bt (Cry1Ac) cotton has been commercialized in China since 1997. Two tactics have mainly been used in targeted pest resistance management for small farmers. The first is the use of natural refuges composed of corn, soybeans, vegetables, peanuts, and other crops to delay the development of the resistance of multi-host crop pests such as the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) to Bt cotton. The second is to use the offspring of F2 generation hybrids (Bt and non-Bt cotton hybrids) to produce a 25% seed mix refuge formed by non-Bt cotton, further delaying the evolution of resistance of single cotton-eating target pests such as the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella). The 25-year production practice has demonstrated that this dual strategy of Bt cotton resistance management in China has been very successful to date, with no failures observed in lepidopteran pest control in the production process. China is one of the major cotton producers globally with small farmers. Lepidopteran pests have always been the main factor affecting cotton production. To reduce the occurrence of and damage caused by lepidopteran pests, China has employed a pest control method focused on planting Bt (Cry1Ac) cotton since 1997. Chinese resistance management tactics for the main target pests, the cotton bollworm and pink bollworm, were also implemented. For polyphagous (multiple hosts) and migratory pests such as the cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), the "natural refuge" strategy, consisting of non-Bt crops such as corn, soybean, vegetables, peanuts, and other host crops, was adopted in the Yellow River Region (YRR) and Northwest Region (NR). For a single host and weak migration ability pest, such as the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), the seed mix refuge strategy yields a random mixture within fields of 25% non-Bt cotton by sowing second-generation (F2) seeds. According to field monitoring results for more than 20 years in China, practical resistance (Bt cotton failure) of target pests was avoided, and there were no cases of Bt (Cry1Ac) failure of pest control in cotton production. This indicated that this Chinese resistance management strategy was very successful. The Chinese government has decided to commercialize Bt corn, which will inevitably reduce the role of natural refuges; therefore, this paper also discusses adjustments and future directions of cotton pest resistance management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae (Sulzer)) is considered one of the main pests of economically valuable crops. In the last decades, it has developed resistance to several chemical pesticides. More effective and environmentally friendly solutions for green peach aphid management, including plant essential oils, are being tested as alternatives to chemical pesticides. Repellents have gained interest because lower doses can be used against agricultural pests, with a reduced risk of developing insect resistance. In this study, three different types of caraway (Carum carvi L.) seed essential oils against green peach aphids were tested. Repellent activity testing was carried out using a bridge method and host plants of white cabbage. The aphids were placed on the bridge, and their choice was recorded depending on whether they went to the treatment side (containing the selected essential oil) or the control side (no essential oil). All the selected caraway essential oils showed that they repel aphids to various degrees. The optimal essential oil dose was determined in the same way. In addition, the essential oil was mixed with different surfactants to create a formulation basis for ready-to-use products, but the testing showed decreased repellent activity of such mixtures. An in vivo dual choice bioassay with white cabbage as a host plant was used to determine the repellent effect of three different accessions of caraway (Carum carvi L.) essential oils (EOs) against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer). The dominant components of the EO were D-Carvone (47.3–74.4%) and D-limonene (25.2–51.9%), which accounted for 99.2–99.5% of the EOs determined by GC/MS. The EO with the highest D-limonene content (51.9%) showed the highest repellence (Repellency Index (RI) = +41%), which was stable up to 330 min. The incorporation of several surfactants with different hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values (from 12.4 to 16.7) with caraway EO caused a general inhibition of the repellent effect during the testing period (RI from +41% to −19%). Overall, the findings indicate that caraway EO could be used as a green peach aphid repellent, but more work is needed to formulate the EO into a ready-to-use product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Monitoring pests is a labor-intensive and time-consuming task for agricultural experts. This paper proposes a new approach to classifying and counting different categories of crop pests. Specifically, we propose a multi-category pest detection network (MCPD-net), which includes a multiscale feature pyramid network and a novel adaptive feature region proposal network. The multiscale feature pyramid network is used to fuse the multiscale pest information, which significantly improves detection accuracy. The adaptive feature region proposal network addresses the problem of not aligning when region proposal network (RPN) iterating, especially for small pest objects. Extensive experiments on the multi-category pests dataset 2021 (MPD2021) demonstrated that the proposed method provides significant improvements in terms of average precision (AP) and average recall (AR); it outperformed other deep learning-based models. Specialized pest control for agriculture is a high-priority agricultural issue. There are multiple categories of tiny pests, which pose significant challenges to monitoring. Previous work mainly relied on manual monitoring of pests, which was labor-intensive and time-consuming. Recently, deep-learning-based pest detection methods have achieved remarkable improvements and can be used for automatic pest monitoring. However, there are two main obstacles in the task of pest detection. (1) Small pests often go undetected because much information is lost during the network training process. (2) The highly similar physical appearances of some categories of pests make it difficult to distinguish the specific categories for networks. To alleviate the above problems, we proposed the multi-category pest detection network (MCPD-net), which includes a multiscale feature pyramid network (MFPN) and a novel adaptive feature region proposal network (AFRPN). MFPN can fuse the pest information in multiscale features, which significantly improves detection accuracy. AFRPN solves the problem of anchor and feature misalignment during RPN iterating, especially for small pest objects. In extensive experiments on the multi-category pests dataset 2021 (MPD2021), the proposed method achieved 67.3% mean average precision (mAP) and 89.3% average recall (AR), outperforming other deep learning-based models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There is a global need for targeted, environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives to pesticides. In the apicultural industry, the parasitic mite Varroa destructor poses a serious threat to honey bee health. Like many other agricultural pests, Varroa are primarily managed via pesticides. Whilst these pesticides can effectively control mites, they can also harm bee health, contaminate bee products and pose toxicity risks to beekeepers during application. As a first step to assessing public support for a new biotechnology that could provide a non-toxic alternative to pesticides, beekeepers' perspectives on a novel Varroa control method designed to inhibit protein production, called RNA interference (RNAi), were investigated. The majority of beekeepers surveyed were open to using RNAi treatments against Varroa, particularly as it provided a non-toxic alternative to current pesticide options. The major concerns raised were the unknown long-term effects of the RNAi treatment on bee health, potential effects on non-target species that interact with beehives and concern that an uninformed public that might prevent them from accessing a new tool to combat Varroa. Surveys such as ours can inform scientists and regulatory authorities on how best to introduce novel biotechnologies for commercial use. Current Varroa mite management strategies rely heavily on the use of pesticides, adversely affecting honey bee health and leaving toxic residues in hive products. To explore the likelihood of RNAi technology being utilised as an alternative control method for pests like Varroa, the opinions of beekeepers on the use of this new biotechnology were obtained using a mixed-methodology approach. In-person surveys and focus groups using the Q method were conducted to discover the willingness of beekeepers to utilise Varroa-targeting RNAi treatments in their hives, and to gain feedback to inform decisions before the implementation of this new technology. Overall, the beekeepers saw potential in RNAi being used to control Varroa in their hives and were eager to have access to an alternative to pesticide treatments. Participants raised concerns about unknown long-term effects on bees and other non-target species, and the potential of an uninformed public preventing them from accessing a new Varroa treatment. While further research and discussion is needed before RNAi treatments for Varroa become commercially available, RNAi technology presents a promising, species-specific and non-toxic solution for Varroa management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates the sublethal effects of chlorantraniliprole, an insecticide known for its low toxicity to mammals and selectivity towards non-target organisms, on two significant stored-product pests, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Through contact toxicity assays, differences in susceptibility between the two species are observed, with S. zeamais showing higher sensitivity. Subsequent analysis reveals altered mobility behavior in chlorantraniliprole-exposed groups compared with controls, particularly in S. oryzae, which displays reduced number of food approaches and altered locomotion patterns. In contrast, S. zeamais exhibits increased walking time and decreased immobility periods under sublethal concentrations. These findings underscore the importance of considering sublethal effects in understanding the overall impact of chlorantraniliprole on stored-product pest populations. Further exploration into the long-term consequences of sublethal exposure is recommended to enhance pest management strategies. Chlorantraniliprole, an anthranilic diamide insecticide, has emerged as a promising solution for controlling agricultural pests because of its low mammalian toxicity and selectivity towards non-target organisms. This study investigated the sublethal effects of chlorantraniliprole on the mobility behavior of two significant stored-product pests, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Contact toxicity assays revealed varying susceptibility levels between the two species, with S. zeamais showing higher sensitivity. Subsequent analysis of mobility behavior, both in the presence and absence of food, indicated significant differences between chlorantraniliprole-exposed and control groups. While S. oryzae exhibited altered locomotion patterns and a decreased number of food approaches at sublethal concentrations, S. zeamais displayed increased walking time and reduced immobility periods. These findings highlight the importance of considering sublethal effects in understanding the overall impact of chlorantraniliprole on stored-product pests. Further research into the long-term consequences of sublethal exposure is warranted to inform more effective pest management strategies in storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The attraction of moths to light sources has long been used to reduce the damage of agricultural pests, starting in antiquity with controlled fires in the vicinity of crops. Coinciding with their development in the 18th century, light traps have been used to control pest populations by culling densities of adults lured to death at light sources (light trap-based mass trapping, or LTmt). Historically, the most extensive large-scale LTmt trials were conducted in the U.S.A. starting in the 1920s, validating in the process the hypothesis that crop damage can be reduced by removing egg-carrying females from the pest reproductive pool. Light-based mass trapping programs were phased out in the 1970s, coinciding with the implementation of pheromone-based pest management. With the advent of LEDs, solar power sources, and intelligent designs, recent years have seen an uptick of interest in LTmt, with the majority of contemporary studies conducted in Asia. As a rule, LTmt trials have been conducted exclusively in agricultural landscapes. A novel approach is proposed here to control epidemic populations of a tortricid forest pest, spruce budworm, in geographically isolated forests of balsam firs at a high risk of intense defoliation and mortality. The management of Lepidopteran pests with light traps (LTs) is often achieved by luring adults to death at light sources (light trap-based mass trapping, or LTmt). Large-scale LTmt programs against agricultural pests initiated in the late 1920s in the United States were phased out in the 1970s, coinciding with the rise of pheromone-based management research. The interest in LTmt has surged in recent years with the advent of light emitting diodes, solar power sources, and intelligent design. The first step in implementing LTmt is to identify a trapping design that maximizes the capture of target pests and minimizes the capture of non-target beneficial insects—with a cautionary note that high captures in LTs are not equivalent to the feasibility of mass trapping: the ultimate objective of LTmt is to protect crop plants from pest damage, not to trap adults. The captures of egg-carrying females in light traps have a greater impact on the efficiency of LTmt than the captures of males. When LTmt is defined as a harvesting procedure, the biomass of females in LTs may be viewed as the best estimator of the mass trapping yield; biomass proxy has universal application in LTmt as every living organism can be defined on a per weight basis. While research has largely focused on agricultural pests, an attempt is made here to conceptualize LTmt as a pest management strategy in forest ecosystems, using spruce budworm as a case study. The mass trapping of female budworms is impossible to achieve in endemic populations due to the large spatial scale of forest landscapes (implying the deployment of a prohibitively large number of LTs); in addition, ovipositing female budworms do not respond to light sources at a low density of conspecifics. The light-based mass trapping of female budworms may provide a realistic management option for geographically isolated forest stands heavily infested with budworms, as a tool to prevent tree mortality. Somehow unexpectedly, however, one factor obscuring the feasibility of LTmt is as follows: the complex ('unknowable') economic valuation of forest stands as opposed to agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Today's society demands a better balance between the needs of agricultural production and environmental protection, particularly in reducing the application of pesticides. Compared to the past, fewer pesticide active ingredients are allowed and available in the European Union. One pest that is controlled by pesticides is our model pest, the pea moth (Cydia nigricana), which can cause damage to pea seeds (Pisum sativum). The aim of this study was to develop alternative and preventive strategies that can be used as crop protection in the shape of a GIS-based planning tool for crop rotation with a minimum distance to avoid specific pests. In our tool, the distance between current and previous pea sites was important, because insect pests follow their host plants. The hypothesis is that the greater the distance, the less infestation. We developed a web tool to create buffers with different distances around the previous pea sites to calculate the infestation risk for future pea sites. The web tool can be adapted in terms of distance and risk classes for other pests. Consequently, our tool helps to avoid pest infestation, and therefore, farmers can reduce pesticide applications, which protects the environment and strengthens biodiversity. Crop rotation is an important strategy for pest reduction. For mono-, or oligophagous pests that overwinter at a previously infested site, crop rotation means that the pests must find new host crop sites in the following year, and it is more efficient if a pest-specific distance is applied. Here, we report the development of a GIS-based tool for efficient cultivation planning using the example of the pest complex pea moth (Cydia nigricana) and grain and green peas (Pisum sativum). Monitoring data for four consecutive years (2016–2019) from 513 sites were used. Infestation of pea seeds and the distance to the previous year's pea sites were recorded. An adjustable Python script was developed by means of infestation–distance–correlation as a pest and crop-specific minimum migration distance (MD). The output of the tool is a risk map as decision support for cultivation planning. It shows different risk buffers with distances from 1261 m to 1825 m, depending on the cultivation type. The web tool is easily adjustable to other pests and crops anywhere in the world. The tool helps to prevent damages caused by agricultural, mono-, or oligophagous insect pests and consequently reduces pesticide applications for the benefit of the environment and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Spodoptera frugiperda is a devastating agricultural pest. Telenomus remus is an efficient egg parasitoid wasp for the control of S. frugiperda, but it has a limited host range and is expensive in application. In this manuscript, we combined Trichogramma chilonis, an easily available and cheap egg parasitoid wasp, with Te. remus in different ratios to form compound parasitoid balls and released them into a maize field to investigate their control efficacy against S. frugiperda. We found that compound parasitoid balls were more effective in the control of S. frugiperda than the release of only a single egg parasitoid wasp (Te. remus or Tr. chilonis). Moreover, the control effect against S. frugiperda could still retain more than 50% in the treatment, with 80% Te. remus and 20% Tr. chilonis and that with 20% Te. remus and 80% Tr. chilonis after 15 days of the release and given the higher cost of production of Te. remus, we concluded that the combination of 20% Te. remus and 80% Tr. chilonis was a more cost-efficient ratio for the control of S. frugiperda. Although the release of egg parasitoids has proven to be an effective strategy for the control of the fall armyworm (FAW), a single egg parasitoid, however, has exposed some deficiencies in practice, and it is worthwhile to explore whether the combination of multiple parasitoid species released can be used to control FAW by adopting an inter- or intra-specific relationship. In this study, we released compound parasitoid balls of Te. remus and Tr. chilonis in maize fields to explore the effects of combinations in different proportions of these two egg parasitoids on the control of the FAW. The results showed that the release of compound parasitoid balls improved the control effect on the FAW compared to the release of only Te. Remus (100%) and only Tr. Chilonis (100%). The treatments released with compound parasitoid balls significantly increased the egg parasitism rate against the FAW, reduced its populations, and alleviated its damage to maize as compared to the treatment with only Tr. chilonis (100%) released, whereas there was no significant difference in the egg parasitism rate and FAW populations between the treatments with the release of only Te. remus (100%) and that of compound parasitoid balls. Among the compound parasitoid balls with different proportions of egg parasitoids, the treatment with 80% Te. remus and 20% Tr. chilonis and that with 20% Te. remus and 80% Tr. chilonis could still retain more than 50% of the control effect against the FAW after 15 days of release and given the higher cost of production of Te. Remus, our results suggested that the combination of 20% Te. Remus and 80% Tr. Chilonis is a more cost-efficient ratio for the control of the FAW. Our findings may provide a new perspective for the sustainable control of the FAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bemisia tabaci is a complex of whitefly species, of which MEAM1 and MED species are highly invasive crop pests worldwide. The ecology of B. tabaci is affected by infections of facultative endosymbiotic bacteria, which may result in fitness benefits to their hosts, thus facilitating their adaptation to new environments. In some insects, endosymbionts protect their hosts from attack by parasitoid wasps by supplementing the host's genetic defences. Parasitoids are effective biological control agents of B. tabaci. Understanding the variation in susceptibility to parasitization between whitefly strains harbouring different endosymbiotic bacteria is of practical importance. Here, we focused on MED species using two strains of the Q1 lineage, one infected with Hamiltonella and Cardinium (BtHC), and the other with Hamiltonella and Rickettsia (BtHR). We first saw no difference between BtHC and BtHR in parasitization by Eretmocerus mundus when reared on BtHC. On the other hand, BtHC nymphs were more resistant than BtHR after E. mundus were reared on BtHR for four generations. The same was observed after seven generations. Our findings showed that host strain is a factor affecting the ability of E. mundus to parasitize B. tabaci and support the hypothesis of Cardinium as a protective symbiont of the MED species. Moreover, our findings suggest that counteradaptations to B. tabaci defence mechanisms that maximize the parasitoid fitness may be rapidly selected in E. mundus. In this study, two strains of the mitochondrial lineage Q1 of Bemisia tabaci MED species, characterized by a different complement of facultative bacterial endosymbionts, were tested for their susceptibility to be attacked by the parasitoid wasp Eretmocerus mundus, a widespread natural enemy of B. tabaci. Notably, the BtHC strain infected with Hamiltonella and Cardinium was more resistant to parasitization than the BtHR strain infected with Hamiltonella and Rickettsia. The resistant phenotype consisted of fewer nymphs successfully parasitized (containing the parasitoid mature larva or pupa) and in a lower percentage of adult wasps emerging from parasitized nymphs. Interestingly, the resistance traits were not evident when E. mundus parasitism was compared between BtHC and BtHR using parasitoids originating from a colony maintained on BtHC. However, when we moved the parasitoid colony on BtHR and tested E. mundus after it was reared on BtHR for four and seven generations, we saw then that BtHC was less susceptible to parasitization than BtHR. On the other hand, we did not detect any difference in the parasitization of the BtHR strain between the three generations of E. mundus tested. Our findings showed that host strain is a factor affecting the ability of E. mundus to parasitize B. tabaci and lay the basis for further studies aimed at disentangling the role of the facultative endosymbiont Cardinium and of the genetic background in the resistance of B. tabaci MED to parasitoid attack. Furthermore, they highlight that counteradaptations to the variation of B. tabaci defence mechanisms may be rapidly selected in E. mundus to maximize the parasitoid fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: RNA interference (RNAi), a conserved mechanism in eukaryotic organisms, is initiated by the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in the cells, regulating the expression of specific genes by degradation of their mRNA, and it is known as post-transcriptional gene-silencing (PTGS). RNAi can be employed to develop species-specific biopesticides where dsRNA is delivered to a pest insect via the oral route. Banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus) is the most devastating pest of banana and plantain worldwide, yet current control measures are neither effective, sustainable, nor environmentally sound. This study reports an artificial diet-based multi-well plate method and the first findings on the potential application of biotechnology in the control of the banana weevil using dietary RNAi, which would arguably provide the most sustainable and practical method for dsRNA delivery. A selection of target genes with effective RNAi leading to high and rapid mortality is presented. These results indicate the potential of RNAi-mediated management to suppress C. sordidus efficiently in the banana crop. Banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus) is the most devastating pest of banana and plantain worldwide, yet current control measures are neither effective, sustainable, nor environmentally sound, and no resistant farmer-preferred cultivars are known to date. In this paper, we examined the ability to induce RNA interference (RNAi) in the banana weevil via feeding. We first developed an agar- and banana corm (rhizome) flour-based artificial diet in a multi-well plate setup that allowed the banana weevils to complete their life cycle from egg through the larval instars to the pupal stage in an average period of 53 days. Adults emerged about 20 days later. The artificial diet allowed the tunneling and burrowing habits of the larvae and successful metamorphosis up to adult eclosion. Adding dsRNA for laccase2 to the artificial diet resulted in albino phenotypes, confirming gene-silencing. Finally, C. sordidus was fed with dsRNA against a selection of essential target genes: snf7, rps13, mad1, vha-a, vha-d, and lgl for a period of 45 days. 100% mortality within 9–16 days was realized with dssnf7, dsrps13, and dsmad1 at 200 ng/mL artificial diet, and this corresponded to a strong reduction in gene expression. Feeding the dsRNA targeting the two vha genes resulted in 100% mortality after about 3–4 weeks, while treatment with dslgl resulted in no mortality above the dsgfp-control and the water-control. Our results have implications for the development of RNAi approaches for managing important crop pests, in that banana weevils can be controlled based on the silencing of essential target genes as snf7, rps13, and mad1. They also highlight the need for research into the development of RNAi for banana protection, eventually the engineering of host-induced gene-silencing (HIGS) cultivars, given the high RNAi efficacy and its species-specific mode of action, adding the RNAi approach to the armory of integrated pest management (IPM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The cabbage looper is an important agricultural pest worldwide and is frequently used as a model organism for measuring the effectiveness of biopesticides, including those derived from pesticidal fungi. To better understand how cabbage loopers resist and survive infection of insect-killing fungi, we measured several insect defense parameters following exposure to two species of fungi. Our results indicate that the cabbage looper's main defense mechanism is the melanization cascade, with activation of several melanization-related genes soon after infection. This differs from what has been reported in other insect–fungi studies and might represent a target for disruption in future cabbage looper control strategies that integrate fungal biopesticides. Our study also shows that one well-known insect antifungal immune response does not participate in the cabbage looper antifungal defense, differentiating this important pest from other insects. Overall, this study provides insights into the host response strategies employed by cabbage loopers for protection against pesticidal fungi and aids in the design of more effective biological control strategies for this pest. The cabbage looper Trichoplusia ni is an important agricultural pest worldwide and is frequently used as a model organism for assessing entomopathogenic fungi virulence, though few studies have measured the host response repertoire to fungal biocontrol agents. Here, we quantified the immune response of T. ni larvae following exposure to two entomopathogenic fungal species: Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps javanica. Results from our study demonstrate that T. ni larvae exposed to fungal entomopathogens had higher total phenoloxidase activity compared to controls, indicating that the melanization cascade is one of the main immune components driving defense against fungal infection and contrasting observations from other insect–fungi interaction studies. We also observed differences in host response depending on the species of entomopathogenic fungi, with significantly higher induction observed during infections with B. bassiana than with C. javanica. Larvae exposed to B. bassiana had an increased expression of genes involved in prophenoloxidase response and the Imd, JNK, and Jak/STAT immune signaling pathways. Our results indicate a notable absence of Toll pathway-related responses, further contrasting results to other insect–fungi pathosystems. Important differences were also observed in the induction of antimicrobial effectors, with B. bassiana infections eliciting three antimicrobial effectors (lysozyme, gloverin, and cecropin), while C. javanica only induced cecropin expression. These results provide insight into the host response strategies employed by T. ni for protection against entomopathogenic fungi and increase our understanding of insect–fungal entomopathogen interactions, aiding in the design of more effective microbial control strategies for this important agricultural pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, is a significant agricultural pest that challenges crop production. WFT are tiny insects that feed on various plants, causing damage that affects crop yield and quality. Effective control strategies are necessary to mitigate their impact. This review briefly overviews WFT and highlights key control strategies. Monitoring thrips populations through methods like sticky traps and visual inspections is crucial for timely intervention and assessing infestation levels, while control strategies for WFT include crop rotation and diversification to disrupt their life cycle, as well as the removal of alternate host plants and weeds that serve as reservoirs. In addition, selecting the appropriate insecticides based on thrips' susceptibility and minimal impact on beneficial insects, and integrated pest management approaches combining cultural practices and biological control, are also recommended. Implementing these control strategies helps manage WFT effectively, protect crop production, and maintain a sustainable agricultural system. Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), broadly known as Western flower thrips (WFT), are currently one of the most critical pests worldwide in field and greenhouse crops, and their management is full of yet unsolved challenges derived from their high reproductive potential, cryptic habit, and ability to disperse. The control of this pest relies widely on chemical control, despite the propensity of the species to develop resistance. However, significant advances have been produced through biological and ethological control. Although there has recently been a remarkable amount of new information regarding the management of this pest worldwide, there is no critical analysis of recent developments and advances in the attractive control tactics for WFT, constituting the present compilation's aim. Hence, this narrative review provides an overview of effective control strategies for managing thrips populations. By understanding the pest's biology, implementing monitoring techniques, accurately identifying the species, and employing appropriate control measures, farmers and researchers can mitigate the WFT impact on agricultural production and promote sustainable pest management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Due to the frequent application of insecticides, resistance in field populations of F. occidentalis is increasing, thus complicating management efforts. However, the mechanism of resistance of F. occidentalis to insecticides is unclear. In order to understand the status of insecticide resistance of F. occidentalis in different habitats, we provide a basis for the development of resistance management strategies and study the mechanisms that confer this resistance. We evaluated the susceptibility of F. occidentalis to six commonly used insecticides in three field populations. The findings indicated that reduced susceptibility to the investigated insecticides of F. occidentalis in different habitats was due to increased activity of detoxifying enzymes. The results from our study will enrich the understanding of how invasive thrips cope with insecticide stress and shed light on how best to manage the resistance of thrips pests to insecticides in the future. Frankliniella occidentalis is a highly destructive and invasive agricultural pest that has developed resistance to a variety of insecticide classes. Different planting structures and insecticide use frequency can directly affect the resistance development of F. occidentalis. In this study, the susceptibility of three field strains of F. occidentalis, collected over one year (April to November) from three habitat conditions (facility agriculture area, FA; open field crop area, OF; agroforestry intersection area, AI), to spinetoram, spinosad, emamectin benzoate, chlorfenapyr, acetamiprid, and imidacloprid were monitored and compared. At the same time, the detoxification enzyme activity of F. occidentalis in different habitats was determined. The results showed that the susceptibility of the F. occidentalis population in FA was significantly lower than that of populations from OF and AI. Among them, the F. occidentalis population in FA had developed low levels of resistance to spinetoram (RR = 9.18-fold), emamectin benzoate (RR = 5.47-fold), chlorfenapyr (RR = 6.67-fold), and acetamiprid (RR = 7.49-fold), and had developed moderate level resistance to imidacloprid (RR = 11.67-fold), while still being relatively sensitive to spinosad. The population of F. occidentalis from OF had developed low level resistance to spinetoram (RR = 5.24-fold) but was still relatively sensitive to the other five insecticides. The resistance of F. occidentalis from AI to six insecticides was at relatively sensitive levels. The results of the enzyme activities of detoxification enzymes, including carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the cytochrome P450 enzyme system (CYP450), revealed that the activities of the FA population of F. occidentalis were significantly higher than those of the other two populations. The change of CarE activity in F. occidentalis was consistent with that of spinetoram resistance, indicating that CarE may be involved in the metabolic resistance of F. occidentalis to spinetoram. Among the three populations, the resistance and detoxification enzyme activities of F. occidentalis of the FA population to six insecticides were higher than those of the other two populations. Our findings, along with other strategies, are expected to help with the resistance management of F. occidentalis in different habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: High-quality genome assemblies are essential tools for modern biological research. In the past, creating genome assemblies was prohibitively expensive and time-consuming for most non-model insect species due to, in part, the technical challenge of isolating the necessary quantity and quality of DNA from many species. Sequencing methods have now improved such that many insect genomes can be sequenced and assembled at scale. We created the Ag100Pest Initiative to propel agricultural research forward by assembling reference-quality genomes of important arthropod pest species. Here, we describe the Ag100Pest Initiative's processes and experimental procedures. We show that the Ag100Pest Initiative will greatly expand the diversity of publicly available arthropod genome assemblies. We also demonstrate the high quality of preliminary contig assemblies. We share arthropod-specific technical details and insights that we have gained during the project. The methods and preliminary results presented herein should help other researchers attain similarly high-quality assemblies, effectively changing the landscape of insect genomics. The phylum Arthropoda includes species crucial for ecosystem stability, soil health, crop production, and others that present obstacles to crop and animal agriculture. The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service initiated the Ag100Pest Initiative to generate reference genome assemblies of arthropods that are (or may become) pests to agricultural production and global food security. We describe the project goals, process, status, and future. The first three years of the project were focused on species selection, specimen collection, and the construction of lab and bioinformatics pipelines for the efficient production of assemblies at scale. Contig-level assemblies of 47 species are presented, all of which were generated from single specimens. Lessons learned and optimizations leading to the current pipeline are discussed. The project name implies a target of 100 species, but the efficiencies gained during the project have supported an expansion of the original goal and a total of 158 species are currently in the pipeline. We anticipate that the processes described in the paper will help other arthropod research groups or other consortia considering genome assembly at scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Tephritid flies, including the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens, are key agricultural pests responsible for billions of dollars of damage each year due to the female flies which lay eggs and develop maggots in the fruits of hundreds of species of economically-important plants. Integrated pest management practices such as the sterile insect technique were developed which rely on the mass rearing and release of millions of sterile males of the same pest species in order to suppress the pest reproductive capacity. The presence of females in early bisexual strains often caused high rearing and release costs plus damage to crops by oviposition. Therefore, using classical genetic tools, genetic sexing strains were developed for some fruit flies in order to produce male-only colonies which enhanced the technique efficacy, cost-efficiency and reduced undesirable side-effects such as fruit damage by the mass reared females. In this paper the process for the development and characterization of a new genetic sexing strain (GSS) for A. ludens is documented, using the low-dose irradiation and line selection techniques. The new GUA10 GSS, when compared with its predecessor Tapachula-7, promises to further increase the sterile insect technique performance given its higher quality, yield and genetic stability. Anastrepha ludens (Loew) is one of the most destructive insect pests damaging several fruits of economic importance. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is used under an area-wide integrated pest management approach, to suppress these pest populations. Mass rearing facilities were initially established to produce sterile males of bi-sexual strains in support of SIT. The first genetic sexing strain (GSS) for A. ludens, Tapachula-7, based on pupal color dimorphism, was a key development since the release of males-only significantly increases the SIT efficiency. In this study, we document the development of a novel pupal color-based GSS. Twelve radiation-induced translocation lines were assessed as potential GSS in terms of recombination rates and rearing efficiency at a small scale. The best one, GUA10, was cytogenetically characterized: it was shown to carry a single translocation between the Y chromosome and chromosome 2, which is known to carry the black pupae marker. This GSS was further evaluated at medium and large scales regarding its genetic stability, productivity and quality versus Tapachula-7. GUA10 presented better genetic stability, fecundity, fertility, production efficiency, flying ability, and male mating, clear indicators that GUA10 GSS can significantly improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of SIT applications against this pest species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Satyrization, a form of sexual interaction between males of one species with females of another species, has attracted renewed interest in pest management strategies. By inducing fitness costs in one or both interacting species, satyrization may indeed dramatically affect population dynamics, being a valuable tool to be used alone, or in conjunction with other area-wide control approaches. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential use of satyrization to control the invasive pest Drosophila suzukii by using D. melanogaster males. By realizing courtship tests, spermathecae analysis, and multiple-choice experiments, we showed that D. melanogaster males were able to successfully court, mate and reduce the offspring of D. suzukii females. These results, overall, showed that the use of D. melanogaster males can be an effective tool to control D. suzukii and lay promising foundations for testing the application of this approach in field conditions. Drosophila suzukii represents one of the major agricultural pests worldwide. The identification of safety and long-lasting tools to suppress its populations is therefore crucial to mitigate the environmental and economic damages due to its occurrence. Here, we explore the possibility of using satyrization as a tool to control the abundance of D. suzukii. By using males of D. melanogaster, we realized courtship tests, spermathecae analysis, and multiple-choice experiments to assess the occurrence and extent of pre- and post-zygotic isolation between the two species, as well as the occurrence of fitness costs in D. suzukii females due to satyrization. Our results showed that: (i) D. melanogaster males successfully courted D. suzukii females; (ii) D. melanogaster males significantly affected the total courtship time of D. suzukii males, which reduced from 22.6% to 6.4%; (iii) D. melanogaster males were able to inseminate D. suzukii and reduce their offspring, inducing a high fitness cost. Reproductive interference occurs at different steps between D. melanogaster and D. suzukii, both alone and in combination with other area-wide control approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study examined the occurrence, biological characteristics, and effectiveness of the parasitoid wasp Acerophagus papayae Noyes and Schauff in controlling the papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink, a major pest of cassava crops in Vietnam. The results showed that A. papayae naturally occurred more frequently than other species of parasitoid wasps. The honey solution was found to be important for increasing the lifespan of A. papayae in the absence of hosts. The second instar of the mealybug was found to be the most suitable host stage for parasitism by A. papayae. Female wasps can produce a large number of eggs during their entire lives. These findings suggest that A. papayae could be an effective agent for controlling P. marginatus and improving crop pest management not only in Vietnam, but in other regions as well. Cassava is a valuable export commodity crop that is often attacked by pests, causing economic losses for this crop. The papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus has become a major pest of cassava in Vietnam. The parasitoid wasp Acerophagus papayae has been demonstrated to be the most efficient parasitoid wasp for controlling P. marginatus in many regions. We observed the occurrence of A. papayae in Vietnam, studied the biological characteristics of A. papayae, and investigated its parasitic activity on P. marginatus. The results showed that A. papayae occurred more frequently than Anagyrus loecki, another known parasitoid of P. marginatus. The lifespan of A. papayae was approximately 16 days. In the absence of hosts, a 50% honey solution was an essential diet to increase the longevity of both female and male of A. papayae. The second instar of P. marginatus was a suitable host stage for parasitism by A. papayae. Female A. papayae laid approximately 60.8 eggs within 17 days, mostly during the first 6 to 7 days. These findings suggest that A. papayae has the potential to control P. marginatus, and could inform the development of more effective pest management strategies for cassava crops in Vietnam and other regions affected by this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a destructive agricultural pest due to its wide host range and adaptability to different climates. It was first detected in East Africa in 2016 and arrived in Bangladesh in 2018. The ideal climate in Bangladesh makes it easy for FAW to establish, infest, and cause outbreaks. Monitoring and scouting are crucial in controlling the pest. The management strategy of FAW involves both control methods and human action. However, there is a lack of research on human behavior and perception towards invasive pest management, which is important for understanding and predicting the success of disseminating information on pest management. Effective pest management requires a combination of accurate prediction of changes in the distribution and abundance of pests, and community engagement through the diffusion of information and technology. Strengthening global collaboration to improve biosecurity defenses is crucial to prevent transboundary insect pest invasions and protect food security, biodiversity, and human health. Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of maize that was first detected in Bangladesh in 2018 and rapidly spread throughout the maize-growing areas. The presence of FAW was monitored using sex pheromone traps. Farmers' pest management practices were assessed through a questionnaire. The damage is most apparent in the early and late whorl stages. As the crop is grown mostly from November to April, both vegetative and reproductive growth stages remain vulnerable to extensive damage. The survey results showed that 100% of the farmers used pesticides for FAW control, 40.4% handpicked and crushed egg masses, 75.8% handpicked and crushed caterpillars, and only 5.4% used other techniques like applying ash/sand in the funnel of maize. Commonly used pesticides included Spinosad, Emamectin benzoate, Imidacloprid, and others. Thirty-four percent of farmers applied pesticides twice in a season and 48% applied pesticides three times in a season and 54% and 39% of farmers sprayed chemicals at 7-day and 15-day intervals, respectively. FAW causes an average economic loss of 37.7% in maize production without pesticides. Increased use of pesticides to control FAW poses hazards to human health, wildlife, and the environment, and is expensive. Therefore, well-tested agroecological practices and bio-control agents are needed for sustainable FAW management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aphis gossypii Glover is an important agricultural pest distributed worldwide, which can reduce the yield of cotton crops and cause huge economic losses. Binodoxys communis Gahan is the main parasitoid wasp of A. gossypii. Previous studies have shown that parasitization causes reduced egg production in A. gossypii, but the effects on the symbiotic bacteria of the host ovaries are unknown. In this study, we analyzed the microbial communities in cotton aphid ovaries by 16S rDNA sequencing and their changes before and after parasitization, performed a functional prediction analysis of the microbial communities in cotton aphid ovaries, and finally performed RT-qPCR on some core symbiotic bacteria. In summary, our results provide a framework for investigating shifts in the microbial communities in host ovaries and broaden our understanding of the interactions among aphids, parasitoid wasps, and endosymbionts. Background: Aphis gossypii Glover is an important agricultural pest distributed worldwide. Binodoxys communis Gahan is the main parasitoid wasp of A. gossypii. Previous studies have shown that parasitization causes reduced egg production in A. gossypii, but the effects of parasitism on the symbiotic bacteria in the host ovaries are unknown. Results: In this study, we analyzed the microbial communities in the ovaries of A. gossypii without and after parasitization. Whether parasitized or not, Buchnera was the dominant genus of symbiotic bacteria in the ovaries, followed by facultative symbionts including Arsenophonus, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. The relative abundance of Buchnera in the aphid ovary increased after parasitization for 1 d in both third-instar nymph and adult stages, but decreased after parasitization for 3 d. The shifts in the relative abundance of Arsenophonus in both stages were the same as those observed for Buchnera. In addition, the relative abundance of Serratia remarkably decreased after parasitization for 1 d and increased after parasitization for 3 d. A functional predictive analysis of the control and parasitized ovary microbiomes revealed that pathways primarily enriched in parasitization were "amino acid transport and metabolism" and "energy production and conversion." Finally, RT-qPCR analysis was performed on Buchnera, Arsenophonus, and Serratia. The results of RT-qPCR were the same as the results of 16S rDNA sequencing. Conclusions: These results provide a framework for investigating shifts in the microbial communities in host ovaries, which may be responsible for reduced egg production in aphids. These findings also broaden our understanding of the interactions among aphids, parasitoid wasps, and endosymbionts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a species of beetle that depends on palm trees to complete its life cycle. RPW larvae feed on the palm tree trunk and can result in tree death, thus having a major impact on both wild and cultivated palm trees in several countries. The resulting economic and biodiversity losses caused by invasive populations of the RPW gave it a major pest status, and now governments, companies, and researchers across multiple countries are interested in developing effective control strategies to prevent further damage. Managing agricultural pests in the face of pressures such as climate change, rising levels of insecticide resistance, and increasing demands for food production will require advanced knowledge of pest biology. In this review, after presenting basic aspects of RPW biology and pest status, we gather information on the use of omics technologies, such as transcriptomics, genomics, and metagenomics, and explore their achievements and potentials to illuminate RPW biology and improve management. We finalize the review by exploring current opportunities and challenges in the use of these technologies for RPW management. The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most devastating pest of palm trees worldwide. Mitigation of the economic and biodiversity impact it causes is an international priority that could be greatly aided by a better understanding of its biology and genetics. Despite its relevance, the biology of the RPW remains poorly understood, and research on management strategies often focuses on outdated empirical methods that produce sub-optimal results. With the development of omics approaches in genetic research, new avenues for pest control are becoming increasingly feasible. For example, genetic engineering approaches become available once a species's target genes are well characterized in terms of their sequence, but also population variability, epistatic interactions, and more. In the last few years alone, there have been major advances in omics studies of the RPW. Multiple draft genomes are currently available, along with short and long-read transcriptomes, and metagenomes, which have facilitated the identification of genes of interest to the RPW scientific community. This review describes omics approaches previously applied to RPW research, highlights findings that could be impactful for pest management, and emphasizes future opportunities and challenges in this area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Lufenuron is one of the main insecticides for controlling lepidopteran pests, and is especially suitable for controlling pests that are resistant to pyrethroids and organophosphorus pesticides. Resistance to lufenuron is a serious obstacle to effective pest control. A major mechanism of lufenuron resistance is due to mutations in chitin synthase, the target of the toxic effects of benzoylurea (BPUs), according to a reported mutational analysis, I1040 (I1042 in Plutella xylostella) in the SfCHSA gene. The mutation of the site can significantly improve the resistance of insect larvae to BPU insecticides. Secondly, the expression level of insecticide targets in insects is also an important factor affecting insect resistance. In this study, we firstly identified the number of chitin synthase genes and their corresponding names in Spodoptera frugiperda, and detected the mutation sites of the SfCHSA gene. The expression level of chitin synthase gene was then analyzed. Our results showed that no mutation was found in the SfCHSA gene in the currently low-resistant field populations in China, and the expression of chitin synthase was affected by lufenuron. The information obtained from this study is valuable for the use of lufenuron in the field. Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is commonly known as fall armyworm, native to tropical and subtropical regions of America, is an important migratory agricultural pest. It is important to understand the resistance and internal mechanism of action of S. frugiperda against lufenuron in China. Lufenuron is one of the main insecticides recommended for field use in China and has a broad prospect in the future. We conducted a bioassay using the diet-overlay method and found that the current S. frugiperda in China are still at a low level of resistance to lufenuron. Secondly, we examined whether the mutation I1040M (I1042M in Plutella xylostella), associated with lufenuron resistance, was produced in the field. And then we tested the expression of chitin synthase SfCHSA and SfCHSB in different tissues, and the changes of these two genes after lufenuron induction. The results showed that there is still no mutation generation in China and there is a significant change in the expression of SfCHSA under the effect of lufenuron. In conclusion, our study suggests that field S. frugiperda populations in 2019 and 2020 were less resistant to lufenuron. In fall armyworm, chitin synthases included SfCHSA and SfCHSB genes, and after induction treatment with lufenuron, the expression of the SfCHSA gene was significantly increased. In SfCHSA, no mutation has been detected in the site associated with lufenuron resistance. Secondly, in S. frugiperda larvae, the SfCHSA gene was the highest in the head of the larvae, followed by the integument; while the SfCHSB gene was mainly concentrated in the midgut. Therefore, we believe that the SfCHSA gene plays a greater role in the resistance of S. frugiperda to lufenuron than the SfCHSB gene. It is worth noting that understanding the level of resistance to lufenuron in China, the main mechanism of action of lufenuron on larvae, and the mechanism of resistance to lufenuron in S. frugiperda will help in crop protection as well as in extending the life span of this insecticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In the neotropics, stingless bees co-exist with plant pests in agroecosystems. The use of chemical insecticides used to control sap-sucking insects may pose a risk to the communities of stingless bees. To gain insight into the potential risk of insecticides commonly used for farmers in horticultural crops, we evaluated under laboratory conditions the effects of oral exposure to five insecticides on the survival of two species of stingless bees, Nannotrigona perilampoides and Frieseomelitta nigra. The results showed that some insecticides have a significant negative impact on the survival of stingless bees under laboratory conditions. These results suggest that stingless bees may be negatively affected when foraging flowers of crops that have been treated with insecticides. Insecticides used in agricultural pest management pose survival risks to the stingless bees that forage on crops in tropical and subtropical regions. In the present study, we evaluated, under laboratory conditions, the acute oral toxicity of five selected insecticides (dinotefuran, imidacloprid, flupyradifurone, spirotetramat, and cyantraniliprole) to two species of neotropical stingless bees: Nannotrigona perilampoides and Frieseomelitta nigra. At field recommended doses, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and flupyradifurone caused the highest mortality in both bee species. These insecticides also caused the largest decrease in the survival rate when exposed to a 10-fold dilution of the field recommended doses. Notably, dinotefuran exerted a high effect even at 100-fold dilution (100% mortality). In contrast, cyantraniliprole had a low effect and spirotetramat was virtually nontoxic. These results suggest that some insecticides used to control sap-sucking insects may have a significant negative impact on the communities of stingless bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (CZS) is a generalist predator of arthropod pests in different crops and is distributed in wide geographical regions. Being a natural predator, CZS shares an ecological niche with the pests and is exposed to several groups of pesticides including imidacloprid. Due to continuous exposure, it has developed resistance to several insecticides. Transcriptomes of imidacloprid-resistant and susceptible strains have been generated and compared for expression differences. From the transcriptome, sequences belonging to the CYP gene family have been mined for their nomenclature and classification into the four CYP clans. Putative functions of the CYP families in CZS have been identified by phylogenetic analysis including CYP sequences from Drosophila and Tribolium. Further, differential expressions of CYP genes have been validated using qRT-PCR. We found nine CYP genes to be downregulated and one to be upregulated after imidacloprid treatment. The information from current study can be exploited for the effective implementation of IPM as it aims at sustainable and eco-friendly crop yield improvement. The aphid lion, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is a highly effective beneficial predator of many agricultural pests and has developed resistance to several insecticides. Understanding the molecular mechanism of insecticide resistance in the predators is crucial for its effective application in IPM programs. Therefore, transcriptomes of imidacloprid-resistant and susceptible strains have been assessed using RNA-seq. Cytochrome P450 is one of the important gene families involved in xenobiotic metabolism. Hence, our study focused on the CYP gene family where mining, nomenclature, and phylogenetic analysis revealed a total of 95 unique CYP genes with considerable expansion in CYP3 and CYP4 clans. Further, differential gene expression (DGE) analysis revealed ten CYP genes from CYP3 and CYP4 clans to be differentially expressed, out of which nine genes (CYP4419A1, CYP4XK1, CYP4416A10, CYP4416A-fragment8, CYP6YL1, CYP6YH6, CYP9GK-fragment16, CYP9GN2, CYP9GK6) were downregulated and one (CYP9GK3) was upregulated in the resistant strain as compared to the susceptible strain. Expression validation by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is consistent with the DGE results. The expansion and differential expression of CYP genes may be an indicator of the capacity of the predator to detoxify a particular group of insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was first observed in tobacco in Greece in 1889. In China, since the introduction of Euphorbia pulcherrima (Euphorbiales: Euphorbiaceae, native to Central America) at the end of the previous century, B. tabaci has gradually become an increasingly significant agricultural pest. In recent years, the push–pull strategy has been widely applied to the control of the pest. The distinct volatiles are emitted of plants directly affect the efficiency of pushing and pulling; hence, we aimed to study the behavioral responses of B. tabaci to three plants (Gossypium hirsutum, Abutilon theophrasti, and Ricinus communis) during various growth phases (pre-flowering, fluorescence, and fruiting) and analyzed the quality and quantity of volatiles from of three growth stage, as well as identified few compounds that attract or repel the B. tabaci. The results demonstrated that the distinct volatiles are emitted by pre-flowering, flowering, and fruiting plants with varying effects on B. tabaci preference. Three volatile compounds (linalool, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, and nonanal) analyzed in this study had trapping/repellent effects on B. tabaci. Therefore, these compounds can be adopted as potential attractants or repellents to control B. tabaci. Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a worldwide pest that damages over 900 host plant species. The volatile organic compounds (volatiles) of contrasting plants, as well as their growth stage, influence this pest's infestation behavior. The chemical contents of volatiles isolated from three plants (Gossypium hirsutum, Abutilon theophrasti, and Ricinus communis) during various growth phases (pre-flowering, fluorescence, and fruiting) were examined, as well as their influence on the behavior of adult B. tabaci. The olfactometer studies demonstrated that growth periods of the three plants affected the preference of B. tabaci. Volatiles of piemarker and cotton plants had dissimilar levels of attraction to adults during all stages. Volatile substances released by the castor at the stage of flowering had repellent effect on B. tabaci. In the plant versus plant combination, piemarker volatiles before and during anthesis were most preferred by adults, followed by cotton and then castor. A total of 24, 24, and 20 compounds were detected from volatiles of piemarker, cotton, and castor, respectively, and proportions among the compounds changed during different stages of plant development. The olfactory responses of B. tabaci to volatile compounds presented that linalool and high concentration of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate had a strong trapping effect on this pest, while nonanal had a significant repellent effect at high concentration. This study indicates that distinct plants and their growth stage affect their attractiveness or repellency to B.tabaci adults, which are mediated by changing plant volatiles. These compounds obtained by analysis screening can be adopted as potential attractants or repellents to control Mediterranean (MED) B. tabaci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aphids are major crop pests worldwide, and in China, Uroleucon formosanum is a common aphid pest of lettuce. However, there is little basic and applied information on the control of this pest. To obtain the basic information of this pest, a life table of U. formosanum under different temperatures was constructed. Also, the susceptibility of U. formosanum to six common-used insecticides (chlorpyrifos, abamectin, beta-cypermethrin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, and thiamethoxam) was evaluated. Results showed that U. formosanum was not suitable to a lower temperature (17 °C), and U. formosanum was relatively sensitive to all six test insecticides. These data may help us to develop integrated management strategies for better population control of U. formosanum. Uroleucon formosanum is an important aphid pest of lettuce, but basic information on its biology is scarce. In this study, effects of three constant temperatures (17, 21, and 25 °C, simulating the mean temperature range in greenhouses) on the development and fecundity of U. formosanum were analyzed by constructing a life table. U. formosanum could develop and reproduce under all three temperatures, but the survival rate, development, and fecundity of U. formosanum were affected by temperature. The intrinsic rate of increase was lowest at 17 °C (0.17) and it was significantly less than at 21 °C (0.20) and 25 °C (0.23). Furthermore, U. formosanum had the lowest finite rate of increase (1.19) and the largest mean generation time (20.21) at 17 °C. These results mean that U. formosanum is less adapted to the lower temperatures (17 °C) among these three set temperatures. To screen insecticides for control, susceptibility of U. formosanum to six insecticides including chlorpyrifos, abamectin, beta-cypermethrin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, and thiamethoxam was evaluated. U. formosanum was relatively sensitive to all six test insecticides. Chlorpyrifos had the highest toxicity to U. formosanum (LC50 = 3.08 mg/L). These data may help to develop integrated management strategies for better population control of U. formosanum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is a typical invasive migratory pest with a strong reproductive capacity, which has caused serious damage to crops. Larvae of S. frugiperda exhibit high levels of cannibalism associated with larval crowding. However, the response of S. frugiperda adults to such stress remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of larval density on flight and reproductive parameters of S. frugiperda adults. We found that S. frugiperda reared under high-larval density conditions exhibited lower pupal and body weights, weaker flight and reproductive capacities than those reared as solitary larvae. This result was different from that of many migratory insects, where larval crowding enhanced migratory propensity of subsequent adults. In contrast, high-larval density conditions did not increase adult migration propensity in S. frugiperda. These findings enhance our understanding of migratory and reproductive behaviors of S. frugiperda in response to larval density. Reproduction and flight are two major adaptive strategies to cope with environmental stress in migratory insects. However, research on density-mediated flight and reproduction in the global migratory agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda is lacking. In this study, flight and reproductive performances in response to larval crowding were investigated in S. frugiperda. We found that larval crowding significantly reduced the pupal and body weights of S. frugiperda. Adults reared under the highest density of 30 larvae/jar had the minimum wing expansion, which was significantly smaller than that of larvae reared under solitary conditions. Larval crowding also significantly increased the pre-oviposition period (POP) and period of first oviposition (PFO) but decreased the lifetime fecundity, flight duration and flight distance. Our results showed that S. frugiperda reared under solitary conditions exhibited higher pupal and body weights and stronger reproductive and flight capacities than those reared under high-density conditions. Larval crowding did not enhance the migration propensity in S. frugiperda adults. In conclusion, larval crowding may not be a major factor affecting FAW migration due to high levels of cannibalism. These findings provide new insights into the population dynamics of S. frugiperda under larval crowding conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The sublethal effects of insecticides are not only environmentally risky to arthropods but may also promote resistance evolution. Sublethal effects are influenced by factors such as the type of insecticide, sublethal concentration, and type of pest. This study evaluated the sublethal effects of sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid on two field cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) populations with different genetic backgrounds. For acetamiprid, a significant negative sublethal effect of an LC25 concentration of acetamiprid on longevity and fecundity was observed in the F0 generation of Jinghe, and a significant negative sublethal effect occurred in the F1 and F2 generations of Yarkant, some biological traits of which were significantly degraded. However, in terms of biological traits, significant stimulative sublethal effects of an LC25 concentration of sulfoxaflor were observed in the F0 generation of Jinghe and the F1 generation of Yarkant. These experimental results demonstrate that sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid have different sublethal effects on A. gossypii that vary depending on the generation. Moreover, the sublethal effects of an insecticide may be influenced by the genetic background and resistance levels of A. gossypii. Our findings are useful for assessing the overall effects of sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid on A. gossypii. The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, is an important insect pest of many crops around the world, and it has developed resistance to a large number of frequently used insecticides. The sublethal effects of insecticides not only have an environmental risk to arthropods but also have the potential to promote resistance evolution. The sublethal effects (inhibitory or stimulatory) are influenced by many factors, such as the type of insecticide, sublethal concentrations, pest species, and others. In this study, the sublethal effects of sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid on A. gossypii were compared using two field-collected populations. The results show that sulfoxaflor was more toxic than acetamiprid against A. gossypii in both populations, the LC50 concentrations of acetamiprid and sulfoxaflor were 6.35 and 3.26 times higher, respectively, for the Jinghe population than for Yarkant. The LC25 concentration of acetamiprid significantly reduced adult longevity and fecundity in exposed adults (F0) of the Jinghe population, but it had no significant effects on these factors in Yarkant. Similar inhibitory effects were found in the F1 and F2 generations, but the biological traits in the Yarkant population were significantly reduced when the parents (F0) were exposed to LC25 of acetamiprid, whereas the changes in the Jinghe population were not significant. However, sublethal sulfoxaflor showed a stimulatory effect on A. gossypii in the F0 and F1 generation; the adult fecundity and longevity of the F0 generation were significantly higher in Jinghe, while the biological traits of the F1 generation were obviously higher in Yarkant. In the F2 generation, the r and λ were significantly higher in Jinghe; meanwhile, these biological traits were reduced in Yarkant. These results indicate that sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid had different sublethal effects on A. gossypii that varied by generation. In addition, we speculate that the genetic background and the resistance levels of A. gossypii may also influence the sublethal effects. Our findings are useful for assessing the overall effects of sulfoxaflor and acetamiprid on A. gossypii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insects transmit a wide variety of pathogens, including parasites, bacteria, and viruses, to human and economically important crops. Since pathogen transmission threatens public health and economic activities, insecticides are the main strategy to control insect populations. The continued use of insecticides has led to resistant populations where chemicals are no longer effective. It is unknown if insecticide resistance (IR) could impact insects' other characteristics, such as their ability to infect, maintain infection, or transmit pathogens, a trait known as vector competence (VC). In this review, we analyze the literature that involves the study of VC and IR or insecticide exposure in three main approaches; studies conducted in the field versus laboratory-designed experiments, the impact of insecticide exposure on pathogen transmission, and studies performed on vectors of crop pathogens. The evidence points out three different patterns where enhancement, impairment, or neutral effects are seen between IR and VC. It is of great concern that IR could enhance VC since it increases the risk of epidemics. More detailed and standardized studies are needed to confirm this relationship. Finally, results from this investigation could help create evidence-based vector control programs. The primary strategy to avoid adverse impacts from insect-mediated pathogen transmission is the chemical control of vector populations through insecticides; its continued use has led to insecticide resistance and unknown consequences on vector competence. This review aims to systematically analyze and synthesize the research on the influence of insecticide resistance (IR) on vector competence (VC). Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty studies, conducted either in laboratory or field settings, described the influence of phenotypic insecticide resistance and mechanisms on VC in vectors of human pathogens. Seven studies showed the effect of exposure to insecticides on VC in vectors of human pathogens. Three studies reported the influence of phenotypic resistance and mechanisms on VC in crop pests. The evidence shows that IR could enhance, impair, or have no direct effect on VC in either field or laboratory-designed studies. Similar positive and negative trends are found in pest vectors in crops and studies of insecticide exposure and VC. Even though there is evidence that exposure to insecticides and IR can enhance VC, thus increasing the risk of pathogen transmission, more investigations are needed to confirm the observed patterns and what implications these factors could have in vector control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive, polyphagous crop pests subsist on a number of crop and non-crop resources. While knowing the full range of host species is important, a seasonal investigation into the use of non-crop plants adjacent to cropping systems provide key insights into some of the factors determining local population dynamics. This study investigated the infestation of non-crop plants by the invasive Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura), a pest of numerous economically important stone and small fruit crops, by sampling fruit-producing non-crop hosts adjacent to commercial plantings weekly from June through November in central New York over a two-year period. We found D. suzukii infestation rates (number of flies emerged/kg fruit) peaked mid-August through early September, with Rubus allegheniensis Porter and Lonicera morrowii Asa Gray showing the highest average infestation in both years. Interannual infestation patterns were similar despite a lower number of adults caught in monitoring traps the second year, suggesting D. suzukii host use may be density independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavioral biology of the first instar larva of Cactoblastis cactorum was studied from the time of eclosion until the colony penetrated and initiated excavation of the host plant. Hatching from an egg stick was asynchronous, requiring 20 h for the entire cohort to eclose at 50%-70% RH and significantly longer at a lower range of RHs. On eclosion, neonates aggregated in an arena at the base of their egg stick and did not attempt to excavate the cladode until an average of 25 caterpillars had collected, approximately 15 h after the onset of egg hatch. Typically only a single entrance hole was formed, limiting the active process of excavating to one or a few individuals at-a-time until the host was fully penetrated and enlarged internally. Olfactometer tests showed that the neonates are strongly attracted to volatile chemicals released when caterpillars chewed into the cladode, accounting for the strong fidelity of the whole cohort to the initial site of penetration. In one instance, the caterpillars were observed to deal with an explosive release of mucilage by imbibing the liquid until the flooded zone was drained and the caterpillars could reenter the plant through the original entrance hole. Once inside the cladode, marked individuals adopted a regular cycle of defecating at the surface at a mean interval of approximately 10 min when followed for 35 successive cycles. Blanket spraying cladodes with a mandibular gland extract prior to hatching led to the independent dispersal of neonates and a failure to form an arena. When the cladode was impenetrable at the site of eclosion, the active cohort of unfed neonates set off together in search of a new site, marking and following a persistent trail that allowed late-to-eclose caterpillars to join their departed siblings. The adaptive significance of these observations is discussed in the context of the life history of the caterpillar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Intraguild predation (IGP) can occur among aphidophagous predators thus reducing their effectiveness in controlling crop pests. Among ladybirds, Coccinella septempunctata L. and Hippodamia variegata Goeze are the most effective predators upon Aphis gossypii Glov., which is an economically important pest of melon. Understanding their likelihood to engage in reciprocal predation is a key point for conservation of biological control. Here, we aim to investigate, under laboratory conditions, the level of IGP between the two above mentioned aphidophagous species. (2) Fourth-instars of the two species were isolated in petri dishes with combinations of different stages of the heterospecific ladybird and different densities of A. gossypii. The occurrence of IGP events was recorded after six hours. (3) C. septempunctata predated H. variegata at a higher rate than vice versa (70% vs. 43% overall). Higher density of the aphid or older juvenile stage of the IG-prey (22% of fourth instars vs. 74% of eggs and second instars) reduces the likelihood of predation. (4) To our knowledge, IGP between C. septempunctata and H. variegata was investigated for the first time. Results represent a baseline, necessary to predict the likelihood of IGP occurrence in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Helicoverpa zea is one of the most destructive lepidopteran agricultural pests in the world and can disperse long distances both with and without human transportation. It is listed in the catalog of quarantine pests for plants imported to the People's Republic of China but has not yet been reported in China. On the basis of 1781 global distribution records of H. zea and eight bioclimatic variables, we predicted the potential geographical distributions (PGDs) of H. zea by using a calibrated MaxEnt model. The results showed that the PGDs of H. zea under the current climate are large in China. Future climate changes under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) 1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 for both the 2030s and 2050s will facilitate the expansion of PGDs for H. zea. Helicoverpa zea has a high capacity for colonization by introduced individuals in China. Customs ports should pay attention to the host plants of H. zea and containers harboring this pest. Helicoverpa zea, a well-documented and endemic pest throughout most of the Americas, affecting more than 100 species of host plants. It is a quarantine pest according to the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) and the catalog of quarantine pests for plants imported to the People's Republic of China. Based on 1781 global distribution records of H. zea and eight bioclimatic variables, the potential geographical distributions (PGDs) of H. zea were predicted by using a calibrated MaxEnt model. The contribution rate of bioclimatic variables and the jackknife method were integrated to assess the significant variables governing the PGDs. The response curves of bioclimatic variables were quantitatively determined to predict the PGDs of H. zea under climate change. The results showed that: (1) four out of the eight variables contributed the most to the model performance, namely, mean diurnal range (bio2), precipitation seasonality (bio15), precipitation of the driest quarter (bio17) and precipitation of the warmest quarter (bio18); (2) PGDs of H. zea under the current climate covered 418.15 × 104 km2, and were large in China; and (3) future climate change will facilitate the expansion of PGDs for H. zea under shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) 1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 in both the 2030s and 2050s. The conversion of unsuitable to low suitability habitat and moderately to high suitability habitat increased by 8.43% and 2.35%, respectively. From the present day to the 2030s, under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, the centroid of the suitable habitats of H. zea showed a general tendency to move eastward; from 2030s to the 2050s, under SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5, it moved southward, and it moved slightly northward under SSP2-4.5. According to bioclimatic conditions, H. zea has a high capacity for colonization by introduced individuals in China. Customs ports should pay attention to host plants and containers of H. zea and should exchange information to strengthen plant quarantine and pest monitoring, thus enhancing target management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious invasive, crop-destroying pest, which is the subject of a global warning from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The surprisingly rapid spread of fall armyworm and its significant capacity to generate high-yield losses has attracted increased attention worldwide. In January 2020, fall armyworm was first confirmed in Torres Strait (Saibai and Erub Islands) and mainland Australia (Bamaga). However, the possible source region of the first immigration of fall armyworm was still obscure. A better understanding of the migration paths and the source regions of fall armyworm immigrants, will be useful for the monitoring and early warning of this pest in Australia. The migratory paths and wind systems for the first case of the immigration of fall armyworm invading Australia were simulated using a three-dimensional trajectory analysis program. This study has confirmed that the immigration of fall armyworm to Australia was most likely from Sulawesi and Moluccas Islands of Indonesia. Fall armyworm is recognized as one of most highly destructive global agricultural pests. In January 2020, it had first invaded Australia, posing a significant risk to its biosecurity, food security, and agricultural productivity. In this study, the migration paths and wind systems for the case of fall armyworm invading Australia were analyzed using a three-dimensional trajectory simulation approach, combined with its flight behavior and NCEP meteorological reanalysis data. The analysis showed that fall armyworm in Torres Strait most likely came from surrounding islands of central Indonesia on two occasions via wind migration. Specifically, fall armyworm moths detected on Saibai and Erub Islands might have arrived from southern Sulawesi Island, Indonesia, between January 15 and 16. The fall armyworm in Bamaga most likely arrived from the islands around Arafura Sea and Sulawesi Island of Indonesia, between January 26 and 27. The high risk period for the invasion of fall armyworm is only likely to have occurred in January–February due to monsoon winds, which were conducive to flight across the Timor Sea towards Australia. This case study is the first to confirm the immigration paths and timing of fall armyworm from Indonesia to Australia via its surrounding islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Temperature directly affects the development, adult reproduction, and flight capacity in migratory insects. However, the adaptive strategies applied by some migratory insects to cope with stressful temperatures throughout their life cycles are not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of rearing temperatures in the immature stage (from egg to pupae stage) on the immature development, adult reproduction flight ability, and migratory behavior of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, one major facultative long-distance migratory pest feeding on rice. Our data suggest that immature C. medinalis that experienced different rearing temperatures had different developmental, reproductive, and migration patterns. Cnaphalocrocis medinalis reared under high temperatures had weaker reproductive capacity and stronger flight potentiality, which might be more likely to trigger the migration. However, those reared at low temperatures in the immature stage had an accelerated reproduction but relative weaker flight ability, which might weaken the migratory motivation of adults. Understanding how species that follow different life-history strategies respond to stressful temperature can be essential for efficient treatments of agricultural pests. Here, we focused on how the development, reproduction, flight, and reproductive consequences of migration of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis were influenced by exposure to different rearing temperatures in the immature stage. We found that the immature rice leaf roller that were reared at low temperatures (18 and 22 °C) developed more slowly than the normal temperature 26 °C, while those reared at high temperatures (34 °C) grew faster. Female adults from low immature stage rearing temperatures showed stronger reproductive ability than those at 26 and 34 °C, such as the preoviposition period (POP) significantly decreased, while the total lifetime fecundity obviously increased. However, 34 °C did not significantly reduce the reproductive performances of females compared to 26 °C. On the contrary, one relative decreased tendency of flight capacity was found in the lower immature temperature treatments. Furthermore, flight is a costly strategy for reproduction output to compete for limited internal resources. In the lower temperature treatments, after d1-tethered flight treatment, negative reproductive consequences were found that flight significantly decreased the lifetime fecundity and mating frequency of females from low rearing temperatures in the immature stage compared to the controls (no tethered-flight). However, in the 26 and 34 °C treatments, the same flight treatment induced a positive influence on reproduction, which significantly reduced the POP and period of first oviposition (PFO). The results suggest that the experience of relative high temperatures in the immature stage is more likely to trigger the onset of migration, but lower temperatures in the immature stage may induce adults to have a greater resident propensity with stronger reproductive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Telenomus remus (Nixon) is a promising natural enemy of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Successful implementation of a biocontrol program requires a mature rearing system to produce millions of beneficial insect products at lower costs. This parasitoid is successfully reared on Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) eggs in several countries, however that host species is unsuitable for Chinese strains of T. remus. Fewer studies have been done using Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) eggs, but it is increasingly seen as the promising alternative host in China. In order to identify optimal mass-rearing conditions when using S. litura eggs as an alternative host, this novel study thus sought to comprehensively evaluate the effects of photoperiod, exposure time, and host egg:parasitoid ratio on the reproductive potential and mass-rearing efficiency of T. remus on S. litura eggs. Our results suggest using more than 12 h of light, 24 h exposure time, and 14–20:1 host egg:parasitoid ratio for rearing T. remus on S. litura eggs. These findings will help promote successful, large-scale rearing of T. remus for use against S. frugiperda in China. Telenomus remus (Nixon) is a dominant egg parasitoid of the destructive agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), and so is used in augmentative biocontrol programs in several countries. An optimized mass-rearing system is essential to produce biological control products in a timely and cost-effective manner. In this study, the photoperiod, host egg:parasitoid ratio, and exposure time were evaluated to identify the optimal rearing conditions for T. remus on the alternative host Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) eggs. Results showed that increasing photoperiod above 12L:12D remarkably improved parasitoid progeny yield and life table parameters. Overlong photoperiods shortened female longevity, but within acceptable limits. There was a significant negative correlation between parasitism rate and host egg:parasitoid ratio under exposure times of 12 and 36 h, but not 24 h. Percentage of female progeny increased significantly along with increasing the host egg:parasitoid ratio. A significant negative relationship between the number of emerged adults per egg and the host egg:parasitoid ratio was observed at an exposure time of 36 h. It was concluded that T. remus may be mass-reared most efficiently on S. litura eggs using a photoperiod of more than 12L:12D, a 14–20:1 host egg:parasitoid ratio, and an exposure time of 24 h. These findings can be used to produce T. remus more efficiently and at lower costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a notorious agricultural pest worldwide, causing great damage to a wide variety of crops. This pest exhibited a remarkable field-evolved resistance to multiple insecticides. According to the evidence, a few cuticular proteins (CPs) participate in the insecticide resistance of several insects. This study was designed to explore whether CP genes of the FAW exhibit functional roles in responding to insecticides stress. There are a set of CP genes significantly regulated in response to the exposure to different insecticides, implying that CP genes play an important role in the FAW against insecticides stress. The results inspire further functional validation of CP genes in FAWs to gain a better understanding of its resistance to insecticides. The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious pest of crucial crops causing great threats to the food security of the world. It has evolved resistance to various insecticides, while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Cuticular proteins (CPs), as primary components in cuticle, play an important role in insects' protection against environmental stresses. Few of them have been documented as participating in insecticide resistance in several insect species. In order to explore whether CP genes of the FAW exhibit a functional role in responding to insecticides stress, a total of 206 CPs, classified into eight families, were identified from the genome of the FAW through a homology-based approach coupled with manual efforts. The temporal expression profiles of all identified CP genes across developmental stages and their responses to 23 different insecticides were analyzed using the RNA-seq data. Expression profiling indicated that most of the CP genes displayed stage-specific expression patterns. It was found that the expression of 51 CP genes significantly changed after 48 h exposure to 17 different insecticides. The expression of eight CP genes responding to four insecticides were confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. The results showed that their overall expression profiles were consistent with RNA-seq analysis. The findings provide a basis for further functional investigation of CPs implied in insecticide stress in FAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The variegated cutworm Peridroma saucia (Hübner) is a polyphagous pest that originated in Europe and North America and has gradually become an important agricultural pest worldwide since the 1970s. In 2017, this pest experienced a serious outbreak in the suburbs of Luoyang, Henan Province, China. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble proteins expressed in insect olfactory tissues and involved in the first step of odorant reception. Characterization of the function of P. saucia OBPs may contribute to identifying new attractants/repellents and assist in the development of more efficient and environmentally acceptable controlling strategies of this pest. In this study, we cloned an antennae-specific gene PsauGOBP1 which encodes for a general odorant-binding protein (GOBP) of P. saucia. We expressed PsauGOBP1 in bacteria and found that the purified recombinant PsauGOBP1 binds robustly to (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. Electroantennogram tests demonstrate that (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate elicits strong responses from the antennae of both males and females of P. saucia. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays show that (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate is attractive to adult P. saucia of both sexes. This study increases our understanding of the olfactory mechanism of P. saucia and provides a theoretical basis for the design of attractants for the control of P. saucia. The variegated cutworm Peridroma saucia (Hübner) is a worldwide pest that causes serious damage to many crops. To recognize sex pheromones and host plant volatiles, insects depend on olfactory chemoreception involving general odorant-binding proteins (GOBPs). In this study, PsauGOBP1 was cloned from the adult antennae of P. saucia. RT-qPCR and Western-blot analysis showed that PsauGOBP1 was specifically and equally expressed in the adult antennae of both females and males. Fluorescence competitive-binding assays with sex pheromones and host plant volatiles demonstrated that PsauGOBP1 bound to six host plant volatiles: (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate (KD = 4.0 ± 0.1 μM), citral (KD = 5.6 ± 0.4 μM), farnesol (KD = 6.4 ± 0.6 μM), nonanal (KD = 6.8 ± 0.3 μM), (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol (KD = 8.5 ± 0.6 μM), and benzaldehyde (KD = 9.4 ± 0.5 μM). Electroantennogram recordings with the six host plant volatiles indicated that (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate elicited the strongest responses from both male and female antennae. Further bioassays using Y-tube olfactometers showed that (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate was attractive to adult P. saucia of both sexes. These results suggest that PsauGOBP1 might be involved in detecting host plant volatiles and that (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate might serve as a potential attractant for the biological control of P. saucia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The silverleaf whitefly (B. tabaci) is an important agricultural pest damaging several agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. Keeping in mind the status of insecticide overuse, the current experiment was designed to evaluate the sensitivity of B. tabaci towards imidacloprid and thiamethoxam (two popularly used neonicotinoids in India). The lab population of B. tabaci was found to be more susceptible to thiamethoxam compared to imidacloprid. qPCR studies revealed a higher expression of insecticide-resistant genes, CYP6CM1 and CYP6CX1, after imidacloprid treatment that might be responsible for increased resistance to insecticides. Our results also put forward the different interactions between symbionts and insecticide resistance. qPCR studies revealed thiamethoxam-treated B. tabaci populations harbored a higher amount of primary endosymbiont Portiera and a lower amount of secondary symbiont Rickettsia. The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is a major threat to field and horticultural crops worldwide. Persistent use of insecticides for the management of this pest is a lingering problem. In the present study, the status of sensitivity of B. tabaci to two neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, was evaluated. The expression pattern of two cytochrome P450 (cyp) genes and changes in the relative amount of symbionts in insecticide-treated B. tabaci were also assessed. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) studies indicate that the CYP6CM1 and CYP6CX1 genes were always expressed higher in imidacloprid-treated whitefly, suggesting a correlation between gene expression and the insect's ability to detoxify toxic compounds such as insecticides. In addition, the thiamethoxam-treated population harbored higher Portiera and lower Rickettsia titers, whereas the imidacloprid-treated population harbored more Rickettsia at different time intervals. Interestingly, we also examined that an increase in exposure to both the insecticides resulted in a reduction in the mutualistic partners from their insect host. These differential responses of endosymbionts to insecticide exposure imply the complex interactions among the symbionts inside the host insect. The results also provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism of resistance development that might be useful for formulating effective management strategies to control B. tabaci by manipulating symbionts and detoxifying genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The coccinellid Harmonia axyridis is an important natural enemy of various agricultural pests, including aphids. Agrochemicals can negatively affect the performance of arthropod natural enemies and, thus, the ecological services they provide. In this context, we assessed the lethal and sublethal effects of two neuroactive compounds with different chemical structures: the long-established neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid, and the novel, sulfoximine insecticide, sulfoxaflor, both of which act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors against adult and developmental stages of H. axyridis. Estimated LC20 and LC50 doses of imidacloprid for a target pest species, Aphis gossypii, resulted in significantly greater mortality in contact bioassays against adult H. axyridis compared with equivalent LC20 and LC50 doses of sulfoxaflor. Both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor significantly reduced the proportion of ovipositing females of parental generation. LC20 and LC50 dose of imidacloprid and LC50 dose of sulfoxaflor significantly reduced both the fecundity and fertility of parental generation. In progeny of parents exposed to both insecticides at LC50 concentrations the juvenile survival rate was significantly reduced, and both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor, except LC20 dose of sulfoxaflor, significantly prolonged the larval development time. These experimental results disclose the negative influence of sulfoxaflor and imidacloprid at low concentrations on the harlequin ladybird and its subsequent generation. Hence, actions should be taken to optimize imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor applications for the control of aphid pests, aiming at preserving the biocontrol services provided by this important predator. The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a generalist predator and an effective biocontrol agent of various insect pests that has been exploited for the control of aphid pests in the greenhouse and field. However, insecticides are widely used to control aphid pests worldwide and the potential non-target effects of sulfoxaflor and imidacloprid for controlling aphid pests towards this biocontrol agent are little known. Although both sulfoxaflor and imidacloprid act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of insects, sulfoxaflor has a novel chemical structure compared with neonicotinoids. We assessed the lethal, sublethal and transgenerational effects of sulfoxaflor and imidacloprid on H. axyridis simultaneously exposed via ingestion of contaminated prey and via residual contact on the host plant at LC20 and LC50 doses estimated for the cotton aphid. Imidacloprid significantly reduced the survival of H. axyridis adults compared to sulfoxaflor at the same lethal concentration against cotton aphid. Both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor reduced the proportion of ovipositing females, and both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor, except LC20 dose of sulfoxaflor, reduced the fecundity and fertility of the parental generation. In the progeny of imidacloprid- and sulfoxaflor-exposed parents, both tested LC50 concentrations significantly decreased the juvenile survival rate, and both concentrations of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor, except LC20 dose of sulfoxaflor, prolonged the development time. Our findings provide evidence of the negative influence of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor at low lethal concentrations on the harlequin ladybird and on the progeny of exposed individuals, i.e., transgenerational effects. Hence, these findings stress the importance of optimizing the applications of imidacloprid and sulfoxaflor for the control of aphid pests, aiming at preserving the biocontrol services provided by H. axyridis throughout the integrated pest management approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Yellow stem borer (YSB), is the most destructive and widely occurring pest that attacks rice throughout the growing season. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a major staple cereal worldwide, providing essential caloric requirements for more than half of the world's population. Annual losses to rice borers are approximately 5–10%, but losses in individual fields may reach up to 50–60%. The use of traditional pest management strategies in controlling YSB is somewhat challenging due to its unique internal feeding habit. Genome sequence information of economically important crop pests is important for designing or developing pest-resistant rice varieties. In an approach to achieve this, we present our first-ever study on the draft genome sequence of YSB. The information provided from our current study might be useful in developing genome-based approaches for the management of pest species. Yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a major monophagous insect pest of rice, causes significant yield losses. The rice–YSB interaction is very dynamic, making it difficult for management. The development of resistant lines has been unsuccessful as there are no effective resistant sources in the germplasm. Genome information is necessary for a better understanding of interaction with rice in terms of its recognition, response, and infestation mechanism. The draft genome of YSB is predicted to have 46,057 genes with an estimated size of 308 Mb, being correlated with the flow cytometry analysis. The existence of complex metabolic mechanisms and genes related to specific behavior was identified, being conditioned by a higher level of regulation. We deciphered the possible visual, olfactory, and gustatory mechanisms responsible for its evolution as a monophagous pest. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that YSB is unique in the way it has evolved. The obvious presence of high-immunity-related genes, well-developed RNAi machinery, and diverse effectors provides a means for developing genomic tools for its management. The identified 21,696 SSR markers can be utilized for diversity analysis of populations across the rice-growing regions. We present the first draft genome of YSB. The information emanated paves a way for biologists to design novel pest management strategies as well as for the industry to design new classes of safer and specific insecticide molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Grey Field Slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Müller), is a common crop pest worldwide. To control slugs, chemicals, such as metaldehyde are incorporated into pellets which are toxic to slugs when consumed. Our aim was to compare slug feeding on new pellet types with those already commercially available. Novel pellet types included silica-coated commercial metaldehyde pellets where metaldehyde is released more slowly. An audio sensor was used to record the individual slugs feeding on a variety of pellet types, including toxic (metaldehyde and ferric phosphate) and non-toxic (cereal) pellets. Two types of experiment were conducted: shorter laboratory trials and longer arena trials. The length of each bite and the total number of bites were recorded. There was no difference in the length of the bites between pellet types in laboratory trials. Novel pellets were not consumed more than commercial pellet types. Commercial pellet types did not differ in consumption. Gastropod damage to crop plants has a significant economic impact on agricultural and horticultural industries worldwide, with the Grey Field Slug (Deroceras reticulatum (Müller)) considered the main mollusc pest in the United Kingdom and in many other temperate areas. The prevailing form of crop protection is pellets containing the active ingredient, metaldehyde. Metaldehyde can cause paralysis and death in the mollusc, depending on the amount ingested. The paralysing effects may result in reduced pellet consumption. A greater understanding of metaldehyde consumption may reveal an area that can be manipulated using novel molluscicide formulations. Novel pellet types included commercial metaldehyde pellets coated so that metaldehyde is released more slowly. In both laboratory and arena trials, an audio sensor was used to record individual slugs feeding on a variety of pellet types, including commercially available toxic pellets (metaldehyde and ferric phosphate) and novel metaldehyde formulations. The sensor was used to record the length of each bite and the total number of bites. There was no significant difference in the length of bites between pellet types in laboratory trials. Novel pellets were not consumed more than commercial pellet types. Commercial pellet types did not differ in consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a species-specific and environment-friendly method of insect control that relies on the release of large numbers of sterile insects. Mating released sterile males with wild females leads to a decrease in the reproductive potential and to the local suppression of the target population. There is increased interest in applying this approach to manage disease-transmitting mosquito populations. The main focus of this pilot trial was to assess the efficacy of the SIT for the suppression of Aedes aegypti populations. Two areas in Havana city, Cuba, were selected as control and release trial sites. The presence, density and fertility of the target wild population were monitored through a network of ovitraps. Approximately 1,270,000 irradiated Ae. aegypti males were released in the 50 ha target area over a period of 20 weeks. The released mosquitoes showed excellent mating competitiveness and induced high levels of sterility in the wild Ae. aegypti population. The target natural population was suppressed as reflected in the ovitrap index and in the mean number of eggs/trap values which dropped to zero by the last 3 weeks of the trial. We conclude that the released sterile male Ae. aegypti competed successfully and induced significant sterility in the local target Ae. aegypti population, resulting in suppression of the vector. Dengue virus infections are a serious public health problem worldwide. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue in Cuba. As there is no vaccine or specific treatment, the control efforts are directed to the reduction of mosquito populations. The indiscriminate use of insecticides can lead to adverse effects on ecosystems, including human health. The sterile insect technique is a species-specific and environment-friendly method of insect population control based on the release of large numbers of sterile insects, ideally males only. The success of this technique for the sustainable management of agricultural pests has encouraged its evaluation for the population suppression of mosquito vector species. Here, we describe an open field trial to evaluate the effect of the release of irradiated male Ae. aegypti on a wild population. The pilot trial was carried out in a suburb of Havana and compared the mosquito population density before and after the intervention, in both untreated control and release areas. The wild population was monitored by an ovitrap network, recording frequency and density of eggs as well as their hatch rate. A significant amount of sterility was induced in the field population of the release area, as compared with the untreated control area. The ovitrap index and the mean number of eggs/trap declined dramatically after 12 and 5 weeks of releases, respectively. For the last 3 weeks, no eggs were collected in the treatment area, clearly indicating a significant suppression of the wild target population. We conclude that the sterile males released competed successfully and induced enough sterility to suppress the local Ae. aegypti population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Climate change and extreme weather events have a major impact on crop production and agricultural pests. As generally adaptable organisms, insect pests respond differently to different causes of climate change. In this review, we address the effects of rising temperatures and atmospheric CO2 levels, as well as changing precipitation patterns, on agricultural insect pests. Since temperature is the most important environmental factor affecting insect population dynamics, it is expected that global climate warming could trigger an expansion of their geographic range, increased overwintering survival, increased number of generations, increased risk of invasive insect species and insect-transmitted plant diseases, as well as changes in their interaction with host plants and natural enemies. As climate change exacerbates the pest problem, there is a great need for future pest management strategies. These include monitoring climate and pest populations, modified integrated pest management strategies, and the use of modelling prediction tools which are presented here. Climate change and global warming are of great concern to agriculture worldwide and are among the most discussed issues in today's society. Climate parameters such as increased temperatures, rising atmospheric CO2 levels, and changing precipitation patterns have significant impacts on agricultural production and on agricultural insect pests. Changes in climate can affect insect pests in several ways. They can result in an expansion of their geographic distribution, increased survival during overwintering, increased number of generations, altered synchrony between plants and pests, altered interspecific interaction, increased risk of invasion by migratory pests, increased incidence of insect-transmitted plant diseases, and reduced effectiveness of biological control, especially natural enemies. As a result, there is a serious risk of crop economic losses, as well as a challenge to human food security. As a major driver of pest population dynamics, climate change will require adaptive management strategies to deal with the changing status of pests. Several priorities can be identified for future research on the effects of climatic changes on agricultural insect pests. These include modified integrated pest management tactics, monitoring climate and pest populations, and the use of modelling prediction tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]