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Insects appeared more than 400 million years ago and they represent the richest and most diverse taxonomic group with several million species. Yet, under the combined effect of the loss of natural habitats, the intensification of agriculture with massive use of pesticides, global warming and biological invasions, insects show alarming signs of decline. Although difficult to quantify, species extinction and population reductions are confirmed for many ecosystems. This results in a loss of services such as the pollination of plants, including food crops, the recycling of organic matter, the supply of goods such as honey and the stability of food webs. It is therefore urgent to halt the decline of Insects. We recommend implementing long-term monitoring of populations, tackling the causes of insect decline by reducing the use of synthetic insecticides, preserving natural habitats, and reinventing a positive relationship between humans and insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasive Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) is the vector of the bacterial pathogen ('Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus') that is the putative causal agent of citrus greening disease (Huanglongbing disease) in citrus in many areas of the world. The capacity to predict the potential geographic distribution, phenology and relative abundance of the pest and disease is pivotal to developing sound policy for their management. A weather-driven physiologically based demographic model (PBDM) system was developed to summarize the available data in the literature, and used to assess prospectively the geographic distribution and relative yield of citrus, the relative densities of the psyllid, its parasitoid (Tamarixia radiata Waterston), and the potential severity of citrus greening disease in North America and the Mediterranean Basin. The potential for natural and biological control of citrus psyllid was examined prospectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]