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The European tent caterpillar, Malacosoma neustria Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), is a worldwide known pest that causes significant losses by feeding on many woody and shrub-like plants during the larval period. In this study, a Beauveria bassiana strain isolated from M. neustria larvae and characterized according to its morphological and molecular properties. Its insecticidal activity was tested on M. neustria larvae. Sequence results of partial ITS (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) gene region identified the isolate (named as Mn1) as a B. bassiana strain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Mn1 strain displays close similarity to B. bassiana ARSEF 1848 and ARSEF 751 isolates. According to the concentration-responce tests performed using 1 × 103 – 1 × 109 conidia per mL concentrations, LC50 value of the new strain was calculated as 1 × 105 conidia per mL within 7 days against the larvae of M. neustria in the laboratory conditions. B. bassiana Mn1 strain, characterized in this study, is recorded as the first entomopathogenic fungus isolated from M. neustria, and the results showed that new strain of B. bassiana has a serious potential to be utilized as a good biocontrol agent against M. neustria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants produce secondary metabolites for defense against herbivorous insects. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of quinine, nicotine, and tannic acid on food consumption and pupal parameters of the larva of a severe pest, Malacosoma neustria L. (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), were investigated in 2007. Artificial diets containing 0.125%, 0.25%, and 0.5% concentrations of quinine or nicotine were prepared. In addition, diets containing 1.25%, 2.5%, and 5% tannin and a control diet without secondary metabolite were prepared. The feeding experiments revealed that the food consumption and pupal parameters of male and female larvae were different, and all parameters of female individuals were higher than those of male larvae. It has been determined that tannins cause more reductions in food consumption and pupal parameters than alkaloids in male and female individuals. We observed an increase in male larvae's pupal mass with increased concentration of nicotine to 0.5%. Nicotine did not cause a decrease in pupal parameters of larvae compared to quinine. In addition, all parameters of female individuals decreased with the addition of secondary metabolite. Although food consumption in alkaloid-containing diets was less than in the control group, there was a positive relationship between food consumption and pupal lipid and protein content. However, quinine had a more significant effect on triggering protein storage than nicotine. In diets containing tannins, more lipids were stored. A decrease was observed in the food consumption and pupal parameters of all individuals in the tannin-containing diets compared to the other diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malacosoma neustria is a pest for many plant species. Instead of chemical control, eco-friendly biological control methods should be used to combat this species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of isolates of two entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium brunneum (ORP-18) and Beauveria bassiana (GOPT-331), used as both oral and spray application on the 4th instar larvae of M. neustria under laboratory conditions. In addition, it was determined how the infection affected the amounts of malondialdehyde, NADPH oxidase and glutathione of the larvae. Both fungal isolates were placed in separate containers at 2 ml for each concentration (1x105, 1x106, 1x107 and 1x108 conidia/ml) in the oral group and contaminated all over the Elaeagnus rhamnoides leaves and then the contaminated leaves were offered to ten larvae in each container. For the spray group, 2 ml of spray was applied to every ten larvae placed in the containers for each concentration. As a result, it was found that both isolates killed the larvae. The ORP-18 isolate caused higher mortality rates than the GOPT-331 isolate. The spray application was more lethal than the oral application. With increasing conidial concentrations of both isolates, the amounts of malondialdehyde and NADPH oxidases increased, while the glutathione amounts decreased, which indicated the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on larval survival. On the basis of the results, it is recommended to use the ORP-18 isolate for the control of larvae of M. neustria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand and improve the stability of the insecticidal activity of tobacco extract, the 3rd instar larvae of Malacosoma neustria testacea was determined by the leaf film method. Spectrophotometry identified extract effects on activities of several enzymes. In addition, to improve the stability of the extract, microcapsules were prepared by complex coacervation and phase separation with the extract as core material, and gelatin and gum arabic as wall material. With the embedding rate as the evaluation index, the response surface method was used to optimize the preparation process of the microcapsules. The results show that the extract had a strong insecticidal activity on the larvae, with inhibitory effects on several enzymes examined of carboxylesterase, acetylcholinesterase, glutathione-S transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. The inhibition rate increased with time. The best preparation process of tobacco extract microcapsules was 25% mass fraction of emulsifier, 2.05% mass fraction of gelatin, 3% mass fraction of gum arabic, 1.34 wall core ratio, 36 min of complex coacervation time. The embedding rate was 58.4% which is approximately the theoretical embedding rate (58.9%). The microcapsules prepared by this method have a smooth surface, good combining form and particle size distribution, and a median diameter of 8.6 μm. Infrared characteristic peaks of the extracts were preserved at 877.55 cm‒1 and 2922.13 cm‒1. Microencapsulation can improve the thermal stability of the tobacco extract. Indoor toxicity tests showed that LC50 of extract microcapsules was 20.2 mg·mL‒1, equivalent to the toxicity level of the tobacco extract itself, indicating that microencapsulation did not reduce extract insecticidal effects. This research may provide a reference for the optimization of the tobacco extract microcapsule preparation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anadolu Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Anadolu Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi, Ziraat Fakultesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The lackey moth, Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758), a worldwide pest, causes extensive economic losses particularly on hazelnut, plum, oak, poplar, and willow trees. A baculovirus, Malacosoma neustria nucleopolyhedrovirus (ManeNPV-T2), has been isolated from the larvae collected in Turkey and appears to have a potential as a microbial control agent. In this study, we describe the complete genome sequence of ManeNPV-T2 and compare it to other sequenced baculovirus genomes. The ManeNPV-T2 genome is a circular double-stranded DNA molecule of 130,202 bp, has 38.2% G + C, and is predicted to contain 131 putative open reading frames (ORFs) each with a coding capacity of more then 50 amino acids. There are 27 ORFs with unknown function of which 6 are unique to ManeNPV-T2. Eleven homologous regions (hrs) and two bro genes (bro-a and bro-b) were identified in the genome. There are two homologues of chaB and nicotinamide riboside kinase-1 genes, separated from themselves with a few nucleotides. Additionally, ac145, thought to be per os infectivity factor (pif) gene, is also found as two homologues. All 38 core genes are found in the ManeNPV-T2 genome. The phylogenetic tree of ManeNPV-T2 in relation to 50 other baculoviruses whose genomes have been completely sequenced showed ManeNPV-T2 to be closely related to the group II NPVs. This study expands our knowledge on baculoviruses, describes the characterization ManeNPV, and ultimately contributes to the registration of this virus as a microbial pesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Biology is the property of Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Biology is the property of Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The lackey moth, Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758), a worldwide pest, causes extensive economic losses on particularly hazelnut, Prunus, Quercus, Populus, and Salix trees. In this study, a local nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) was isolated from the larvae of M. neustria in the northeast of Turkey. It was named ManeNPV-T2. Electron microscopic observations showed that the polyhedra of the new isolate contain several virions with multiple nucleocapsids packaged within a single viral envelope. Restriction endonuclease analysis of ManeNPV-T2 DNA indicated that it has a different restriction profile compared to the previous Turkish and Latvian isolates. The phylogenetic analysis of the amplified polh sequence of ManeNPV-T2 showed its relation to the other NPVs from Malacosoma species. Mortality values for third instar M. neustria larvae ranged from 48% to 100% according to the concentration of polyhedral occlusion bodies. Based on screening tests, the LD50 value of the new isolate was calculated as 1.34 x 104 occlusion bodies per larvae. Consequently, ManeNPV appears to be a promising microbial control agent for biocontrol of M. neustria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Zoology is the property of Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Intraspecies competition in a field population of Gregopimpla himalayensis (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) parasitic on the prepupae of Malacosoma neustria testacea (Lep.: Lasiocampidae) was investigated. The parasite oviposits the sufficient number of progeny (5 individuals/0.1 g dry weight of host) to exhaust a single host in a single attack. However, at the intensity less than 22-26 individuals/0.1 g d.w. of host, all individuals can emerge, i.e. density-dependent mortality does not occur. Within this range of intensity, survival of parasite larvae is guaranteed by diminution in body size and decreasing sex ratio. In contrast, total biomass of parasites showed a peak at 5 individuals/0.1 g d.w. of host at which a single host is exhausted. Above the intensity of 22-26, extraordinary minute individuals appeared and they died before maturation. If intraspecies competition play a role in regulation of G. himalayensis population in the field, the process is usually not through density-dependent mortality but through decreasing reproductive rate caused by decrease in the sex ratio, adult longevity and fecundity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Artvin Çoruh Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Artvin Coruh University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Baculoviruses, especially prevalent in Lepidoptera, have attracted the most attention as biological insect control agents. Infection with baculoviruses is usually fatal and therefore can affect the host population density, especially if virus transmission increases with host density. Lepidoptera larvae show a strong dose-dependent response to pathogens such as baculoviruses, so their response to various pathogen exposures was studied in this work. Models of virus exposure to insect hosts are usually judged by whether or not they generate cyclical population dynamics of multiple host generations. However, the existing theoretical models based on systems of differential equations are of little use for practical application due to the large number of variables and free parameters. In this regard, the possibility of using a mathematical model for describing the epizootic Malacosoma neustria L. and Lymantria dispar L. under the influence of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus is considered. To assess the sensitivity of insects to the effects of baculoviruses, laboratory experiments were carried out on the mortality of caterpillars under various infectious loads. In this paper, we consider the possibility of constructing a model for the lifetime of insects after exposure to baculoviruses as an analog of a second-order phase transition in physical systems and give estimates of the model parameters for two insect species at different titers of baculoviruses and at different ages of caterpillars. The dependence of the parameters of the proposed model on the nuclear polyhedrosis virus strains is shown. The importance of the applied parameters for the organization of forest protection measures is substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Poxviridae is divided into two subfamilies, the Chordopoxvirinae of vertebrates and the Entomopoxvirinae of invertebrates. The Amsacta mooreientomopoxvirus (AMEV, Entomopoxvirinae) has the potential to be used in gene therapy, as an expression vector, and as a biopesticide. It was suggested that AMV248 protein is a putative glycosyltransferase (GT) but was also shown to be an attachment protein to host receptors. GTs encoded by some other viruses catalyse the binding of sugars molecules to growth hormones of the host insects rendering the hormones inactive. Consequently, larval development is arrested and frequently results in larval mortality. In this study, AMV248 protein was shown to be a GT and the purified enzyme catalysed the production of uridine diphosphate (UDP) from the substrates UDP‐glucose and UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine. This AMEV enzyme may behave much like the ecdysteroid UDP‐glucosyltransferase of baculoviruses. Various concentrations of the GT enzyme were tested for its insecticidal activity against gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), lackey moth Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. It had varying deleterious effects on all test larvae but L. dispar was the most sensitive to the enzyme. While this enzyme exhibits properties with potential to be developed as an insecticide in biocontrol strategies, investigations are needed to ascertain its value in pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unraveling multiple layers of collective behavior outside the well-known isopteran and hymenopteran societies was a tall order for the scientific community, especially in the case of gregarious juveniles in the order Lepidoptera. Often protected with a solid silk shelter, devoid of reproductive division of labor or conventional forms of parental care, caterpillar aggregations have rarely been considered in terms of economic importance. Of over 60 European communal species, 24 can be associated with voracious feeding habits, and thus be irruptive or pestilential, depending on the extent and severity. This review retrieves 59 cases of biocontrol against Hyphantria cunea (Drury), Euproctis chrysorrhoea (L.), Malacosoma neustria (L.), Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller), T. processionea (L.) and Yponomeuta malinellus (Zeller) and classifies them in predefined research and application subcategories. The percentage-wise distribution of the utilized or explored biocontrol agents was projected at 35.59% in favor of parasitoids and predators. Falling between fundamental and applicative disciplines, biocontrol, especially in its early days, built a global reputation of being underreported. To provide guidance for future research regarding the group, the functional trait-based concept used in this study is complemented with preliminary outcome assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faunistic data of 13 Ichneumonidae species from Turkey, including Artvin, Bayburt, Erzincan, Erzurum, Kars, and Trabzon, are presented from 2005-2010. A total of 25 specimens belonging to Acaenitinae, Anomaloninae, Banchinae, Campopleginae, Cryptinae, Metopiinae, Ophioninae, Orthocentrinae, Pimplinae, and Tryphoninae have been recorded. Orthocentrus marginatus Holmgren is newly added to the Turkish fauna and Buathra laborator Thunberg is a new host for Malacosoma neustria (L.) in Turkey. New distribution data of 12 known species are added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial insecticides have emerged as a biotechnological strategy for controlling insect pests in crops, primarily due to the ineffectiveness of synthetic pesticides, which have led to resistance in insect populations due to their overuse. For many years, Bacillus thuringiensis has been recognized as the most promising microorganism for this purpose, while other entomopathogenic bacteria, which have demonstrated efficacy against various insect orders, have been largely overlooked. These entomopathogenic bacteria employ diverse mechanisms to control insect pests, including damage via contact or ingestion, disruption of intestinal cell integrity, interference with the insect's central nervous system, and alterations to reproductive processes. Among the insecticidal compounds produced by these bacteria are Cry homologous toxins, non-homologous toxins, biosurfactant-type compounds, macrocyclic lactones, lipopeptides, chitinases, and other metabolites that remain underexplored. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of lesser-known entomopathogenic bacteria utilized in the development of these biopesticides. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of these biotechnological products, the mechanisms of action of entomopathogenic bacteria, genetic engineering strategies aimed at enhancing these biopesticides, and the application of these bacteria in commercial production. Additionally, the paper reviews patents related to this field and examines the role of insecticidal bacteria as inducers of systemic resistance (ISR) in plants, highlighting their potential for the development of commercial bioproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'high- risk plants, plant products and other objects'. Taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the applicant country, this Scientific Opinion covers the plant health risks posed by the following commodities: Alnus cordata, A. glutinosa and A. incana graftwood, bare- root plants and rooted plants in pots up to 7 years old imported into the EU from the UK. A list of pests potentially associated with the commodities was compiled. The relevance of each pest was assessed based on evidence following defined criteria. Two EU- quarantine pests (Entoleuca mammata, Phytophthora ramorum (non- EU isolates)) and one non- quarantine pest (Phytophthora siskiyouensis) were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures implemented in the UK and specified in the technical dossier were evaluated taking into account the factors reducing their efficacy. For these pests, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies between the pests evaluated, with E. mammata being the pest most frequently expected on imported Alnus spp. small trees. Expert knowledge elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty, that between 9927 and 10,000 per 10,000 Alnus spp. small trees (bare- root plants or rooted plants in pots up to 7 years old) would be free from E. mammata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are potential habitats for immense terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic biodiversity, performing an essential role in ecological preservation and regulation of climate. The anthropogenic pressures on the forests lead to forest loss, fragmentation and degradation. Requirements for sustainable methodologies for forest protection are of utmost priority under the climate change regime. Among forest trees, poplar trees (Populus L.) have attracted attention in global forestry as a promising material for improving the quality and quantity of urban landscapes. These plants provide wood, which can be utilized as raw resources for the paper industry and as a potential source of biofuel. However, several biotic stresses, such as attacks by pests and pathogens, severely affect poplar production and productivity. The improvement of Populus trees through conventional tree breeding methods is restricted due to their long-life cycles and the lack of suitable donors with resistance genes. Populus has been utilized as a model plant for studying gene functions due to its highly efficient genetic transformation capabilities. The present review will provide a comprehensive overview of pest and pathogen attacks on poplar, focusing on their infection mechanisms, transmission routes, and control strategies. Additionally, it will examine the most widely used genetic transformation methods (gene gun-mediated, Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated, protoplast transformation, micro-RNA mediated and micro-RNA clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (CRISPR-Cas) systems methods and RNA interference) for improving tolerance in poplar trees against pest and pathogens attack. Furthermore, it will delve into prospects, challenges, and recent advances in molecular biology tools and their safe application for genetic transformation to improve insect and pest resistance in poplar trees. Finally, the regeneration of transgenic poplar trees with enhanced resistance, developed through various genetic engineering techniques, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period 1990-2017, a survey of the entomopathogens and parasitoids of several pest insects was conducted, including the lepidopterans Lymantria dispar, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Leucoma salicis, Malacosoma neustria, Orthosia cerasi, Aporia crataegi, Operophtera brumata, Eilema complana, Tortix viridana, Archips xylosteana, Paranthrene tabaniformis, Gypsonoma aceriana, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, T. solitaria, Phyllocnistis unipunctella, the coleopterans Saperda populnea, Ips typographus, I. acuminatus, I. sexdentatus, Pityogenes chalcographus, Dryocoetes autographus, Hylurgops palliatus, Phyllobius sp. and the hymenopterans Diprion pini, Neodiprion sertifer, Gilpinia sp. and Tremex fuscicornis. As a result of these studies 5 viruses, 1 protozoan species, 7 microsporidian species, 5 species of entomopathogenic fungi and 46 parasitoid species have been documented in 27 host insects collected in the region of the Forest Protection Station Plovdiv. The first successful introduction in Bulgaria of the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga maimaiga in populations of L. dispar was conducted in 1999 in the region of the Forest Protection Station at Plovdiv (in the village of Gorni Domlyan, Karlovо Forestry) and 7 subsequent introductions were later performed in the region of the station. As a result, L. dispar density has been maintained at low levels in that area and only 60 hectares were sprayed with insecticides for L. dispar control in the last 18 years. Another success was the first field release in Europe and Bulgaria of the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophaga aulicae in a healthy population of the brown tail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, in 2016 in the village of Zhenda (Kardzhali Forestry). Investigations in 2017 showed that 19% of E. chrysorrhoea larvae sampled from release sites had died due to infection by E. aulicae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by plants of Betula pendula and B. pubescens imported from the United Kingdom (UK) taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. The commodities were grouped in the risk assessment as (a) bundles of 10–20 graftwood/budwood (up to 1‐year‐old), (b) bare root plants which include bundles of 25 or 50 seedlings or transplants (1–2 years‐old), bundles of 5, 10 or 15 whips (1–2 years‐old) and single bare root plants (1–7 years‐old), (c) plants in pots which include bundles of 5 and 10 cell‐grown plants (1–2 years‐old) and rooted plants in pots (1–7 years‐old), and (d) large specimen trees up to 15‐years‐old. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Two EU quarantine pests i.e. Meloidogyne fallax and Phytophthora ramorum (non‐EU isolates) and two protected zone quarantine pests i.e. Entoleuca mammata and Thaumetopoea processionea fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures described in the technical dossier from the UK were evaluated considering the possible limiting factors. For these pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. In the assessment of risk, the age of the plants was considered, as larger trees are more likely to be infested mainly due to longer time grown in the field. In addition, larger canopies and root systems are more difficult to inspect, thereby making the detection of pests more challenging on large trees. The likelihood of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with M. fallax being the pest most frequently expected on the imported plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation (EKE) indicated with 95% certainty that between 9735 and 10,000 per 10,000 large specimen trees will be free from M. fallax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gregarious lifestyle of lepidopteran larvae is diverse and shaped by a complex interplay of ecological and evolutionary factors. Our review showed that the larval‐aggregation behavior has been reported in 23 lepidopteran families, indicating multiple evolution of this behavior. Some larvae live in sibling groups throughout all larval instars and even pupation stages, which may result from the kin‐selection. In contrast, group fusion may occur among different sibling or foraging groups of larvae and form larger aggregates, and the gregariousness of these species might be driven by the group‐selection. While group size and foraging patterns vary greatly across species, it is generally associated with improved larval survivorship and accelerated development. However, the advantages of group living, such as facilitating feeding activities, adjusting the temperature, and defending natural enemies, may diminish along with development, with strong intraspecific competition occurring at later instars, even when food is abundant. Therefore, the group sizes and fission–fusion dynamics of certain gregarious lepidopteran larvae may be a consequence of their cost–benefit balance depending on various biotic and abiotic factors. Trail and aggregation pheromones, silk trails, or body contact contribute to collective movement and group cohesion of gregarious lepidopteran larvae. However, frequent contact among group members may cause the horizontal transmission of pathogens and pesticides, which may bring an integrated pest management strategy controlling gregarious lepidopteran pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Walnut moth Garella (Erschoviella) musculana (Erschov) (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) seriously damages fresh shoots and fruits since first detected in 2016. The population dynamics of a newly invaded pest is important in developing management strategies in walnut areas. The populations of immature life stages, damage, overwintering, and management of G. musculana were evaluated for two consecutive years (2017-2018) in walnut orchards in Bartın, Turkey. The larvae of G. musculana were determined to damage in young shoots and under fruit pericarp. The first larva stage was recorded to feed at about 5 cm shoots of walnut trees in late-June. The adult flights were also seen in the last decade of June. Although the highest adult population was detected in July and August, significant damage was recorded in the last August and an increase occurred in September. The overwintering pupae were determined under the bark or in cardboard in early October. The damage of the collected fruits was reported about 11-60% in early harvest. The moths were caught only from melas trap throughout the cropping season in the second year, but this study was conducted on long-term population dynamics in both orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the discovery of the Burren Green Calamia tridens in Ireland and we provide a complete checklist of the Lepidoptera of the Burren region of western Ireland, the first such list since 1967. The checklist is compiled from published sources and verified records. In total 1,002 species are listed as present in the region up to the end of 2023 which represents 65% of the Irish Lepidoptera fauna. 27 species are only present in the Burren region within Ireland and two of these are only found here within Britain and Ireland. The Burren region supports a significant proportion of the Irish Red-listed macromoths and butterflies. The history of recording in the Burren region is briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used Butterfly Conservation and National Moth Recording Scheme data to assess the status of the Lepidoptera of Yorkshire and to provide an evidence-base for a nature recovery strategy for the county and a baseline for measuring its success. For most of the analyses we used only data on butterflies and macro-moths because recording of micromoths has only recently become sufficiently extensive. Yorkshire is home to over two-thirds of Britain's butterflies and moths, including some of the rarest and most threatened species. Using national IUCN criteria, around 30% of the butterflies but only 8% of moths are regarded as threatened. There is no evidence that butterflies are in general decline in Yorkshire, although populations of some species appear to be reducing, but recorded extinction rates have been higher among butterflies (23%) than moths (5%). Among moths in particular, Yorkshire hosts 25 species whose populations represent a significant proportion of the British or English total, and these species (termed here Yorkshire Stronghold species) are of particular conservation importance. The number of moth species in decline and the number increasing in abundance are similar, but declining species are less widespread nationally than increasing species, suggesting a net loss of biodiversity. A number of moth species showing serious decline nationally have either stable or increasing populations in Yorkshire. An index calculated to estimate the conservation significance of all species of larger moths in Yorkshire (index of Yorkshire Species of Concern, YSC), based on regional and national rarityand threat, distribution dynamics, and the Stronghold status, shows thatthese species are especially dependent on woodlands, with fens, heaths and moors also important habitats. The protected area network in Yorkshire appears to be playing a very strong role in the conservation of the moth fauna, with all the YSC with an index value of 3 or more (outof 16) having at least 30% of their populations located in or very close to a protected site. Sites managed for nature conservation performed much better in this analysis than those designated for landscape or amenity value. We recommend that these findings are used to guide nature recovery activities in Yorkshire and, because the analysis depends on data that are routinely gathered by volunteer naturalists, should be used to measure the success of any such strategy in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by potted plants and bundles of bare‐root plants or cell grown young plants or graftwood/budwood of Prunus spinosa imported from the United Kingdom, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. One quarantine pest, Scirtothrips dorsalis, one protected zone quarantine pest Bemisia tabaci (European population) and one non‐regulated pest, the scale Eulecanium excrescens, that fulfilled all relevant criteria were selected for further evaluation. The risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical Dossier from the UK were evaluated, taking into account the possible limiting factors. For these pests, expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom, taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with E. excrescens being the pest most frequently expected on the imported potted plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation indicated with 95% certainty that between 9981 and 10,000 plants per 10,000 would be free from the above‐mentioned scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by plants of Prunus avium possibly grafted on rootstocks of either P. avium, P. canescens, P. cerasus, P. pseudocerasus or their hybrids imported from the UK, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodities were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Three quarantine pests Scirtothrips dorsalis, tobacco ringspot virus and tomato ringspot virus), one protected zone EU quarantine pest (Bemisia tabaci (European population), and three non‐ regulated pests (Colletotrichum aenigma, Eulecanium excrescens and Takahashia japonica) that fulfilled all relevant criteria were selected for further evaluation. The risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical Dossier from the UK were evaluated, taking into account the possible limiting factors. For these pests, expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom, taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with Colletotrichum aenigma being the pest most frequently expected on the imported potted plants. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation indicated with 95% certainty that between 9971 and 10,000 plants per 10,000 would be free from the above‐mentioned fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period 2001-2020, in the region of Central South Bulgaria, 64 species of phytophagous insects from 6 orders were found on poplars (Populus spp.): Lepidoptera - 29 species, or 45.3%, Coleoptera (21 species, 32.8 %), Homoptera (5 species, 9.4%), Hymenoptera (4 species, 6.4%), Diptera (2 species, 3.1%) and Orthoptera (2 species, 3.1%). The largest number of families is represented by Lepidoptera (13), followed by Coleoptera (6), Homoptera (2), Hymenoptera (2) and Diptera (1). The most species are polyphages - 28, or 43.7%, followed by oligophages (27, or 42.2%) and monophages (9, or 14.1%). Two species (Leucoptera sinuella and Sciota hostilis) were established for the first time in trophic associations with Populus tremula in Bulgaria. The area of poplar plantations and nurseries attacked by insect pests during the study period was 11703.1 ha (585.2 ha on average per year). Economically important phyllophages are Byctiscus populi, Byctiscus betulae, Chrysomela populi, Chrysomela vigintipunctata, Leucoma salicis, Clostera anastomosis, Nycteola asiatica and Leucoptera sinuella. Of the xylophages, the greatest damage is caused by Paranthrene tabaniformis, Saperda populnea, Trachypteris picta and Lamia textor. Some biological and ecological characteristics of the most important insect species causing damage to poplars in forest nurseries and plantations, as well as the measures used to control their density, are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a total of 12 different fungal isolates were obtained from two different Colorado potato beetle (CPB) populations to identify a new effective agent to control L. decemlineata, which has developed resistance to many chemicals. The isolates were defined as Beauveria bassiana based on the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, EF1-α, RPB1, and Bloc gene sequences. Under laboratory conditions, all isolates were pathogenic, but their virulence was different on larvae and adults. LdA-1 was the most virulent isolate with a mortality of 80% in larvae and 50% in adults. The LC50 value of this isolate was determined to be 0.2×106 and 0.17×108 conidia/ml for larvae and adults, respectively. Based on these results, LdA-1 isolates were used for mycoinsecticide development. Conidia were produced by solid-state fermentation using rice as a substrate. The conidia were formulated as oil-in-water emulsions and their efficacy was evaluated. The efficacy of the oil-based formulation against CPB larvae and adults was tested on eggplant in pot experiments. The new oil-based product caused 100% and 97% mortality on larvae and adults, respectively, at 1×108 conidia/ml. The LC50 value of our formulation for larvae and adults was calculated to be 1.2×106 and 0.2×107 conidia/ml, respectively. These results highlight that this formulation could be a suitable product for CPB control instead of conventional synthetic insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reads Anna Letitia Barbauld's affective encounter in 'The Caterpillar' (1825) in the light of her broader entomological writing for both adults and children. It investigates the recommendations for attention to the small and the particular in her didactic work alongside the narratives of insect subjectivity and insect metamorphosis in her occasional and lyric verse to assess the poet's contribution to an ecological mode of writing in this period. This uncovers a key tension in Barbauld's communication of insect worlds, reflected in the conclusion of 'The Caterpillar', where the affective encounter exposes the inescapable otherness of the human observer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smallholder farming systems make a vital contribution to food security. However, pests pose a significant challenge to the productivity and sustainability of these agricultural systems. The need to reduce the usage of chemical pesticides in agriculture has intensified due to growing public health and environmental concerns. Retaining generalized predators to biologically control pests is commonly considered as an alternative management strategy. Bats are widely acknowledged as highly effective pest suppression agents. However, little is known about how bats contribute to pest suppression services in smallholder farming systems and how different sympatric bat species divide their use of food resources. We employed DNA metabarcoding to determine the differential prey species consumed by seven bat species in Chinese smallholder farming systems to clarify pest suppression services and dietary niche differentiation. We detected 19 orders of arthropods, among which mosquitos (Diptera), moths (Lepidoptera), and beetles (Coleoptera) were the most predominant prey items. We also documented 75 major pests consumed by bats that can potentially damage agricultural areas or spread diseases. Moreover, there was a significant differentiation among the seven sympatric bat species. Finally, Spearman correlation analysis shows that morphological and echolocation traits may explain dietary niche differentiation. Our results suggest that bats play a critical role in pest suppression services in smallholder farming systems and further prove that the dietary niche was significant differentiation among bat species. These results implied that landscape heterogeneity in smallholder farming systems may increase arthropod diversity, in turn increase biological pest control by bats. Thus, our results also highlight the importance of conserving bat populations and their crucial ecosystem services in integrated pest management (IPM), which has significant implications for the potential protection of food security and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two European species are recognised and characterised within the traditional Aleiodes seriatus species concept, based initially on DNA barcoding but with supporting, although slight and sometimes unreliable, morphological differences. Aleiodes pseudoseriatus sp. nov. is described and a neotype is designated for Rogas seriatus Herrich-Schäffer, 1838. Specimens from the Russian Far East were also DNA barcoded and were found to belong to a new species distinct from the two European taxa. The two European species were found to use different lithosiine hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina is the property of Sociedad Entomologica Argentina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Three genes encoding chitinase A (chiA), B (chiB), and C (chiC) were amplified from a bacterium that was isolated from a naturally dead Helicoverpa armigera larva and identified as Serratia marcescens based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (KF823633 accession number). The open reading frames (ORFs) were identified as 1692, 1500, and 1443 base pairs for chiA, chiB, and chiC genes, respectively. These sequences were submitted to the GenBank with accession numbers KF823630 (chiA), KF823631 (chiB), and KF823632 (chiC). Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences with those of other bacterial chitinases revealed that the 3 chitinases contain the catalytic domain. Furthermore, all 3 chitinases showed 99% similarity to the S. marcescens WW4 strain at the amino acid level. The chitinases were overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Expressed proteins were purified and their activities were tested using colloidal chitin as substrate. Reasonable pH and temperature ranges were also determined as 7-11 and 33-37 °C, respectively. Insecticidal activities of these proteins were tested on the larvae of Malacosoma neustria and H. armigera. Test results showed that 1000 U/mL ChiA, ChiB, and ChiC have 47%, 50%, and 66% insecticidal activities on M. neustria, and 80%, 45%, and 50% insecticidal activities on H. armigera larvae within 10 days, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa Den. and Schiff. (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae) is one of the most harmful insect pests for pine species in Mediterranean countries including Turkey. Two Bacillus thuringiensis isolates obtained from T. pityocampa were identified and characterized in terms of crystal shape using electron microscopy, SDS-PAGE analysis, cry gene contents, H-serotype and insecticidal activity. Examination by a scanning electron microscope showed that Tp6 and Tp14 isolates have flat square and bipyramidal crystal shapes, respectively. PCR analysis showed that Tp6 contains cry3 gene and Tp14 isolate contains cry1 and cry2 genes. On the other hand, the presence of Cry3 and Cry1 proteins were confirmed by observation of approximately 65- and 130-kDa proteins by SDS-PAGE in Tp6 and Tp14 isolates, respectively. According to H-serotype results, these isolates were identified as Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. morrisoni (H8a8b). Toxicity tests were performed against six insect species belonging to Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. The highest insecticidal activity was 100% for Tp6 isolate on larvae of Agelastica alni and Leptinotarsa decemlineata and 100% for Tp14 isolate on larvae of Malacosoma neustria. Our results indicate that isolates Tp6 and Tp14 may be valuable biological control agents for various coleopteran and lepidopteran pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Records of 316 species of macro-moths and 21 species of butterflies at Park Farm, Kidlington, Oxfordshire, from 1976 to 2000 are reviewed. Species of particular interest are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In everchanging landscapes with intense land use for agriculture, forestry and settlements, songbirds need to adapt their feeding and breeding behaviour according to changing habitats and food supplies. Blue and Great Tits occur in various habitats from forest to park-like sites and strongly rely on caterpillars to feed their offspring. Using genetic analyses of Blue and Great Tit droppings, we compared the diet composition of nestlings among forest, urban parks, and meadows with scattered fruit trees (traditional orchards). Additionally, we compared the food availability in the trees of each habitat to the respective nestling diets. Both bird species showed a diverse diet dominated by butterflies in all habitats. Moth components in the diet were most similar between forest and orchard sites, while components of other insect-like prey were most similar between orchard and urban sites. Both bird species especially selected three major moth families at all sites and alongside two families of sawflies in the orchard and forest sites. Our results on nestling diet and prey preferences provide further insights in the feeding behaviours of Blue and Great Tits among changing anthropogenic landscapes. Moreover, our genetic approach using bird droppings provides a baseline to support insect monitoring. Increasing landscape transformations and urbanisation affect insectivorous bird populations in various ways such as food availability, breeding phenology, or reproductive success. Especially during the breeding season, many passerine birds rely on the availability of caterpillars as the main prey for their nestlings. Previous studies suggested that similar diet preferences of sympatric species may result in interspecific competition, as demonstrated for Blue and Great Tits in forest habitats. However, nestling diet and prey preferences in other habitats are not fully understood. Prey availability, especially caterpillars, is lower in cities than in forests, thus influencing prey choice and interspecific competition. Here we used faecal DNA metabarcoding to investigate if nestling diet composition of the two sympatric species Blue Cyanistes caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major varied among species and different habitats (forest, traditional orchards, and urban parks). Furthermore, we examined food availability by DNA barcoding of the arboreal arthropod communities among habitats and compared them to the nestling diet to infer parental prey selectivity. The study was carried out in central Germany from 2018 to 2019. Blue and Great Tits showed a diverse diet which was dominated by Lepidoptera in all habitats. Lepidopteran diet components were most similar between forest and orchard sites, as were the components with other arthropods between orchard and urban sites. Both tit species showed selectivity for the lepidopteran families Geometridae and Tortricidae in all habitats, and for Noctuidae (Lepidoptera), Tenthredinidae and Braconidae (Hymenoptera) in forest and orchard sites. As the tits showed preferences for mainly families of Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera, our approach provides a baseline to support monitoring of these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Siberian moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv., 1908 (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) is a conifer pest that causes unprecedented forest mortality in Northern Asia, leading to enormous ecological and economic losses. This is the first study summarizing data on the parasitoid diversity and parasitism of this pest over the last 118 years (1905–2022). Based on 860 specimens of freshly reared and archival parasitoids, 16 species from two orders (Hymenoptera and Diptera) were identified morphologically and/or with the use of DNA barcoding. For all of them, data on distribution and hosts and images of parasitoid adults are provided. Among them, the braconid species, Meteorus versicolor (Wesmael, 1835), was documented as a parasitoid of D. sibiricus for the first time. The eastern Palaearctic form, Aleiodes esenbeckii (Hartig, 1838) dendrolimi (Matsumura, 1926), status nov., was resurrected from synonymy as a valid subspecies, and a key for its differentiation from the western Palaearctic subspecies Aleiodes esenbeckii ssp. esenbecki is provided. DNA barcodes of 11 parasitoid species from Siberia, i.e., nine hymenopterans and two dipterans, represented novel records and can be used for accurate molecular genetic identification of species. An exhaustive checklist of parasitoids accounting for 93 species associated with D. sibirisus in northern Asia was compiled. Finally, the literature and original data on parasitism in D. sibiricus populations for the last 83 years (1940–2022) were analysed taking into account the pest population dynamics (i.e., growth, outbreak, decline, and depression phases). A gradual time-lagged increase in egg and pupal parasitism in D. sibiricus populations was detected, with a peak in the pest decline phase. According to long-term observations, the following species are able to cause significant mortality of D. sibiricus in Northern Asia: the hymenopteran egg parasitoids Telenomus tetratomus and Ooencyrtus pinicolus; the larval parasitoids Aleiodes esenbeckii sp. dendrolimi, Cotesia spp., and Glyptapanteles liparidis; and the dipteran pupal parasitoids Masicera sphingivora, Tachina sp., and Blepharipa sp. Their potential should be further explored in order to develop biocontrol programs for this important forest pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economically important pale tussock moth Dasychira pudibunda L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), known as a beech pest in Europe, primarily inflicts damage on beech leaves. In the present study, we aim to reveal the genome characteristics of Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV-T1), which was detected for the first time in Turkey and compare it with the reference genome and other baculovirus genomes. The DapuNPV-T1 genome was determined to be a circular, double-stranded DNA molecule with 136,920 bp and a nucleotide distribution of 54.4% G + C. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the DapuNPV-T1 genome contains 163 open reading frames with more than 150 nucleotides. Fifty-four ORFs of unknown function, 6 homologous regions (hrs), 1 AC-rich region, and 3 bro genes (bro-a, bro-b, and bro-c) were determined in the genome sequence. Comparative analysis with other baculovirus strains revealed distinctions in the DapuNPV-T1 genome based on ORF. The gene parity plot and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that DapuNPV-T1 belongs to the alphabaculovirus group Ib. In addition, the DapuNPV-T1 isolate was found to be close to the nucleopolyhedrovirus Poland isolate in Dasychira pudibunda and Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. With this study, the first genome analysis of DapuNPV from Turkey became the second in the world to enter the literature. Comprehensive information on a wide range of isolates will provide a more detailed overview of baculoviruses and help overcome their shortcomings as biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Forest microclimatic variation can result in substantial temperature differences at local scales with concomitant impacts on plant defences and herbivory. Such microclimatic effects, however, may differ across abiotically contrasting sites depending on background environmental differences. To test these cross‐scale effects shaping species ecological and evolutionary responses, we experimentally tested the effects of aboveground microhabitat warming on insect leaf herbivory and leaf defences (toughness, phenolic compounds) for saplings of sessile oak Quercus petraea across two abiotically contrasting sites spanning 9° latitude. We found higher levels of herbivory at the low‐latitude site, but leaf traits showed mixed patterns across sites. Toughness and condensed tannins were higher at the high‐latitude site, whereas hydrolysable tannins and hydroxycinnamic acids were higher at the low‐latitude site. At the microhabitat scale, experimental warming increased herbivory, but did not affect any of the measured leaf traits. Condensed tannins were negatively correlated with herbivory, suggesting that they drive variation in leaf damage at both scales. Moreover, the effects of microhabitat warming on herbivory and leaf traits were consistent across sites, i.e. effects at the microhabitat scale play out similarly despite variation in factors acting at broader scales. These findings together suggest that herbivory responds to both microhabitat (warming) and broad‐scale environmental factors, whereas leaf traits appear to respond more to environmental factors operating at broad scales (e.g. macroclimatic factors) than to warming at the microhabitat scale. In turn, leaf secondary chemistry (tannins) appears to drive both broad‐scale and microhabitat‐scale variation in herbivory. Further studies are needed using reciprocal transplants with more populations across a greater number of sites to tease apart plant plasticity from genetic differences contributing to leaf trait and associated herbivory responses across scales and, in doing so, better understand the potential for dynamics such as local adaptation and range expansion or contraction under shifting climatic regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From our observation regarding the entomofauna of Ostroveni area, during the research, 116 species of Arthropods were collected and identified (belonging to the orders: Acari, Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Thysanoptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Odonata, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera) of which 93 species (80%) are harmful and 23 species (20%) are useful species. The most numerous order was Coleoptera (35%), followed by the order Lepidoptera (19%), the order Heteroptera and Hymenoptera (9%) each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Malacosoma parallela (Staudinger) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) for the territory of the European Union, following commodity risk assessments of Berberis thunbergii, Malus domestica, Prunus persica and P. dulcis plants for planting from Türkiye, in which M. parallela came to attention as of possible concern. M. parallela is commonly known as the mountain ring silk moth and is a polyphagous leaf‐eating pest in west‐central Asia, primarily feeding on deciduous trees and shrubs, and known to cause serious damage to Malus, Prunus, and Quercus species. It is found at a range of altitudes from 130 m to 3000 m although most common above 1000 m. It is a univoltine species. Eggs are laid in masses on twigs and branches in the summer and larvae hatch the following spring to feed on buds and fresh leaves. Host plants can be completely defoliated. Plants for planting and cut branches provide pathways for entry, especially if infested with egg masses. Host availability and climate suitability suggest that parts of the EU would be suitable for establishment. Adults can fly and the pest could spread naturally within the EU although adults only live for a few days. Faster and more extensive spread is therefore more likely via egg masses moved on plants for planting. The introduction of M. parallela into the EU could lead to outbreaks causing damage to deciduous trees and shrubs in forests and orchards. Phytosanitary measures are available to inhibit the entry and spread of this species. M. parallela satisfies all the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to prepare and deliver risk assessments for commodities listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 as 'High risk plants, plant products and other objects'. This Scientific Opinion covers plant health risks posed by plants of Corylus avellana imported from the United Kingdom (UK) as: (a) bundles of 1‐ to 2‐year old whips or transplants, (b) bundles of 1‐ to 2‐year old cell grown plants, (c) 1‐ to 7‐year old bare root single plants and (d) up to 15‐year old single plants in pots, taking into account the available scientific information, including the technical information provided by the UK. All pests associated with the commodity were evaluated against specific criteria for their relevance for this opinion. Two EU quarantine pests, Phytophthora ramorum (non‐EU isolates) and Thaumetopoea processionea fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For the selected pests, the risk mitigation measures implemented in the technical dossier from the UK were evaluated taking into account the possible limiting factors. For these pests an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. In the assessment of risk, the age of the plants was considered, reasoning that older trees are more likely to be infested mainly due to longer exposure time and larger size. The degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with P. ramorum being the pest most frequently expected on the imported plants. The expert knowledge elicitation indicated with 95% certainty that between 9939 and 10,000 of the single plants in pots up to 15‐year old will be free from P. ramorum (non‐EU isolates). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lymantria dispar, a well-known defoliating pest species, also presents a health challenge due to the allergenic potential of its hairs, making it interesting to study from various perspectives. As chemical control methods decline in popularity, the search for effective natural enemies of this pest, such as predators, parasites and parasitoids, are expanding. On this occasion, we report the discovery of the primary parasitoid Glyptapanteles liparidis and the secondary parasitoid Gelis areator for the fauna of Slovenia. Illustrations and a short biology are given for both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]