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Pesticides can pose environmental risks, and a common neonicotinoid pesticide, thiamethoxam, decreases homing success in honey bees. Neonicotinoids can alter bee navigation, but we present the first evidence that neonicotinoid exposure alone can impair the physical ability of bees to fly. We tested the effects of acute or chronic exposure to thiamethoxam on the flight ability of foragers in flight mills. Within 1 h of consuming a single sublethal dose (1.34 ng/bee), foragers showed excitation and significantly increased flight duration (+78%) and distance (+72%). Chronic exposure significantly decreased flight duration (-54%), distance (-56%), and average velocity (-7%) after either one or two days of continuous exposure that resulted in bees ingesting field-relevant thiamethoxam doses of 1.96-2.90 ng/bee/day. These results provide the first demonstration that acute or chronic exposure to a neonicotinoid alone can significantly alter bee flight. Such exposure may impair foraging and homing, which are vital to normal colony function and ecosystem services.

This 4‐year study (2018–2021) aimed at investigating the effects of flowering areas inserted at the margin of soft wheat fields (Triticum aestivum L.) in comparison with spontaneous field margins. The action formed part of a multidisciplinary initiative promoted by the Barilla food company, aimed at promoting the sustainable production of soft wheat.Specific aims were to study the effects of flowering areas on (i) the abundance and species richness of insect pollinators, including wild bees, syrphids and butterflies; (ii) the levels of wheat aphid and bug infestations and (iii) the assemblages of biological control agents of aphids (coccinellids and aphid mummies as a result of parasitization).Insect surveys were carried out on 61 wheat‐growing farms located in Northern Italy. Insect pollinators were sampled on all farms, whereas wheat aphids, wheat bugs and aphid biological control agents were investigated in a sub‐sample of 20 farms.Results generally indicated a positive impact of flowering areas on multiple taxa in comparison with spontaneous field margins. The abundance of pollinators and coccinellids was significantly enhanced by the flowering areas. Aphid mummies showed an interaction between strategies and distances with more mummies at 5 m in wheat plots close to flowering areas and at 50 m in the plots close to spontaneous field margin (control).Flowering areas were validated as an important tool for promoting beneficial taxa in agro‐ecosystems. However, the successful establishment of this ecological infrastructure was suggested to rely on several factors, which included both the selection of suitable flowering plant species and the implementation of appropriate management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Botanical insecticides and soaps are frequently considered environmentally friendly and compatible with the biological control of pests because of their purported higher selectivity towards beneficial insects when compared with synthetic insecticides. These claims are, however, only partially backed up by the scientific literature, thus justifying a case-by-case evaluation of botanical insecticides. Here, we tested the efficacy of five botanical insecticides and soaps belonging to different categories (pyrethrins, essential oils, crude plant extracts and insecticidal soaps) on the important aphid pest Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and their selectivity towards two of its biological control agents, the ladybird beetle Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.) and the parasitoid Aphidius colemani (Dalman). The pyrethrin-based product was the most effective against aphids but more detrimental to ladybird beetle larvae when compared to the alternatives. Some detrimental effects on ladybird beetles were also caused by white thyme essential oil, sweet orange essential oil and Marseille soap. Additionally, although pyrethrins have a broader spectrum of insecticidal activity compared to most botanical insecticides, they had no significant adverse effect on adult ladybird beetles and parasitoids within aphid mummies, similar to most of the other tested natural products. Botanical insecticides and soaps are frequently proposed as environmentally safer alternatives to synthetic insecticides. However, the efficacy and selectivity of these products are often only partially supported by empirical evidence. Here, we tested the effectiveness of five botanical insecticides, belonging to different categories, on the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and their selectivity towards two natural enemies, the ladybird beetle Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (L.) and the parasitoid Aphidius colemani (Dalman). White thyme essential oil (EO), sweet orange EO, crude garlic extract and Marseille soap were tested and compared with a pyrethrin-based commercial product. Both direct spray assays and residual contact assays on treated cabbage leaf disks were carried out. The tested products had low efficacy against aphids when compared to pyrethrins but were in general less detrimental to ladybird beetle larvae, meaning that if applied against other pests, they have a lower chance of harming this agent of aphid biocontrol. Some of the products (soap, orange EO) did, however, show direct exposure toxicity toward ladybird larvae, and thyme EO had extensive phytotoxic effects on cabbage leaves, possibly indirectly leading to higher mortality in ladybird adults. These results underline the necessity for case-by-case evaluations of botanical insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milesia crabroniformis (F.) is a large hornet-mimic hoverfly considered relatively rare in Italy. During visual samplings along a transect carried out in Castiglione dei Pepoli (Bologna, Italy), with the aim of monitoring changes in hoverfly communities over sixty years, the authors observed and counted at least one hundred specimens of this hornet-mimic hoverfly while foraging on Sambucus ebulus L. This note aims to document this very infrequent behaviour of M. crabroniformis to contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insect pollinators play an essential service in agricultural systems, but are commonly exposed to pesticides. Although pollinators are present in several insect orders, above all dipterans, information on pesticide sensitivity is mostly restricted to bees. We assessed the sensitivity of two hoverflies (Sphaerophoria rueppellii, Eristalinus aeneus) and one tachinid fly (Exorista larvarum) to a neonicotinoid insecticide (Confidor®, imidacloprid). We adapted the standardized methodology of acute contact exposure in honey bees to build dose–response curves and calculate median lethal doses (LD50) for the three species. S. rueppelli was the most sensitive, E. aeneus the least. Results were compared with those available in the literature for other pollinator species using a species sensitivity distribution (SSD) approach: as a result, the 95th percentile of pollinator species would be protected by a safety factor of 100 times the Apis mellifera endpoint. Dipterans were less sensitive to imidacloprid than most bee species. We measured the number of eggs laid following exposure to different insecticide doses and assessed the potential trade-off between oviposition and survival through the sublethal sensitivity index (SSI). Pesticide exposure had a significant effect on fecundity, and SSI values indicated that oviposition is a sensitive endpoint for the three dipteran species tested. Insects play an essential role as pollinators of wild flowers and crops. At the same time, pollinators in agricultural environments are commonly exposed to pesticides, compromising their survival and the provision of pollination services. Although pollinators include a wide range of species from several insect orders, information on pesticide sensitivity is mostly restricted to bees. In addition, the disparity of methodological procedures used for different insect groups hinders the comparison of toxicity data between bees and other pollinators. Dipterans are a highly diverse insect order that includes some important pollinators. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the sensitivity of two hoverflies (Sphaerophoria rueppellii, Eristalinus aeneus) and one tachinid fly (Exorista larvarum) to a neonicotinoid insecticide (Confidor®, imidacloprid) following a comparative approach. We adapted the standardized methodology of acute contact exposure in honey bees to build dose–response curves and calculate median lethal doses (LD50) for the three species. The methodology consisted in applying 1 µL of the test solution on the thorax of each insect. Sphaerophoria rueppelli was the most sensitive species (LD50 = 10.23 ng/insect), and E. aeneus (LD50 = 18,176 ng/insect) the least. We then compared our results with those available in the literature for other pollinator species using species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Based on the SSD curve, the 95th percentile of pollinator species would be protected by a safety factor of 100 times the Apis mellifera endpoint. Overall, dipterans were less sensitive to imidacloprid than most bee species. As opposed to most bee species, oviposition and fecundity of many dipteran species can be reliably assessed in the laboratory. We measured the number of eggs laid following exposure to different insecticide doses and assessed the potential trade-off between oviposition and survival through the sublethal sensitivity index (SSI). Exposure to imidacloprid had a significant effect on fecundity, and SSI values indicated that oviposition is a sensitive endpoint for the three dipteran species tested. Future studies should integrate this information related to population dynamics in simulation models for environmental risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have opened the way for using elicitor‐induced resistance in plants as a method to control arthropod pests. In this study, 1,3‐β‐glucan laminarin, an elicitor of disease resistance in plants, was tested on the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Rosaceae] plantlets and evaluated its effects on short‐term mortality and population growth. Laminarin exposure did not affect aphid survival in the short term; however, laminarin‐treated peach plants sustained fewer nymphs and adults in comparison with the control. Aphid populations on plants treated with laminarin declined significantly over the sampling period compared to the control. Moreover, the demographic parameters net reproductive rate (R0), finite rate of increase (λ), and intrinsic rate of increase (rm), all showed decreasing trends in aphid populations reared on laminarin‐treated plants. The decline in aphid populations exposed to laminarin seemed to mainly be linked to reduced adult survival, slower nymph development, and lower nymph survival and only marginally to changes in reproduction outcome. Changes in gene expression causing the final production of defence chemicals by peach plants may contribute to explaining the results. However, potential direct effects of laminarin on M. persicae feeding activity and probing behaviour cannot be ruled out. This study provides evidence that, although laminarin did not display insecticidal activity in the short term, this elicitor caused sublethal effects, significantly reducing aphid populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we assessed, under laboratory conditions, the toxicity of an active substance on solitary bee larvae of Osmia cornuta (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). A field-realistic dose of the systemic insecticide spirotetramat was applied to the mass provisions. The insecticide’s effects on several life-cycle parameters were studied in males and females. Our results showed a significantly shorter post-emergence longevity in bees exposed to spirotetramat during the larval stage, compared to the control. The observed reduction in longevity was 18 and 15%, respectively, in males and females. Mortality rate and other biological traits (larval and spinning duration, emergence time, food/body conversion rate) did not show significant differences between the two treatments. The method described in this study can be used to test the effects of toxic substances (i.e. agrochemicals) on bees. Moreover, it can constitute a basis for the development of a standardised protocol in the first tier of the Environmental Risk Assessment for solitary bees.

The predatory mites of the Phytoseiidae family are crucial biological control agents widely utilized in biological pest management targeting phytophagous mites and insects. Key factors in these control strategies are that phytoseiids must be able to find their main target prey and to maintain high populations and efficacy. To reduce expenses and time-consuming production methods of mass rearing of phytoseiids, pollen and other factitious (i.e. non-natural/nontarget) hosts need to be present as an alternative food for predatory mite populations. The mass-rearing possibilities of these predators on alternative food sources, such as astigmatid mites (i.e. house and stored mites) and pollen, must be evaluated not only by the cost of rearing settings but on the basis of their efficiency maintenance in killing prey. The pest kill rate (k m ) is the average daily lifetime killing of the pest by the natural enemy under consideration and can represent a useful indicator for phytoseiids efficacy to rank them as BCAs on the basis of their effective killing/predation on target prey. In this study, we evidenced that 2 astigmatid mites, Glycyphagus domesticus (De Geer) and Lepidoglyphus destructor (Schrank), and Quercus ilex L. pollen can be successfully adopted as substitute food sources for mass rearing of the phytoseiid Neoseiulus californicus (MgGregor); then, we determined that these populations of BCAs maintained a consistent k m at new/first impact on the main target pest, Tetranychus urticae Koch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ham products play a fundamental role in the Italian economy, and attention to the problems of this sector is essential. The products of this sector can be attacked by parasites, which can cause direct and indirect damage. Piophila casei (L.) (Diptera: Piophilidae) a cheese and meat parasite, is currently responsible for hygiene problems in ham factories. The trophic activity of this pest on the products causes serious direct damage and it is a vector of various bacteria, including Clostridium botulinum. Another risk is human ingestion of the larvae, which are resistant to gastric juices action, potentially causing intestinal myiasis. Insecticide use of any type is not allowed in aging rooms, so biological control can represent a potential alternative. In this study, we investigate quality parameters such as successful rate of parasitism (SP), degree of parasitism (DP), sex-ratio (SR), life-span (LS), and emergence rates (ER) of 2 pupal parasitoids of Diptera: Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), currently the only known pupal parasitoid of P. casei , and Muscidifurax raptor (Girault and Sanders) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Our research confirmed P. vindemiae efficacy to parasitize P. casei and reported, for the first time, M. raptor as a pupal parasitoid of this Piophilidae. ER for both parasitoids were low, thus affecting the DP and SP estimations. This could be explained by the feeding behavior of the parasitoid host. The strongly female-biased SR for P. vindemiae supported previous studies. LS results in our experiment are crucial for determining the timing of release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Dasineura oleae (Angelini 1831) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) was considered a minor pest in olive orchards, but in recent years severe outbreaks have been registered in several Mediterranean countries. Damage is caused by the feeding activity of larvae that induce gall formations and alters the physiological activity of the leaves. In Italy, this pest may be controlled by four Hymenoptera parasitoid species belonging to Platygaster and Mesopolobus genera such as Platygaster demades Walker 1835, Platygaster oleae Szelenyi 1940 (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), Mesopolobus aspilus (Walker 1835) and Mesopolobus mediterraneus (Mayr 1903) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), but parasitization becomes evident only after gall dissection. RESULTS: In this study, we aim to: (i) design a primer for the detection of specimens belonging to Platygaster and Mesopolobus genera; (ii) develop a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) protocol combined to a fast samples DNA extraction method; (iii) apply the developed protocol to field‐collected specimens and compare this method with traditional techniques based on visual estimation of parasitism rate on larvae. Primers were designed to anneal with cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of Platygaster and Mesopolobus genera while protocols were developed to be fast and capable to process several samples at the same time. Molecular analyses demonstrated to provide almost double of the parasitism rate assessed by visual inspection. Furthermore, on second instar larvae the PCR‐based method was able to detect ten‐fold times the parasitization rate estimated by visual inspection. CONCLUSION: The application on a greater scale of this newly developed method could be fundamental in the determination of the biological control potential in olive orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yield and plant products quality are directly or indirectly affected by climate alterations. Adverse climatic conditions often promote the occurrence of different abiotic stresses, which can reduce or enhance the susceptibility to pests or pathogens. Aflatoxin producing fungi, in particular, whose diffusion and deleterious consequences on cereals commodities have been demonstrated to highly depend on the temperature and humidity conditions that threaten increasingly larger areas. Biological methods using intraspecific competitors to prevent fungal development and/or toxin production at the pre-harvest level are particularly promising, even if their efficacy could be affected by the ecological interaction within the resident microbial population. A previously characterized Aspergillus flavus atoxigenic strain was applied in two maize fields to validate its effectiveness as a biocontrol agent against aflatoxin contamination. At one month post-application, at the harvest stage, its persistence within the A. flavus population colonizing the maize kernels in the treated area was assessed, and its efficacy was compared in vitro with a representation of the isolated atoxigenic population. Results proved that our fungal competitor contained the aflatoxin level on maize grains as successfully as a traditional chemical strategy, even if representing less than 30% of the atoxigenic strains re-isolated, and achieved the best performance (in terms of bio-competitive potential) concerning endogenous atoxigenic isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although organic farming was originally promoted as an alternative farming system to address agronomic, environmental and ecological issues, its conventionalisation has led to an intensification and specialisation of production. In the light of this, several studies have questioned the environmental benefits of organic farming as well as its agronomic viability. Thus, there is a need to improve organic vegetable systems to reduce their environmental impact without affecting their productivity. To tackle this challenge, European farmers and researchers have recently started to focus on agroecological service crops (ASCs). However, few studies have simultaneously evaluated the agronomic, environmental and ecological aspects of ASC management under different European pedo‐climatic conditions.We evaluated effects of the ASC management strategies—no‐till roller crimping (NT‐RC) and green manuring (T‐GM) on cropping system performance using agronomic, environmental and ecological indicators—to exemplify the need for multidimensional analysis to understand management implications for addressing environmental and agronomic challenges. We combined the results from 11 organic vegetable field trials conducted in seven European countries over a period of 2 years to test for general trends.Our results provide solid evidence that NT‐RC management across different pedo‐climatic conditions in Europe enhances the activity density of ground and rove beetles and improves both the potential energy recycling within the system and weed control. However, in NT‐RC plots, lower cash crop yield and quality, energetic efficiency of production and activity density of spiders were observed compared to T‐GM.Synthesis and applications. Multidimensional analyses using agronomic, environmental and ecological indicators are required to understand the implications of agricultural management in agroecosystem functioning. Introducing agroecological service crops combined with the use of no‐till roller crimping is a promising strategy for improving agronomic performance (e.g. fewer weeds) and reducing environmental (e.g. increasing the potentially recyclable energy) and ecological (e.g. enhancing the activity density of beneficial taxa such as ground and rove beetles) impacts. However, our study also indicates a need for agronomic and environmental improvements while promoting a wider acceptance of this strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Hoverflies and bees play a key role in plant pollination. The increasing concern about pollinator reduction forces the planning of a sampling monitoring scheme to evaluate the change in the populations of these important insects. The present research provides baseline data about the distribution of hoverflies and bees in the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park (Northeastern Italy). The hoverfly community shows a unimodal distribution with peak at middle elevation, while bees display a linear reduction in richness and abundance with increasing altitude. Both hoverfly and bee β-diversity at high altitude is dominated by species turnover more than by nestedness. Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) and bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) are two key taxa for plant pollination. In the present research, the altitudinal distribution of these taxa was studied along two gradients (elevation range: 780–2130 m) in the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park (Northeastern Italy). Pan traps were used as a sampling device to collect both hoverflies and bees. Other than altitude, the effect of landscape complexity and plant diversity were considered as potential predictors of hoverfly and bee richness and abundance along the two gradients. A total of 68 species of hoverflies and 67 of bees were collected during one sampling year, confirming the efficacy of pan traps as a sampling device to study these taxa. Altitude was the main variable affecting both hoverfly and bee distribution. The two taxa show different distribution patterns: hoverflies have a unimodal distribution (richness and abundance) with peak at middle altitude (1500 m), while bees have a monotonic decline (richness and abundance) with increasing altitude. Both hoverfly and bee populations change with the increasing altitude, but the change in hoverflies is more pronounced than in bees. Species turnover dominates the β-diversity both for hoverflies and bees; therefore, the hoverfly and bee communities at higher altitudes are not subsamples of species at lower altitude but are characterized by different species. This poses important conservation consequences. Some rare species, typical of an alpine habitat were recorded; the present research represents important baseline data to plan a monitoring scheme aimed at evaluating the effect of climate change on pollinators in these fragile habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most commercialized Bt maize plants in Europe were transformed with genes which express a truncated form of the insecticidal delta-endotoxin (Cry1Ab) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) specifically against Lepidoptera. Studies on the effect of transgenic maize on non-target arthropods have mainly converged on beneficial insects. However, considering the worldwide extensive cultivation of Bt maize, an increased availability of information on their possible impact on non-target pests is also required. In this study, the impact of Bt-maize on the non-target corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis, was examined by comparing biological traits and demographic parameters of two generations of aphids reared on transgenic maize with those on untransformed near-isogenic plants. Furthermore, free and bound phenolics content on transgenic and near-isogenic plants were measured. Here we show an increased performance of the second generation of R. maidis on Bt-maize that could be attributable to indirect effects, such as the reduction of defense against pests due to unintended changes in plant characteristics caused by the insertion of the transgene. Indeed, the comparison of Bt-maize with its corresponding near-isogenic line strongly suggests that the transformation could have induced adverse effects on the biosynthesis and accumulation of free phenolic compounds. In conclusion, even though there is adequate evidence that aphids performed better on Bt-maize than on non-Bt plants, aphid economic damage has not been reported in commercial Bt corn fields in comparison to non-Bt corn fields. Nevertheless, Bt-maize plants can be more easily exploited by R. maidis, possibly due to a lower level of secondary metabolites present in their leaves. The recognition of this mechanism increases our knowledge concerning how insect-resistant genetically modified plants impact on non-target arthropods communities, including tritrophic web interactions, and can help support a sustainable use of genetically modified crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae), a larval parasitoid of Lepidoptera, can be reared from egg to fecund adult on artificial media composed of crude components. The standard in vitro culture is performed in 24‐well plastic rearing plates. Exorista larvarum eggs, removed from superparasitized larvae of Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), are individually placed in the wells, each containing a cotton swab soaked in liquid medium. The plates are then sealed until parasitoid puparium formation. To avoid contamination by microorganisms, the artificial medium is routinely supplemented with 0.01% solution of gentamicin. Experiments were carried out to assess whether this broad‐spectrum antibiotic may be replaced with hydrolate of Monarda fistulosa L. (Lamiaceae), which was selected due to its high in vitro activity against pathogenic microorganisms for humans and plants. The hydrolate was either supplemented to the artificial medium (0.5% wt/wt) (first experiment) or placed in an empty well (200 μl) of the rearing plate, to be supplied as saturated air due to evaporation (second experiment). In both experiments, a standard medium with gentamicin and an antimicrobial‐free medium were maintained as positive and negative controls, respectively. In the first experiment, in the hydrolate‐supplemented medium fewer E. larvarum completed egg‐to‐adult development than in the standard medium, but significantly more parasitoids developed from egg to adult compared to the antimicrobial‐free medium. No significant difference was found between the numbers of eggs laid by the females obtained from the standard medium vs. those from the hydrolate‐supplemented medium. In the second experiment, the hydrolate‐saturated air significantly decreased E. larvarum egg hatching, puparium formation, and female fecundity compared to the standard medium. In perspective, M. fistulosa hydrolate supplemented to the artificial media for E. larvarum may be considered as a promising candidate to replace the gentamicin solution, as suggested also by the microbiological analyses of the media, performed at various growth stages of the parasitoid in a separate trial. Conversely, the hydrolate‐saturated air treatment was deemed unsuitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is the most common inherited polyneuropathy. Polyneuropathies are likely to affect the urogenital system. Urogenital dysfunction is rarely investigated and may be underestimated in CMT patients.Aim: The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to collect all the available evidence on the presence of urogenital dysfunction and in patients with CMT.Methods: Data sources were MEDLINE, Pubmed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. All types of studies describing the presence of lower urinary tract dysfunction, erectile dysfunction (ED), anejaculation, and other sexual disorders in male patients with CMT were included.Results: Among 131 records identified, five articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Lower urinary tract dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, ED, and other sexual dysfunctions have been reported in patients with CMT. One case of anejaculation has been described.Conclusion: Urogenital dysfunction occurs in patients with CMT. Therefore, uro-andrologic counseling should be performed in the aging male with CMT. This might positively impact on his quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis and sperm analyses are not a standard examination of patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: This is a prospective-case-controlled study. Patients, aged 18–55, with a confirmed diagnosis of RRMS, naïve to any DMT were enrolled. Controls were men with normal evaluation who acceded to the Andrology Center of Catania in a contemporary matched randomized fashion to the group of RRMS patients. The aim of the study is to evaluate gonadal steroids and sperm quality in men at the time of RRMS diagnosis and 12 months following the first disease modifying treatment (DMT). Results: Out of 41 patients with RRMS, 38 were included in the study (age 40.3 ± 12.3) to be compared with matched controls. Patients with RRMS showed no differences in gonadal steroids or sperm parameters, except for free testosterone (fT) plasma levels, which were lower in RRMS patients than controls (median 0.09 vs. 1.4, p < 0.0001). The correlation analyses, corrected for age and Body Mass Index, did not reveal any correlation between hormonal/sperm parameters and level of disability or disease activity at onset. Additionally, 12 months following the start of DMT, there were no differences in gonadal steroids and sperm quality compared to baseline. Conclusions: Results suggest that RRMS may not have an impact on fertility status but prospective long-term studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humankind draws important benefits from large‐scale ecological processes termed ecosystem services, yet the status of several of them is declining. Reliable monitoring methods are essential for tracking the status of ecosystem services. Predation is the mainstay of natural pest control, a key ecosystem service. We used green plasticine caterpillars to monitor predation pressure, and to obtain baseline data on predator activity in transgenic Bt versus non‐Bt maize fields in Old and New World countries. Predation pressure was measured at ground and canopy levels using an identical, small‐plot experimental design in four European countries (Denmark, Slovakia, Romania and Italy) and Argentina. Total predation rate in maize was 11.7%d−1 (min. 7.2%d−1 in Argentina, max. 29.0%d−1 in Romania). Artificial caterpillars were attacked both by invertebrates (mostly chewing insects with 42.0% of the attack marks, and ants with 7.1%, but also predatory and parasitoid wasps, spiders and slugs), and vertebrates (small mammals 25.5%, and birds 20.2%). Total predation at ground level (15.7%d−1) was significantly higher than in maize canopies (6.0%d−1) in all countries, except Argentina. We found no significant differences between predator pressure in Bt versus non‐Bt maize plots. The artificial caterpillar method provided comparable, quantitative data on predation intensity, and proved to be suitable for monitoring natural pest control. This method usefully expands the existing toolkit by directly measuring ecological function rather than structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testicular tumor is the most common malignancy in men of reproductive age. According to the tumor histology and staging, current treatment options include orchiectomy alone or associated with adjuvant chemo- and/or radiotherapy. Although these treatments have considerably raised the percentage of survivors compared to the past, they have been identified as risk factors for testosterone deficiency and sexual dysfunction in this subgroup of men. Male hypogonadism, in turn, predisposes to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular impairment that negatively affects general health. Accordingly, longitudinal studies report a long-term risk for cardiovascular diseases after radiotherapy and/or cisplatin-based chemotherapy in testicular tumor survivors. The aim of this review was to summarize the current evidence on hypogonadism and sexual dysfunction in long-term cancer survivors, including the epidemiology of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, to increase the awareness that serum testosterone levels, sexual function, and general health should be evaluated during the endocrinological management of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is very common in aging men and causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which decrease health-related quality of life. A number of evidence suggests that other than ageing, modifiable factors, such as increasing prostate volume, obesity, diet, dyslipidemia, hormonal imbalance, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, alcohol, and smoking, also contribute to the development of BPH and/or LUTS. More recently, erectile dysfunction (ED) has been linked to LUTS/BPH as a part of this syndrome, suggesting that patients with BPH or LUTS easily develop ED, and that LUTS/BPH symptoms often coexist with ED. This article focuses on the epidemiology and risk factors of the combined phenotype LUTS/BPH - ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarizes years of challenging research on erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition that has an important social and cultural relevance. Preclinical and clinical research progress has led to new therapeutic approaches to ED in patients with different comorbidities and particularly in those with low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These goals were possible only by combined work of specialists and researchers of different and intertwined medical disciplines. Currently, tadalafil (5 mg/d) is the best choice; other phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) are not included among options, despite the growing evidence of therapeutic effects. Different regimens of tadalafil may be prescribed based on patient needs, severity of LUTS/BPH - ED profile, and clinical experience. An integrated approach is necessary to choose for a combined therapy with PDE5i and α-blockers following urological and cardiac counseling in terms of outcomes and adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erectile dysfunction, prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms hare important pathogenetic links. Endothelial dysfunction and hormonal alterations represent the main aspects. The present article examines the anatomical, physiological, and pathophysiological characteristics of this association, finalizing the text to an interpretation of the clinical management of these patients based on these functional considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agro-ecological service crops (ASC) can increase the vegetation complexity of agroecosystems leading to a positive impact on natural enemies of arthropod pests and on weed control. In this study, two ASC terminations (green manure and roller crimper) and a Mater-Bi-mulched control (MB) were compared in order to describe the effects on pests and beneficial dynamics in an organic vegetable system. The trials were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. Zucchini were grown as cash crop and barley as ASC. Pests and natural enemies were monitored fortnightly by visual samplings along the whole zucchini-growing season. Zucchini plants showed a faster vegetative growth in MB treatment than in ASC terminations. In both years, MB plots were characterized by higher soil temperature and higher leaf nitrogen concentration resulting in plants more susceptible to Aphis gossypii infestations. In all the experimental plots, natural enemies controlled aphid infestations and no insecticide and sprays were necessary. In conclusion, the tested ASC techniques have been suggested as a tool to mitigate aphid infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Environmental impacts of genetically modified crops are mandatorily assessed during their premarket phase. One of the areas of concern is the possible impact on nontarget organisms. Crops expressing Cry toxins might affect Lepidoptera larvae living outside cultivated fields, through pollen deposition on wild plants, which constitute their food source. While pollen toxicity varies among different events, possible exposure of nontarget species depends on the agro‐environmental conditions. This study was conducted in two protected areas in Italy, characterized by different climatic conditions, where many Lepidoptera species thrive in proximity to maize cultivations. To estimate the possible exposure in absence of the actual stressor (e.g., Cry1‐expressing maize plants), we conducted a two‐year field survey of butterflies and weeds. Indicator species were selected—Aglais (Inachis) io in the Northern site and Vanessa cardui in the Southern site—and their phenology was investigated. Pollen dispersal from maize fields was measured by collection in Petri dishes. Duration and frequency of exposure was defined by the overlap between pollen emission and presence of larvae on host plants. Different risk scenarios are expected in the two regions: highest exposure is foreseen for A. io in the Northern site, while minimal exposure is estimated for V. cardui in the Southern site. In the latter case, locally grown maize cultivars flower in mid‐summer in coincidence with an aestivation period for several butterfly species due to hot and dry conditions. Moreover, host plants of V. cardui are at the end of their life cycle thus limiting food availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pupae of Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) complete their development during autumn and winter in the soil, rather than in the drupe, resulting susceptible to edaphic predators. Environmentally friendly methods to control this olive pest involve the identification of its natural enemies. This study evaluated the role of Ocypus olens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the predation of B. oleae pupae, by means of molecular gut content analysis. Modified dry pitfall traps were used to collect live specimens from low-input olive orchards in Tuscany (Italy). Sampling was fine-tuned with a degree-day model estimating the presence of pest pupae in the soil. PCR analyses carried out on field-collected specimens demonstrated that O. olens is a predator of B. oleae, at least during autumn. These results are consistent with predictions of the degree-day model. Knowledge on species composition, traits and complementarity of the natural enemies of B. oleae pupae needs further investigation to advance conservation biological control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]