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There is increasing effort in science to support disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation in urban environments. It is now common for research calls and projects to reference coproduction methods and science uptake goals. This paper identifies lessons for researchers, research funders, and research users wishing to enable useful, useable, and used science based on the perspectives of research users in urban planning from low‐ and middle‐income countries. DRM‐supporting science is viewed by policy actors as: complicated and poorly communicated; presenting inadequate, partial, and outdated information; misaligned with policy cycles; and costly to access and inadequately positioned to overcome the policy barriers that hinder integration of DRM into urban planning. Addressing these specific concerns points to more systematic collection and organisation of data and enhancement of supporting administrative structures to facilitate better sight of human vulnerability and its link to development decision‐making and wider processes of urban risk creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the impact of covenant violation on corporate operational efficiency. Using an aggregate measure of operational efficiency developed by Demerjian et al. (Management Science, 58, 2012, 1229–1248), we provide strong empirical evidence that covenant violations hinder firms from achieving operational efficiency. Our finding is robust to alternative definitions of operational efficiency and various model specifications to address potential endogeneity issues. Further analyses show that lower operational efficiency is attributable to covenant‐violating firms' under‐investments in capital and labour. In addition, the negative effect of covenant violation on operational efficiency is not universally the same, and is less evident in violating firms with greater agency problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a lively debate between Haroon Bhorat and Michael Sachs at the University of Pretoria recently, Bhorat pleaded for supply‐side measures to alleviate poverty in South Africa, rather than demand‐side measures. (The debate took place during a session at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences' Inaugural Research Day on 8 September, 2023).Bhorat claimed that the SRD grants could not secure a solution to unemployment in a sustainable manner. In this paper, we use the UPGEM Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model of the University of Pretoria to test the performance of wage subsidies in South Africa, in comparison to the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants of the same expenditure magnitude, and report on the differences between the two policy measures in terms of (i) unemployment alleviation, (ii) poverty alleviation and (iii) economic impact in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the lack of progress in the development and commercialization of microbial bioherbicides in cultivated crops. The authors organized a conference sponsored by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to address the barriers to the adoption of microbial bioherbicides. The conference included presentations from participants with diverse backgrounds and experiences in microbial bioherbicides. The articles in this issue of Pest Management Science cover various topics related to microbial bioherbicides, including the use of killed microbial preparations, the status of the bioherbicide market, nanotechnology in formulation, and the use of viruses and fungi as biocontrol agents. The conference aimed to facilitate collaboration among scientists and inform policy makers and funders to improve regulations and practices in weed management. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the changes that have occurred in the journal Pest Management Science in the past year. The journal had co-Editors-in-Chief for the first time, with one Editor handling entomological papers. The Editorial Board saw changes with the retirement of some editors and the addition of new ones. The co-Editors-in-Chief will now select an Editor's Choice paper from each issue, and the scope of the journal has been expanded to include papers on pest biology. The journal's Impact Factor decreased slightly, but efforts are being made to improve it in the future. The article concludes with gratitude to the Editorial Board and staff for their contributions. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: The hydraulic spray delivery (HSD)‐based solid set canopy delivery system (SSCDS) emitter configuration has been optimized for agrochemical applications in vertical shoot position (VSP) vineyards. It uses cost‐prohibitive emitters, and their placement restricts the mechanical pruning activities. Therefore, this study focused on optimizing the spray performance of a pneumatic spray delivery (PSD)‐based SSCDS variant that addresses the earlier issues. Three PSD‐SSCDS emitter configurations (C1–C3) were designed using modified low‐cost emitters (E1: modified flat fan, E2: 90° modular flat fan) for agrochemical applications in VSP vineyards. C1 had an E1 installed on trellis posts at 1.67 m above ground level. C2 had a pair of E2 installed per vine at 0.3 m below the cordon, while C3 combined the emitter placement of C1 and C2. The spray deposition (ng cm−2) and coverage (%) were quantified (mean ± standard error) using mylar cards and water‐sensitive paper samplers placed within the canopy, respectively. RESULTS: Spray deposition for C1, C2, and C3 was 301.12 ± 63.30, 347.9 ± 66.29, and 837.6 ± 92.53 ng cm−2, respectively. Whereas spray coverage for corresponding configurations was 18.02 ± 2.63, 8.98 ± 1.84, and 28.84 ± 2.46%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, configuration C3 provided significantly higher spray deposition and coverage than C1 and C2. Substantially reduced system installation cost and emitter density per hectare with improved spray performance were achieved by C3 compared to earlier optimized HSD‐SSCDS configuration in the VSP vineyards. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Biological invasions are a leading cause of reductions in global biodiversity. Islands are particularly sensitive to invasions, which often result in cascading impacts throughout island communities. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are globally invasive and pose threats to numerous taxa and ecosystems, particularly for islands where they have contributed to declines of many endemic species. However, the impacts of wild pig diet on the flora and fauna remain understudied in many island systems. RESULTS: We used DNA metabarcoding of wild pig fecal samples to quantify the seasonal diet composition of wild pigs on three barrier islands in the southeastern United States. Wild pigs exhibited a diverse diet dominated by plants, but also including marine and terrestrial animals. The diet composition of plants varied seasonally and between islands. Consumption of invertebrates also changed seasonally, with a shift to coastal invertebrates, particularly crabs, in spring and summer. Vertebrates were found in <10% of samples, but spanned broad taxa including amphibians, fish, mammals, and reptiles. Species consumed by wild pigs indicate that wild pigs use a variety of habitats within barrier islands for foraging, including maritime forests, saltmarshes, and beaches. CONCLUSIONS: An observed shift to beach foraging during sea turtle nesting season suggests wild pigs have potential to hinder nesting success on islands without established management programs. These findings provide insight into the diverse diets of wild pigs on barrier islands and highlight the need for removal of wild pigs from sensitive island ecosystems because of their potential impacts to native plant and animal communities. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dengue virus, primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is a major public health concern affecting ≈3.83 billion people worldwide. Recent releases of Wolbachia‐transinfected Ae. aegypti in several cities worldwide have shown that it can reduce dengue transmission. However, these releases are costly, and, to date, no framework has been proposed for determining economically optimal release strategies that account for both costs associated with disease risk and releases. RESULTS: We present a flexible stochastic dynamic programming framework for determining optimal release schedules for Wolbachia‐transinfected mosquitoes that balances the cost of dengue infection with the costs of rearing and releasing transinfected mosquitoes. Using an ordinary differential equation model of Wolbachia and dengue in a hypothetical city loosely describing areas at risk of new dengue epidemics, we determined that an all‐or‐nothing release strategy that quickly brings Wolbachia to fixation is often the optimal solution. Based on this, we examined the optimal facility size, finding that it was inelastic with respect to the mosquito population size, with a 100% increase in population size resulting in a 50–67% increase in optimal facility size. Furthermore, we found that these results are robust to mosquito life‐history parameters and are mostly determined by the mosquito population size and the fitness costs associated with Wolbachia. CONCLUSIONS: These results reinforce that Wolbachia‐transinfected mosquitoes can reduce the cost of dengue epidemics. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of determining the size of the target population and fitness costs associated with Wolbachia before releases occur. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Myzus persicae, a serious sap‐sucking pest of a large variety of host plants in agriculture, is traditionally controlled using chemical insecticides but there is interest in using biopesticides as restrictions are increasingly placed on the use of broad‐spectrum pesticides. RESULTS: Here, we show that in Petri dish experiments, high concentrations of the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana led to rapid mortality of M. persicae, although at a low concentration (1 × 104 conidia mL−1) there is a hormetic effect in which survival and fecundity are enhanced. Hormetic effects persisted across a generation with reduced development time and increased fecundity in the offspring of M. persicae exposed to B. bassiana. The whole‐plant experiment points to a hormetic effect being detected in two out of three tested lines. The impact of these effects might also depend on whether M. persicae was transinfected with the endosymbiont Rickettsiella viridis, which decreases fecundity and survival compared with aphids lacking this endosymbiont. This fecundity cost was ameliorated in the generation following exposure to the entomopathogen. CONCLUSION: Although B. bassiana is effective in controlling M. persicae especially at higher spore concentrations, utilization of this entomopathogen requires careful consideration of hormetic effects at lower spore concentrations, and further research to optimize its application for sustainable agriculture is recommended. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Institutional education leaders serve key roles in leading major curricular change within residency education, yet little is known about how they accomplish these goals on the ground. Change management principles have predominantly been developed and described in the hierarchical context of management science and corporate settings. However, the non‐hierarchical, complex and adaptive features of health professions education may render these traditional change management models inadequate. We explored how institutional educational leaders navigate the complex residency education system in implementing a major curricular change.Using constructivist grounded theory, we conducted and iteratively analysed semi‐structured interviews with 11 institutional education leaders from across Canada who were responsible for leading the nationally mandated curricular change to competency‐based residency education. Thematic analysis was performed iteratively using constant comparison.Leaders managing the change process focused on two priorities: steering the direction of the change process as it evolved and maintaining the momentum amongst stakeholders to move forward steadily. Four common threats and opportunities impacted the focus on direction and momentum: multiplicity of contexts, innovation, resistance and distractions. In response, leaders utilised various tactics and harnessed diverse leadership styles to manage these challenges accordingly.We identified a change framework that offers a more contextually nuanced understanding of curricular change in residency education that has not been described in the change management literature generated by the management sector. Institutional education leaders focused on maintaining the direction and momentum, while constantly assessing and adapting to evolving, uncertain and complex conditions. Our findings provide a simple and practical foundation to support leadership education in curricular change as well as researchers in developing further change theories in complex adaptive health professions education systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment or recovery of waste ink constitutes a significant process for the printing and packaging industries, particularly in the flexographic printing of packaging materials. This poses a substantial challenge in the field of waste management science. The application of waste ink recovery, ensuring a safe environment and human health, along with the recovery and sustainability of Earth's resources, has garnered significant global attention. The present research is solely devoted to creating innovative trends without technological barriers for synthesizing a tri-copolymer to be applied as an effective sorption system for waste ink. The Polyethyleneimine-Poly Glycidyl methacrylatepolyethylene glycol diacrylate tri-polymer (PEI-PGMA-PEGDA tri-polymer) was synthesized and thoroughly investigated using FTIR, TGA, and DSC to confirm its chemical structure, thermal stability, and the shift in melting point affected by radiation dose, respectively. SEM analysis showed significant morphological differences in PEI-PGMA-PEGDA tri-polymer samples before and after treatment with flexographic printing ink waste, offering effective strategies for adsorbing waste printing inks from organic solvents. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the investigated materials and their potential applications. Additionally, the kinetic study of the sorption efficiency of flexographic ink by two sets of tri-copolymers with doses of 20 and 40 kGy indicated that 40 kGy has a more efficient capacity. The highest sorption capacity, approximately 97.6%, was observed for a sample of GMA 15% irradiated by 40 kGy with a sorption amount of 2.5 g L-1. This suggests that the current new treatment strategy can be categorized as highly effective waste ink management and should be advocated for in such domains to ensure a safe environment and preserve Earth's resources. The treatment of printing ink for packaging materials is a crucial step towards achieving green printing technology, which must be supported and advanced through research and industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Annual Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop in Worchester, UK, in 2010, a panel discussion entitled "discrete‐event simulation (DES) is dead, long live agent‐based simulation (ABS)!" was held. Subsequent debates on the topic have captured the interest of many simulation professionals and researchers. This study lends credence to the discourse with evidence. In January 2020, a global health crisis named coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) occurred, infecting and killing millions of people globally, leading to community lockdowns and travel restrictions, and bringing the world to a standstill. Scientists scrambled for quick, practical solutions to stem the tide. Operational research (OR) and management science (MS) techniques, including modeling and simulation, provide effective methods to make COVID‐19 infection forecasts, assign/optimize intensive care unit beds, initiate healthcare management/control strategies, and decision‐making. The global pandemic problems offer an opportunity to evaluate the discourse on DES's continuous relevance and potency as an OR/MS technique. Utilizing bibliometric performance evaluation and text analytics of publications addressing various COVID‐19 pandemic problems, the results show an extensive use, relevance, and impact of the DES technique across multidisciplinary domains, including medical/healthcare, social and behavioral sciences, business, molecular biosciences, and more. The intellectual structure highlights strong multidisciplinary collaboration among sources in decision sciences, healthcare, natural, behavioral, and social sciences. The social network analysis of the publications shows the contributions and collaborations among authors, institutions, and countries. The study demonstrates that DES is still alive and robust, notwithstanding the hype about ABS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current era of rapid digital development, the digital transformation of manufacturing has gradually become an inevitable trend in industry development, and the in‐depth study of the relationship between digitalization and competitive advantage has become an important topic in the field of management science. Based on data from Chinese‐listed manufacturing companies from 2012 to 2021, this paper uses empirical analysis to show that digitalization can effectively enhance the low‐cost competitive advantage and differentiation competitive advantage of manufacturing companies, with organizational slack and environmental uncertainty playing a moderating role in this process. The study also delves into the heterogeneity among firms of different scales, ownership characteristics, and life cycles. This research helps to examine the actual effectiveness of manufacturing companies in the process of digital transformation, while also providing a theoretical basis for how manufacturing companies can better acquire and maintain competitive advantages in the process of digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Resistance to dicamba in Chenopodium album was first documented over a decade ago, however, the molecular basis of dicamba resistance in this species has not been elucidated. In this research, the resistance mechanism in a dicamba‐resistant C. album phenotype was investigated using a transcriptomics (RNA‐sequence) approach. RESULTS: The dose–response assay showed that the resistant (R) phenotype was nearly 25‐fold more resistant to dicamba than a susceptible (S) phenotype of C. album. Also, dicamba treatment significantly induced transcription of the known auxin‐responsive genes, Gretchen Hagen 3 (GH3), small auxin‐up RNAs (SAURs), and 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate synthase (ACS) genes in the susceptible phenotype. Comparing the transcripts of auxin TIR/AFB receptors and auxin/indole‐3‐acetic acid (AUX/IAA) proteins identified from C. album transcriptomic analysis revealed that the R phenotype contained a novel mutation at the first codon of the GWPPV degron motif of IAA16, resulting in an amino acid substitution of glycine (G) with aspartic acid (D). Sequencing the IAA16 gene in other R and S individuals further confirmed that all the R individuals contained the mutation. CONCLUSION: In this research, we describe the dicamba resistance mechanism in the only case of dicamba‐resistant C. album reported to date. Prior work has shown that the dicamba resistance allele confers significant growth defects to the R phenotype investigated here, suggesting that dicamba‐resistant C. album carrying this novel mutation in the IAA16 gene may not persist at high frequencies upon removal of dicamba application. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The potential of copper nanoparticles (Cu‐NPs) to be used as an alternative control strategy against olive fruit flies (Bactrocera oleae) with reduced sensitivity to the pyrethroid deltamethrin and the impact of both nanosized and bulk copper hydroxide (Cu(OH)2) on the insect's reproductive and endosymbiotic parameters were investigated. RESULTS: The application of nanosized and bulk copper applied by feeding resulted in significant levels of adult mortality, comparable to or surpassing those achieved with deltamethrin at recommended doses. Combinations of Cu‐NPs or copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO‐NPs) with deltamethrin significantly enhanced the insecticide's efficacy against B. oleae adults. When combined with deltamethrin, Cu‐NPs significantly reduced the mean total number of offspring compared with the control, and the number of stings, pupae, female and total number of offspring compared with the insecticide alone. Both bulk and nanosized copper negatively affected the abundance of the endosymbiotic bacterium Candidatus Erwinia dacicola which is crucial for the survival of B. oleae larvae. CONCLUSION: The Cu‐NPs can aid the control of B. oleae both by reducing larval survival and by enhancing deltamethrin performance in terms of toxicity and reduced fecundity, providing an effective anti‐resistance tool and minimizing the environmental footprint of synthetic pesticides by reducing the required doses for the control of the pest. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a significant threat to crop production. Alternatives to synthetic pesticides are needed for its management. Here we investigated the effect of sulphur on H. halys. Experiments were performed to evaluate both mortality and deterrence/repellence of H. halys following sulphur treatments in laboratory and semi‐field conditions. RESULTS: Brown marmorated stink bug mortality was not influenced by sulphur applications. However, in two‐choice experiments in insect cages and olfactometer, more H. halys adults moved toward the untreated control rather than the sulphur‐treated food sources, with a high effect as the concentration increased. A semi‐field experiment using potted apple plants confirmed the results observed in the laboratory, showing a deterrent and/or repellent effect of sulphur‐based products on H. halys. CONCLUSIONS: Sulphur applications were associated with a deterrent/repellent effect on the brown marmorated stink bug. The use of sulphur‐based products could represent a promising tool for Integrated Pest Management strategies against H. halys in fruit crops. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mycorrhizal plants show enhanced resistance to biotic stresses, but few studies have addressed mycorrhiza‐induced resistance (MIR) against biotic challenges in woody plants, particularly citrus. Here we present a comparative study of two citrus species, Citrus aurantium, which is resistant to Tetranychus urticae, and Citrus reshni, which is highly susceptible to T. urticae. Although both mycorrhizal species are protected in locally infested leaves, they show very distinct responses to MIR. RESULTS: Previous studies have indicated that C. aurantium is insensitive to MIR in systemic tissues and MIR‐triggered antixenosis. Conversely, C. reshni is highly responsive to MIR which triggers local, systemic and indirect defense, and antixenosis against the pest. Transcriptional, hormonal and inhibition assays in C. reshni indicated the regulation of jasmonic acid (JA)‐ and abscisic acid‐dependent responses in MIR. The phytohormone jasmonic acid isoleucine (JA‐Ile) and the JA biosynthesis gene LOX2 are primed at early timepoints. Evidence indicates a metabolic flux from phenylpropanoids to specific flavones that are primed at 24 h post infestation (hpi). MIR also triggers the priming of naringenin in mycorrhizal C. reshni, which shows a strong correlation with several flavones and JA‐Ile that over‐accumulate in mycorrhizal plants. Treatment with an inhibitor of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis C4H enzyme impaired resistance and reduced the symbiosis, demonstrating that phenylpropanoids and derivatives mediate MIR in C. reshni. CONCLUSION: MIR's effectiveness is inversely correlated to basal immunity in different citrus species, and provides multifaceted protection against T. urticae in susceptible C. reshni, activating rapid local and systemic defenses that are mainly regulated by the accumulation of specific flavones and priming of JA‐dependent responses. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This study introduces a wild radish population collected from Yelbeni in the Western Australian grainbelt that evolved an early silique abscission (shedding) trait to persist despite long‐term harvest weed seed control (HWSC) use. In 2017, field‐collected seed (known herein as Yelbeni) was compared to surrounding ruderal and field‐collected populations in a fully randomized common garden study. RESULTS: The Yelbeni population exhibited a higher rate of silique abscission when compared to the ruderal populations collected from the site before wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvest (assessed at soft dough stage, Zadoks 83). A similar common garden study was conducted in the subsequent season (2018) using progeny reproduced on a single site without stress. The HWSC‐selected progeny (Yelbeni P) shed 1048 (±288) siliques before wheat maturity at the soft dough stage (Zadoks 83) compared to 25 (±7) siliques from the pooled control populations. The Yelbeni P population only flowered 6 days earlier (FT50 as determined by log‐logistic analysis) than pooled control populations, which is unlikely to fully account for the increased rate of silique abscission. The Yelbeni P population also located its lowest siliques below the lowest height for harvest interception (10 cm), which is likely to increase HWSC evasion. The mechanism inducing early silique‐shedding is yet to be determined; however, wild radish is known for its significant genetic variability and has demonstrated its capacity to adapt to environmental and management stresses. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the repeated use of HWSC can lead to the selection of HWSC‐avoidance traits including early silique‐shedding before harvest and/or locating siliques below the harvest cutting height for interception. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ambrosia grayi is a perennial weed native to northern Mexico, which can also be found in the Great Plains of the US. Outside the Americas, A. grayi has only been documented in Israel, where it is currently categorized as a casual species at advanced eradication stages. Here, we studied the plant biology and chemical weed management options of A. grayi. RESULTS: Only large achenes of A. grayi (~5% of all achenes) contain seeds; moreover, the viability of seeds extracted from large achenes was ~25%. Examination of plant anatomy revealed that underground vegetative segments show an anatomical structure of stems (rhizomes) with anomalous secondary growth. The optimal (night/day) temperature for the emergence of A. grayi rhizomes was 20/30 °C, and the emergence rate increased under elevated temperatures. Emergence may occur at different soil moisture content (25–60%); rhizomes were able to emerge even after 1 month of drought conditions (20%, 25% and 30%). Herbicide combinations, such as fluroxypyr + glufosinate, fluroxypyr + glyphosate, and glyphosate + saflufenacil + surfactant, were tested under quarantine conditions and showed high efficacy for the control of A. grayi. However, the efficiency of these treatments was highly correlated with plant growth stage. CONCLUSION: In Israel, the spread of A. grayi occurs mainly via rhizomes that can emerge under a wide range of temperatures and soil moisture conditions. Data regarding herbicide efficacy will aid in improving the eradication efforts taken by Israel's Plant Protection and Inspection Services. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Wood ants are promising biocontrol agents in fruit plantations because they prey on pest insects and inhibit plant diseases. However, these ants also attend plant‐feeding homopterans to harvest their honeydew secretions, thereby increasing their numbers. This problem can be solved by offering ants alternative sugar sources that are more attractive than honeydew. From natural interactions, it is known that some species manipulate mutualistic partners toward loyalty by adding alkaloids to the food they offer their mutualists. Inspired by this, the addition of alkaloids might be used to make ants loyal to artificial sugar feeders and thus used to reduce populations of ant‐farmed homopterans in ant‐mediated biological control. We aimed to explore whether wood ants (Formica polyctena) would develop a taste preference for morphine‐containing sugar solutions in two‐choice laboratory tests. RESULTS: After having fed on a morphine/sugar solution for 1 week, ants showed a significant preference for morphine solutions compared with equal concentration sugar solutions without morphine. Furthermore, ants lost this preference after 6–9 days on a morphine‐free diet. CONCLUSION: The results show that wood ants react to morphine in their food, enabling chemical manipulation of their behavior, most likely through a taste preference. Thus, ants are susceptible to manipulation by mutualistic partners in natural interactions and furthermore may be manipulated artificially in biocontrol programs to avoid ant‐mediated build‐up of homopteran populations. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, macadamia orchards are attacked by four main insect pest groups. Management and control of three of these key pests currently relies on broad‐spectrum insecticides whose long‐term future is questionable. Of the 23 insecticides registered for use in macadamia in Australia, 19 face issues affecting their availability and 12 are presently not approved in the EU, the USA or Canada. These international markets may refuse produce that does not adhere to their own insecticide use standards, hence Australian produce may be excluded from market access. Many of the potential replacement integrated pest management methods of pest control are generally considered less effective by the industry and have not been adopted. There are 17 insect pest groups identified by the industry, any of which have potential to become major problems if broad‐spectrum insecticide options become unavailable. Thirteen pest groups need urgent attention as they are at risk of losing current effective control methods, and no replacement solutions have yet been developed. The lag period for research and development to identify new chemical and biological control solutions means there is now an urgent need for the macadamia industry to craft a strategy for sustainable pest management for each pest. Critically, this industry strategy needs to address the vulnerabilities identified in this paper, identify potential solutions for any cases of market failure and consider funding mechanisms to address these gaps. On economic and sustainability grounds, potential biological control options should be explored, especially in cases where insecticide control options are vulnerable. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) is the most important vector of syndrome 'basses richesses' (SBR), a new disease that leads to severe economic losses in sugar beet. In this study, different soil tillage methods (ploughing and cultivator) and crops (winter wheat, spring wheat, maize and bare soil) following SBR‐infested sugar beet were tested as potential management options in field trials. In the laboratory, the survival and development of first and third instar nymphs on wheat and maize was studied to further assess their suitability as host plants. RESULTS: In five out of seven field sites, reduced soil tillage had no effect on adult planthopper emergence compared to ploughing. In two sites, reduced tillage resulted in higher emergence rates. In nearly all field sites, up to 98.9% fewer emerging adults were detected in bare soil and maize, when compared to winter wheat. Under laboratory conditions, the lowest survival rate was found in first instar nymphs feeding on maize seedlings (4.2%), while 66.7% survived on wheat, over a period of 300 days. In contrast, 73.3% and 70% of third instar nymphs survived on wheat and maize over a period of 150 days. CONCLUSION: Soil tillage had little effect against Pentastiridius leporinus. Maize is a poor host for first instars but a suitable resource for third instar nymphs, the stage which encounters maize under field conditions. Hence, reductions in planthopper emergence in the field were likely caused by starvation due to the long host‐free period between sugar beet harvest and the sowing of maize. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In temperate regions, aphid biological control in greenhouses is mostly achieved by the regular release of biocontrol agents. Due to the rapid growth rate of the aphid population, biocontrol agents must be released frequently in order to be present before pest outbreaks and to act rapidly to prevent exceeding the economic threshold. Banker plants reduce these numerous releases by providing natural enemies with a high‐quality environment to develop and reproduce. Optimally, banker plants should be easy to produce, resistant to environmental conditions, provide a large amount of suitable banker prey in order to produce a high number of biocontrol agents, and resist the herbivory pressure of the banker prey. The present study aimed to compare the value of three banker plant candidates of the Poaceae family under laboratory and greenhouse conditions: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn), and corn (Zea mays L.). RESULTS: Our results show that the three plants were suitable for different contexts. Finger millet yielded the biggest fresh plant biomass, supported the highest load of banker prey, and resisted aphid feeding longer than the other plant species. Corn was the cheapest to produce, and barley was the fastest to grow. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, finger millet could be more fitted for long crop cycles, pests with rapid population growth rates, and voracious or fast‐reproducing biocontrol agents. Meanwhile, barley and corn may be better suited for rapid crop cycles, pests with slow population growth rates, and biocontrol agents that are not too voracious or have low reproductive rates. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici, is a foliar disease affecting wheat crops against which conventional control methods are not totally effective. During inter‐epidemic periods the fungus survives in wheat residues left on the ground. In this study, we tested the potential of the collembolan Heteromurus nitidus – a springtail species present in field soils and known to interact with different fungal species – as a potential bioregulation agent of Z. tritici on wheat residues through a choice and consumption experiment. RESULTS: Springtails preferred inoculated fresh residues but did not have a preference between inoculated and uninoculated old residues. Springtails grazed on Z. tritici fruiting bodies and reduced pycnidiospore numbers by ten‐fold compared to control inoculated fresh residues. Attraction toward fresh inoculated residues and pycnidiospore reduction support the hypothesis that Z. tritici is a food source for springtails. Heteromurus nitidus showed no preference between inoculated and uninoculated 18‐month‐old residues, probably because they no longer produced ascospores. CONCLUSION: Attraction towards fresh residues and spore reduction support our hypothesis that H. nitidus may contribute to the bioregulation of Z. tritici. Perspectives for field application would be determined by the ability of H. nitidus and Z. tritici to interact at key epidemiological stages. The impact of H. nitidus on the quantity of pathogen primary inoculum over time should be estimated using residues of intermediate age. This would help to identify the optimal period for enhancing the effectiveness of springtails as consumers of Z. tritici. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cinmethylin is an inhibitor of plant fatty acid biosynthesis, with in‐plant activity caused by its binding to fatty acid thioesterases (FATs). The recent registration of cinmethylin for pre‐emergence herbicidal use in the UK represents a new mode‐of‐action (MOA) for control of the grassweed blackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides). To date there is little published information on the extent of blackgrass' inter‐population variability in sensitivity to cinmethylin, nor on any potential effect of existing non‐target‐site resistance (NTSR) mechanisms on cinmethylin efficacy. RESULTS: Here we present a study of variability in cinmethylin sensitivity amongst 97 UK blackgrass populations. We demonstrate that under controlled conditions, a UK field‐rate dose of 500 g ha−1 provides effective control of the tested populations. Nevertheless, we reveal significant inter‐population variability at doses below this rate, with populations previously characterised as strongly NTSR displaying the lowest sensitivity to cinmethylin. Assessment of paired resistant 'R' and sensitive 'S' lines from standardised genetic backgrounds confirms that selection for NTSR to the acetyl‐CoA‐carboxylase inhibitor fenoxaprop, and the microtubule assembly inhibitor pendimethalin, simultaneously results in reduced sensitivity to cinmethylin at doses below 500 g ha−1. Whilst we find no resistance to the field‐rate dose, we reveal that cinmethylin sensitivity can be further reduced through experimental selection with cinmethylin. CONCLUSION: Cinmethylin therefore represents a much‐needed further MOA for blackgrass control, but needs to be carefully managed within a resistance monitoring and integrated weed management (IWM) framework to maximise the effective longevity of this compound. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ultra‐low volume (ULV) space sprays aerosolize insecticide formulated products (FP) to contact flying mosquitoes, while barrier sprays expose mosquitoes to FP residue on vegetation and other surfaces. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bottle bioassays used to assess insecticide resistance are based on residual active ingredient (AI) exposure and do not directly relate to FP efficacy. The current pilot study developed a novel compact wind tunnel for mosquito exposure to FP. Caged Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens/quinquefasciatus were exposed to undiluted Biomist®3 + 15 FP (permethrin AI) or air (control) within the wind tunnel, transferred to new cages, and held in a 28 °C incubator. Separate mosquitoes were exposed to residual permethrin AI (8 μg mL−1) in bottle bioassays. Mortality was monitored 15, 30, 60, and 120 min post‐exposure. RESULTS: Chi‐square tests (P < 0.05) showed significantly higher mortality in Aedes compared to Culex populations for most time points in both bioassay and wind tunnel exposure groups. As expected, mosquitoes exposed to Biomist®3 + 15 showed higher mortality rates than bottle bioassay exposure to permethrin. Two Culex colonies resistant to permethrin in bottle bioassays were susceptible to Biomist®3 + 15 in the wind tunnel. CONCLUSION: The novel compact wind tunnel developed here may be an alternative to field trials for testing FP efficacy, avoiding factors such as weather, logistical planning, and extended personnel hours. The wind tunnel could allow programs to conveniently test efficacy of multiple FP. Comparisons of different insecticide exposure methods provide practical information to inform operational decisions. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an economically important pest of soft and stone fruit crops. The aim of this study was to identify repellents, formulated in dispensers, which could protect crops from D. suzukii. Fourteen potential repellents were screened against summer‐ and winter‐morph D. suzukii through electroantennography and behavioural bioassays. Repellents effective in the laboratory were tested in polytunnels to determine their efficacy in reducing catches in fruit‐baited traps. Further trials of three potential repellents were conducted to determine the distances over which repellent dispensers could reduce D. suzukii emergence in a strawberry crop. RESULTS: All 14 chemicals screened were detected by the antennae of both D. suzukii morphs. Hexyl acetate and geosmin both elicited a significantly greater corrected EAG response in summer morphs than winter morphs. Summer‐morph D. suzukii were repelled by butyl acetate, ethyl propionate, methyl N,N‐dimethyl anthranilate, geosmin, methyl salicylate, DEET and benzaldehyde at one or more doses test in laboratory bioassays. Winter morphs were repelled by ethyl propionate, methyl anthranilate, methyl N,N‐dimethyl anthranilate, DEET, benzaldehyde and butyl anthranilate at one or more of the doses tested in the laboratory. Ethyl propionate, methyl N,N‐dimethylanthranilate and benzaldehyde repelled both morphs from fruit‐baited traps in polytunnel trapping trials. Ethyl propionate and methyl N,N‐dimethylanthranilate reduced emergence of D. suzukii in a strawberry crop over 3–5 m. CONCLUSIONS: Ethyl propionate and methyl N,N‐dimethylanthranilate may protect strawberry crops against D. suzukii. Future work should test these repellents in combination with attractants in a 'push‐pull' strategy. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure ongoing sustainability, the modern agrochemical industry is faced with enormous challenges. These arise from provision of high‐quality food to increasing water use and environmental impact as well as a growing world population. The loss of previous agrochemicals due to consumer perception, changing grower needs and ever‐changing regulatory requirements is higher than the number of active ingredients that are being introduced into the crop protection market. Therefore, the development of novel agrochemicals is essential to provide improved efficacy and environmental profiles. In this context, the introduction of fluorine atoms and fluorine‐containing motifs into a molecule is an important method to influence its physicochemical properties. These include, for example, small difluoro‐ and trifluoromethyl, or trifluoromethoxy groups at aryl or heterocyclic aryl moieties but also fragments like 2,2,2‐trifluoroethoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethylsulfonyl, trifluoroacetyl, as well as the so far unusal rest like heptafluoro‐iso‐propyl. This review gives an overview of recent developments of fluorine‐containing pesticides launched over the past 7 years and describes a selection of current fluorine‐containing development candidates. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are enzymes with a wide range of functions, including herbicide detoxification. Up‐regulation of GSTs and their detoxification activity enables the grass weed black‐grass (Alopecurus myosuroides Huds.) to metabolize the very‐long‐chain fatty acid synthesis inhibitor flufenacet and other herbicides leading to multiple herbicide resistance. However, the genomic organization and regulation of GSTs genes is still poorly understood. RESULTS: In this genome‐wide study the location and expression of 115 GSTs were investigated using a recently published black‐grass genome. Particularly, the most abundant GSTs of class tau and phi were typically clustered and often followed similar expression patterns but possessed divergent upstream regulatory regions. Similarities were found in the promoters of the most up‐regulated GSTs, which are located next to each other in a cluster. The binding motif of the E2F/DP transcription factor complex in the promoter of an up‐regulated GST was identical in susceptible and resistant plants, however, adjacent sequences differed. This led to a stronger binding of proteins to the motif of the susceptible plant, indicating repressor activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study constitutes the first analysis dealing with the genomic investigation of GST genes found in black‐grass and their transcriptional regulation. It highlights the complexity of the evolution of GSTs in black‐grass, their duplication and divergence over time. The large number of GSTs allows weeds to detoxify a broad spectrum of herbicides. Ultimately, more research is needed to fully elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of GST expression. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The wheat stem sawfly (WSS, Cephus cinctus) is a major pest of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and can cause significant yield losses. WSS damage results from stem boring and/or cutting, leading to the lodging of wheat plants. Although solid‐stem wheat genotypes can effectively reduce larval survival, they may have lower yields than hollow‐stem genotypes and show inconsistent solidness expression. Because of limited resistance sources to WSS, evaluating diverse wheat germplasm for novel resistance genes is crucial. We evaluated 91 accessions across five wild wheat species (Triticum monococcum, T. urartu, T. turgidum, T. timopheevii, and Aegilops tauschii) and common wheat cultivars (T. aestivum) for antixenosis (host selection) and antibiosis (host suitability) to WSS. Host selection was measured as the number of eggs after adult oviposition, and host suitability was determined by examining the presence or absence of larval infestation within the stem. The plants were grown in the greenhouse and brought to the field for WSS infestation. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis was performed to determine the relationship between the WSS traits and phylogenetic clustering. RESULTS: Overall, Ae. tauschii, T. turgidum and T. urartu had lower egg counts and larval infestation than T. monococcum, and T. timopheevii. T. monococcum, T. timopheevii, T. turgidum, and T. urartu had lower larval weights compared with T. aestivum. CONCLUSION: This study shows that wild relatives of wheat could be a valuable source of alleles for enhancing resistance to WSS and identifies specific germplasm resources that may be useful for breeding. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: One of the proposed applications of gene drives has been to revert pesticide resistant mutations back to the ancestral susceptible state. Insecticides that have become ineffective because of the rise of resistance could have reinvigorated utility and be used to suppress pest populations again, perhaps at lower application doses. RESULTS: We have created a laboratory model for susceptibility gene drives that replaces field‐selected resistant variants of the acetylcholine esterase (Ace) locus of Drosophila melanogaster with ancestral susceptible variants. We constructed a CRISPR/Cas9 homing drive and found that homing occurred in many genetic backgrounds with varying efficiencies. While the drive itself could not be homozygous, it converted resistant alleles into susceptible ones and produced recessive lethal alleles that could suppress populations. Our studies provided evidence for two distinct classes of gene drive resistance (GDR): rather than being mediated by the conventional non‐homologous end‐joining (NHEJ) pathway, one seemed to involve short homologous repair and the other was defined by genetic background. Additionally, we used simulations to explore a distinct application of susceptibility drives; the use of chemicals to prevent the spread of synthetic gene drives into protected areas. CONCLUSIONS: Insecticide susceptibility gene drives could be useful tools to control pest insects however problems with particularities of target loci and GDR will need to be overcome for them to be effective. Furthermore, realistic patterns of pest dispersal and high insecticide exposure rates would be required if susceptibility were to be useful as a 'safety‐switch' to prevent the unwanted spread of gene drives. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti is a main vector of arboviral diseases, principally dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Insecticides remain the most effective vector control method. Pyrethroid is the main insecticide currently used, and the long‐term use of insecticides can cause mosquitoes to develop knockdown resistance. Studying the mutation sites and genotypes of Ae. aegypti can reveal the mutation characteristics and regional distribution of the kdr gene in an Ae. aegypti population. Testing for a correlation between the mutation rate in various populations and pyrethrin resistance can clarify the resistance mechanism. RESULTS: The bioassay results showed that all 15 populations are resistant. In the study of the kdr gene, three non‐synonymous mutations were identified in the DNA of first generation females from the wild Ae. aegypti population: S989P (TCC‐CCC), V1016G (GTA‐GGA), and F1534C (TTC‐TGC). The mortality rate of the various populations was correlated with the mutation rate at the V1016G + F1534C locus, but not the S989P + V1016G locus. CONCLUSION: Aedes aegypti populations in border regions of Yunnan Province are resistant to permethrin and beta‐cyfluthrin. The insecticidal effect of beta‐cyfluthrin is stronger than that of permethrin. The mutation rate at sites V1016G + F1534C is negatively correlated with the mortality of Ae. aegypti based on bioassays. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) seeks to combine multiple management strategies for optimal pest control. One method that is successfully employed in IPM is the use of beneficial organisms. However, in severe circumstances when pest insects exceed threshold limits, insecticides may still need to be implemented. Thus, understanding the effects of insecticides on biocontrol agents, such as parasitoid wasps, is paramount to ensure sustainable agroecosystems. Sublethal effects of the bioinsecticide spinosyn, a mixture of the bacterial Saccharopolyspora spinosa (Mertz and Yao) fermentation products spinosyn A and D, on eggs of Trichoplusia ni (Hübner), a cruciferous crop pest, and its egg parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) was investigated. RESULTS: The LC50 for spinosyn A and D (dissolved in ethanol) on T. ni eggs is 54 ng mL−1. Transcriptomics on caterpillars (1st and 3rd instars) that hatched from eggs treated with sublethal concentrations of spinosyn identified the upregulation of several genes encoding proteins that may be involved in insecticide resistance including detoxification enzymes, such as cytochrome P450s, glutathione S‐transferases and esterases. Sublethal T. ni egg treatments did not affect parasitoid emergence, however, there was a marked increase in the size of T. brassicae hind tibia and wings that emerged from spinosyn‐treated eggs. CONCLUSIONS: For the caterpillar, treatment of eggs with sublethal concentrations of spinosyn may induce insecticide resistance mechanisms. For the parasitoids, their increased size when reared in spinosyn‐treated eggs suggests that the emerged wasps may have higher performance. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Resistance to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicides has been reported in some rust fungi within Pucciniales. However, measuring the resistance factors conferred by a specific substitution at the target site is difficult for most species because of the difficulty in performing in vitro experiments and the complexity of the binuclear state in these obligate parasites. We focused on Puccinia horiana because it easily forms homozygous basidiospores that are sensitive to SDHIs during in vitro germination, whereas the uredospores of other rust fungi are less sensitive. RESULTS: We identified two substitutions, SdhC‐I88F and SdhD‐C125Y, that drive SDHI resistance in Pu. horiana. Using basidiospore germination inhibition tests, we measured the resistance factors for six SDHI fungicides in Pu. horiana isolates harboring SdhC‐I88F substitutions, wherein orthologous substitutions were most frequently observed in SDHI‐resistant Pucciniales, such as soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi). The resistance factors were high for penthiopyrad and benzovindiflupyr (>150), moderate for oxycarboxin and inpyrfluxam (10–30), and low for mepronil and fluxapyroxad (3–10). The most potent SDHI against SdhC‐I88F‐harboring isolates was inpyrfluxam, with a half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.0082 mg L−1 owing to its high intrinsic activity. SdhD‐C125Y played a minor, but significant role in increasing the resistance factors (one‐ to tenfold increases), depending on the individual SDHIs. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to use basidiospore germination inhibitory tests to quantify the resistance factors for SDHI‐resistant Pucciniales. Owing to its homozygous binucleate nature and the high availability of basidiospores, Pu. horiana is useful for investigating SDHI resistance in Pucciniales. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Microbial insecticides are an important weapon in insect pest management, but their use is still relatively limited. One approach for increasing their efficacy and use could be to combine different pathogens to increase pest mortality. However, little is known about whether increasing pathogen diversity will improve pest management. Here, we investigated the compatibility of two pathogens for the management of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, T. ni nucleopolyhedrovirus (TniSNPV) and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, on two crops, tomato and broccoli. The pathogens were applied to individual plants using ultra low volume sprays, alone or in combination, either synchronously or asynchronously. Healthy third‐instar T. ni larvae were introduced to the plants before application and collected by destructive sampling 24 h after the last pathogen application. RESULTS: Combined applications did not result in an increase in larval mortality compared to TniSNPV alone, although mortality was generally high. B. bassiana was considerably less effective on broccoli compared to tomato. In both the combined treatments, virus‐induced mortality was approximately 50% lower when applied together with the fungus, while fungus‐induced mortality was not affected by the virus, even when the virus was introduced 24 h before the fungus. CONCLUSION: While our results suggest that applying this combination of entomopathogens would not be beneficial for pest management, this study illustrates the need to consider the target crop as an important driver of the efficacy of both single and mixed pathogen applications in the field. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Practical resistance of Helicoverpa zea to Cry proteins has become widespread in the US, making Vip3Aa the only effective Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) protein for controlling this pest. Understanding the genetic basis of Vip3Aa resistance in H. zea is essential in sustaining the long‐term efficacy of Vip3Aa. The objectives of this study were to characterize the inheritance of Vip3Aa resistance in four distinct field‐derived H. zea strains (M1‐RR, AC4‐RR, R2‐RR and R15‐RR), and to test for shared genetic basis among these strains and a previously characterized Texas resistant strain (LT#70‐RR). RESULTS: Maternal effects and sex linkage were absent, and the effective dominance level (DML) was 0.0 across Vip3Aa39 concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 31.6 μg cm−2, in all H. zea resistant strains. Mendelian monogenic model tests indicated that Vip3Aa resistance in each of the four strains was controlled by a single gene. However, interstrain complementation tests indicated that three distinct genetic loci are involved in Vip3Aa resistance in the five resistant H. zea strains: one shared by M1‐RR and LT#70‐RR; another shared by R2‐RR and R15‐RR; and a distinct one for AC4‐RR. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that Vip3Aa resistance in all H. zea strains was controlled by a single, recessive and autosomal gene. However, there were three distinct genetic loci associated with Vip3Aa resistance in the five resistant H. zea strains. The information generated from this study is valuable for exploring mechanisms of Vip3Aa resistance, monitoring the evolution of Vip3Aa resistance, and devising effective strategies for managing Vip3Aa resistance in H. zea. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Fungal phytopathogens are a significant threat to crops and food security, and there is a constant need to develop safe and effective compounds that antagonize them. In‐planta assays are complex and tedious and are thus not suitable for initial high‐throughput screening of new candidate antifungal compounds. We propose an in vitro screening pipeline that integrates five rapid quantitative and qualitative methods to estimate the efficacy and mode of action of prospective antifungal compounds. RESULTS: The pipeline was evaluated using five documented antifungal compounds (benomyl, catechol, cycloheximide, 2,4‐diacetylphloroglucinol, and phenylacetic acid) that have different modes of action and efficacy, against the model soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis cucumerinum. We initially evaluated the five compounds' ability to inhibit fungal growth and metabolic activity using green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labeled F. oxysporum and PrestoBlue staining, respectively, in multiwell plate assays. We tested the compounds' inhibition of both conidial germination and hyphal elongation. We then employed FUN‐1 and SYTO9/propidium iodide staining, coupled to confocal microscopy, to differentiate between fungal growth inhibition and death at the cellular level. Finally, using a reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐detection assay, we were able to quantify ROS production in response to compound application. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the proposed pipeline provides a wide array of quantitative and qualitative data on the tested compounds that can help pinpoint promising novel compounds; these can then be evaluated more vigorously using in planta screening assays. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Montana accounts for approximately 45% of US dry pea production and the pea leaf weevil (PLW; Sitona lineatus (L.)) is the most common insect pest in this region. After crop emergence adult PLW feed on the foliage to mature and subsequently mate, and the soil‐dwelling larvae feed and develop on the nitrogen‐fixing root nodules. Producers commonly apply prophylactic insecticide treatments to the seed at planting as well as one or two post‐emergent insecticide sprays to control PLW damage. To develop alternative management strategies based on integrated pest management (IPM), this field study evaluated pulse crops grown in Montana for adult feeding preference and larval development. Ten different field pea varieties, along with two faba bean, lentil and chickpea varieties, were evaluated during the 2020 and 2021 field seasons at the Montana State University Arthur H. Post Agronomy Farm. RESULTS: Significant PLW pest pressure was observed within the research plots during both experimental years. Field pea and faba bean were preferred by the foliage feeding adult stage, with all but one variety averaging 39.2 to 86.3 average notches per plant. The pea variety Lifter was significantly preferred over all other comparisons, averaging 142.4 and 95.0 notches per plant in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Adult PLW feeding on lentil and chickpea was minimal, averaging 3.3 to 8.2 and 0.5 to 1.6 notches per plant, respectively. Numbers of larvae were highest on the roots of pea varieties, a known reproductive host, and almost nil on lentil and chickpea roots. Faba bean is also known as reproductive host, but, unexpectedly, larval populations were also low on the two faba bean varieties. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study provide some limited evidence for alternative IPM strategies for field peas based on host plant tolerance or resistance within the range of varieties tested. Adult preference and larval development of PLW varied between the different pulse crops with field peas and faba beans being the most susceptible and lentils and chickpeas being the least susceptible. Host plant resistance against PLW could provide more sustainable IPM approaches in the future. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Biological control with predatory mites is applied against pests in greenhouse crops. Chemical control with the use of selective, reduced‐risk pesticides, is an important component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, that often needs to be combined with biological control. Here, we evaluated the effect of plant pollen when used as supplementary food on the survival, reproduction and predation of the predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) after exposing young larvae and adults to flonicamid, an insecticide of moderate toxicity to phytoseiids. Pollen is an important alternative food for generalist phytoseiids ensuring survival and supporting populations build‐up during periods of prey scarcity. Two regimes of cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) pollen differing in application frequency were used. In the first, the total amount of pollen was supplied once, within 30 min after insecticide application, whereas in the second regime, the same amount of pollen was supplied gradually, i.e., every 48 h. RESULTS: Regardless of the frequency of application, pollen provisioning results in a reduction in prey (thrips) consumption relative to the control (no pollen provisioning). Nevertheless, when adult mites were directly exposed to flonicamid residues, pollen provisioning attenuated the reduction in prey consumption as compared to the control. In addition, the gradual (every 48 h) provisioning of pollen to adult predators exposed to flonicamid residues impacted positively the intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) of A. limonicus as compared to when feeding on prey. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal an unexpected role of pollen provisioning in alleviating pesticides side‐effects on phytoseiids. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a table of contents for the June 2024 issue of Pest Management Science, an international journal that focuses on research and technology related to crop protection and pest control. It includes a list of research articles on various topics, such as insecticide resistance, biocontrol, herbicidal activities, and the effects of climate change on pest distribution. The articles are written by researchers from different countries, including China, the United States, Greece, and Italy. The document also includes a correction notice for a previous article. The journal does not accept papers on products with uncertain chemical composition or unknown active ingredients. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: Natural products present an environmentally attractive alternative to synthetic pesticides which have been implicated in the off‐target effect. Currently, the assessment of pesticide toxicity on soil microorganisms relies on the OECD 216 N transformation assay (OECD stands for the Organisation Economic Co‐operation and Development, which is a key international standard‐setting organisation). We tested the hypotheses that (i) the OECD 216 assay fails to identify unacceptable effects of pesticides on soil microbiota compared to more advanced molecular and standardized tests, and (ii) the natural products tested (dihydrochalcone, isoflavone, aliphatic phenol, and spinosad) are less toxic to soil microbiota compared to a synthetic pesticide compound (3,5‐dichloraniline). We determined the following in three different soils: (i) ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) soil concentrations, as dictated by the OECD 216 test, and (ii) the abundance of phylogenetically (bacteria and fungi) and functionally distinct microbial groups [ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB)] using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q‐PCR). RESULTS: All pesticides tested exhibited limited persistence, with spinosad demonstrating the highest persistence. None of the pesticides tested showed clear dose‐dependent effects on NH4+ and NO3− levels and the observed effects were <25% of the control, suggesting no unacceptable impacts on soil microorganisms. In contrast, q‐PCR measurements revealed (i) distinct negative effects on the abundance of total bacteria and fungi, which were though limited to one of the studied soils, and (ii) a significant reduction in the abundance of both AOA and AOB across soils. This reduction was attributed to both natural products and 3,5‐dichloraniline. CONCLUSION: Our findings strongly advocate for a revision of the current regulatory framework regarding the toxicity of pesticides to soil microbiota, which should integrate advanced and well‐standardized tools. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The evolution of non‐target site resistance (NTSR) to herbicides leads to a significant reduction in herbicide control of agricultural weed species. Detecting NTSR in weed populations prior to herbicide treatment would provide valuable information for effective weed control. While not all NTSR mechanisms have been fully identified, enhanced metabolic resistance (EMR) is one of the better studied, conferring tolerance through increased herbicide detoxification. Confirming EMR towards specific herbicides conventionally involves detecting metabolites of the active herbicide molecule in planta, but this approach is time‐consuming and requires access to well‐equipped laboratories. RESULTS: In this study, we explored the potential of using molecular biomarkers to detect EMR before herbicide treatment in black‐grass (Alopecurus myosuroides). We tested the reliability of selected biomarkers to predict EMR and survival after herbicide treatments in both reference and 27 field‐derived black‐grass populations collected from sites across the UK. The combined analysis of the constitutive expression of biomarkers and metabolism studies confirmed three proteins, namely, AmGSTF1, AmGSTU2 and AmOPR1, as differential biomarkers of EMR toward the herbicides fenoxaprop‐ethyl and mesosulfuron in black‐grass. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that there is potential to use molecular biomarkers to detect EMR toward specific herbicides in black‐grass without reference to metabolism analysis. However, biomarker development must include testing at both transcript and protein levels in order to be reliable indicators of resistance. This work is a first step towards more robust resistance biomarker development, which could be expanded into other herbicide chemistries for on‐farm testing and monitoring EMR in uncharacterised black‐grass populations. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Current European Union and United Kingdom legislation prohibits the use of neonicotinoid insecticidal seed treatments in oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus). This ban, and the reduction in efficacy of pyrethroid insecticide sprays due to resistance, has exacerbated pest pressure from the cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala) in winter OSR. We quantified the direct impact of P. chrysocephala injury on the productivity of OSR. Leaf area was removed from young plants to simulate differing intensities of adult feeding injury alone or in combination with varying larval infestation levels. RESULTS: OSR can compensate for up to 90% leaf area loss at early growth stages, with no meaningful effect on yield. Significant impacts were observed with high infestations of more than five larvae per plant; plants were shorter, produced fewer flowers and pods, with fewer seeds per pod which had lower oil content and higher glucosinolate content. Such effects were not recorded when five larvae or fewer were present. CONCLUSION: These data confirm the yield‐limiting potential of the larval stages of P. chrysocephala but suggest that the current action thresholds which trigger insecticide application for both adult and larval stages (25% leaf area loss and five larvae/plant, respectively) are potentially too low as they are below the physiological injury level where plants can fully compensate for damage. Further research in field conditions is needed to define physiological thresholds more accurately as disparity may result in insecticide applications that are unnecessary to protect yield and may in turn exacerbate the development and spread of insecticide resistance in P. chrysocephala. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Insect pest resistance to insecticides and societal pressure to reduce pesticide load has increased oilseed rape (OSR) farmers' motivation to protect and exploit parasitoids for pest control. However, parasitoid presence and parasitism must be made visible to influence farmers' spraying decisions. Parasitism of cabbage seed weevil (CSW) (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham)) reduces damage to OSR immediately, making them a good case for demonstrating conservation biocontrol to farmers. We assessed the occurrence and activity of CSW parasitoids in 84 OSR fields over 2 years and identified the impact of associated local landscape factors. RESULTS: Mean cabbage seed weevil infestation rates were 11% and 10% in 2020 and 2021, and parasitism rates were high in both years (75% and 74%, respectively). Temporal and spatial dynamics of OSR in the landscape surrounding the focal fields were important for both CSW and parasitoid numbers, suggesting a dilution effect for increasing OSR area since the previous year. A multimodel inference analysis showed that OSR‐related factors were important predictors for both the infestation rate of CSW and the number of parasitoids. For parasitoids, protected nature areas and hedgerows were important. Parasitism rates were high and largely unaffected by landscape factors. CONCLUSION: CSW and its parasitoids respond similarly to interannual changes in the OSR resource; in addition, parasitoids benefit from uncropped areas in the surrounding landscape. The complexity of the pest and parasitoid response to landscape factors limits the prospect of designing landscapes for improved pest control by the parasitoids. Parasitoids of CSW may be present as local populations in agricultural landscapes with the potential for consistent and substantial parasitism. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Phoma stem canker is an economically important disease of oilseed rape, caused by two co‐existing fungal pathogen species, Leptosphaeria maculans (Plenodomus lingam) and Leptosphaeria biglobosa (Plenodomus biglobosus). Leptosphaeria maculans produces a phytotoxin called sirodesmin PL. Our previous work showed that L. biglobosa has an antagonistic effect on the production of sirodesmin PL if it is simultaneously co‐inoculated with L. maculans. However, the effects of sequential co‐inoculation on interspecific interactions between the two pathogens are not understood. RESULTS: The interactions between L. maculans and L. biglobosa were investigated in liquid culture by inoculation with L. maculans first, followed by L. biglobosa sequentially at 1, 3, 5 or 7 days later and vice versa; the controls were inoculated with L. maculans only, L. biglobosa only, or L. maculans and L. biglobosa simultaneously. The results showed that L. biglobosa inhibited the growth of L. maculans, the production of both sirodesmin PL and its precursors if L. biglobosa was inoculated before, or simultaneously with, L. maculans. However, the antagonistic effects of L. biglobosa were lost if it was co‐inoculated 5 or 7 days after L. maculans. CONCLUSION: For the first time, the results of this study provided evidence that the timing when L. maculans and L. biglobosa meet significantly influences the outcome of the interspecific competition between them. Leptosphaeria biglobosa can inhibit the production of sirodesmin PL and the growth of L. maculans if it is inoculated before L. maculans or less than 3 days after L. maculans in liquid culture. There is a need to further investigate the timing of co‐inoculation on interactions between L. maculans and L. biglobosa in their host plants for improving the control of phoma stem canker. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) is an economically important pest of oilseed rape crops in Europe that was effectively controlled by neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments until they were banned by the European Union in 2013. Since then, CSFB has been a difficult pest to control effectively, in part due to many populations having developed resistance to pyrethroids, the only authorized insecticides used to control this pest in many countries. Alternative solutions are therefore necessary, such as biopesticides. We tested an entomopathogenic fungus, three entomopathogenic bacteria isolates, two fatty acids and azadirachtin against CSFB adults under laboratory conditions. We also tested the efficacy of the pyrethroid insecticide lambda‐cyhalothrin. RESULTS: Fatty acids were effective, with up to 100% CSFB mortality after 24 h. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana resulted in up to 56% mortality 14 days after treatment. Entomopathogenic bacteria formulations and azadirachtin were not effective (<50% and <40% mortality, respectively). Results from a bioassay using lambda‐cyhalothrin indicated that the CSFB used in this study were resistant to this insecticide. CONCLUSION: Entomopathogenic fungi and fatty acids could potentially be used to control CSFB as part of an integrated pest management programme. This study is the first to investigate the efficacy of different biopesticides to control CSFB under laboratory conditions. As such, these biopesticides require further testing to optimise the formulation and application methods, and to assess the impact on nontarget organisms. Finally, efficacy under field conditions must be determined to understand the influence of environmental variables. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cultivation of oilseed rape Brassica napus is pesticide‐intensive, and alternative plant protection strategies are needed because both pesticide resistance and legislation narrow the range of effective chemical pesticides. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is used as a biocontrol agent against various insect pests, but little is known about its endophytic potential and role in plant protection for oilseed rape. First, we studied whether B. bassiana can establish as an endophyte in oilseed rape, following seed inoculation. To evaluate the plant protection potential of endophytic B. bassiana on oilseed rape, we next examined its ability to induce plant metabolite biosynthesis. In another experiment, we tested the effect of seed inoculation on seedling survival in a semi‐field experiment. Results: Beauveria bassiana endophytically colonized oilseed rape following seed inoculation, and, in addition, natural colonization was also recorded. Maximum colonization rate was 40%, and generally increased with inoculation time. Seed inoculation did not affect the germination probability or growth of oilseed rape, but B. bassiana inoculated seeds germinated more slowly compared to controls. Endophytic colonization of B. bassiana induced biosynthesis of several flavonoids in oilseed rape leaves under controlled conditions. In the experiment conducted in semi‐field conditions, inoculated seedlings had slightly higher mortality compared to control seedlings. Conclusion: Beauveria bassiana showed endophytic potential on oilseed rape via both natural colonization and seed inoculation, and it induced the biosynthesis of flavonoids. However, its use as an endophyte for plant protection against pests or pathogens for oilseed rape remains unclear. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chemical control of insect pests in oilseed rape (OSR) is becoming increasingly difficult due to the development of resistance and restrictive insecticide approvals in Europe. At the same time, there is a lack of preventive and alternative control measures. Crop rotation mostly fails to control insects due to their mobility; however, changing regional cropping densities can dilute or concentrate pest pressure. In this study, we investigated whether the local occurrence of Psylliodes chrysocephala and Delia radicum, serious insect pests in winter OSR, is influenced by distance from the previous year's OSR fields and how changes in OSR rape cropping density at a regional scale (up to 10 km radius) affect pest pressure. Results: Abundance of P. chrysocephala in yellow water traps decreased with increasing distance to previous year's OSR. Estimated catches in the first 3 weeks of migration were about 68–76% lower at 10 km distance compared to 1 km in autumn 2019 and 2020. However, in both seasons P. chrysocephala was able to disperse over distances of 10 km. Probability of root damage by D. radicum was affected by changes of OSR cropping area at a spatial scale of 2.5 km radius; it increased if acreage of OSR decreased. Furthermore, aphid infestation was lower when OSR was distant in the previous year. Conclusion: This study could enable field‐specific risk assessment and prediction of pest pressure. To decide about the effectiveness of cropping breaks at a regional level as a preventive crop protection measure, more knowledge on other pest species and antagonists is needed. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Integrated pest management (IPM) uses thresholds to minimize pesticide use, and field monitoring of damaging organisms is an important component to evaluate whether or not thresholds have been breached. However, monitoring requires time and knowledge which impacts costs and benefits. In this study, we evaluated the effects of using insect pest thresholds on time effort, frequency of insecticide treatment and economics in comparison with common farm practices (business as usual) in winter wheat (WW), winter barley (WB) and winter oilseed rape (OSR). This study was done over 2 years (2018 to 2020) on 24 conventionally managed farms in North Rhine‐Westphalia (Germany). Results: Farmers spent significantly more time (42 min ha−1/season) monitoring insect pests in OSR than in WW (16 min ha−1/season) and WB (19 min ha−1/season). The use of insecticides in OSR was significantly reduced by 42% in comparison to business as usual. In cereal crops, the use of insecticide treatment was reduced by 50% but this was not significantly different to business as usual. Yields were not significantly reduced when crops were managed in accordance with IPM, and negative differences were small and not significant. However, economically, the costs of monitoring can only be recovered when labor costs and commodity prices are low and insecticide cost is high. Conclusion: Insect pest thresholds can help link the policy and environmental goals of insecticide reduction and the agronomic goal of production security. In the future, the time and cost required for monitoring should be reduced through intelligent solutions and tools, increasing the economic viability of monitoring and IPM. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant diversification, especially sowing crops with the addition of companion plants has been demonstrated as a suitable practice to increase insect pest control in multiple cropping systems. Since the ban on use of neonicotinoid seed treatments in oilseed rape (OSR), the harvested area has reduced significantly in Europe, mainly because of the damage caused by cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala). Several companion plants such as legumes and other species of Brassicaceae have been reported as potential companions for OSR but robust evaluation of their efficiency to reduce cabbage stem flea beetle damage in replicated trials is lacking. Results: Four field trials were conducted in the UK and Germany to test the effect of different companion plants, or the addition of straw mulch, on cabbage stem flea beetle adult feeding and larval infestation in OSR. We found significant differences in the level of feeding damage between treatments in all experiments. Combinations of OSR with cereal companion plants or with straw mulch showed the strongest reduction in adult feeding damage. A protective effect of legumes was also observed in one trial. Differences in larval infestation were also observed between treatments but were not consistent and might be more related to the OSR plant biomass than to treatments. Conclusion: This study shows that companion planting can protect OSR crops from cabbage stem flea beetle adult feeding damage. We show for the first time that not only legumes, but also cereals and the application of straw mulch can have a strong protective effect on the crop. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]