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Solanum lasiocarpum (Solanaceae), commonly known as Terung Asam, is an indigenous crop in Sarawak, Borneo. The S. lasiocarpum is a renowned crop and is significant to the local and smallholder farmers for their household income. Study of insects associated with this crop is currently limited and lacking, despite their importance for Sarawak's agronomy. Hence, this study aimed to determine the associated insect species with S. lasiocarpum throughout the plant growth, namely, vegetative, flowering, and fruiting phases. Henosepilachna kaszabi (Coccinellidae) and mealybug Pseudococcidae were recorded as primary pests, while Anoplolepis gracilipes (Formicidae) and Polyrhachis sp. (Formicidae) as indirect pests for flowering and fruiting phases. Larvae and adults of H. kaszabi were sighted infesting leaves, stems, and roots, while Pseudococcidae congregated and infested the stems of S. lasiocarpum. Other visiting insects for S. lasiocarpum were also listed in this study. This study provides preliminary information regarding the insect pests of S. lasiocarpum for future effective pest management on this crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) is one of the commonly consumed vegetable in many countries including Pakistan. And attack by sucking and chewing insect pests likewise, Jassid, aphid, whitefly, shoot and fruit borers, cause significant losses in yield production. Therefore a research trail was conducted to evaluate effect of plant extracts against sucking and chewing insect pests and their associated natural enemies in brinjal crop under field conditions. For this four different plant extracts (Neem seed, Garlic, Eucalyptus and Tobacco) were used to evaluate their efficacy. Two sprays were applied at fifteen intervals and data was recorded before and after 24 hours and 72 hours after spray. In present results, we observed that all plant extracts significantly reduced insect pest population as compared with control groups, while among plant extracts the neem seed and garlic extract were observed more lethal to jassids, aphids and on white flies respectively, as compared to eucalyptus and tobacco extract. Similarly, a minimum damage % of fruit borer was also observed in neem seed and garlic extract as compared to tobacco and eucalyptus. However, no adverse effects were observed on natural enemies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study aimed to understand the differences in predation of insect pests between managed apple orchards and surrounding habitats. The researchers used mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) pupae as a proxy for coddling moth (Cydia pomonella) pupae and placed them in 42 stations within the orchard and 42 stations in a Eucalyptus stand. Half of the stations were covered with nets to prevent bird predation, while the other half were accessible to birds and insects. The researchers recorded the predation of the pupae and analyzed the videos to determine which species were responsible for the predation. They found that in net-free stations, the predation rate inside the orchard was higher than in the Eucalyptus stand, and the video analysis confirmed that birds were responsible for most of the predation. In netted stations, the predation rate was higher in the Eucalyptus trees, and most of these predations were carried out by ants. The results suggest that the orchard environment negatively affects insect activity as the distance into the orchard increases, specifically predatory ants and that bird predation of insect pests inside the orchard may be more intense than in the surrounding unmanaged habitat. This study highlights the importance of considering the impact of insecticides on the activity of beneficial insect predators in agriculture and suggests that birds may play an important role in controlling insect populations in the orchard. Preserving ecosystem services, such as natural enemies that can provide pest control, can positively impact crops without compromising agricultural yield. Even though controlling pests by natural enemies has been suggested to reduce pests in agriculture, growers continue using conventional pesticides that kill beneficial predators. Here we studied whether the predation of avian and insect-beneficial predators varies in an apple orchard with conventional insecticide use compared to a bordering tree stand without insecticides. We studied the predation rates of mealworm pupae as a proxy to coddling moth pupae at 42 stations in both an apple orchard and a Eucalyptus stand at three distances (0 m, 50 m, and 100 m) from the border. Half of the stations were netted to prevent bird predation but were accessible to insects. The other half were non-netted and accessible to birds. We conducted six trials, each lasting two weeks, during which we recorded the predation of 504 stations with 5040 pupae. To validate which species predated the pupae, we added video cameras that took RGB videos during the day and IR videos at night in 45 stations and found that in net-free stations, birds preyed in 94.1% of stations in the orchard and 81.8% in the Eucalyptus stand. However, ants predated 70% of the pupae in stations with nets in the orchards and 100% in stations in the Eucalyptus strands. In addition, we found a significant rise in predation by birds as the distance into the orchard increased. Conversely, insect predation declined within the orchard but escalated in the adjacent unmanaged area. These findings suggest that the orchard's environment negatively affects beneficial insect activity, specifically predatory ants. This study demonstrates that birds can play an essential role in predating insect pests inside the orchard. In addition, we believe that the decreased predation of ants within the orchard was due to intense insecticide use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sticky traps are effective for monitoring and managing insect pests. In addition to pest insects, beneficial insects are also caught in sticky traps. Hence, it is necessary to use traps to catch pest insects selectively. The attraction of different insect groups to coloured sticky traps was studied as an attempt to suppress the insect populations selectively in the field. Research Method: Sticky traps: yellow, blue, luminous green, white, and transparent (control) were set in the field for 24 hours, and the insects caught in traps were collected and identified by their ecological role: pests, beneficial and neutral insects as well as the taxonomic group in relation to the trap colour. Findings: Significant variation was found among the total numbers of insects attracted to different colour traps (χ2 =107 df=4 P<0.05). The highest number of insects was found in the luminous green trap (29.1%) followed by yellow (22.0%), white (18.8%), blue (17.9%), and transparent (12.2%). All colour traps attracted pest, beneficial and neutral insects. Data was inconsistent to specify trap colour to catch more pests and less beneficials. More dipterans (40.7%) were attracted to traps, and many of them were neutral. Blue-traps caught less number of neutral (29.1%) and beneficial insects (29.4%) compared with other coloured traps. Originality/Value: The behavioral response of different insect groups to colour was demonstrated. As sticky traps catch both beneficial and pest insects, sticky traps should be used under careful monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Biological invasions, the expansion of agricultural frontiers, and climate change favor encounters of divergent lineages of animals and plants, increasing the likelihood of hybridization. However, hybridization of insect species and its consequences for agroecosystems have not received sufficient attention. Gene exchange between distinct and distant genetic pools can improve the survival and reproduction of insect pests, and threaten beneficial insects in disturbed agricultural environments. Hybridization may be the underlying explanation for the recurrent pest outbreaks and control failures in putative hybrid zones, as suspected for bollworm, corn borer, whiteflies, and stink bugs. Reliable predictions of the types of changes that can be expected in pest insect genomes and fitness, and of their impacts on the fate of species and populations remain elusive. Typical steps in pest management, such as insect identification, pest monitoring, and control are likely affected by gene flow and adaptive introgression mediated by hybridization, and we do not have ways to respond to or mitigate the problem. To address the adverse effects of farming intensification and global trade, we must ensure that current integrated pest management programs incorporate up‐to‐date monitoring and diagnostic tools. The rapid identification of hybrids, quantification of levels of introgression, and in‐depth knowledge of what genes have been transferred may help to explain and predict insect population outbreaks and control failures in the future. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was performed in 2018, to evaluate the Entomofauna in a sunflower crop in system with black locust windbreaks in the field of SC SPORT AGRA SRL Amzacea, Constan County, the eastern part of Romania. Insects were collected on yellow sticky traps inside the windbreaks and in two parallel planes in the sunflower crop of 100 ha at two distances from the windbreaks (50 and 300 m). Five traps per site were used changed every two weeks from mid-June to early August. The results showed that the number of species inside the black locust windbreaks was 22 with a total of 3595 specimens, in the sunflower plane near the windbreaks were 19 species with a total of 3817 specimens and in the distant sunflower plane were 17 species which totalled 3570 specimens. The composition of the beneficial fauna was represented by 12 species in the windbreaks, 8 in sunflower plane 1 and 6 in sunflower plane 2. Percentage ratio of beneficial and harmful species from the two sunflower planes and from the black locust windbreaks was calculated as well as the ecological parameters (abundance, dominance, constancy and ecological significance). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Part II of our study of papers published in theJournal of Economic Entomology, 2000–2015, we focus on the three most intensely studied orders: Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera. Species within these orders account for 71 percent of the grand total of the studies of commodities attacked or venues infested. These species also account for 75 percent of the membership of the top one hundred species, and 69 percent of the top hundred’s papers. Species within these orders include the world’s most significant pests of apples, cabbages, cherries, corn, cotton, grapes, oranges, peaches, plums, potatoes, rice, soybeans, tomatoes, tree nuts, most warehoused dry commodities, wheat, and the most economically important hardwoods and conifers. Tables provided in this paper determine the relative rankings of species within these three orders among the top hundred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Part III of our study of papers published in theJournal of Economic Entomology, 2000–2015, we focused on six orders of arthropods: Diptera, Blattodea, Acari, Hymenoptera, Thysanoptera, and Psocoptera. Species within these orders account for almost 30% of the grand total of the studies of commodities attacked or venues infested. These species also account for 26% of the membership of the top 100 species, and 29% of the top 100’s papers. Species within these orders include the world’s most significant pests of backyards, blueberries, cattle, cranberries, the cut flower and potted plant industries, honeybee pollination services, household hygiene, mint, onions, oranges, oregano, sage, thyme, and wooden structures. The shaded lines in the tables in this paper show the relative rankings of species within these six orders among the top 100. Part III closes with a summation of the key findings concerning predictability in the study of adverse arthropods. It emphasizes the relative stability in the assortment of topics and subspecialties most commonly encountered in twenty-first century entomology. There is also a year-to-year recurring pattern of papers involving the commodities most damaged or venues most infested and the major orders and their member species that target them, with the arrival of newly invasive species one of the few ways these equilibria are ever upset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]