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Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), are often the target of insecticide seed treatments commonly used in corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production in North America. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge of the species, life history, and economic impact of wireworms present in these agroecosystems. An extensive survey of wireworms was conducted in corn and soybean fields in Ontario, Canada, from 2014 to 2017 to document species distribution and co-occurrence and to identify risk factors related to their abundance. In total, 4,332 specimens were collected from 1,245 different sampling records. The dominant species collected was Limonius agonus (Say) (Coleoptera: Elateridae) comprising 71.5% of the specimens. The remaining wireworm specimens were identified as Hypnoidus abbreviatus (Say), Melanotus similis (Kirby), M. cribulosus (LeConte), M. depressus (Melsheimer), M. communis (Gyllenhal), Agriotes mancus (Say), Aeolus mellillus (Say), and Hemicrepidius spp (Germar). Multiple wireworm species were found to commonly occur within the same field and the same sample. Path analysis was conducted to investigate whether site, soil, and agronomic characteristics influenced wireworm distribution and abundance. Several significant relationships were found between wireworm species and geographic factors, soil texture, and agronomic practices. The results of this survey provide critical information that can be used to improve integrated pest management of the major wireworm genera found in corn and soybean agroecosystems in Ontario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato crops are attacked by several pests, including mites. While the main predatory mites are not effective enough to control mite pests, recent studies have shown encouraging results with the European endemic phytoseiid Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) recki. The first objective of the study was to assess the ability of this species to disperse along the tomato stem, considering six genotypes of Solanum lycopersicum, S. peruvianum and S. cheesmaniae with contrasted trichome numbers and types of stem trichomes, accuratetly characterised in a previous study. The second objective was to determine how predator morphological traits can explain dispersal along the tomato stem. For this, ambulatory dispersal ability of females (stem crossing rate success, hesitation and escape behavior, mobility periods) was tested in lab conditions on the eight Solanum genotypes, at four period of time after the predator introduction (10, 25, 55 and 100 min), with a video observation of 5 min at each period. The females were then mounted on slides and body length and width (at the fore hind, middle and back parts) measured. No effect of the tomato genotypes was observed on the dispersal ability of the predator. However, specimens that succeeded in crossing the stem, had a higher percentage of mobility time (79.36%) than those that failed (43.60%). Furthermore, body width at midbody (DSW2) and dorsal shield length (DSL) were negatively correlated with dispersal ability. The mean DSL and DSW2 of the females that succeed to cross were 342.3 and 160.9 μm, respectively vs. 345.6 and 164.9 μm, for females that did not succeed. This suggests that the more slender and relatively small the specimens, the more are mobile and able to successfully cross the stem. The number of glandular trichomes type (GT) VI and to a lesser extent GT I and IV, and non-glandular trichomes (NGT) II&III appear to limit dispersal. The GT VI seems to have a repellent effect. On the opposite, the number of NGT V were positively correlated with high mobility and stem crossing rates. Assuming that the main barrier to biological control efficiency is dispersal along tomato stems, these preliminary results should have implications for biological control success. The proportion of mites with 'optimal dimensions' appears to be low and further studies should be undertaken to better assess the proportion of mites with such ideal dimensions in different populations and also to determine whether these morphological traits are associated with different feeding abilities and/or abiotic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of humans living in cities has grown, interest in the value of community gardens to provide agricultural products has increased. However, neighborhoods with different land cover patterns and socioeconomic characteristics often differ in their ecological attributes, leading to potential differences in biodiversity-mediated ecosystem services (e.g., pollination and pest control). Here we ask, how do impervious surface and socioeconomic features of the urban matrix around community gardens impact arthropod biodiversity and pollination and pest control services? We collected arthropods (insects, arachnids, myriapods, and isopods) across community gardens in Boulder Co., CO, and used experimental jalapeño pepper plants as a sentinel crop to measure herbivory damage and pollination services. We categorized arthropods into functional guilds to see how impervious surface and neighborhood wealth in the urban matrix surrounding a site impacts the abundance of three focal groups – pollinators, herbivorous pests, and predators. We also looked at how bee Hill-Simpson diversity responded to these variables. Through structural equation modeling, we found that fruit size increased as bee biodiversity increased, and bee biodiversity and overall pollinator abundance were negatively related to neighborhood wealth. Additionally, pollinator abundance was lower in gardens surrounded by higher amounts of impervious surfaces. Neighborhood wealth and impervious surfaces were positively correlated with herbivore and predator abundances, but these abundances had no relationship with herbivory damage in our plants. This research shows that reducing the amounts of impervious surface in the urban matrix can help increase bee biodiversity and abundance and improve pollination services in urban community gardens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dichlorvos (DDVP) is an organophosphorus pesticide commonly used in agriculture for pest control, which may enter the organism from the food chain and cause harm. This study aimed to investigate the mitigation effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCFM8661 (a strain of the bacteria) on DDVP toxicity. Sixty male mice were randomly divided into five groups including control (saline), model (DDVP), low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups, and alleviating effect was evaluated by determining body weight, pesticide residues, oxidative stress, and inflammation, and by histological analysis. The results showed that compared with the model group, body weight and acetylcholinesterase activity, and SOD, CAT, T-AOC, and GSH levels significantly increased, and serum DDVP content, MDA level, IL-1β, and TNF-α significantly decreased after administration of the L. plantarum CCFM8661. The study demonstrated that L. plantarum CCFM8661 exhibited a significant detoxification effect on pesticide toxicity in mice, providing a theoretical basis for the application of probiotics in mitigating pesticide-induced damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisheries, flora, animals and agricultural land have all been harmed by the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture. Furthermore, the most common and significant occupational hazards that farmers confront include increased human mortality and morbidity as a result of the improper application of chemical pesticides. Using the research framework, the current study sought to investigate farmers' intentions to utilize green pesticides. Farmers in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu made up the population, which was chosen by random sampling. Of the variance in the intention to use green pesticides, 52.2 percent was explained by the constructs of moral norms, attitude and self-identity. Cues to action, motivation, perceived rewards and perceived susceptibility could account for 61.2 percent of the variation in intention. Local and regional gatherings for the exchange of information and technology are advised, as is the creation of infrastructure for the production and distribution of inputs. Additionally, farms should provide follow-up training programs and the media should highlight the importance of green pest management for the safety of agricultural crop producers and consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the impact of low-temperature storage on the fitness of natural enemy insects is crucial for practical field applications because this parameter directly influences their potential for population growth and effective pest control. Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is widely used in biological pest control. This study aimed to identify optimal storage stages, temperatures, and durations for E. furcellata to produce high-quality individuals for practical use. The quality of E. furcellata after storage was evaluated by assessing parameters such as predatory capacity and fecundity, along with age-stage, two-sex life table. The findings revealed that the adult stage was the optimal storage form for E. furcellata , and the most favorable temperature for storage was 12 °C. Adult females had the highest predatory ability after 15 days of storage at 12 °C. Although survival rates declined with prolonged storage, they remained above 50% after 30 days, and longevity, fecundity, and predatory capacity of surviving individuals remained comparable to those of individuals in the control group (rearing at a constant temperature of 26 °C without low-temperature storage). The effects of low-temperature storage extended to the F1 generation of E. furcellata , which exhibited maximum mean longevity, fecundity, net reproductive rate, and mean generation time as well as fastest population growth after 30 days of storage at 12 °C. These results can be used to achieve optimal low-temperature storage conditions for E. furcellata production, particularly for extending its shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a significant cotton pest worldwide. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton producing Cry1Ac has been used since 1997 for the control of this pest in China and a significant increase in H. armigera resistance to Cry1Ac has occurred in northern China. To mitigate resistance evolution, it is necessary to develop and plant pyramided 2- and 3-toxin Bt cotton to replace Cry1Ac cotton. For sustainable use of pyramided Bt cotton, we used diet overlay bioassays to measure the baseline susceptibility of H. armigera to Cry2Ab in 33 populations collected in 2017, 2018, and 2021 in 12 locations from major cotton-producing areas of China. The lethal concentration killing 50% (LC50) or 99% (LC99) of individuals from the populations ranged from 0.030 to 0.138 µg/cm2 and 0.365 to 2.964 µg/cm2, respectively. The ratio of the LC50 for the most resistant and susceptible population was 4.6, indicating moderate among-population variability in resistance. The susceptibility of H. armigera to Cry2Ab did not vary significantly over years. A diagnostic concentration of 2 µg/cm2 was calculated as twice the LC99 from an analysis of pooled data for the field-collected populations. This concentration discriminated well between susceptible and resistant individuals, as it killed all larvae from a susceptible laboratory strain and 0%, 0%, and 23% of larvae from 3 laboratory strains with > 100-fold resistance to Cry2Ab. These baseline susceptibility data and diagnostic concentration for Cry2Ab will be useful for monitoring the evolution of H. armigera resistance to pyramided Bt cotton in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cryptic behavior that characterizes bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) makes them one of the most difficult indoor pests to control. Thus, the use of products with long residual efficacy is a key component of successful bed bug management. Aprehend is a biopesticide for bed bug control, whose active ingredient is the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. This product shows promise for extended bed bug control against pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs, causing mortality days after contact with the treated surface. However, it is unclear how surface type and distance traveled by bed bugs over a treated surface impact efficacy. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of different Aprehend band widths applied to different substrates commonly encountered by bed bugs, looking specifically at average time to mortality and overall mortality. Our findings indicate that exposure to fresh applications of Aprehend resulted in high mortality when bed bugs traveled very short distances (1 cm) over some Aprehend-treated surfaces (vinyl tile and cotton jersey fabric), while exposure to other treated surfaces (unfinished pinewood and painted drywall) resulted in comparatively lower mortality even over longer distances (5 cm). Furthermore, we found that bed bugs crawling on cotton jersey fabric picked up a significantly higher number of spores compared to unfinished pinewood. These results indicate that applications of Aprehend as 5 cm (2 inches) bands according to label recommendations can be effective, although surface type is an important determinator of efficacy. This information will help guide pest management professionals in their use of B. bassiana for bed bug control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a significant global pest, that exhibits 2 discernible strains, corn strain (CS) and rice strain (RS). After initial detection in the eastern hemisphere in 2016, the dominant strain was identified as RS based only on cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene from limited samples from various countries, including Thailand. This study aimed to assess strain and haplotype variation in the S. frugiperda populations in Thailand using both mitochondrial COI and nuclear triosephosphate isomerase (Tpi) genes. Analyses of COI sequences (n  = 105) revealed 2 predominant haplotypes, COI CSh4 (82.86%) and COI RSh1 (17.14%), and the analyses of Tpi sequences (n  = 99) revealed 6 haplotypes, with Tpi Ca1a (53.53%) being the most prevalent. Of the 98 caterpillar samples, the majority exhibited true CS (83.67%) for both genes. Meanwhile, interstrain hybrids, indicated by gene discordance, accounted for the minority (16.33%). Interestingly, despite the initial dominance of RS during the 2018 outbreak, the current study identified CS as the prevalent strain across all localities in Thailand. These findings suggested a shift in S. frugiperda dynamics in Thailand that was possibly influenced by factors, such as competitive exclusion principle, pesticide usage in rice cultivation, and preferences for corn over rice. Our study suggests a need to reexamine the previous reports of rice-strain dominance in various countries in the eastern hemisphere after the initial invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant protection products derived from plant material are proposed to be a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic chemical pesticides. This study determines the efficacy of a commercially available bioinsecticide based on garlic (Allium sativum L.; Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae) extract against vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus F.; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) eggs and larvae in contact, fumigation and a combination of contact and fumigation bioassays under laboratory conditions. Results showed that garlic significantly reduced egg hatch rate compared to the control group when applied as a fumigant. Similarly, the egg hatch rate was reduced compared to the control group when garlic was applied as combined contact and fumigant applications. No effect was observed when the garlic product was applied as a contact application. The bioinsecticide significantly reduced larval survival when either contact or fumigant applications were used. A combined contact and fumigant effect was shown also when vine weevil eggs were exposed to the bioinsecticide for 30 days in plastic containers containing growing media. The number of larvae recovered after this period was significantly reduced compared to the control group. This study demonstrates the potential of garlic-based bioinsecticides, such as Pitcher GR, for vine weevil control. Further studies are, however, needed to determine the efficacy of such bioinsecticides under field conditions and investigate how these products can be most effectively used as a part of a wider vine weevil integrated pest management program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wolbachia , a prevalent intracellular symbiotic bacterium in insects, plays a significant role in insect biology. Ectropis grisescens (Warren; Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is a devastating chewing pest distributed in tea plantations throughout China. However, it is unclear how Wolbachia titers affect the fitness and reproduction of E. grisescens. In this study, the impacts of 3 different infection lines, naturally Wolbachia- infected, Wolbachia- uninfected, and Wolbachia transinfected, regarding the life history traits of E. grisescens, were evaluated using the age-stage, 2-sex life table. Wolbachia infection shortened preadult duration and preoviposition periods and increased the fecundity, net reproductive rate, and finite rate of increase. Meanwhile, population projection indicated that E. grisescens population size with Wolbachia infection can increase faster than without. These results indicate that Wolbachia plays a regulatory role in the fitness of E. grisescens. It is also noted that the life history parameters of E. grisescens may positively correlate with Wolbachia titers. These findings could aid in pest management in tea gardens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soybean pod borer Leguminivora glycinivorella (Matsumura) is one of the most important soybean pests and often causes serious damage to Glycine max (L.) Merr. a leading source of dietary protein and oil in animal feed. However, the potential distribution patterns of this economically important pest and its driving factors require further investigation. Here, we used the optimized MaxEnt model to predict the potential distribution of this pest with multiple variables associated with climate, land use, and host plant, at its recorded range and a globe scale. Based on 4 variable combinations, the results show that the current suitable habitats of L. glycinivorella are primarily distributed in most of China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. Whereas no suitable area is present in other continents. In future projections, the suitable region shows a slight northward expansion compared with the result predicted with current climatic conditions, and the suitable areas of almost all future projections were stable in size. Among the 9 bioclimatic factors, BIO03 (isothermality) consistently highly contributes to the predictions, indicating that temperature may be a key factor influencing the habitat distribution of L. glycinivorella. Comparative analyses of projections further show that non-climatic factors are informative in the modeling as routinely used bioclimate variables. The spatio-temporal distribution patterns of suitable habitats and the regulatory factors predicted in this study could provide important guidance for L. glycinivorella management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Ectobiidae), is a ubiquitous pest in affordable housing. They represent a major threat to human health due to their contribution of asthma-exacerbating allergens and the potential to transfer pathogenic microorganisms indoors. Despite well-documented pyrethroid resistance, pyrethroid-based broadcast residual insecticide products are often used by residents to control cockroaches in their homes. Additionally, there is little empirical independent testing of these products. Thus, it remains unclear how effective these commonly used do-it-yourself products are at controlling German cockroaches. This study represents a comprehensive examination of the efficacy of these products with direct, limited, and continuous exposure assays on a variety of common household surfaces on field populations of cockroaches with varying levels of pyrethroid resistance. While most products performed well when applied directly to test insects, mortality was substantially lower across all surfaces with limited exposure (30 min). In continuous exposure assays on a nonporous surface, products took at least 24 hr to cause 100% mortality in a field population, with some products taking up to 5 d to achieve 100% mortality. The findings of this study demonstrate a lack of residual efficacy from common pyrethroid-based consumer-use pesticides products. Given that it is not feasible to find and treat every cockroach in a home directly, the residuality of spray-based formulations is critical for products designed to control German cockroaches. Without residual efficacy, as shown in the consumer aerosol and spray products tested, we expect these products to add little to no value to cockroach control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aprostocetus hagenowii (Ratzeburg) is a parasitoid wasp that parasitizes the oothecae of peridomestic pest cockroaches. A. hagenowii has been used in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for cockroach control but little is known about how this parasitoid responds to the insecticides commonly used for cockroach management. Five insecticidal gel bait products containing indoxacarb, clothianidin, fipronil, dinotefuran, or abamectin B1 were tested for their toxicity towards A. hagenowii and the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.; Blattodea: Blattidae), a host of A. hagenowii and a common pest. All baits were tested as fresh and 1-d aged deposits. Indoxacarb was the only active ingredient that did not cause significant (P  < 0.05) A. hagenowii mortality compared to the control in both the fresh and aged gel experiments (Median survival time [MST]s: 168 h fresh, 72 h aged). Clothianidin caused the lowest A. hagenowii MSTs across experiments (24 h, fresh and aged). All baits caused significant P. americana mortality as fresh and 1-d aged deposits (P  < 0.05). Indoxacarb appears most compatible with A. hagenowii in cockroach IPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) fumigation was studied in laboratory to determine its potential as an alternative treatment for postharvest control of stored product insects, confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Three-hour fumigations with 0.1%–2.0% SO2 were conducted against eggs, immature stages, and adults of the 2 insects at 20 °C. Effective control of both insects was achieved. However, there were considerable variations between the 2 insects and among different life stages. Confused flour beetle was more susceptible to SO2 fumigation than rice weevil. Complete control of adults and all life stages of confused flour beetle was achieved in 3-h fumigations with 0.5% and 2.0% SO2, respectively. For rice weevil, 3-h fumigation with 1.5% SO2 resulted in 96.5% adult mortality and the fumigation with 2.0% SO2 resulted in 99.27% mortality of adults and 87.5% mortality of immature stages. Three-hour fumigations with 1% SO2 resulted in <5% egg survival to adults. The study demonstrated high efficacy of SO2 fumigation against the insects and suggested that SO2 fumigation has good potential for postharvest pest control on stored products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect pests pose a significant threat to stored commodities, necessitating the exploration of alternative pest management strategies. Long-lasting insecticide-incorporated nets (LLINs) have emerged as a promising tool, offering selectivity and reduced ecological impact compared to conventional chemical approaches. However, their efficacy against Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), cosmopolitan stored product moth species, has remained underexplored. This study investigated the immediate and delayed effects of 2 commercial pyrethroid-incorporated nets, Carifend (0.34% α-cypermethrin) and D-Terrence (0.4% deltamethrin), on the adult and larval stages. Both LLINs demonstrated high efficacy in controlling E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella , with mortality rates reaching up to 100% depending on exposure and post-exposure durations. Particularly, rapid knockdown was observed with D-Terrence net inducing 100% of adults in P. interpunctella after 30 min exposure. LLINs achieved almost 100% immediate mortality rate against adults after just 1 day of exposure. In addition, immediate rates of affected individuals reached as high as 81% and 91% in E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella larvae, respectively, following just 5 h of exposure to the D-Terrence. Different responses were observed between the adult and larval stages, with larvae exhibiting higher tolerance and potential for recovery from the affected phase after short exposures. There were increasing mortality rates after greater exposure to LLIN. Findings highlight the potential of LLINs as a pest management tool in storage facilities against these important stored product moths. Understanding the responses between life stages and the significance of delayed effects is crucial for optimizing LLIN deployment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen), is a pest affecting many crops, including corn. The early spring emergence of adults and belowground seed damage by maggots leave no room for rescue treatments during the short growing season in New York State. Degree-day (DD) models play a crucial role in predicting insect emergence and adult peak activity and are essential for effective pest management. The current D. platura DD model was launched on the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) in 2022, using existing scientific literature from other North American regions. The NEWA model predicted adult D. platura first emergence at an average of 471 (39°F) DD in 2022. To gain an accurate and precise understanding of D. platura adult spring emergence and activity, we used interpolated temperature data to calculate the DD for each specific location where adults were captured in the field. DD calculations were performed using the average method, setting a biofix on January 1st and a base temperature of 39°F. In 2023, overwintering adults emerged at an average of 68 DD, and in 2022, adult activity was registered at an average of 282 DD. Accurately predicting the emergence of D. platura could contribute to informing integrated pest management strategies that incorporate timing and cultural practices over chemical solutions to protect crops and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Indonesia, the control of Coptotermes curvignathus populations as living tree termite pests has been carried out since the early 20th century. Recently, C. curvignathus has been considered the main termite pest and designated as the only species model for wood and wood products resistance tests against subterranean termite attack testing protocol in the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). However, the species distribution range of C. curvignathus has been long questioned as Coptotermes gestroi is commonly reported as a species found in urban areas of Southeast Asian region, particularly in Indonesia. One of the reasons for the species distribution discrepancies is the lack of morphological markers to distinguish both species in the field. Thus, limiting the field inspection effectiveness in termite pest management in Indonesia. This study reexamined and clarified the morphological differences between C. curvignathus and C. gestroi , based on soldier caste. The head shape, mandible shape, and distribution of genal setae on the ventro-anterior head part and pronotum marked the difference between the 2 species. These current results support previous findings of C. curvignathus as the forest dweller while clarifying C. gestroi as the common urban dweller in Indonesia. The putative benefit of morphological features related to the head, mandible, and setae distribution to the defensive adaptation in their common habitat was discussed. Ultimately, the inclusion of C. gestroi into the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) as an alternative species for efficacy tests against subterranean termites is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social paper wasps regularly prey upon lepidopteran larvae, some of which are economically impactful agricultural pest species. We examined the potential of native North American Polistes metricus Say (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius) for biocontrol of Brassica L. pests in an experimental setting. First, we translocated P. metricus to one-half of a divided screened hoop house and placed a mix of 4th–5th instar lepidopteran larvae (Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Pieris spp. Schrank (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), and Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)) on half of the broccoli plants on both sides of the hoop house. We recorded and replaced missing caterpillars daily, and assessed leaf damage after 1 wk. P. metricus was 100% effective at removing all caterpillars from the wasp side of the hoop house, and plant damage by caterpillars was significantly reduced in the presence of wasps. We then replicated the study using a different combination of Polistes (fuscatus) and Brassica crop (kale) with a 2 × 2 experimental design in which plants had either T. ni larvae added or absent (factor 1), and were either covered with insect mesh or left exposed (factor 2). By the second day of exposure to these pest species, wasps removed over 80% of the larvae within 3 h of placing them on the plants. We discuss implications of this study for the potential use of native Polistes wasps as an integrated pest management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American hoverfly Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Syrphidae) is an aphidophagous predator during its larval stage and is currently being evaluated for inclusion in biocontrol programs as a new biocontrol agent. However, little is known about its reproductive aptitudes. The objective of the present study was to determine the reproductive parameters of E. americanus and to compare them with those of a commercialized and widely used biological control agent for aphids, the aphid midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). The preoviposition period, oviposition period, adult longevity, lifetime and daily fecundity, egg hatching rate, and fertility were determined for E. americanus females and compared to those of A. aphidimyza. Trials were conducted under laboratory conditions in rearing cages on the broad bean plant Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae), infested with pea aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The results revealed that the preoviposition period, oviposition period, and adult longevity were significantly longer in E. americanus than in A. aphidimyza. The daily fecundity and egg-hatching rate were similar in both species. However, lifetime fecundity and fertility were considerably higher in E. americanus than in A. aphidimyza. This study demonstrates that the reproductive capacity of E. americanus is clearly superior to that of A. aphidimyza and therefore supports its inclusion in the aphid pest management program as a new biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is a key pest of beans, and early detection of bean damage is crucial for the timely management of E. varivestis. This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using drones and optical sensors to quantify the damage to field beans caused by E. varivestis. A total of 14 bean plots with various levels of defoliation were surveyed aerially with drones equipped with red-blue-green (RGB), multispectral, and thermal sensors at 2 to 20 m above the canopy of bean plots. Ground-validation sampling included harvesting entire bean plots and photographing individual leaves. Image analyses were used to quantify the amount of defoliation by E. varivestis feeding on both aerial images and ground-validation photos. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship of bean defoliation by E. varivestis measured on aerial images with that found by the ground validation. The results of this study showed a significant positive relationship between bean damages assessed by ground validation and those by using RGB images and a significant negative relationship between the actual amount of bean defoliation and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values. Thermal signatures associated with bean defoliation were not detected. Spatial analyses using geostatistics revealed the spatial dependency of bean defoliation by E. varivestis. These results suggest the potential use of RGB and multispectral sensors at flight altitudes of 2 to 6 m above the canopy for early detection and site-specific management of E. varivestis , thereby enhancing management efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a Gram‐positive bacterium that produces various insecticidal proteins used to control insect pests. Spodoptera frugiperda is a global insect pest which causes serious damage to crops, but bio‐insecticides currently available to control this pest have limited activity and so new ones are always being sought. In this study we have tested the hypothesis that a biomarker for strain toxicity could be found that would greatly facilitate the identification of new potential products. RESULTS: Using genomic sequencing data we constructed a linkage network of insecticidal genes from 1957 Bt genomes and found that four gene families, namely cry1A, cry1I, cry2A and vip3A, showed strong linkage. For 95 strains isolated from soil samples we assayed them for toxicity towards S. frugiperda and for the presence of the above gene families. All of the strains that showed high toxicity also contained a member of the vip3A gene family. Two of them were more toxic than a commercially available strain and genomic sequencing identified a number of potentially novel toxin‐encoding genes. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a vip3A gene in the genome of a Bt strain proved to be a strong indicator of toxicity towards S. frugiperda validating this biomarker approach as a strategy for future discovery programs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The predatory flower bug Orius strigicollis serves as a valuable biocontrol agent against small arthropods; however, its effectiveness can vary, especially when population establishment fails due to low prey/pest densities. A promising approach to improve the efficacy of O. strigicollis as a biocontrol agent is through gene editing. However, as females lay their eggs in plant tissue, the conventional embryo injection approach is challenging in this species. RESULTS: In this study, we aimed to develop an efficient and practical gene editing technique for O. strigicollis using direct parental CRISPR (DIPA‐CRISPR). Female bugs at various postemergence stages received Cas9 ribonucleoprotein injections, with subsequent genotyping of their offspring (G0) using PCR and a heteroduplex mobility assay. We targeted the kynurenine 3‐monooxygenase gene (cinnabar), pivotal for insect ommochrome pigment biosynthesis. Through experimental optimization, we achieved a peak gene editing efficiency of 52%, i.e., 52% of G0 progeny carried gene‐edited alleles when injecting 1 day postemergence. Notably, some gene‐edited G0 adults exhibited a red‐eye mosaic phenotype, in contrast to the black‐eyed wild type. Crossing experiments confirmed the heritability of the introduced mutations in the subsequent generation (G1), enabling the establishment of a cinnabar‐knockout line with bright red eyes. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that our DIPA‐CRISPR gene editing method tailored for O. strigicollis is efficient and practical. Our findings highlight the potency of DIPA‐CRISPR as a tool for O. strigicollis genetic engineering and suggest broader applications for enhancing other biocontrol agents. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, a specialist herbivorous insect that exclusively feeds on plants of the Solanaceae family, causes considerable damage to crops, such as tobacco and hot pepper. The absence of a genome sequence for this species hinders further research on its pest management and ecological adaptation. RESULTS: Here, we present a high‐quality chromosome‐level genome of a Korean strain of H. assulta (Pyeongchang strain, K18). The total assembly spans 424.4 Mb with an N50 length of 14.54 Mb and 37% GC content. The assembled genome (ASM2961881v1) comprises 31 chromosomes, similar to other congeneric generalist species including H. armigera and H. zea. In terms of genomic assembly quality, the complete BUSCOs and repeat content accounted for 98.3% and 33.01% of the genome, respectively. Based on this assembly, 19 485 protein‐coding genes were predicted in the genome annotation. A comparative analysis was conducted using the identified number of protein‐coding genes in H. armigera (24154) and H. zea (23696). Out of the 19 485 predicted genes, 137 genes in 15 orthogroups were found to have expanded significantly in H. assulta, while 149 genes in 95 orthogroups contracted rapidly. CONCLUSION: This study revealed specific gene expansions and contractions in H. assulta compared to those in its close relatives, indicating potential adaptations related to its specialized feeding habits. Also, the comparative genome analysis provides valuable insights for the integrated pest management of H. assulta and other globally significant pests in the Heliothinae subfamily. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: G1 strain Ganaspis brasiliensis (Ihering) has been recently released in both Europe and America as a biological control agent of the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). In initial phases of classical biological control programs, it becomes imperative to evaluate the susceptibility of parasitoids to insecticides, to identify the best alternatives to adopt in an integrated pest management and organic perspective. In this study, we evaluated lethal and sublethal effects of topical application of five different insecticides classes: neonicotinoids, diamides, pyrethroids, organophosphates and spinosyns. Additionally, we tested residual toxicity in field trials in vineyards and sweet cherry orchards. Results: Adult wasps' susceptibility to different insecticides' classes were consistent between laboratory and field. Spinosad exhibited the highest toxicity, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 0.00372 of the maximum field dose, and the highest knock‐down effect in field trials, causing 92.5 ± 5% of mortality at T0. λ‐cyhalothrin showed sublethal effects on both male and female insects' longevity when applied at LC30. In field trials, deltamethrin showed the highest persistence, causing significant parasitoid mortality up to 14 days after treatment. Conversely, cyantraniliprole was the least toxic active ingredient according to both topical and residual bioassays, even though its residues caused mortality up to 7 days after the treatment in the field. Conclusion: Our results indicate that spinosad and λ‐cyhalothrin are highly toxic to G. brasiliensis, making them incompatible with classical biological control programs. Cyantraniliprole exhibited lower toxicity, and may be considered a selective pesticide for the integrated management of D. suzukii. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Root‐knot nematodes (RKNs), Meloidogyne spp., are one of the most destructive polyphagous plant‐parasitic nematodes. They pose a serious threat to global food security and are difficult to control. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) show promise in controlling RKNs. However, it remains unclear whether the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from EPN‐infected cadavers can control RKNs. RESULTS: We investigated the fumigation activity of VOCs released from cadavers infected by five different species of EPNs on RKNs in Petri dishes, and found that VOCs released from Steinernema feltiae (SN strain) and S. carpocapsae (All strain) infected cadavers had a significant lethal effect on second‐stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne incognita. The VOCs released from the cadavers infected with S. feltiae were analyzed using SPME‐GC/MS. Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), tetradecane, pentadecane, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), were selected for a validation experiment with pure compounds. The DMDS compound had significant nematicidal activity and repelled J2s. DMDS also inhibited egg hatching and the invasion of tomato roots by J2s. In a pot experiment, the addition of S. feltiae‐infected cadavers and cadavers wrapped with a 400‐mesh nylon net also significantly reduced the population of RKNs in tomato roots after 7 days. The number of root knots and eggs was reduced by 58% and 74.34%, respectively, compared to the control. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the VOCs emitted by the EPN‐infected cadavers affected various developmental stages of M. incognita and thus have the potential to be used in controlling RKNs through multiple methods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: N6‐Methyladenosine (m6A) is a common messenger RNA (mRNA) modification that affects various physiological processes in stress responses. However, the role of m6A modifications in plants responses to herbivore stress remains unclear. RESULTS: Here, we found that an infestation of brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) female adults enhanced the resistance of rice to N. lugens. The m6A methylome analysis of N. lugens‐infested and uninfested rice samples was performed to explore the interaction between rice and N. lugens. The m6A methylation mainly occurred in genes that were actively expressed in rice following N. lugens infestation, while an analysis of the whole‐genomic mRNA distribution of m6A showed that N. lugens infestation caused an overall decrease in the number of m6A methylation sites across the chromosomes. The m6A methylation of genes involved in the m6A modification machinery and several defense‐related phytohormones (jasmonic acid and salicylic acid) pathways was increased in N. lugens‐infested rice compared to that in uninfested rice. In contrast, m6A modification levels of growth‐related phytohormone (auxin and gibberellin) biosynthesis‐related genes were significantly attenuated during N. lugens infestation, accompanied by the down‐regulated expression of these transcripts, indicating that rice growth was restricted during N. lugens attack to rapidly optimize resource allocation for plant defense. Integrative analysis of the differential patterns of m6A methylation and the corresponding transcripts showed a positive correlation between m6A methylation and transcriptional regulation. CONCLUSION: The m6A modification is an important strategy for regulating the expression of genes involved in rice defense and growth during rice–N. lugens interactions. These findings provide new ideas for formulating strategies to control herbivorous pests. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mortality caused by various pyrethroids, and neonicotinoids has been studied for stored‐product insects in the past, yet limited information exists on the sublethal effects they can induce to Oryzaephilus surinamensis. In the current study, the sublethal effects of deltamethrin, λ‐cyhalothrin, α‐cypermethrin, etofenprox, and the mixture of acetamiprid with d‐tetramethrin and piperonyl butoxide on the mobility of O. surinamensis in the presence or the absence of a food source was investigated. RESULTS: Lethal concentrations (LCs) were lower for deltamethrin, α‐cypermethrin, and λ‐cyhalothrin (LC10 = 0.000233, 0.000211, and 0.000271 mg active ingredient (a.i.) cm−2, LC30 = 0.000413, 0.000398, and 0.000447 mg a.i. cm−2, respectively), followed by etofenprox, and the mixture of acetamiprid with d‐tetramethrin and piperonyl butoxide (LC10 = 0.00228 and 0.003267 mg a.i. cm−2, LC30 = 0.00437 and 0.01188 mg a.i. cm−2, respectively). Deltamethrin and λ‐cyhalothrin negatively impacted adult walking behavior, increasing stop durations compared to controls. Adults exposed to LC10 and LC30 of λ‐cyhalothrin, and LC30 of deltamethrin exhibited prolonged periods on their backs compared to the remaining treatments and the controls. The α‐cypermethrin LC30‐exposed adults exhibited significantly shorter walking and stopping durations than controls but demonstrated prolonged climbing on the arena walls compared to adults exposed to the remaining a.i. and the control. A similar trend was observed for etofenprox. CONCLUSIONS: Under sublethal concentrations, λ‐cyhalothrin and deltamethrin increased stop intervals and reduced the duration of climbing attempts of O. surinamensis versus α‐cypermethrin. These findings advance comprehension of the underexplored sublethal impacts of the tested a.i. on O. surinamensis adults, holding potential for leveraging insecticide‐induced behavioral effects to enhance warehouse pest management. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA), scientifically known as Solenopsis invicta, is a destructive invasive species causing considerable harm to ecosystems and generating substantial economic costs globally. Traditional methods for RIFA nests detection are labor‐intensive and may not be scalable to larger field areas. This study aimed to develop an innovative surveillance system that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic dogs to automate the detection and geolocation of RIFA nests, thereby improving monitoring and control strategies. RESULTS: The designed surveillance system, through integrating the CyberDog robotic platform with a YOLOX AI model, demonstrated RIFA nest detection precision rates of >90%. The YOLOX model was trained on a dataset containing 1118 images and achieved a final precision rate of 0.95, with an inference time of 20.16 ms per image, indicating real‐time operational suitability. Field tests revealed that the CyberDog system identified three times more nests than trained human inspectors, with significantly lower rates of missed detections and false positives. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the potential of AI‐driven robotic systems in advancing pest management. The CyberDog/YOLOX system not only matched human inspectors in speed, but also exceeded them in accuracy and efficiency. This study's results are significant as they highlight how technology can be harnessed to address biological invasions, offering a more effective, ecologically friendly, and scalable solution for RIFA detection. The successful implementation of this system could pave the way for broader applications in environmental monitoring and pest control, ultimately contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and economic stability. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adjuvants are included in many pesticide spray mixtures to enhance the performance of the applied chemical. Many adjuvants which modify the emulsion or extensional viscosity of the tank‐mixture have been found to offer benefits in drift management, primarily by eliminating or reducing the 'Fine' droplets included in the spray with diameters <100–200 μm that can move off‐target in unfavorable conditions during ground, airblast and aerial pesticide applications. Among wind tunnel and field studies conducted around the world, there is consensus that while some adjuvants are effective for drift management, the performance varies on a case‐by‐case basis, requiring verification for each adjuvant which could be achieved through a programme such as certification based on showing a reduction in Fine droplets and/or a reduction in airborne drift. These can be measured in wind tunnel studies according to international standards. This article provides a review of the current science in this subject area, from the approaches to data collection to a review of existing data and regulatory application for encouraging and rewarding the use of appropriate adjuvants that have been demonstrated to reduce airborne spray drift potential and therefore the size of no‐spray buffer zones appropriate to protect nontarget sensitive areas from drift exposure. Some adjuvants can offer the same reduction in drift as offered by hooded sprayer retrofits. A drift reduction programme based on adjuvant use could include testing candidate adjuvants for their effect on droplet size and reduction in Fine droplets when sprayed through reference nozzles and compared against sprays without the adjuvant. Testing could also be based alternatively on measurements of drift potential on collectors such as monofilament line in wind tunnel or field studies. Once shown to be effective in reducing 'Fines' or spray drift, adjuvants could be certified and then referenced on pesticide labels and/or regulatory or best management practice schemes to encourage their use and offer reductions in use restrictions or no‐spray buffer zone sizes based on drift management. Studies have shown that some adjuvants can reduce pesticide leaching into soils and contamination of groundwater, as well as runoff of active ingredients from plants into the environment. Performance depends on the adjuvant type, the pesticide with which it is used, the soil or plant type, the timing and mass of water input from rainfall and climatic factors. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: An innovative version of the sterile insect technique (SIT) for pest control, called boosted SIT, relies on the use of sterile males coated with a biocide to control a target wild pest population of the same species. The objective of the present study was to assess the relevance of such technology to control the fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis and fruit losses in mango orchards using. An agent‐based simulation model named BOOSTIT was used to explore the reduction of fruit losses thank to sterile male fruit flies control and economic benefits according to different strategies of sterile male release. The simulation considered a landscape of 30.25 ha made up of four mango orchards. RESULTS: The SIT and the boosted SIT reduced fruit losses when releases were made before the mango fruiting period. According to model simulations, releases should be performed at least seven times at 2‐week intervals and with a sterile/wild male ratio of at least 10:1. Considering the benefit/cost ratio (BCR), few releases should be done with a late start date. The BCR showed economic gains from the two control methods, the number of saved fruits and BCR being higher for SIT. CONCLUSION: Our simulations showed that SIT would have better results than the boosted SIT to contribute to an effective control of Bactrocera dorsalis at the scale of a small landscape. We highlight the need for laboratory studies of other types of pathogen to find a suitable one with higher incubation time and lower cost. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Climate change and pests are two major factors in the reduction of global soybean yields. The diversity and geographic distribution of soybean true bug pests vary across soybean production areas worldwide, and climate change impacts are different across species and regions. Therefore, we integrated spatial and temporal predictions at the global scale to predict the impact of global warming on the distribution of 84 soybean true bug pests by the maximum entropy niche model (MaxEnt) under present (1970–2000) and future (2041–2060) scenarios. We produced an ensemble projection of the potential distribution of pests and crop production areas to estimate how and where climate warming will augment the threat of soybean true bug pests to soybean production areas. RESULTS: Our results indicated that Southeast North America, Central South America, Europe and East Asia were the regions with the higher richness of soybean true bug and the most vulnerable areas to invasion threats. Climate change would promote the expansion of the distribution range and facilitate pest movement pole wards, affecting more soybean cultivated areas located in mid‐latitudes. Moreover, species with different distribution patterns responded differently to climate change in that large‐ranged species tended to increase in occupancy over time, whereas small‐ranged species tended to decrease. CONCLUSION: This result indicates that some pests that have not yet become notable may have the chance to develop into serious pests in the future due to the expansion of their geographical range. Our findings highlight that soybean cultivated regions at mid‐latitudes would face general infestations from soybean true bug pests under global warming. These results will further facilitate the formulation of adaptation planning to minimize local environmental impacts in the future. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, is an important pest in Brazil. While chemical control has traditionally been the cornerstone for managing this pest, field control failures have been reported for some insecticides. To understand if these failures are due to resistance, we evaluated the susceptibility of 11 field‐collected populations of D. maidis to major insecticides during the 2021–2022 crop seasons in Brazil using concentration‐mortality bioassays. Additionally, we employed diagnostic concentration bioassays and foliar sprays at label‐recommended rates in 8–10 populations collected during the 2022–2023 crop seasons. Results: High susceptibility to methomyl, carbosulfan and acephate was observed on concentration‐mortality bioassays across all populations tested with resistance ratio (RR) based on LC50 <10‐fold, except for one population from Bahia State that exhibited reduced susceptibility to methomyl (RR = 17.5). On the other hand, all populations exhibited reduced susceptibility to bifenthrin, acetamiprid, and imidacloprid, with RR ranging from 90 to 2000‐fold. This reduced susceptibility to neonicotinoid and pyrethroid insecticides was further confirmed at diagnostic concentrations based on LC99 of the susceptible strain, with survival rates >20% and in foliar sprays with mortality rates <80%. Most populations exposed to acephate and carbosulfan exhibited low survival rates at diagnostic concentrations (<5%) and high mortality rates in foliar sprays (>80%). Conclusions: The reduced susceptibility to pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides likely explain the field failures in controlling D. maidis populations in Brazil. This study represents the first large‐scale susceptibility monitoring of D. maidis to insecticides, and the results will contribute to decision‐making regarding the management of this pest. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Attract‐and‐kill (AK) beads are biological, microbial insecticides developed as an alternative to synthetic soil insecticides. For wireworm control, beads are based on calcium alginate/starch co‐encapsulating the carbon dioxide (CO2) producing yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae H205 as the attract component, and the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum CB15‐III as the kill component. However, the physicochemical processes inside beads during co‐cultivation are still unclear. Here we reveal for the first time the spatiotemporal conditions of oxygen and pH inside AK beads measured with microelectrodes and describe the impact of S. cerevisiae on CO2 and conidia formation. RESULTS: Measurements revealed a steep oxygen gradient already 2 days after co‐encapsulation, with an internal hypoxic zone. Encapsulating either S. cerevisiae or M. brunneum already decreased the average pH from 5.5 to 4.7 and 4.6, respectively. However, on day 3, co‐cultivation lead to temporal strong acidification of beads down to pH 3.6 which followed the maximum CO2 productivity and coincided with the maximum conidiation rate. Decreasing the yeast load decreased the total CO2 productivity to half, and the conidial production by 93%, while specific productivities normalized to 1% yeast load increased eight‐fold and three‐fold, respectively, with day 3 being an exception. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a general beneficial interaction between M. brunneum and S. cerevisiae, but also suggest competition for resources. These findings will contribute to develop innovative co‐formulations with maximum efficiency to save application rates and costs. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Integrated pest management (IPM) plays a crucial role in protecting agricultural environments and enhancing the quality of agricultural products. However, a major challenge in China is the conflicting understanding of IPM among farmers, leading to low adoption rates. This undermines farmers' ability to control pests and diseases while increasing risks to agricultural quality and safety. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cognitive conflicts on farmers' adoption of IPM in kiwifruit farms in Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces. Additionally, the study explored the moderating role of internet use in the relationship between cognitive conflicts and farmer adoption of IPM. Data were collected from 686 kiwifruit farms through field surveys in 2018. The binary Probit model and moderating effect models were used to assess the influence of internet use and cognitive conflict on farmer adoption of IPM. RESULTS: The study found that cognitive conflicts significantly hindered farmers' adoption of IPM. Higher levels of cognitive conflict were associated with lower likelihoods of adopting IPM. Internet use and frequency had positive effects on farmer adoption of IPM, promoting its implementation. Moreover, internet use and frequency helped alleviate the inhibitory effect of cognitive conflicts on farmer adoption IPM. CONCLUSION: This research enhances our understanding of cognitive conflicts among farmers when promoting IPM and provides viable strategies to improve the effectiveness of public sector promotion and stimulate farmers' willingness to adopt IPM. It emphasizes the importance of addressing cognitive conflicts and utilizing internet resources to enhance IPM adoption among kiwifruit growers in China. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Environmentally‐friendly crop protection practices are needed to enhance the sustainability of current agricultural systems. This is crucial in orchards which are extensively treated to impair various pests, at the expense of natural enemies. However, the effect of a shift towards softer pest management on the beneficial arthropod community is poorly documented. Earwigs (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) and spiders (Araneae) are relevant groups to assess such effects because they are highly sensitive to agricultural practices. They were monitored for 6 and 4 years, respectively, in apple orchards under three pest management regimes: Organic, Low‐input and Conventional, with pest management being switched during the survey from a broad‐spectrum insecticide schedule to mating disruption in the latter one, and more selective compounds in all orchards. RESULTS: The survey displayed that earwig abundance (mainly Forficula auricularia) that was initially very low in the Conventional orchard (annual mean 0.5–1.7 earwigs per shelter in the 2010–2012 period) increased to the same level as that of Low‐input and Organic orchards (over 10 earwigs per shelter) in the same year that changes in pest management occurred. The epigeal and arboreal spider communities were not responsive, and no recovering was observed 4 years after change in practices. CONCLUSION: Predatory arthropod communities are differently affected over time by changes in pest management, most probably due to their biology (dispersion, reproduction rate, susceptibility to pesticides etc.). This outlines the importance of documenting the time required to recover after perturbations and build a natural enemy community to enhance pest control in a win‐win perspective. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella) causes large losses to global crop production. Conventional insecticides are losing effectiveness due to resistance. Consequently, there is a growing interest in sustainable control methods like entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in Integrated Pest Management. However, the field efficacy of fungi varies due to environmental influences. In this study, a group of 50 Beauveria strains sourced from different locations were characterized by genotype and phenotype with respect to their conidial production, temperature and UV‐B radiation tolerance, and virulence against DBM. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct species: Beauveria bassiana (84%) and B. pseudobassiana (16%). Most strains showed optimal growth between 25 °C and 28 °C, with germination severely affected at 10 °C and 33 °C. Notably, 44% displayed high resistance to UV‐B radiation (5.94 kJ m−2), with germination rates between 60.9% and 88.1%. Geographical origin showed no correlation with temperature or UV radiation tolerance. In virulence experiments, 52% of strains caused mortality rates exceeding 80% in DBM second instars at 7 days after exposure to a 4 mL conidial suspension (107 conidia/mL). CONCLUSION: Survival under environmental conditions is crucial for EPF‐based commercial products against DBM. Results suggest strain tolerance to environmental stressors is more tied to specific micro‐climatic factors than geographical origin. Each strain exhibited unique characteristics; for example, the most virulent strain (#29) was highly UV‐sensitive. Therefore, characterizing diverse strains provides essential genotypic and phenotypic insights, which are fundamental for understanding their role as biocontrol agents while facilitating efficient biopesticide product development and uptake. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, bed bugs (Cimex spp.) have resurged as common urban pests around the world. The search for efficient and safe control measures has become a key interest among researchers, manufacturers, and pest control professionals. In this study, we evaluated and compared the efficacy of steam, diatomaceous earth (DE) dust, and a combination of both against tropical bed bugs (Cimex hemipterus (F.)) under laboratory and field conditions. RESULTS: In the laboratory study, the mortality of bed bugs after 2 days of exposure to DE dust was 100%. When bed bugs stayed on the surface of an object or in cracks, a brief steam treatment (1 s) caused 100% mortality. However, when bed bugs were hidden under a fabric cover, steam application for 10 s only caused 89 ± 6% mortality. Bed bugs that survived steam treatment exhibited reduced feeding activity. In a 14‐week long study, there was no significant difference in the reduction rate of bed bugs between steam treatment and DE dust treatment. A 37‐week long control study showed that steam and steam plus DE dust treatments eliminated 97–100% of the infestations. CONCLUSION: Applying steam and DE dust are effective strategies for eliminating natural tropical bed bug infestations. Continuous follow‐up monitoring and treatment until no bed bugs are found are crucial in completely eliminating the infestation of tropical bed bugs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Insect pests have garnered increasing interest because of anthropogenic global change, and their sustainable management requires knowledge of population habitat use and spread patterns. To enhance this knowledge for the prevalent tea pest Empoasca onukii, we utilized a random forest algorithm and a bivariate map to develop and integrate models of its habitat suitability and genetic connectivity across China. RESULTS: Our modeling revealed heterogeneous spatial patterns in suitability and connectivity despite the common key environmental predictor of isothermality. Analyses indicated that tea cultivation in areas surrounding the Tibetan Plateau and the southern tip of China may be at low risk of population outbreaks because of their predicted low suitability and connectivity. However, regions along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River should consider the high abundance and high recolonization potential of E. onukii, and thus the importance of control measures. Our results also emphasized the need to prevent dispersal from outside regions in the areas north of the Yangtze River and highlighted the effectiveness of internal management efforts in southwestern China and along the southeastern coast. Further projections under future conditions suggested the potential for increased abundance and spread in regions north of the Yangtze River and the southern tip of China, and indicated the importance of long‐term monitoring efforts in these areas. CONCLUSION: These findings highlighted the significance of combining information on habitat use and spread patterns for spatially explicit pest management planning. In addition, the approaches we used have potential applications in the management of other pest systems and the conservation of endangered biological resources. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Horizontal insecticide transfer is thought to play an important role in controlling a wide range of urban pests including ants, bed bugs, cockroaches and termites. Trap–treat–release is an effective experimental approach that has been used to successfully manage populations of invasive ants in field applications. Trap–treat–release is based on the principles of horizontal transfer. Individuals are captured, treated with the toxicant and released back into the environment. The treated individuals then return to the colony and transfer the toxicant to other members of the population resulting in secondary mortality. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of the trap–treat–release technique for controlling field populations of the eastern yellowjacket, Vespula maculifrons. RESULTS: Laboratory experiments demonstrated that fipronil was highly toxic against V. maculifrons across a wide range of concentrations. Furthermore, fipronil was efficiently transferred from treated donors to untreated recipients and caused significant secondary mortality. A field experiment utilized trap–treat–release and demonstrated that fipronil was effectively transferred when foraging worker wasps are trapped, treated, released and allowed to return to their respective colonies. CONCLUSION: The trap–treat–release method may be an effective alternative to direct nest treatments and could help alleviate problems such as insecticide runoff, environmental contamination, and non‐target effects. This method has the potential to provide effective management of social wasps. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) and Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) are major Plusiinae pests of soybean in the Southern Cone region of South America. In recent decades, C. includens was the main defoliator of soybean in Brazil, but from 2021 onwards, R. nu emerged as an important soybean pest in various regions of the country. Here, we characterize the differential susceptibility and resistance to insecticides in these Plusiinae pests from two soybean regions of Brazil. RESULTS: Except for spinetoram and chlorfenapyr (comparable lethality against both species) and a Bt‐based biopesticide (more lethal for C. includens), the tested insecticides showed higher lethality against R. nu than against C. includens, but populations of the same species, even separated by long distances, presented similar resistance levels. For both species, the 90% lethal concentration (LC90) values of most insecticides were higher than the field‐recommended dose. Nevertheless, the field‐recommended doses of spinetoram, metaflumizone, emamectin benzoate, cyclaniliprole and chlorfenapyr showed comparable control efficacy against both species, whereas indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, teflubenzuron and chlorfluazuron were more lethal for R. nu, and methoxyfenozide and the Bt‐based insecticide were more lethal for C. includens. Thiodicarb, methomyl and lambda‐cyhalothrin showed low lethality against both species. CONCLUSIONS: Large interspecific differences in the susceptibility to insecticides was found in major Plusiinae pests of soybean in Brazil. Furthermore, variations in susceptibility to insecticides occurred consistently among species and populations, regardless of the collection site and thus despite unequal temporal and spatial exposure to insecticides. These results demonstrate that accurate species identification is essential for effective control of Plusiinae in soybean. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Apolygus lucorum is one of the most important piercing‐sucking insect pests of the tea plant In this study, we assessed the attractiveness of basil plants to A. lucorum and the effectiveness of Ocimum gratissimum L. in the control of A. lucorum. The control efficiency of main volatile chemicals emitted from O. gratissimum flowers was also evaluated. RESULTS: Among seven basil varieties, O. gratissimum was more attractive to A. lucorum adults and was selected as a trap plant to assess its attractiveness to A. lucorum and effects on natural enemies in tea plantations. The population density of A. lucorum on trap strips of O. gratissimum in tea plantations was significantly higher than that on tea at 10–20 m away from the trap strips. Intercropping O. gratissimum with tea plants, at high‐density significantly reduced A. lucorum population levels. Eucalyptol, limonene, β‐ocimene, and linalool were the four dominant components in the O. gratissimum flower volatiles, and their emissions showed a gradual upward trend over the sampling period. Olfactometer assays indicated that eucalyptol and dodecane showed attraction to A. lucorum. High numbers of A. lucorum were recorded on limonene, eucalyptol, and myrcene‐baited yellow sticky traps in field trials in which 11 dominant volatiles emitted by O. gratissimum flowers were evaluated. CONCLUSION: Our research indicated that the aromatic plant O. gratissimum and its volatiles could attract A. lucorum and planting O. gratissimum has the potential as a pest biocontrol method to manipulate A. lucorum populations in tea plantations. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Dubas bug is a serious and widespread pest of date palms in several countries in the Middle East. Chemical pesticides are widely used for managing this pest; however, most pesticides fail due to the continuous development of pesticide resistance. The primary goal of this research was to isolate endophytic fungi and test their entomopathogenic activity against Dubas bug nymphs and adults. A total of 27 fungal isolates were obtained and identified using the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) region. These strains represent 16 species, belonging to 10 genera of seven different families, Ascomycota with six families and Basidiomycota with a single family, Quambalariaceae. Due to its remarkable biological control ability against insect pests, Clonostachys rosea was further studied for its entomopathogenic activity against Ommatissus lybicus nymphs and adults in comparison to a commercial strain of Beauveria bassiana. The concentration of 1 × 108 conidia/mL of the selected endophytic isolate was used in lab experiments targeting Dubas bug healthy nymphs and adults. After 7 days of C. rosea treatment, the isolate caused significant mortality rates of 85% in the adult insects, while the mortality rates were moderate in the nymphs (33%). The commercial strain of B. bassiana resulted in 100% mortality levels in nymphs and adults of the Dubas bug. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of O. lybicus adults treated with C. rosea and B. bassiana showed mycelium growing on the eye, antenna, cuticle, and egg oviposition parts of O. lybicus. Mycelium growth of both fungi was also evident on the nymphs. This study reports for the first time the isolation of C. rosea from the Dubas bug, and its high entomopathogenic activity against an adult population of O. lybicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Essential oils (EOs) are volatile products derived from the secondary metabolism of plants with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and pesticidal properties. They have traditionally been used in medicine, cosmetics, and food additives. In agriculture, EOs stand out as natural alternatives for pest control, as they show biocidal, repellent, and antifeedant effects. However, they are highly volatile compounds and susceptible to oxidation, which has limited their use as pesticides. This has led to exploring micro- and nano-scale encapsulation to protect these compounds, improving their stability and allowing for a controlled release. Various encapsulation techniques exist, such as emulsification, ionic gelation, and complex coacervation. Nanoemulsions are useful in the food industry, while ionic gelation and complex coacervation offer high encapsulation efficiency. Materials such as chitosan, gelatin-gum-Arabic, and cyclodextrins are promising for agricultural applications, providing stability and the controlled release of EOs. Encapsulation technology is still under development but offers sustainable alternatives to conventional agrochemicals. This article reviews the potential of EOs in pest management and encapsulation techniques that enhance their efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spray systems in agriculture serve essential roles in the precision application of pesticides, fertilizers, and water, contributing to effective pest control, nutrient management, and irrigation. These systems enhance efficiency, reduce labor, and promote environmentally friendly practices by minimizing chemical waste and runoff. The efficacy of a spray is largely determined by the characteristics of its droplets, including their size and velocity. These parameters are not only pivotal in assessing spray retention, i.e., how much of the spray adheres to crops versus becoming environmental runoff, but also in understanding spray drift dynamics. This study introduces a real-time deep learning-based approach for droplet detection and tracking which significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency of measuring these droplet properties. Our methodology leverages advanced AI techniques to overcome the limitations of previous tracking frameworks, employing three novel deep learning-based tracking methods. These methods are adept at handling challenges such as droplet occlusion and varying velocities, ensuring precise tracking in real-time potentially on mobile platforms. The use of a high-speed camera operating at 2000 frames per second coupled with innovative automatic annotation tools enables the creation of a large and accurately labeled droplet dataset for training and evaluation. The core of our framework lies in the ability to track droplets across frames, associating them temporally despite changes in appearance or occlusions. We utilize metrics including Multiple Object Tracking Accuracy (MOTA) and Multiple Object Tracking Precision (MOTP) to quantify the tracking algorithm's performance. Our approach is set to pave the way for innovations in agricultural spraying systems, offering a more efficient, accurate, and environmentally responsible method of applying sprays and representing a significant step toward sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest management is pivotal for ensuring secure grain production and constitutes a fundamental strategy in combating pests that detrimentally affect grain supplies. Given the complexity and dynamic nature of pests, it is imperative that farmers implement coordinated prevention and control strategies. Such measures are essential to augment the efficacy of these efforts and to reduce the risks posed by pests to agricultural crops. This research involved a survey of 1205 agricultural households spanning three representative provinces in Northwestern China. By employing an endogenous switching Probit model and addressing sample selection bias, the study investigates the influence of social learning on the adoption of cooperative pest control strategies by farmers. The findings indicate that social learning significantly enhances farmers' adoption of cooperative pest control measures. In a counterfactual scenario, introducing social learning to farmers previously unexposed to it would result in a 10.3% increase in the likelihood of adopting these practices. Additionally, factors such as the health status of the household head, income level, and size of land under management are critical determinants of farmers' participation in social learning. The differential access to scientific, accurate, and systematic information, coupled with resource disparities among farmers, can partially account for the varying average treatment effects observed in different learning methods on the propensity to adopt cooperative pest control practices. Furthermore, social learning plays a crucial role in fostering such adoption by establishing trust among farmers, facilitating consensus in decision-making, and enhancing the dissemination of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest management on hemp is still in its infancy, and biological control options are limited. Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm) is one of the key pests of hemp cultivated outdoors, especially on cultivars grown for cannabinoids and grain. In a three-year study, we assessed the effect of diet on the performance of H. zea and its tachinid parasitoids. Parasitized (bearing fly eggs) and unparasitized (without eggs) H. zea larvae were fed on hemp flowers or an artificial diet. Five tachinid species parasitized H. zea larvae, but the most abundant species were Winthemia rufopicta (68.8%) and Lespesia aletiae (28.3%). Overall, 55.2% of H. zea larvae bearing tachinid eggs died, while the mortality of unparasitized larvae reached 24.7%. The success of tachinids increased by 2-fold when the host larvae were fed on an artificial diet. Our results demonstrated that high protein food (artificial diet), intensity of parasitism, and caterpillar size play a role in the fitness of both the herbivores (H. zea) and its tachinid parasitoids. These findings have important implications for understanding biological control mechanisms and open new insights into the impact of landscape variation on plant-herbivore-parasitoid interactions. This study contains supporting evidence that makes both Winthemia rufopicta and Lespesia aletiae excellent candidates for biological control programs against H. zea, a key pest of hemp in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the urgent need for alternative strategies to chemical insecticides for controlling mosquito populations, particularly the invasive Aedes species, which are known vectors of arboviruses. Among these alternative approaches, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is experiencing rapid development, with numerous pilot trials being conducted worldwide. Main text: This review aims to elucidate the principles of SIT and highlight the significant recent advancements that have facilitated its scalability. I also employ a phased conditional approach to categorize the progression of 39 projects, drawing on peer reviewed studies, press releases and direct communication with project managers. This review indicates that a substantial number of projects illustrate the efficacy of SIT in suppressing Aedes populations, with one project even demonstrating a reduction in dengue incidence. I offer several recommendations to mitigate potential failures and address the challenges of compensation and overcompensation when implementing SIT field trials. Furthermore, I examine the potential implications of male mating harassment on the effectiveness of SIT in reducing disease transmission. Conclusions: This comprehensive assessment underscores the promise of SIT as a viable strategy for mosquito control. The insights gained from these trials not only contribute to the understanding of SIT's effectiveness but also highlight the importance of careful project management and ecological considerations in the pursuit of public health objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of mixing volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by host and non‐host plants on the orientation of key pests of Brassicaceae. The study aimed to understand how these mixed VOCs influence pest behaviour, which could help in tailoring pest management strategies. The orientations of flea beetles, Phyllotreta spp., and the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, towards cabbage VOCs mixed with faba bean VOCs were assessed using Y‐tube olfactometry. The pests' preferences were measured to determine if the presence of faba bean alongside cabbage altered their olfactory orientation compared to cabbage alone. Flea beetles showed a preference for cabbage VOCs alone over the cabbage–faba bean VOC mix. For DBM, no significant preference was observed between cabbage alone and the cabbage–faba bean mix. Previous findings indicated that faba bean attracts DBM, and in this study the mixture of cabbage and faba bean appeared to be more attractive than cabbage alone. The results indicate that faba bean VOCs can deter flea beetles from cabbage, potentially offering a pest management strategy. However, the effect on DBM was inconclusive, with no clear preference observed. This suggests that while faba bean VOCs may influence pest orientation, their effectiveness varies among different pest species. Additionally, herbivore damage to cabbage leaves did not appear to influence the odour‐guided orientation of either pest, irrespective of the presence or absence of faba bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]