Host Specificity of Parasitoid Wasps and Its Applications in Biological Control

Dear Colleagues,

Biological control (biocontrol) is a safe, sustainable approach that harnesses natural enemies such as predators, parasitic insects, or pathogens to manage pests in agroecosystems. Parasitoid wasps, a diverse group of hymenopteran insects, are well-established biological control agents for arthropod pests in agricultural and forest ecosystems. This Special Issue aims to explore recent progress in the application of parasitoid wasps in biocontrol. Topics include the species diversity of parasitoid wasps, the identification of dominant parasitoid wasps associated with insect pests, and biocontrol practices such as classical, augmentative, and conservation biological control in various agroecosystems. Additionally, we will delve into different mass-rearing and release technologies, as well as the commercialization of several parasitoid wasp species. Furthermore, we will examine other research areas with potential applications in biocontrol, such as the effect of plant volatiles on parasitoids and recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying host regulation by parasitoid wasps. Finally, we will discuss future research directions and applied perspectives, emphasizing how advancements in biocontrol technologies in agriculture have global research implications.

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Marieli Vacari
Guest Editor

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• integrated pest management
• biological control
• chemical ecology
• tritrophic interactions
• parasitoid–host interaction
• mass rearing
• parasitoid wasps
• field release
• biocontrol agents