Journal Description
Insects
Insects
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of entomology published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, AGRICOLA, and many other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Entomology) / CiteScore - Q2 (Insect Science)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision provided to authors approximately 14.4 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2021).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
2.769 (2020)
;
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.046 (2020)
Latest Articles
Effects of Patch Size, Fragmentation, and Invasive Species on Plant and Lepidoptera Communities in Southern Texas
Insects 2021, 12(9), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090777 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Habitat loss, fragmentation, and invasive species are major threats to biodiversity. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of southern Texas, a conservation hotspot, few studies have examined how land use change and biotic disturbance influence biodiversity, particularly among Lepidoptera. We surveyed 24
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Habitat loss, fragmentation, and invasive species are major threats to biodiversity. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of southern Texas, a conservation hotspot, few studies have examined how land use change and biotic disturbance influence biodiversity, particularly among Lepidoptera. We surveyed 24 habitat fragments on private lands in the LRGV and examined how patch size, edge to interior ratio (EIR), prevalence of invasive, exotic, and pest (IEP) plant species, and other environmental factors influenced plant and Lepidoptera communities within four habitat classes. Biotic disturbance was widespread and intense. IEP plants represented three of the four most common species in all but one habitat class; yet, classes largely had distinctive plant and Lepidoptera communities. Larger habitat patches had lower IEP prevalence but also lower plant richness and lower Lepidoptera richness and abundance. Conversely, patches with higher EIRs had greater IEP prevalence, plant richness, and Lepidoptera richness and abundance. IEP prevalence was negatively related to plant diversity and positively related to woody dominance, blooming plant abundance, and, surprisingly, both plant cover and richness. However, plant richness, abundance, and diversity were higher where a greater proportion of the plants were native. Lepidoptera diversity increased with plant cover, and Lepidoptera richness and abundance increased with plant richness. More individual Lepidoptera species were influenced by habitat attributes than by availability of resources such as host plants or nectar sources. Our results illustrate extensive landscape alteration and biotic disturbance and suggest that most regional habitats are at early successional stages and populated by a novel species pool heavy in IEP species; these factors must be considered together to develop effective and realistic management plans for the LRGV.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Ecology, Diversity and Conservation)
Open AccessCommunication
EcoDragons: A Game for Environmental Education and Public Outreach
by
and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090776 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Environmental education is crucial to tackling the pressing ecological and societal issues on our planet. Although there are various ways to approach environmental education and raise public awareness, games are potentially an effective vehicle of knowledge and engagement because they vulgarize the scientific
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Environmental education is crucial to tackling the pressing ecological and societal issues on our planet. Although there are various ways to approach environmental education and raise public awareness, games are potentially an effective vehicle of knowledge and engagement because they vulgarize the scientific information in a universal ‘language’ and bring people together. Here, we designed a game, EcoDragons, that integrates principles of ecology, biological conservation, life history, and taxonomy. The protagonists of the game are dragonflies and damselflies. The aim of the game is to colonize habitats with different species and use ecological processes (e.g., predation, competition, and mutualism) and conservation measures (e.g., restoration and reintroduction) to face random environmental disturbances (e.g., climate warming, drought, pollution, and biological invasion). The version of the game presented in this paper was based on European species. The game includes 50 species (25 dragonflies and 25 damselflies). The winner of the game is the one who occupies more habitats, establishes and maintains the largest number of species, and solves more anthropogenic disturbances. EcoDragons has a global outreach potential to educate the public about ecology, conservation, and organismic life history, and will probably engage people in environmental advocacy.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Odonates in Human Environments)
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Open AccessArticle
Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) Assemblages and Environmental Variation along Three Streams Located in the Dry-Hot Valleys of Baima Snow Mountain, Yunnan, Southwest China
by
, , , , , , , , , and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090775 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Mountain freshwater ecosystems are threatened all over the world by a range of human-induced stresses, ensuing in a rapid loss of habitats and species diversity. Many macroinvertebrates are reactive to habitat disturbance, and mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are amongst the most sensitive groups. Despite they
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Mountain freshwater ecosystems are threatened all over the world by a range of human-induced stresses, ensuing in a rapid loss of habitats and species diversity. Many macroinvertebrates are reactive to habitat disturbance, and mayflies (Ephemeroptera) are amongst the most sensitive groups. Despite they are susceptible to environmental deviation, knowledge concerning their species richness and diversity is still unknown in remote areas. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the mayfly species assemblage and community composition along different mountain streams and assess potential differences, and (2) identify the environmental variation and its influence on the structure of mayfly communities within such freshwater systems. We collected biological and environmental data from 35 sites situated along elevation gradients in the Baima Snow Mountain, northwest Yunnan, China. Multivariate analyses were performed on the environmental variables and the mayfly species composition, as well as on richness and diversity indices. We found that the community composition of mayflies was different across all three watercourses. Among the 18 Ephemeroptera taxa identified, Baetis sp. and Baetiella marginata were highly dominant, accounting for over 50% of the dissimilarity of each stream. In terms of species assemblages, almost all sites in the Yeri stream hosted good-quality habitats for several mayfly species, as reflected by the highest species richness. The Benzilan stream followed, whereas the Sharong stream showed relatively low mayfly assemblage. This variation was explained by the high environmental heterogeneity between the three watercourses. In particular, the RDA model revealed that among the different environmental factors analyzed, altitude, conductivity, total dissolved solids, water temperature, dissolved silicon, and pH explained most of the variation in species composition. Moreover, the altitude alone explained 17.74% of the variation, and in-depth analysis confirmed its significant effect on diversity indices. Further research should focus on evaluating the scale of threats to this important group of insects in the mountain freshwater ecosystem, particularly the impact of human-induced disturbances such as land use/landcover alterations.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Ecology and Biology of Aquatic Insects)
Open AccessCommunication
Conservation of Non-Pest Whiteflies and Natural Enemies of the Cabbage Whitefly Aleyrodes proletella on Perennial Plants for Use in Non-Crop Habitats
by
and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090774 - 29 Aug 2021
Abstract
Aleyrodes proletella causes severe economic damage to several Brassica crops. Its naturally occurring enemies often immigrate late in the season or appear in low numbers on cabbage. This field study aims to permanently increase the local abundance of A. proletella’s natural enemies
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Aleyrodes proletella causes severe economic damage to several Brassica crops. Its naturally occurring enemies often immigrate late in the season or appear in low numbers on cabbage. This field study aims to permanently increase the local abundance of A. proletella’s natural enemies by providing the non-pest whitefly Aleyrodes lonicerae as an alternative and overwintering host/prey. Therefore, the population dynamics of natural enemies on different perennial herbaceous plants pre-infested with A. lonicerae were determined at two field locations over two winter periods. Most A. lonicerae colonized (on average 166.22 puparia per m²) and overwintered (342.19 adults per m²) on wood avens Geum urbanum. Furthermore, the abundance of A. proletella main parasitoid Encarsia tricolor (28.50 parasitized puparia per m²) and spiders (12.13 per m²) was 3–74 times and 3–14 times higher, respectively, on G. urbanum compared to the other experimental plants. Conclusively, G. urbanum pre-infested with A. lonicerae permanently promoted natural enemies of A. proletella by serving as shelter, reproduction, and overwintering habitat. A potential implementation of G. urbanum in conservation biological control strategies (e.g., tailored flower strips, hedgerows) against A. proletella are discussed and suggestions for future research are given.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Biological Control in IPM and Organic Systems)
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Open AccessArticle
Antenna Cleaning Is Essential for Precise Behavioral Response to Alarm Pheromone and Nestmate–Non-Nestmate Discrimination in Japanese Carpenter Ants (Camponotus japonicus)
by
, , , , , , and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090773 - 28 Aug 2021
Abstract
Self-grooming of the antennae is frequently observed in ants. This antennal maintenance behavior is presumed to be essential for effective chemical communication but, to our knowledge, this has not yet been well studied. When we removed the antenna-cleaning apparatuses of the Japanese carpenter
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Self-grooming of the antennae is frequently observed in ants. This antennal maintenance behavior is presumed to be essential for effective chemical communication but, to our knowledge, this has not yet been well studied. When we removed the antenna-cleaning apparatuses of the Japanese carpenter ant (C. japonicus) to limit the self-grooming of the antennae, the worker ants demonstrated the self-grooming gesture as usual, but the antennal surface could not be sufficiently cleaned. By using scanning electron microscopy with NanoSuit, we observed the ants’ antennae for up to 48 h and found that the antennal surfaces gradually became covered with self-secreted surface material. Concurrently, the self-grooming-limited workers gradually lost their behavioral responsiveness to undecane—the alarm pheromone. Indeed, their locomotive response to the alarm pheromone diminished for up to 24 h after the antenna cleaner removal operation. In addition, the self-grooming-limited workers exhibited less frequent aggressive behavior toward non-nestmate workers, and 36 h after the operation, approximately half of the encountered non-nestmate workers were accepted as nestmates. These results suggest that the antennal sensing system is affected by excess surface material; hence, their proper function is prevented until they are cleaned.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cross Talking between Insects and Environment)
Open AccessArticle
Effect of Horticultural Mineral Oil on Huanglongbing Transmission by Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) Population in a Commercial Citrus Orchard in Sarawak, Malaysia, Northern Borneo
Insects 2021, 12(9), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090772 - 28 Aug 2021
Abstract
Diaphorina citri Kuwayama transmits a destructive citrus disease caused by a fastidious bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) designated as Huanglongbing (HLB) which posed a risk of detrimental threat to the Malaysian citrus industry. All D. citri life stages show a lumped habit
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Diaphorina citri Kuwayama transmits a destructive citrus disease caused by a fastidious bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas) designated as Huanglongbing (HLB) which posed a risk of detrimental threat to the Malaysian citrus industry. All D. citri life stages show a lumped habit on young flushes and its population fluctuations was closely related to accessibility of young flushes. The study aimed to investigate if the appearance of young flush shoots on citrus influences ACP population fluctuation and if horticultural mineral oil (HMO) could reduce spread of HLB transmission by ACP in a commercial healthy orchard. Field research was carried out from 1 April 2011 to 1 December 2014 in a 2-year-old 1 ha citrus farm that consisted of 200 PCR-certified disease-free grafted non-bearing honey tangerine (Citrus reticulata L.) in southwestern Sarawak, Malaysia. The experiment had two treatments namely control (unsprayed) and nC24 HMO with four replications arranged in a simple randomized block design. ACP eggs, nymphs, and adults per flush shoot was assessed and HLB incidence was monitored for visual inspection of the citrus trees for the current existence of usual signs of characteristic symptoms of HLB such as yellowing shoots, leaf mottling, and corky or enlarged veins on leaves. HLB-specific primer was employed in 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction to detect the CLas gene in diseased trees. Increase in abundance of D. citri is mainly affected by the citrus flushing cycles and their life stages are completed on these flush shoots. Relative degree of aggregation index for D. citri adults increased during periods of cyclic production of new flush. HMO-treated plots produced a significantly lower percentage up to 11.43% of diseased trees against 42.20% in untreated control plots. HMO is effective against D. citri and recommended to be incorporated in the IPM program to prevent infection and reduce the spread of HLB.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management Methods for Orchard Insect Pests)
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Open AccessReview
Nutrition, Safety, Health Functional Effects and Availability of Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Drone Pupae
by
Insects 2021, 12(9), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090771 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
Since ancient times, honeybee drone pupae have been used as food and for medicinal purposes in Asia, the United States, and Europe. Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) drone pupae have been registered as food ingredients in Korea. This material is promising as an
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Since ancient times, honeybee drone pupae have been used as food and for medicinal purposes in Asia, the United States, and Europe. Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) drone pupae have been registered as food ingredients in Korea. This material is promising as an alternative food source. It has carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and contains various amino acids and fatty acids as well as minerals and vitamins. Prior studies have empirically demonstrated the microbiological and chemical safety of honeybee drone pupae. The health functional effects of this material have been documented as well. However, to the best of my knowledge, no review has been conducted on the published studies to date. This review aimed to summarize the research findings on honeybee drone pupae thus far. Online databases were searched according to the selection criteria, duplicate reports were excluded, and 22 eligible articles were reviewed. Conclusionally, it was confirmed that honeybee drone pupae have various nutritional components, safety as a food and cosmetic material, and various available possibilities, but more systematic studies are needed to increase their consumption. Therefore, it is believed that this synopsis will help guide future research on honeybee drone pupae.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects and Their Derivatives for Human Practical Uses)
Open AccessArticle
Vertical Migration of Adult Plecoptera and Trichoptera above Forested Headwater Streams
by
and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090770 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
Stream insects are essential components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem structure and function. Terrestrial stages are important components of terrestrial food webs, and flight-capable individuals are responsible for long-distance dispersal. Horizontal migrations by flying or crawling adults away from stream channels that link
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Stream insects are essential components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem structure and function. Terrestrial stages are important components of terrestrial food webs, and flight-capable individuals are responsible for long-distance dispersal. Horizontal migrations by flying or crawling adults away from stream channels that link insects to riparian food webs and movements across catchment boundaries are well established through empirical research, but studies examining vertical migration of adult stream insects into forest canopies are generally lacking. This study focused on differences in adult Plecoptera and Trichoptera abundance at ground level versus the riparian canopy and differences in abundances among summer and autumn sampling periods to empirically demonstrate use of canopy ecosystems by stream insects. Malaise traps at ground level and canopy traps placed 8 to 10 m above the stream at four sites in the Mosquito Creek watershed (Pennsylvania) were used to examine vertical migration. Larval assemblages were collected and compared to adult assemblage to investigate patterns of local migration in the catchment. We found significantly more stream insects at ground level than in the forest canopy for Trichoptera, Plecoptera, and all individual plecopteran families, but a meaningful number of individuals were found in the riparian canopy. Canopy abundances were similar to abundances captured in adjacent ground-level habitats in other studies. Comparisons of adult and larval abundances among sites, taxa, and stages indicated site- and taxon-specific patterns for vertical movement into riparian canopies. Demonstrating that adult stream insects utilize riparian forest canopies indicates that riparian forest conservation should be prioritized over reforestation and that several potential research questions exist to inform riparian management.
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(This article belongs to the Collection Ecology and Biology of Aquatic Insects)
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A New Look at Cultivar Preference in Hoplocampa testudinea (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) on Apple in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada
by
and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090769 (registering DOI) - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
(1) Background: The European apple sawfly, Hoplocampa testudinea Klug (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), can be an economically important pest in eastern Canada and shows preference for apple cultivars in Nova Scotia, Canada. We hypothesized that this preference could be due to oviposition by female H.
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(1) Background: The European apple sawfly, Hoplocampa testudinea Klug (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), can be an economically important pest in eastern Canada and shows preference for apple cultivars in Nova Scotia, Canada. We hypothesized that this preference could be due to oviposition by female H. testudinea (preference-performance hypothesis) during the bloom period or differential larval survival during development due to fruitlet physicochemical properties. (2) Methods: Fifteen commercial and experimental apple (Malusdomestica Borkh.; Rosaceae) cultivars located at the Kentville Research and Development Centre (Kentville, Nova Scotia) were chosen and examined for H. testudinea oviposition, larval performance during fruitlet development, fruitlet physicochemical properties and damage assessment at harvest from 2016–2019, inclusive. (3) Results: H. testudinea showed significant cultivar preference during oviposition, during development and at harvest, but the ranking of these cultivars was not the same throughout the season. Total impact by H. testudinea was consistent for most cultivars over multiple years of the study. (4) Conclusion: Correlation of oviposition with damage provided weak evidence for the preference-performance hypothesis. We propose that this relationship is weak due to differential survival of larvae during development.
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(This article belongs to the Section Insect Pest and Vector Management)
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Comparing the Appetitive Learning Performance of Six European Honeybee Subspecies in a Common Apiary
Insects 2021, 12(9), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090768 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is one of the most widespread insects with numerous subspecies in its native range. How far adaptation to local habitats has affected the cognitive skills of the different subspecies is an intriguing question that we investigate
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The Western honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) is one of the most widespread insects with numerous subspecies in its native range. How far adaptation to local habitats has affected the cognitive skills of the different subspecies is an intriguing question that we investigate in this study. Naturally mated queens of the following five subspecies from different parts of Europe were transferred to Southern Germany: A. m. iberiensis from Portugal, A. m. mellifera from Belgium, A. m. macedonica from Greece, A. m. ligustica from Italy, and A. m. ruttneri from Malta. We also included the local subspecies A. m. carnica in our study. New colonies were built up in a common apiary where the respective queens were introduced. Worker offspring from the different subspecies were compared in classical olfactory learning performance using the proboscis extension response. Prior to conditioning, we measured individual sucrose responsiveness to investigate whether possible differences in learning performances were due to differential responsiveness to the sugar water reward. Most subspecies did not differ in their appetitive learning performance. However, foragers of the Iberian honeybee, A. m. iberiensis, performed significantly more poorly, despite having a similar sucrose responsiveness. We discuss possible causes for the poor performance of the Iberian honeybees, which may have been shaped by adaptation to the local habitat.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Senses: From Perception to Cognition)
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MtDNA Analysis Indicates Human-Induced Temporal Changes of Serbian Honey Bees Diversity
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, , , , , , and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090767 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
Local populations of Apis mellifera are rapidly changing by modern beekeeping through the introduction of nonnative queens, selection and migratory beekeeping. To assess the genetic diversity of contemporary managed honey bees in Serbia, we sequenced mitochondrial tRNAleu-cox2 intergenic region of 241
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Local populations of Apis mellifera are rapidly changing by modern beekeeping through the introduction of nonnative queens, selection and migratory beekeeping. To assess the genetic diversity of contemporary managed honey bees in Serbia, we sequenced mitochondrial tRNAleu-cox2 intergenic region of 241 worker bees from 46 apiaries at eight localities. Nine haplotypes were observed in our samples, with C2d being the most common and widespread. To evaluate genetic diversity patterns, we compared our data with 1696 sequences from the NCBI GenBank from neighbouring countries and Serbia. All 32 detected haplotypes belonged to the Southeast Europe lineage C, with two newly described haplotypes from our sample. The most frequent haplotype was C2d, followed by C2c and C1a. To distinguish A. m. carnica from A. m. macedonica, both previously reported in Serbia, PCR-RFLP analysis on the COI gene segment of mtDNA was used, and the result showed only the presence of A.m. carnica subspecies. An MDS plot constructed on pairwise FST values showed significant geographical stratification. Our samples are grouped together, but distant from the Serbian dataset from the GenBank. This, with the absence of A. m. macedonica subspecies from its historic range of distribution in southern Serbia, indicates that honey bee populations are changing rapidly due to the anthropogenic influence.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Honey Bee: Morphology and Genetics)
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Data Reliability in a Citizen Science Protocol for Monitoring Stingless Bees Flight Activity
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, , , , , and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090766 - 27 Aug 2021
Abstract
Although the quality of citizen science (CS) data is often a concern, evidence for high-quality CS data increases in the scientific literature. This study aimed to assess the data reliability of a structured CS protocol for monitoring stingless bees’ flight activity. We tested
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Although the quality of citizen science (CS) data is often a concern, evidence for high-quality CS data increases in the scientific literature. This study aimed to assess the data reliability of a structured CS protocol for monitoring stingless bees’ flight activity. We tested (1) data accuracy for replication among volunteers and for expert validation and (2) precision, comparing dispersion between citizen scientists and expert data. Two distinct activity dimensions were considered: (a) perception of flight activity and (b) flight activity counts (entrances, exits, and pollen load). No significant differences were found among groups regarding entrances and exits. However, replicator citizen scientists presented a higher chance of perceiving pollen than original data collectors and experts, likely a false positive. For those videos in which there was an agreement about pollen presence, the effective pollen counts were similar (with higher dispersion for citizen scientists), indicating the reliability of CS-collected data. The quality of the videos, a potential source of variance, did not influence the results. Increasing practical training could be an alternative to improve pollen data quality. Our study shows that CS provides reliable data for monitoring bee activity and highlights the relevance of a multi-dimensional approach for assessing CS data quality.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Citizen Science Approach for Expanding the Research on Insects)
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Open AccessArticle
Bioactivity of Cereal- and Legume-Based Macaroni Pasta Volatiles to Adult Sitophilus granarius (L.)
Insects 2021, 12(9), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090765 - 26 Aug 2021
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The attractiveness of ten commercially available Italian macaroni pastas made from different cereals [Triticum durum; Triticum durum (whole wheat); Triticum dicoccum; mixture of five cereals; Triticum turgidum; Triticum turanicum] or legumes (Cicer arietinum; Lens culinaris;
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The attractiveness of ten commercially available Italian macaroni pastas made from different cereals [Triticum durum; Triticum durum (whole wheat); Triticum dicoccum; mixture of five cereals; Triticum turgidum; Triticum turanicum] or legumes (Cicer arietinum; Lens culinaris; Pisum sativum; Vicia faba) to Sitophilus granarius, was compared. S. granarius adults were more attracted to cereal pastas than legume pastas, but the differences in attractiveness were not always significant. Consistent with the results of behavioural bioassays, the mortality of adults over 20 days exposed to pasta samples was 100% with the legume pasta samples and only 8% with the T. turanicum pasta. GC-MS analysis of HS-SPME extracts from the different pasta samples highlighted marked qualitative and quantitative differences, with aliphatic aldehydes and aliphatic alcohols being the most abundant volatile components of cereal- and legume-pastas, respectively. In two-choice behavioural bioassays, insect attraction to a 1:1 combination of T. turanicum and C. arietinum pastas (80%) was even higher than that observed in T. turanicum pasta alone (64%) and in C. arietinum pasta alone (20%). This strongly suggested that the low attractiveness of legume pasta is mainly due to the lack of attractant stimuli rather than emission of repellent compounds.
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Age and Behavior-Dependent Differential miRNAs Expression in the Hypopharyngeal Glands of Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)
Insects 2021, 12(9), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090764 - 26 Aug 2021
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the expression differences of miRNAs in the hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs) of honeybees at three developmental stages and to explore their regulation functions in the HPGs development. Small RNA sequencing was employed to analyze the miRNA profiles of HPGs
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This study aims to investigate the expression differences of miRNAs in the hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs) of honeybees at three developmental stages and to explore their regulation functions in the HPGs development. Small RNA sequencing was employed to analyze the miRNA profiles of HPGs in newly-emerged bees (NEB), nurse bees (NB), and forager bees (FB). Results showed that a total of 153 known miRNAs were found in the three stages, and ame-miR-276-3p, ame-miR-375-3p, ame-miR-14-3p, ame-miR-275-3p, and ame-miR-3477-5p were the top five most abundant ones. Furthermore, the expression of 11 miRNAs, 17 miRNAs, and 18 miRNAs were significantly different in NB vs. FB comparison, NB vs. NEB comparison, and in FB vs. NEB comparison, respectively, of which ame-miR-184-3p and ame-miR-252a-5p were downregulated in NB compared with that in both the FB and NEB, while ame-miR-11-3p, ame-miR-281-3p, and ame-miR-31a-5p had lower expression levels in FB compared with that in both the NB and NEB. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the potential target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were mainly enriched in several key signaling pathways, including mTOR signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway-fly, FoxO signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway-fly. Overall, our study characterized the miRNA profiles in the HPGs of honeybees at three different developmental stages and provided a basis for further study of the roles of miRNAs in HPGs development.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Genomics)
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Open AccessCorrection
Correction: Weyl et al. The Host Range of the Stem-Boring Weevil, Listronotus setosipennis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Proposed for the Biological Control of Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) in Pakistan. Insects 2021, 12, 463
Insects 2021, 12(9), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090763 - 25 Aug 2021
Abstract
The authors would like to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Control of Invasive Plants Using Arthropods)
Open AccessReview
Nectar Feeding by a Honey Bee’s Hairy Tongue: Morphology, Dynamics, and Energy-Saving Strategies
Insects 2021, 12(9), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090762 - 24 Aug 2021
Abstract
Most flower-visiting insects have evolved highly specialized morphological structures to facilitate nectar feeding. As a typical pollinator, the honey bee has specialized mouth parts comprised of a pair of galeae, a pair of labial palpi, and a glossa, to feed on the nectar
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Most flower-visiting insects have evolved highly specialized morphological structures to facilitate nectar feeding. As a typical pollinator, the honey bee has specialized mouth parts comprised of a pair of galeae, a pair of labial palpi, and a glossa, to feed on the nectar by the feeding modes of lapping or sucking. To extensively elucidate the mechanism of a bee’s feeding, we should combine the investigations from glossa morphology, feeding behaviour, and mathematical models. This paper reviews the interdisciplinary research on nectar feeding behaviour of honey bees ranging from morphology, dynamics, and energy-saving strategies, which may not only reveal the mechanism of nectar feeding by honey bees but inspire engineered facilities for microfluidic transport.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects: Functional Morphology, Biomechanics and Biomimetics)
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First Detection of the Adventive Egg Parasitoid of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) in France
by
, , , , and
Insects 2021, 12(9), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12090761 - 24 Aug 2021
Abstract
We report the first detection of Trissolcus mitsukurii in France. More than 1860 sentinel egg masses of Halyomorpha halys (BMSB) were exposed in the field during the 2018–2020 period, and 12 specimens of T. mitsukurii emerged from one egg mass. Their taxonomic identification
[...] Read more.
We report the first detection of Trissolcus mitsukurii in France. More than 1860 sentinel egg masses of Halyomorpha halys (BMSB) were exposed in the field during the 2018–2020 period, and 12 specimens of T. mitsukurii emerged from one egg mass. Their taxonomic identification was confirmed both by morphological and molecular analysis. Trissolcus mitsukurii, similar to T. japonicus, is an egg parasitoid of BMSB in its area of origin in Asia, and both species are considered to be candidates for a classical biological control strategy against BMSB. Trissolcus mitsukurii was previously recorded in Italy where it is well established and widespread, and this may be the source of the French population. Possible permanent establishment and dispersion of T. mitsukurii in France should be monitored with emphasis on its potential effect on BMSB populations.
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(This article belongs to the Section Insect Ecology, Diversity and Conservation)
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Exploring the Role of Cognition in the Annual Fall Migration of the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Insects 2021, 12(8), 760; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12080760 - 23 Aug 2021
Abstract
Each fall, monarch butterflies in eastern North America undergo an extraordinary long-distance migration to wintering areas in central Mexico, where they remain until returning northward in the spring. Migrants survive the overwintering period by metabolizing lipid reserves accumulated exclusively though floral nectar; however,
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Each fall, monarch butterflies in eastern North America undergo an extraordinary long-distance migration to wintering areas in central Mexico, where they remain until returning northward in the spring. Migrants survive the overwintering period by metabolizing lipid reserves accumulated exclusively though floral nectar; however, there is little known about how individuals maximize foraging efficiency in the face of floral environments that constantly change in complex and unpredictable ways along their migratory route. Here, a proboscis extension paradigm is used to investigate the role of cognition during the foraging phase of monarch migration. Male and female migratory butterflies were consecutively trained to discriminate between two color and odor cues and then tested for their ability to simultaneously retain the information on the reward value of each cue in memory without reinforcement over a period of 7 days. To gain further insight into cognitive abilities of monarchs as a migratory species, a second set of captive-reared males and females were tested under harnessed conditions at the same time as wild-caught fall migrants. Results showed that male and female migrants can learn the reward properties of color and odor cues with over 75% accuracy after less than 40 s of exposure and can simultaneously retain visual and olfactory information predicting the availability of floral rewards in memory without reinforcement for at least 7 days. Captive-reared male butterflies also showed the ability to retain visual and olfactory information in long-term memory for 7 days; however, 80% of captive-reared females could not retain color cues in long-term memory for more than 24 h. These novel findings are consistent with the view that monarch butterflies, as a migratory species, have enhancements to long-term memory that enable them to minimize the amount of time and energy wasted searching for suitable nectar sources during their annual fall migration, thereby optimizing migratory performance and increasing the chance of overwinter survival. The possibility that female monarchs undergo a seasonal change in visual long-term memory warrants further empirical investigation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cross Talking between Insects and Environment)
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Open AccessArticle
Nutritional Composition of Honey Bee Drones of Two Subspecies Relative to Their Pupal Developmental Stages
Insects 2021, 12(8), 759; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12080759 - 23 Aug 2021
Abstract
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We examined the contents of nutritional importance, i.e., amino acids, fatty acids and minerals of different developmental stages of drones of two honey bee subspecies, namely Apis mellifera carnica and A. m. mellifera. The results revealed that, in general, individual amino acid
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We examined the contents of nutritional importance, i.e., amino acids, fatty acids and minerals of different developmental stages of drones of two honey bee subspecies, namely Apis mellifera carnica and A. m. mellifera. The results revealed that, in general, individual amino acid amounts and therefore the total protein increased along with the developmental stages of the drones. No statistically significant differences were found between the same developmental stages of the two subspecies. The reverse, i.e., a decrease with developmental stage occurred in relation to the fatty acid composition. Most of the minerals were higher at advanced developmental stages. Overall, the high protein content (31.4–43.4%), small amount of fat (9.5–11.5%) and abundance of minerals such asiron and zinc, make drones a suitable nutritional resource. Even though nutrient content, especially protein, was higher in the pupae than the prepupae, we propose prepupae also as a commercial product based on their higher biomass production. Provided standard production protocols maintaining hygiene and safety will be adhered to, we propose that drone honey bees can be utilized as human food or animal feed.
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Baseline Susceptibility of Spodoptera frugiperda Populations Collected in India towards Different Chemical Classes of Insecticides
by
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Insects 2021, 12(8), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12080758 - 23 Aug 2021
Abstract
Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of maize in the Americas and recently invaded the Eastern hemisphere. It was first detected in India in 2018 and is considered a major threat to maize production. FAW control largely relies on
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Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a major pest of maize in the Americas and recently invaded the Eastern hemisphere. It was first detected in India in 2018 and is considered a major threat to maize production. FAW control largely relies on the application of chemical insecticides and transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins. Assessing FAW resistance and insecticide susceptibility is a cornerstone to develop sustainable resistance management strategies. In this study, we conducted more than 400 bioassays to assess the efficacy of nine insecticides from seven mode-of-action classes against 47 FAW populations collected in 2019 and 2020 across various geographical areas in India. The resistance status of the field-collected populations was compared to an Indian population sampled in 2018, and an insecticide susceptible reference population collected in 2005 in Brazil. Low to moderate resistance levels were observed for thiodicarb, chlorpyriphos, deltamethrin, chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide in several populations (including the reference population collected in 2018). The highest resistance ratios were observed for deltamethrin which likely compromises recommended label rates for pyrethroid insecticides in general. Our data provide a useful baseline for future FAW resistance monitoring initiatives and highlight the need to implement insecticide resistance management strategies.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology)
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