Insects

Mosquito-borne diseases are an emerging public health challenge in Europe, driven by the spread of invasive mosquito species capable of sustaining outbreaks of tropical arboviral diseases. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, human-driven habitat changes, and prolonged transmission seasons have increased the risk of dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus outbreaks, among other vector-borne diseases. Effective control requires a multifaceted approach, combining traditional and novel methods with advanced surveillance technologies and community involvement. However, growing insecticide resistance and concerns about insecticide use highlight the need for more prudent management of current tools and the development of innovative alternatives. Genetic control strategies, including the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), Wolbachia-based approaches, and genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes, offer promising solutions but still face scientific, regulatory, and societal challenges. This review explores the current landscape of mosquito-borne disease control in Mediterranean Europe, emphasizing key challenges and emerging solutions. An integrated approach that strengthens surveillance, promotes sustainable control methods, and incorporates novel biotechnological tools supported by smart technologies will be essential to reduce the future burden of mosquito-borne diseases in the region.

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a globally invasive pest that affects a wide range of fruit and vegetable crops. Identifying cost-effective attractants is essential for sustainable integrated pest management (IPM). This study explored whether molecular docking, combined with electrophysiological recordings, can help prioritize structurally diverse compounds with potential relevance to medfly olfaction. We assessed the predicted interactions of more than 100 attractant-related and semiochemical compounds, including multiple stereoisomers, with 14 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and four odorant receptors (ORs). Trimedlure served as a benchmark ligand. Docking suggested that several sesquiterpenes may interact favorably with subsets of OBPs and ORs, although these predictions require biochemical validation. A small set of compounds with high predicted affinity, readily available in the laboratory, was further examined using electroantennography (EAG), which confirmed that selected sesquiterpenes elicited peripheral antennal activation in irradiated males. Overall, our results demonstrate the utility of computational screening as an exploratory tool for prioritizing candidate ligands and generating hypotheses about chemosensory processing in C. capitata. Integrating molecular modeling with biochemical and behavioral validation is a promising approach to developing next-generation IPM attractants.

This study presents a two-stage, mechanics-based method for optimizing vibratory sorting machine of adult crickets for post-harvest size grading. In the first stage, the static coefficient of friction (COF) was measured for three cricket size classes across seven tray surface conditions to quantify cricket–substrate interactions relevant to vibratory transport. COF varied significantly with both morphology and surface microtexture (p < 0.0001), with intermediate roughness levels generating higher friction than smooth or highly rough surfaces. In the second stage, a factorial experiment evaluated the effects of oscillating speed (300–350 rpm), tray inclination (2°–3°), and surface roughness (G0–G5) on sorting efficiency, throughput, batch sorting time, and specific energy consumption (SEC). All main factors and most interactions significantly influenced sorting performance (p < 0.0001). The optimal operating condition—350 rpm, 2° inclination, and G2 roughness—achieved 95% sorting accuracy, 39 crickets·min⁻¹ throughput, and the lowest SEC (0.37 Wh·cricket⁻¹). The results demonstrate that friction–vibration coupling governs cricket transport on vibrating surfaces and provide an engineering framework for designing scalable, energy-efficient sorting systems for insect rearing and processing.