Announcements

The Editorial Office owes much of the success and esteemed reputation of Insects (ISSN: 2075-4450) to the unwavering dedication and expertise of our Editorial Board Members (EBMs). Their hard work, insightful guidance, and commitment to academic excellence are deeply appreciated and form the backbone of the journal’s continued progress.

We are delighted to recognize and celebrate three EBMs who have made exceptional contributions throughout 2024. Their efforts have been instrumental in upholding the journal’s high international standards, ensuring rigorous peer review, and advancing the field of entomology through their outstanding service.

At the same time, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all other EBMs who have generously contributed their time, expertise, and support to the journal. Every manuscript reviewed, every suggestion made, and every bit of guidance offered plays a vital role in our collective success.

We also warmly welcome more outstanding scholars to join our Editorial Board. Together, we can continue to build an inclusive, forward-thinking academic community and further elevate the impact of Insects on the global stage.

Biography

Prof. Dr. Nickolas G. Kavallieratos is an Associate Professor of agricultural entomology and acarology at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Greece. From 2002–2014, he was a researcher at the Benaki Phytopathological Institute (BPI), serving in all scientific ranks and administration positions (Head of the Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Head of the Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, and Deputy Director) at the BPI. He has also worked at several universities and institutes in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. He studies morphology, morphometry, systematics, zoogeography, phylogeny, genetics, and behavior of the Aphidiinae (Braconidae) parasitoids of aphids, providing descriptions of new species in science, redescriptions of species and genera, revisions of genera, and reviews around the world (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America) since 1994. The overall outcome of his research deals with the generation of tools that enable entomologists to identify Aphidiinae parasitoids with ease in different types of habitats, host plants, and host aphids. Since 2000, he has also been working on the biology, ecology, demography, behavior, and management of stored product pests (insects, mites) with the use of natural (diatomaceous earths and other inert dusts) and biological agents (entomopathogenic fungi, entomopathogenic nematodes, bacteria), chemical insecticides, and novel chemical or natural compounds (essential oils, botanical molecules, nanoemulsions, microemulsions) that exhibit insecticidal properties. Prof. Dr. Kavallieratos has published over 360 papers in peer-reviewed journals and coordinated more than 40 projects.

Message from the Editor

The implementation of scientific study requires several steps. First, excellent knowledge of global literature, originating mainly from papers, books, chapters in books, and conferences, is needed. The design of the experiment follows on the basis of the gaps of the scientific bibliography. Hypotheses and objectives should be clear to prove the novelty of the study. Then, the necessary materials should be available, and methods should be developed meticulously. The results obtained must then be properly analyzed and discussed considering relevant references. The conclusions briefly present the final outcome of the overall effort. In several cases, national teams closely collaborate with international teams within the framework of projects to complete the study. Scientists may need to travel to foreign laboratories to improve their skills in relation to certain methods or to conduct a part of their study. Funding is important at this point. There are numerous cases of interactions among scientists that lead to the successful completion of their research work. Once the plans for the experiment are clearly established, a discussion among the authors will begin regarding the target journal that will host the study. Degrees of freedom are numerous in entomology since there are very good entomological journals, having high scientific standards and covering general or specialized scientific disciplines. The journal Insects covers a wide spectrum of entomology, as presented in its aims and evident in the content it produces. Furthermore, Insects offers numerous advantages relating to modern journal standards, e.g., elevated Impact Factor, ranking in Quartile 1, a fast review process from reviewers and Editors, the timely publication of accepted papers, providing qualitative pdf reprints, being open access, offering awards to young scientists to travel and conduct their studies, and recognizing reviewers/authors. Based on my experience, entomology is a science that attracts young people to carry out research in the laboratory, in the field, or in both, aiming to reveal the secrets of the enigmatic world of insects through their papers.

Biography

Prof. Dr. Christos Athanassiou has been a professor at the University of Thessaly, Greece, since 2010, while between 2008 and 2009 he worked at the USDA-ARS Grain Marketing and Production Research Center. His research is focused on insect biology and detection, pest management, chemical and non-chemical control of insect pests in different ecosystems, the utilization of insects as food and feed, and in waste management. He is a co-author of over 500 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and has co-edited 2 books. He also currently serves as a consultant/expert in several organizations, such as the United Nations/FAO, USAID/CNFA, IAEA, Plant Health Australia, etc. He has received several awards from different bodies, such as the Fulbright Foundation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Institute for International Education (IIE/OLF), etc. Since 2015, he has served as the Editor in Chief/Subject Editor of several international journals. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Convenor of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC/WPRS). For the last twenty years, he has been a coordinator, PI, co-PI, etc., in over 120 national and international research projects, funded by different organizations (Horizon Europe, LIFE, PRIMA, ERA-NET, NIFA, IAEA, EFSA, etc.) and various industries. He has received several awards from different international organizations, such as the Fulbright Foundation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Institute of International Education (IIE), etc.

Message from the Editor

Submit. Review. Edit. Improve. Repeat. For a scientist for whom research is a main focus, this is their everyday routine. In scientific writing, commitment is the most important component, but consistency is the most valuable. This is particularly evident when a scientist becomes an editor in a scientific journal; in this case, the meaning of consistency is expanded to include dedication, resilience, and equal opportunities in publishing. In the fascinating world of entomology, which covers a wide range of topics, an editor’s role is unique, since they are dealing with topics related to the dominant form of life on earth and the namesake of this journal: Insects. Being an editor of an entomological journal, you become a member of a big international family, that of entomologists, disseminating key findings for those in the future to further utilize in aid of humans and the environment. The study of entomology is the beginning of a never-ending journey.

Biography

Prof. Gianfranco Anfora is a Full Professor of General and Applied Entomology at the Center Agriculture, Food and Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Italy. His research centers on insect communication and chemical ecology, combining molecular, electrophysiological and behavioral approaches to identify semiochemicals and develop integrated pest management and biological control programs for grapevine and fruit crops. He has published more than 140 peer-reviewed papers. He holds numerous institutional positions and is currently the coordinator of the Bachelor’s degree program in viticulture and oenology. He is involved, as either coordinator or participant, in numerous national and international research projects and in collaborations with companies in the agri-food sector. ​Since 2020, he has served as an Editorial Board Member of Insects and has co-edited Special Issues on Advances in Chemical Ecology of Plant–Insect Interactions and on Combining Biological Control and Sterile Insect Technique to Enhance Invasive Pest Species Management.

Message from the Editor

Receiving this award for my service as part of the Insects editorial committee is a great honor. It underscores the importance of rigorous, transparent, and timely peer review in advancing our collective understanding of entomology. As an Editorial Board Member, I am committed to fostering constructive dialog between authors and reviewers, ensuring that each manuscript undergoes a fair and thorough evaluation while maintaining the highest scientific standards.

Insects plays a pivotal role in disseminating cutting-edge research in chemical ecology, integrated pest management, and biological control. By upholding a streamlined review process and embracing open access, our journal enables the rapid sharing of new insights with the global community. I remain dedicated to supporting authors, especially early career researchers, and to celebrating excellence through awards and Special Issues that highlight emerging innovations.