Biocontrol and Behavioral Approaches to Manage Invasive Insects—2nd Edition

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Behavior and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 796

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Department of Life Sciences, Centre BIOGEST-SITEIA, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Amendola 2, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Interests: invasive species; biological control; integrated pest management; agro-food sustainability; insect-based bioconversion; black soldier fly
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive insects present an escalating global challenge due to their profound impact on ecosystems, food security, and human health, which is being amplified by climate change and globalized trade. The need for sustainable, ecologically sound management strategies requires continuous innovation and an adaptive, multidisciplinary approach that goes beyond conventional methods.

This 2nd Edition aims to showcase cutting-edge research that significantly advances the fields of biological control and behavioral manipulation for invasive insect pests. In particular, we welcome submissions that integrate novel tools and perspectives, such as genomic insights into host–parasitoid interactions, advanced molecular diagnostics, the precision application of semiochemicals, and the use of artificial intelligence or predictive modeling to optimize release strategies and understand pest dynamics. Studies exploring the impacts of climate change on biocontrol efficacy, landscape-level interventions, and comprehensive ecological risk assessment frameworks are also highly encouraged. This Special Issue seeks robust, innovative contributions that develop and apply sustainable, long-term solutions across agricultural, structural, and medical entomology. These contributions should aim to foster a deeper understanding of insect biology and build resilient IPM systems.

Dr. Lara Maistrello
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • invasive insects
  • biological control strategies
  • behavior-based strategies
  • chemical ecology
  • behavioral manipulation
  • push–pull strategy
  • attract-and-kill
  • trap cropping
  • sustainable pest management
  • integrated approaches

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 4454 KB  
Article
Role of Host Volatiles in Regulating the Rhythmic Host Alternation in the Mulberry Longhorn Beetle, Apriona germari
by Wenbo Wang, Yang Yang, Yangyixue Feng, Min Xiao and Tian Xu
Insects 2026, 17(5), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17050448 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 489
Abstract
Host alternation is a common behavioral strategy among many herbivorous insects. The mulberry longhorn beetle, Apriona germari is a destructive wood-boring pest. The adults exhibit rhythmic host alternation between feeding and oviposition hosts. However, the temporal rhythm and regulatory mechanisms underlying this behavior [...] Read more.
Host alternation is a common behavioral strategy among many herbivorous insects. The mulberry longhorn beetle, Apriona germari is a destructive wood-boring pest. The adults exhibit rhythmic host alternation between feeding and oviposition hosts. However, the temporal rhythm and regulatory mechanisms underlying this behavior remain unclear. In the present study, by observing the dynamics of the numbers of A. germari on mulberry (Morus alba, feeding host) and willow (Salix babylonica, oviposition host) trees in a cage, we first found that both females and males began to aggregate on mulberry trees at dawn. Following 18:00 at dusk, the number of females on mulberry declined sharply, whereas the number of males decreased slightly, with a greater proportion of males staying on mulberry. To investigate the role of host volatiles in regulating the host alternation in A. germari, we then carried out two-choice olfactory assays to test whether the behavioral responses of A. germari to the host volatiles from mulberry and willow twigs differed between 04:00 and 08:00 (dawn, aggregated on mulberry) and 18:00 to 22:00 (dusk, dispersed from mulberry). Males were consistently attracted to the volatiles from healthy mulberry at both dawn and dusk, but not to those from willow. Females showed no attraction to the volatiles from either of two hosts at dawn; however, at dusk, they were significantly attracted to willow volatiles. Furthermore, volatiles from feeding-damaged mulberry trees were repellent to both sexes, particularly to males at dawn. These results indicate that the rhythmic host alternation in A. germari is partly mediated by host volatiles and an unidentified male-produced pheromone may be present in this species. Our findings can deepen the understanding of the host alternation in longhorn beetles, and offer a theoretical foundation for developing semiochemical-based, eco-friendly strategies for controlling this pest. Full article
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