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Insects
Special Issues
Biosystematics and Management of True Bugs (Hemipterans)
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Biosystematics and Management of True Bugs (Hemipterans)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1751

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Nickolas G. Kavallieratos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Str., 11855 Attica, Greece
Interests: aphid parasitoids; stored-product pest biology; ecology; management; trapping and sampling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Carmelo Rapisarda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Interests: hemiptera aleyrodoidea and psylloidea (systematics, bio-ecology, control); agricultural entomology; invasive insects in agricultural systems; climate change and pest insects; insect vectors of plant pathogens; biological and integrated control of insects
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. David Wari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Western Region Agricultural Research Center (WARC), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Fukuyama, Hiroshima 721-8514, Japan
Interests: integrated pest management; biological control, environmental science; plant protection; molecular biology; agricultural and applied entomology; insecticide resistance; insect rearing; insect ecology; metabolomics; chemical ecology; tritrophic interactions; plant-insect interactions; plant-microbe-insect interactions; plant defense
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hemipterans, commonly known as true bugs, comprise just over 100,000 species and represent the fifth-largest insect order in terms of the number of species and the largest among the hemimetabolous insects. Amongst this vast array of insects (e.g., stink bugs, aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, and plant- and leafhoppers) is a group of pests that causes economic damage to crops of agricultural importance. These pests have evolved modified mouthparts that pierce plant tissues, sucking nutrients from the plant vascular system to supplement their nutritional needs; hence, they are referred to as ‘sap-sucking pests’. On the other hand, while most hemipterans are known to feed on plants, there are some, such as minute pirate bugs (Orius spp.), as well as assassin and mirid bugs, that prey on pests and can be utilized as biocontrol agents. Finally, a group of hemipterans (including bedbugs) has a hematophagous feeding habit and parasitizes higher animals (Vertebrates), including humans.

In this Special Issue, as an extension to our first Special Issue, “Biology and management of Sap-sucking pests” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/insects/topical_collections/Sap-Sucking_Pests), we will showcase articles that discuss the systematics and biology of hemipteran insects and their diversity, identification, classification, and evolutionary relationships; the inter- and intra-trophic relationships between the phytophagous hemipterans and their host plants; the predatory potentials of hemipterans bugs as biological control agents; the pest status and risk of hematophagous bugs; and the overall management of hemipteran pests as both sap- and blood-sucking insects.

Prof. Dr. Nickolas G. Kavallieratos
Prof. Dr. Carmelo Rapisarda
Dr. David Wari
Guest Editors

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-blind 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

  • insecta hemiptera
  • systematics and taxonomy
  • biology
  • true bug–plant relationships
  • predatory bugs
  • hematophagous bugs
  • pest control

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 606 KB  
Article
Impact of Insect Prey and Plant Food Sources on Development and Reproduction of the Phytozoophagous Mirid Bug, Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür)
by Lili Wang, Lingyun Li, Baoyou Liu and Kongming Wu
Insects 2026, 17(5), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17050443 - 22 Apr 2026
Abstract
Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) is a phytozoophagous crop pest. While the effects of plant-based diets on its development and reproduction have been extensively studied, the combined effects of plant- and prey-based diets on these traits remain poorly understood. This study systematically evaluated the effects [...] Read more.
Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) is a phytozoophagous crop pest. While the effects of plant-based diets on its development and reproduction have been extensively studied, the combined effects of plant- and prey-based diets on these traits remain poorly understood. This study systematically evaluated the effects of plant-only, prey-only, and mixed plant–prey diets on A. lucorum nymphal survival and development, as well as adult longevity and fecundity, under controlled laboratory conditions. The results demonstrate that diet composition significantly affected nymphal survival and developmental progression. Nymphs fed exclusively on prey (Aphis gossypii Glover or Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) nymphs) failed to complete juvenile development. Although a diet of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) eggs alone enabled some individuals to reach adulthood, survival rates were significantly lower than those in mixed-diet treatments. Mixed feeding markedly improved nymphal survival, with the highest rates observed in groups fed green beans + H. armigera eggs and cotton leaves + B. tabaci nymph combinations (both 64.45%). The developmental duration was also influenced. Mixed diets, particularly green beans + H. armigera eggs, significantly shortened each instar and the total developmental time (11.04 ± 0.17 d), whereas a diet of cotton leaves alone prolonged development (19.45 ± 0.24 d). Adult longevity and reproductive output were likewise diet-dependent. The longest lifespans were recorded in adults fed green beans alone or green beans + H. armigera eggs, while the shortest lifespan was observed for those fed only cotton leaves. Successful oviposition was only achieved following four dietary treatments: green beans alone, green beans + H. armigera eggs, H. armigera eggs alone, and cotton leaves + H. armigera eggs. Among these, the green bean + H. armigera egg diet yielded the best reproductive performance, featuring the shortest pre-oviposition period (5.82 ± 0.60 d), the longest oviposition period (19.41 ± 1.68 d), and the highest mean fecundity per female (238.35 ± 25.51 eggs). This underscores the reproductive advantage of a mixed plant–prey diet. This study clarifies how dietary conditions shape the survival, development, and reproduction of A. lucorum, highlighting its strong reliance on nutritional quality for key life-history traits. These findings offer valuable insights into the ecological adaptations underlying the feeding behavior of this insect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystematics and Management of True Bugs (Hemipterans))
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17 pages, 1405 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Predation on Phytophagous Insects by a Phytozoophagous Mirid Bug, Apolygus lucorum
by Lili Wang, Baoyou Liu and Kongming Wu
Insects 2026, 17(4), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040397 - 7 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Apolygus lucorum, a phytozoophagous mirid bug, plays an important role in the species interactions within fruit tree and cotton ecosystems. Previous research has mainly focused on the phytophagous damage that it causes to crops, while its role as a predator of arthropods [...] Read more.
Apolygus lucorum, a phytozoophagous mirid bug, plays an important role in the species interactions within fruit tree and cotton ecosystems. Previous research has mainly focused on the phytophagous damage that it causes to crops, while its role as a predator of arthropods remains poorly understood. In this study, we systematically investigated the functional responses of A. lucorum to three crop pests: eggs of Helicoverpa armigera, nymphs of Aphis gossypii, and nymphs of Bemisia tabaci. The results show that the predatory behavior of A. lucorum towards all three prey species followed a Holling type II functional response model. Predatory performance varied significantly depending on prey species, developmental stage, and sex of the mirid. The theoretical maximum predation rate was highest for A. gossypii (833.33 individuals/day) and lowest for B. tabaci nymphs. Adult mirids and older nymphs (4th instar) exhibited higher predation rates than younger nymphs. Field-collected A. lucorum from Bt cotton fields were analyzed using molecular diagnostics, and the result confirmed natural predation on A. gossypii, which was consistent with observed pest occurrence patterns in the field. Overall, this study clarifies the prey selectivity and stage-dependent predatory strategies of A. lucorum, providing insights into its trophic flexibility as a facultative predator. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of its ecological role in agricultural ecosystems, but do not support its use as a biological control agent given its predominantly phytophagous nature and documented pest status. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystematics and Management of True Bugs (Hemipterans))
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11 pages, 1276 KB  
Article
Courtship and Mating Behavior of the Aphid Parasitoid Praon volucre: Effects of Host Association and Behavioral Lateralization
by Maria C. Boukouvala, Demeter Lorentha S. Gidari and Nickolas G. Kavallieratos
Insects 2026, 17(2), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17020192 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Mating behavior plays a critical role in the reproductive success and population dynamics of insects. Praon volucre is a widespread, broadly oligophagous aphid parasitoid and an important natural enemy in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The present study provides the first detailed characterization of [...] Read more.
Mating behavior plays a critical role in the reproductive success and population dynamics of insects. Praon volucre is a widespread, broadly oligophagous aphid parasitoid and an important natural enemy in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The present study provides the first detailed characterization of the courtship and mating sequence of P. volucre, examining the effects of host association and behavioral lateralization on mating performance. Behavioral observations were conducted on virgin P. volucre adults emerging from two aphid hosts, Macrosiphum euphorbiae feeding on Citrus aurantium and Aulacorthum solani feeding on Malva neglecta. Males from both host-derived populations exhibited a left-side mounting bias, which was associated with faster mate detection, reduced courtship duration, and higher mating success. Mating behavior remained largely stable across host origins, indicating a high degree of behavioral stability. This behavioral robustness, combined with enhanced mating efficiency driven by lateralization, underscores the suitability of P. volucre as a biological control agent. The results have practical implications for mass-rearing and release programs, suggesting that a potential host switching during rearing is unlikely to compromise reproductive performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystematics and Management of True Bugs (Hemipterans))
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