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Insects
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Sustainable Pest Management in Agricultural Systems
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Sustainable Pest Management in Agricultural Systems

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 7466

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ivan Milosavljević

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Citrus Research Board, Riverside, CA 92507, USA
Interests: biological invasions; invasive species; biological control; IPM; parasitoids; species distribution models; ecological modeling; multivariate analysis; life- table invasion models; temperature; insect development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on innovative approaches to sustainable pest management in agricultural systems, emphasizing integrated strategies that balance agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship. We invite contributions addressing the development and application of biological control agents, integrated pest management solutions, advancements in agroecological practices, precision pest monitoring technologies, and policy frameworks supporting sustainability. By showcasing multidisciplinary research and case studies, this Special Issue seeks to provide actionable insights for reducing dependence on pesticides, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and advancing sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.

We welcome submissions in the form of reviews, short communications, concept papers, or original research articles presenting novel data and analyses.

Dr. Ivan Milosavljević
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • sustainable pest management
  • conservation agriculture
  • agricultural systems
  • biological control
  • integrated pest management (IPM)
  • agroecology
  • precision pest monitoring
  • environmental stewardship
  • ecosystem resilience
  • policy frameworks
  • sustainable agriculture

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 13851 KB  
Article
Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activity on the Potential Distribution of Conogethes punctiferalis in China
by Cheng-Fei Song, Qing-Zhao Liu, Jiao Liu, Xin-Yao Ma and Fa-Lin He
Insects 2025, 16(10), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16100998 - 25 Sep 2025
Abstract
Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée, 1854) is a polyphagous pest with a wide host range and strong reproductive ability, and its potential threat to agricultural production cannot be ignored. Based on the optimized maximum entropy niche model, this study evaluated potential suitable habitats for C. [...] Read more.
Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée, 1854) is a polyphagous pest with a wide host range and strong reproductive ability, and its potential threat to agricultural production cannot be ignored. Based on the optimized maximum entropy niche model, this study evaluated potential suitable habitats for C. punctiferalis in China and their dynamic changes under current conditions (Model 1: bioclimatic factors + elevation; Model 2: bioclimatic factors + elevation + human activity) and four different future climate scenarios (Model 3: bioclimatic factors + elevation + human activity). The results suggest that the potential suitable habitats for C. punctiferalis are mainly driven by a combination of temperature, precipitation, elevation, and human activity. Under current conditions, suitable habitats are mainly concentrated in southern Northeast China, North China, the Yangtze River Basin, and its south regions; highly suitable areas are primarily located in the main maize-producing regions of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. The area of suitable habitats predicted by Model 2 is smaller than that predicted by Model 1. Under future climate scenarios, the potential distribution range of C. punctiferalis will show an expanding trend, with the expanded area larger than the contracted area. Compared with Model 2, the suitable areas are expected to increase under Model 3 by approximately 91,799 km2 to 723,711 km2. This study provides an important basis for assessing the potential hazard risk of C. punctiferalis and is of major significance in guiding the formulation of targeted integrated pest management strategies and protecting the safety of agricultural production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pest Management in Agricultural Systems)
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15 pages, 2450 KB  
Article
Modeling the Wildlife–Livestock Interface of Cattle Fever Ticks in the Southern United States
by Vera W. Pfeiffer, José-María García-Carrasco, David W. Crowder, Massaro W. Ueti, Karen C. Poh and Javier Gutierrez Illán
Insects 2025, 16(9), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090940 - 6 Sep 2025
Viewed by 652
Abstract
Cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus annulatus, transmit Babesia pathogens, the causative agents of cattle fever worldwide. Although eradicated from the United States, increasing incursions of cattle fever ticks in Texas have put considerable strain on the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication [...] Read more.
Cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus annulatus, transmit Babesia pathogens, the causative agents of cattle fever worldwide. Although eradicated from the United States, increasing incursions of cattle fever ticks in Texas have put considerable strain on the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP). The movement of ticks between wildlife and cattle along the Texas–Mexico border complicates control efforts. Here, we used habitat suitability models, the literature, and quantitative survey data to project the distributions of native and introduced ungulates in Texas. Specifically, we used habitat suitability models and downscaling to estimate potential overlap between cattle and free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) that may carry cattle fever ticks and generate maps of estimated tick exposure risk. Our findings suggest that the introduction and spread of exotic ungulates, such as the nilgai antelope, may facilitate the expansion of cattle fever ticks within and beyond the historical quarantine zone established in 1943. The increasing range of nilgai populations could enhance landscape connectivity for cattle fever ticks in sensitive areas along the Texas–Mexico border. By combining these models with cattle inventory data, we provide tools to help the CFTEP better allocate resources, monitor tick populations, prevent incursions, and implement early interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pest Management in Agricultural Systems)
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17 pages, 3186 KB  
Article
Efficacy of Indigenous Strains of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Controlling the Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer Leucinodes orbonalis
by Salma Javed, Sajjad Ali, Connor J. Goldy, Bushra Nawab, Anil Baniya and Adler R. Dillman
Insects 2025, 16(3), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16030272 - 5 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2222
Abstract
The growing reliance on chemical pesticides in agriculture has raised significant concerns about their environmental and health impacts. This study investigates the potential of Indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), specifically Steinernema pakistanense and Heterorhabditis indica, as biological control agents for Leucinodes orbonalis, [...] Read more.
The growing reliance on chemical pesticides in agriculture has raised significant concerns about their environmental and health impacts. This study investigates the potential of Indigenous entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), specifically Steinernema pakistanense and Heterorhabditis indica, as biological control agents for Leucinodes orbonalis, the brinjal fruit and shoot borer, a major pest in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. A comprehensive soil sampling was carried out across 30 locations. Molecular identification via PCR and sequencing confirmed the taxonomic classification of the isolated strains, showing high genetic similarity to known EPN species. The reproductive potential of the isolated strains varied, with Pak.S.SA.22 exhibiting the highest fecundity, averaging 91,944 offspring per larva, indicating strong biocontrol potential. Laboratory bioassays at different concentrations showed that Pak.S.SA.22 achieved 100% mortality of L. orbonalis at a concentration of 200 IJs/mL, confirming its effectiveness. Field trials further validated these findings, demonstrating up to 90% pest control efficacy over multiple application intervals, highlighting the practical applicability of this strain in field conditions. These results advocate for the inclusion of indigenous EPNs in integrated pest management (IPM) programs as a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, contributing to the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pest Management in Agricultural Systems)
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12 pages, 680 KB  
Article
Daily Prey Consumption and Functional Response of Orius insidiosus: Implications for Biological Control of Scirtothrips dorsalis in Strawberries
by Lovely Adhikary, Hugh Adam Smith and Sriyanka Lahiri
Insects 2025, 16(2), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020205 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1308
Abstract
Strawberry is an important specialty crop grown in Florida. Recently, chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), have become a significant threat to Florida strawberry production. Pesticide applications are not always recommended because of the development of insecticidal resistance. Biological control can be [...] Read more.
Strawberry is an important specialty crop grown in Florida. Recently, chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), have become a significant threat to Florida strawberry production. Pesticide applications are not always recommended because of the development of insecticidal resistance. Biological control can be a viable control option for this pest. However, the management of S. dorsalis using predatory bug Orius insidiosus Say (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has never been explored in strawberries. Therefore, this study’s aim was to evaluate the predation efficacy of O. insidiosus through daily consumption rate and the functional response while preying on S. dorsalis. The results suggest that adult O. insidiosus has a significantly higher daily consumption rate than fifth-instar nymphs when feeding on both life stages of S. dorsalis. A Type II functional response was expressed by O. insidiosus when feeding on larval and adult S. dorsalis, indicating that the predation rate can increase with the prey density before it reaches a saturation point. The attack rates (a) and prey handling time (Th) were also computed on second-instar larvae and adult S. dorsalis, respectively. The results indicate that O. insidiosus can be used as an augmentation biocontrol agent for S. dorsalis management in strawberries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pest Management in Agricultural Systems)
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Review

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17 pages, 3165 KB  
Review
Advancements in Life Tables Applied to Integrated Pest Management with an Emphasis on Two-Sex Life Tables
by Zhenfu Chen, Yang Luo, Liang Wang, Da Sun, Yikang Wang, Juan Zhou, Bo Luo, Hui Liu, Rong Yan and Lingjun Wang
Insects 2025, 16(3), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16030261 - 3 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1818
Abstract
Life tables are indispensable in IPM, offering an analysis of insect population dynamics. These tables record survival rates, fecundity, and other parameters at various developmental stages, enabling the identification of key factors that affect population numbers and the prediction of growth trajectories. This [...] Read more.
Life tables are indispensable in IPM, offering an analysis of insect population dynamics. These tables record survival rates, fecundity, and other parameters at various developmental stages, enabling the identification of key factors that affect population numbers and the prediction of growth trajectories. This review discusses the application of life tables in agricultural pest management, including the assessment of the pest control capacity of natural enemies, the evaluation of biological agents, and the screening of insect-resistant plant species. In vector insect control, life tables are used to evaluate the transmission risks, model the population dynamics, and interfere with the life cycles of vector insects. For invasive pests, life tables help us to monitor population dynamics and predict future population sizes. In chemical pest control, life tables assist in evaluating the fitness costs of pesticide resistance, guiding insecticide selection, and optimizing application timing. In the final section, we explore future research directions, emphasizing the potential of integrating new technologies such as genomics, ethology, and satellite remote sensing to enhance life table analysis and improve IPM strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Pest Management in Agricultural Systems)
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