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Insects
Special Issues
Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management
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Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 6684

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Carmelo Rapisarda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95131 Sicily, Italy
Interests: applied entomology; sap-sucking insects; agricultural and forest ecosystems; biological and integrated pest management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessia Farina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: insect vectors; host plants; phytopathogenic microorganisms; natural enemies interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many of the phytosanitary problems afflicting agricultural crops worldwide, as well as forest environments and ornamental productions, derive from phytopathogenic agents transmitted by insects belonging to various groups, among which Hemiptera and Thysanoptera are the dominant ones. Their control on cultivated plants is often problematic, and the severity of damage is increased by environmental degradation, biodiversity disruption of arthropods, climate change, etc., factors which may cause a higher virulence of plant pathogens and lower resistance of plants. Surely, an improved biological knowledge of these vector insects, with particular reference not only to their reproductive and trophic behavior but also to their relationships with the environment, spreading capacity, and interactions with the host plants, will inspire the development of new and more effective control methods of both the insects and the diseases they spread.

This Special Issue aims to collect recent findings on the phenology, ecology, interactions with host plants and endosymbiotic microorganisms, trophic behavior, pathogens transmission, climate change adaptation, natural control factors, and integrated management possibilities of insect vectors, as well as data that may be useful in developing strategies for limiting the spread and controlling the infestations of these insects, thus reducing the damage caused by the phytopathogenic agents they transmit.

Prof. Dr. Carmelo Rapisarda
Dr. Alessia Farina
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 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

  • characterization
  • phenology
  • ecology and reproductive biology
  • trophic behavior
  • transmission mechanisms
  • multi-trophic interactions
  • climate change impact
  • integrated pest and disease management

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2835 KiB  
Article
Marigold, Tagetes patula, a Trap Plant for Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, in Ornamental Bedding Plants Under Controlled Greenhouse Conditions
by Cheryl Frank Sullivan, Bruce L. Parker and Margaret Skinner
Insects 2025, 16(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16030319 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 317
Abstract
Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) [Thysanoptera: Thripidae], is a destructive pest of greenhouse ornamentals. Flowering yellow marigolds, Tagetes patula (L.) [Asterales: Asteraceae], have been shown to be attractive to WFT, implicating their suitability as a trap plant. However, functionality may vary [...] Read more.
Western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) [Thysanoptera: Thripidae], is a destructive pest of greenhouse ornamentals. Flowering yellow marigolds, Tagetes patula (L.) [Asterales: Asteraceae], have been shown to be attractive to WFT, implicating their suitability as a trap plant. However, functionality may vary in part due to crop variety, the growth stage of the crop in which the marigold trap plant is deployed and whether or not the crop plants have flowers present. The attractiveness of yellow marigolds was tested within several varieties of mature, flowering ornamental bedding plants that were flowering or had their flowers removed: Calibrachoa spp. Petunia spp. Verbena spp., Osteospermum spp., Impatiens haekeri and other marigolds. Trials were conducted in cages under controlled greenhouse conditions for six weeks. The effectiveness of orange vs. yellow marigolds as a trap plant was also assessed. The results showed that WFT were attracted to flowering marigolds and, over time, were present in greater numbers on these than crop plants for all crop species and varieties tested at varying levels of significance. Yellow marigold trap plants were the least effective when deployed within other marigold varieties. In crops with flowers, it took up to five weeks for the number of WFT on trap plants to surpass numbers on crop plants. In contrast, in crop varieties with their flowers removed, trap plants attracted WFT earlier, within one to two weeks, and harbored them in greater numbers over time. Orange, flowering marigolds were a less effective trap plant compared to yellow marigolds. These results confirm that flowering yellow marigolds are attractive to WFT and have potential as a trap plant in greenhouse ornamentals, particularly when crop plants do not have flowers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management)
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13 pages, 2035 KiB  
Article
Exploring Bemisia tabaci Middle East–Asia Minor I and Mediterranean Cryptic Species Relationship with Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus and Their Dynamics in Soybean Fields
by Felipe Barreto da Silva, Rodrigo de Sarandy Raposo, Sarah Forlani de Campos, Juliana Uzan, Julio Massaharu Marubayashi, Marcos Roberto Ribeiro-Junior, Angélica Maria Nogueira, Caroline da Cruz Martines, Vinicius Henrique Bello, Cristiane Müller, Maria Márcia Pereira Sartori and Renate Krause-Sakate
Insects 2024, 15(8), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15080624 - 19 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1249
Abstract
Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV, genus Carlavirus, family Betaflexividae) is an economically important virus infecting soybeans in Brazil, where it was initially identified in 1983. CPMMV is transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and occasionally by seeds. Over the last [...] Read more.
Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV, genus Carlavirus, family Betaflexividae) is an economically important virus infecting soybeans in Brazil, where it was initially identified in 1983. CPMMV is transmitted by the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, and occasionally by seeds. Over the last three decades, the most invasive B. tabaci Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1), and lately the Mediterranean (MED) cryptic species, have replaced the indigenous species in Brazil, with MEAM1 being predominant. In this study, we investigated the transmission properties of CPMMV by MEAM1 and MED, and their distribution in major soybean-growing areas in São Paulo State. Our results from transmission assays with a single insect revealed that MED is a more efficient vector compared to MEAM1, transmitting the virus within a two-minute inoculation access period. B. tabaci MEAM1 is still the predominant whitefly species in São Paulo State, but MED was also identified in different places, mainly in mixed infestations with MEAM1. Some areas transitioned to a predominance of MED over the three years, while others, where MED had previously been detected, showed a reduction in the insects during the same period. Understanding the transmission dynamics of CPMMV and the distribution of its vectors is crucial for implementing effective management strategies to control the virus spread and protect soybean crops. Further research into the mechanisms driving the shifts in whitefly species dominance and CPMMV distribution will be essential for sustaining soybean production in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management)
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15 pages, 1959 KiB  
Article
Aphidius colemani Behavior Changes Depending on Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Plants Infected with Viruses with Different Modes of Transmission
by Gemma Clemente-Orta, Ángel Cabello, Elisa Garzo, Aranzazu Moreno and Alberto Fereres
Insects 2024, 15(2), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020092 - 29 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2306
Abstract
Natural enemies are an additional component that may interact directly with the plant–virus–vector association, affecting viral dispersion. In our study, we conducted olfactometry assays to explore how single and mixed infections with CMV or/and CABYV modify the attractiveness of A. colemani to aphid-free [...] Read more.
Natural enemies are an additional component that may interact directly with the plant–virus–vector association, affecting viral dispersion. In our study, we conducted olfactometry assays to explore how single and mixed infections with CMV or/and CABYV modify the attractiveness of A. colemani to aphid-free and aphid-infested melon plants using two melon genotypes. Subsequently, we investigated the influence of CABYV-infected plants infested by A. gossypii on the parasitism rate and emergence of A. colemani in a dual-choice assay under greenhouse conditions. Our study demonstrates that males showed no preference for either infected or non-infected plants. Female parasitoids exhibit a preference for volatiles emitted by CMV and mixed-infected melon plants over clean air but not over mock-inoculated plants, suggesting a response influenced by plant genotype. Female parasitoid responses to CABYV and its interactions with aphids revealed a preference for mock-inoculated plants over CABYV-infected plants and a parasitism rate slightly higher (7.12%) on non-infected plants. Our study revealed that (1) parasitoids may reject olfactory cues from CABYV-infected plants, potentially interfering with the plant’s “cry for help” response; (2) in the case of CMV, whether in single or mixed infections, non-infected plants are as attractive as infected ones to parasitoids. Our findings suggest that persistent viruses manipulate aphid parasitoid behavior to their advantage, promoting virus disease in melon crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management)
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11 pages, 501 KiB  
Article
The African Psyllid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (1918) Is Very Sensitive to Low Relative Humidity and High Temperatures
by Rosa Pérez-Otero, Raquel Pérez-Turco, Joana Neto and Alberto Fereres
Insects 2024, 15(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010062 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1775
Abstract
The African citrus psyllid, Trioza erytreae, is one of the two vectors of Huanglongbing, the most serious citrus disease worldwide. The first detection of T. erytreae in the European mainland was on the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in 2014. Since then, the [...] Read more.
The African citrus psyllid, Trioza erytreae, is one of the two vectors of Huanglongbing, the most serious citrus disease worldwide. The first detection of T. erytreae in the European mainland was on the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in 2014. Since then, the pest has spread throughout northern Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, País Vasco) and along the western Atlantic coast of Portugal (from the Douro e Minho region to the Algarve). We conducted a series of laboratory experiments on lemon plants at different temperatures (from 8 to 34 °C) and humidity conditions (from 40 to 90%) to find out the influence of extreme temperatures and relative humidities (RHs) on the mortality, development and reproduction of T. erytreae. Our results show that temperatures above 30 °C and below 10 °C are very detrimental for nymphal development and nymphs were unable to reach the adult stage. Furthermore, eggs were unable to hatch under temperatures above 33 °C and below 8 °C. Adult mortality was highest at 34 °C and killed more than 50% of the population. We also found that relative humidity is crucial for the development and survival of T. erytreae. Nymphs were unable to reach the adult stage at an RH of 90% and 40%. Also, fecundity was significantly reduced at 90 and 40% RH, and fertility was lowest at 40% RH. Nymphal mortality was highest at an RH of 40%, which was the most detrimental humidity among all tested for the survival and development of T. erytreae. Our work concludes that T. erytreae establishment and spread will be maximum in regions with a temperate and humid climate, being rare in regions where dry and hot weather conditions predominate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management)
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