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Insects
Special Issues
Global and Regional Patterns of Insect Biodiversity
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Global and Regional Patterns of Insect Biodiversity

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Ecology, Diversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 2028

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Katarina M. Mikac

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Futures, School of Science, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia
Interests: population genetics; agricultural entomology; invasive insect ecology; threatened mammals (e.g., spotted-tailed quolls, gliding possums); conservation biology; molecular ecology; wildlife and habitat management; biosecurity science; evolutionary ecology; fire ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Darija Lemić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: agricultural entomology; invasive insects; integrated pest management (IPM); population genetics; geometric morphometrics; climate change and pest dynamics; resistance management in insect pests; sustainable pest control strategies; data-driven agriculture; citizen science; firefly conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ivana Pajač Živković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: applied entomology in perennial crops; invasion biology and surveillance of non-native arthropods; integrated plant protection; genetic structure and dispersal patterns in pest populations; urban agroecology and biodiversity conservation; sensor-based monitoring and smart trapping of agricultural pests; climate-resilient and ecologically-based crop protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insects represent the most diverse group of organisms on Earth, playing essential roles in ecosystem functioning, agriculture, and human health. Understanding the patterns of insect biodiversity, both globally and regionally, is critical for conservation efforts, pest management, and predicting responses to environmental change. This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research that explores spatial and temporal trends in insect diversity, distribution, and abundance. We welcome contributions that utilize molecular, ecological, biogeographical, and citizen science approaches to assess insect biodiversity across habitats and continents. Studies focusing on invasive species, endemic taxa, and the impacts of climate change, land use, and anthropogenic pressures are particularly encouraged. By highlighting both broad-scale patterns and localized insights, this Issue seeks to advance our understanding of the drivers and consequences of insect biodiversity change in the Anthropocene.

Dr. Katarina M. Mikac
Dr. Darija Lemić
Dr. Ivana Pajač Živković
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

  • insect biodiversity
  • biogeography
  • species distribution
  • invasive insects
  • endemic species
  • climate change impacts
  • anthropogenic pressures
  • molecular ecology
  • citizen science
  • conservation entomology

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 6756 KB  
Article
Aerial Trajectories and Meteorological Drivers of Transboundary Loxostege sticticalis Migration Across Northern China and Mongolia, 2022
by Xing-Yue Pu, Yi-Yang Zhang, Hai-Bin Gu, Rui Zhong, Gui-Jun Wan, Fa-Jun Chen and Qiu-Lin Wu
Insects 2026, 17(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17020218 - 19 Feb 2026
Viewed by 479
Abstract
Clarifying migration pathways and the source area–destination relationships of the domestic and foreign beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (Linnaeus) populations, as well as understanding the meteorological mechanisms shaping these processes, is pivotal for remote, accurate, and location-specific pest early warning and forecasting. Based on [...] Read more.
Clarifying migration pathways and the source area–destination relationships of the domestic and foreign beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (Linnaeus) populations, as well as understanding the meteorological mechanisms shaping these processes, is pivotal for remote, accurate, and location-specific pest early warning and forecasting. Based on light trap data from northern China and field survey data from Mongolia in 2022, we simulated the migration trajectories, source regions, and primary landing areas of L. sticticalis by using the HYSPLIT model and analyzed the synoptic systems, processes and conditions during its migration. The results indicate the frequent exchange of L. sticticalis populations between China and Mongolia in 2022. The L. sticticalis migrants initiating their flights from Mongolia primarily undertook a southeastward migration pathway, supplemented by eastward ‘cyclonic’ and southwestward paths. The main landing areas were located in North China and Northeast China, with migration events potentially extending to the Shandong, Heilongjiang, and Xinjiang provinces. Populations originating from North China exhibited a capacity for migrating into Northeast China and Mongolia through 1–5 consecutive nights of flight. During this period, the Northeast China Cold Vortex (NCCV) and the Mongolian Cyclone alternately regulated the synoptic circulation pattern governing the migration of L. sticticalis. The spatiotemporal distributions and intensities of these systems were key determinants of the transboundary migration routes and distances of L. sticticalis. The NCCV dominated, and the precipitation and downdrafts it induced were crucial for the massive landing of L. sticticalis in northern China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global and Regional Patterns of Insect Biodiversity)
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22 pages, 2983 KB  
Article
Predicting Phloeosinus cupressi (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Phloeosinus) Distribution for Management Planning Under Climate Change
by Yu Cao, Kaitong Xiao, Lei Ling, Qiang Wu, Beibei Huang, Xiaosu Deng, Yingxuan Cao, Hang Ning and Hui Chen
Insects 2026, 17(1), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17010077 - 9 Jan 2026
Viewed by 454
Abstract
Phloeosinus cupressi Hopkins is an invasive bark beetle that poses a serious threat to Cupressus trees, with potential ecological and economic impacts globally. Native to North America, it has spread to Australia and New Zealand, and climate change may further alter its range. [...] Read more.
Phloeosinus cupressi Hopkins is an invasive bark beetle that poses a serious threat to Cupressus trees, with potential ecological and economic impacts globally. Native to North America, it has spread to Australia and New Zealand, and climate change may further alter its range. Global trade increases the risk of spread, highlighting the need for predictive modeling in management. In this study, we employed CLIMEX and random forest (RF) models to project the potential global distribution of P. cupressi, incorporating host distribution data for Cupressus. Climatic suitability is concentrated in temperate, subtropical, and Mediterranean zones, including Europe, the U.S., South America, China, Australia, and New Zealand, totaling 10,165.22 × 104 km2. Coldest-quarter precipitation (bio19) and annual temperature range (bio7) were identified as the most influential variables. Under RCP6.0 scenarios, suitable areas are projected to expand northward, increasing by ~18%. Regional shifts include contraction in southern Europe and South China, expansion in southern Argentina, southeastern Australia, and coastal New Zealand. Temperature sensitivity is expected to exceed precipitation, enhancing colonization. Due to global Cupressus trade, quarantine and monitoring should focus on high-risk regions. Our findings support early detection, long-term monitoring, and control measures for managing P. cupressi under climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global and Regional Patterns of Insect Biodiversity)
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17 pages, 3764 KB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Birch-Mining Eriocrania Moths in an Urban Landscape over Four Decades
by Mikhail V. Kozlov, Alexandr A. Egorov, Elena Valdés-Correcher and Vitali Zverev
Insects 2026, 17(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17010005 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 720
Abstract
Understanding how urbanisation shapes species distributions and ecological interactions requires long-term, spatially structured data. Using an exceptionally rare 40-year dataset (1986–2025) from 150 habitat patches and 102 downtown grid cells in St. Petersburg, Russia, we examined patterns in birch (Betula pendula and [...] Read more.
Understanding how urbanisation shapes species distributions and ecological interactions requires long-term, spatially structured data. Using an exceptionally rare 40-year dataset (1986–2025) from 150 habitat patches and 102 downtown grid cells in St. Petersburg, Russia, we examined patterns in birch (Betula pendula and B. pubescens) persistence, ground conditions, woody vegetation, and the occurrence of Eriocrania leaf-mining moths. Birch presence, birch abundance, and ground quality declined both toward the city centre and over time, whereas woody plant cover showed no clear spatial or temporal pattern. Eriocrania occurrence within birch-containing patches was influenced primarily by habitat type, artificial ground, and birch abundance, while distance to the city centre, year, and woody cover exerted no consistent effects. Habitat characteristics offered only moderate predictive power for local extinction risk in both birches and Eriocrania, indicating that multiple drivers interact to shape patch dynamics. Contrary to the widespread declines observed in many insect taxa, Eriocrania populations exhibited no directional density trend across four decades. This long-term stability highlights the resilience of specialised herbivores in heterogeneous urban landscapes and underscores the value of extended temporal datasets for detecting subtle or unexpected ecological responses to urbanisation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global and Regional Patterns of Insect Biodiversity)
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