Search Results (251)

Tetranychus urticae, commonly known as the two-spotted spider mite, is a highly adaptable and polyphagous arthropod in the family Tetranychidae, capable of feeding on over 1200 plant species, including strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.). The fitness and microbiota of herbivorous arthropods can vary significantly across different plant species and cultivars. In this study, we investigated the fecundity, longevity, growth rate, and microbiota composition of T. urticae reared on seven Chinese strawberry cultivars: Hongyan (HY), Yuexiu (YX), Tianshi (TS), Ningyu (NY), Xuetu (XT), Zhangjj (ZJ), and Xuelixiang (XLX). Our findings revealed significant differences among cultivars: mites reared on the XT cultivar exhibited the highest fecundity (166.56 ± 7.82 eggs), while those on XLX had the shortest pre-adult period (7.71 ± 0.13 days). Longevity was significantly extended in mites reared on XLX, XT, and NY cultivars (25.95–26.83 days). Microbiota analysis via 16S rRNA sequencing showed that Proteobacteria dominated (>89.96% abundance) across all mite groups, with Wolbachia as the predominant symbiont (89.58–99.19%). Male mites exhibited higher bacterial diversity (Shannon and Chao1 indices) than females, though Wolbachia abundance did not differ significantly between sexes or cultivars. Functional predictions highlighted roles of microbiota in biosynthesis, detoxification, and energy metabolism. These findings underscore the influence of host plant variety on T. urticae fitness and microbiota composition, suggesting potential strategies for breeding resistant strawberry cultivars and leveraging microbial interactions for pest management. Full article

The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) significantly contributes to Australian agriculture, especially in honey production and the pollination of key crops. However, managed bee populations are declining due to pathogens, agrochemicals, poor forage, climate change, and habitat loss. Major threats include bacteria, fungi, mites, and pests. With the increasing demand for pollination and the movement of bee colonies, monitoring these threats is essential. It has been demonstrated that honey constitutes an easily accessible source of environmental DNA. Environmental DNA in honey comes from all organisms that either directly or indirectly aid in its production and those within the hive environments. In this study, we extracted eDNA from 135 honey samples and tested for the presence of DNA for seven key honey bee pathogens and pests—Paenibacillus larvae, Melissococcus plutonius (bacterial pathogens), Nosema apis, Nosema ceranae (microsporidian fungi), Ascosphaera apis (fungal pathogen), Aethina tumida, and Galleria mellonella (arthropod pests) by using end-point singleplex and multiplex PCR assays. N. ceranae emerged as the most prevalent pathogen, present in 57% of the samples. This was followed by the pests A. tumida (40%) and G. mellonella (37%), and the pathogens P. larvae (21%), N. apis (19%), and M. plutonius (18%). A. apis was detected in a smaller proportion of the samples, with a prevalence of 5%. Additionally, 19% of the samples tested negative for all pathogens and pests analysed. The data outlines essential information about the prevalence of significant arthropod, fungal, and bacterial pathogens and pests affecting honey bees in Australia, which is crucial for protecting the nation’s beekeeping industry. Full article

This study investigates arthropod assemblage in cowpea, hemp, and watermelon grown both as monocrops and intercrops using three sampling techniques: direct visual counts, sticky cards, and pan traps. A total of 31,774 arthropods were collected, spanning two classes [Arachnida (0.07%) and Insecta (99.93%)], 11 orders, and 82 families representing diverse functional groups. Arachnids were represented by a single family (Araneae). Among insects, the composition included Diptera (36.81%), Thysanoptera (24.64%), Hemiptera (19.43%), Hymenoptera (11.58%), Coleoptera (6.84%), Lepidoptera (0.076%) and Blattodea, Odonata, Orthoptera, Psocodea (≤0.005%). Roughly 10% of the total arthropods were pollinators, while the remainder were primarily herbivores and predators. Apidae were abundant in all treatments except for watermelon monocrops. Intercropping supported more pollinators, particularly Apidae, Halictidae, and Sarcophagidae. However, herbivores dominated (>50%) in each system, largely due to high presence of thrips and cicadellids. Predators accounted for approximately 30%, with dolichopodids (Diptera) being the most dominant. Watermelon yield increased by 30–60% in the intercrop systems. While intercropping increases overall arthropod abundance, it also creates a more balanced community where beneficial organisms are not heavily outnumbered by pests and contributes to enhanced ecological resilience and crop performance. Full article

A mutation affecting eye color was discovered in Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) (Hemiptera: Miridae). This species is an important biological control agent used to manage whiteflies and other arthropod pests in greenhouse crops. Typically, these predators exhibit a dark eye coloration, ranging from garnet to black. However, individuals with bright red eyes have been identified within wild populations, making them easily distinguishable. The objective of this study was to study the mode of inheritance of the red eye color mutation observed. Additionally, a comparative analysis of key biological traits was conducted between individuals carrying the mutation and those from a wild-type population. From these specimens, a population carrying this eye color mutation, referred to as ruby, was established. Genetic analyses revealed that the red coloration is controlled by a single recessive allele located on an autosomal chromosome. Red-eyed individuals exhibited superior performance in biological traits, including greater body size in both males and females, as well as increased fecundity and longevity in females. The utilization of this red-eyed variant could be valuable as a visual marker in ecological and biological studies of population dynamics. Full article

Ants are key drivers of biodiversity in both tropical and temperate forests, though the underlying mechanisms of this remain debated. In tropical lowland rainforests, ants dominate the canopy as opportunistic predators, shaping arthropod abundance and community structure. By contrast, few arboreal ant species exist in temperate forests due to climatic constraints, and predation pressure is generally low. This changes when ground-nesting Formica species enter the canopy to forage. Using insecticidal knockdown, we collected arthropod communities from trees with high and low ant abundance in both tropical and temperate forests and in different seasons. We found consistently higher arthropod abundances on trees with strong ant dominance, including preferred prey taxa such as Diptera, Psocoptera, and Lepidoptera. In temperate forests, high arthropod densities may be driven by aphid-produced honeydew, whereas in tropical rainforests, the absence of large hemipteran aggregations suggests that other mechanisms are involved. Consequently, this mechanism fails to explain high arthropod abundance in tropical primary forests. In contrast, secondary tropical forests host structurally and compositionally altered ant communities, resulting in reduced predation pressure and a marked increase in the abundance of individual species, including potential pest species. These findings suggest that biodiversity maintenance in the canopy depends on intact, diverse ant communities. Recolonization from nearby primary forests is essential for recovery, yet even after five decades, secondary forests remain ecologically distinct, rendering full restoration to primary forest conditions unlikely within a management-relevant timeframe. Full article

In a two-year experiment, we examined whether increasing plant diversity in the margins of processing tomato fields could attract pollinators and natural enemies of pests compared to weed flora, and questioned the effect on crop yield. Two plant mixtures sown in winter (WM) and spring (SM) were compared with weed vegetation along a tomato crop (CT) and an adjacent irrigation channel (CC). Flower cover was higher in the sown mixtures than the weedy margins, and brought in more visits of pollinating bees (including potential tomato pollinators) than the latter. Flowering species were mainly Eruca vesicaria (WM, SM), Coriandrum sativum and Lathyrus sativus (WM), Fagopyron esculentum and Phacelia tanacetifolia (SM), and Ammi majus, Rapistrum rugosum (CC, CT). Parasitoids (Eulophidae, Braconidae, Scelionidae) were more abundant in the sown and CC margins compared to the CT margin, while the abundance of predators (Aeolothripidae, Orius sp., Thomisidae) was similar among all types of margins. Fruit weight was higher in the field with the sown margins, while pest incidence in the crop was not affected by the margin type. Our findings provide new insights into the contribution of managed and existing field margins in attracting beneficial arthropods, and their implications on yield. Full article

Conventional and conservation tillage systems are applied differently in agricultural practices. Considering the current trends, the spread of tillage before denser crop cultures can also be observed in the case of other crops. These systems alter microclimatic conditions in the cultivated layer, soil surface, and crop canopy by physically modifying the soil environment. This greatly influences the occurrence and success of microbiome, plant, and animal organisms. At the same time, it has a decisive influence on the occurrence and damage caused to crops by harmful microorganisms and herbivorous pests. This review investigates how tillage systems influence the emergence and mass propagation of herbivores, based on their soil dependency. The impact of soil as a medium on pests will be analysed by grouping them according to their soil attachment and providing cultivation and agro-zoological examples. We highlight that selecting a tillage system should consider soil-dwelling pest ecology, as this knowledge is critical for optimizing both soil health and crop protection. Full article

This study investigated the abundance and richness of insect pests and beneficial insects on 20 squash cultivars across three seasons in middle Georgia, U.S. Insects were sampled using yellow sticky cards, pan traps and sweep nets. Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (sweet potato whitefly) was prevalent in all seasons, while other key pests showed distinct seasonal peaks. Diaphania hyalinata Linnaeus (melonworm) peaked mid-July in summer 2021 (21 June–1 August), while Thysanoptera species, Acalymma vittatum Fabricius (striped cucumber beetle), and Diabrotica balteata LeConte (banded cucumber beetle) peaked late July-early August. In fall 2021 (4 October–14 November), Epilachna borealis (squash beetle), D. hyalinata, and D. nitidalis Stoll (pickleworm) were more active in early to mid-October, whereas D. undecimpunctata howardi Barber (spotted cucumber beetle) peaked in late November. In fall 2022 (17 October–20 November), D. balteata and D. undecimpunctata howardi peaked mid October to early November, while Anasa tristis DeGeer (squash bug) peaked in mid–late November. Orius insidiosus Say (minute pirate bug) peaked in late summer 2021 and remained stable in fall 2021. Pollinators were most active in mid-fall. Cultivars influenced insect abundance. ‘Saffron’ and ‘Amberpic 8455’ harbored the most O. insidiosus and fewer D. balteata and Thysanoptera species. ‘Golden Goose Hybrid’ had the highest moth numbers. These patterns suggest that cultivar traits influenced pest susceptibility and beneficial arthropods’ activity. Temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with A. vittatum and E. borealis numbers, but rainfall negatively affected bees. These findings underscore the importance of cultivar selection and weather condition considerations in integrated pest management. Full article

Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are an important source of protein for the Brazilian population. They are cultivated all over the country, in three cropping seasons/year, totaling 2.7 million tons, mostly for domestic consumption. Pest management is a big challenge and is mostly carried out with the intensive use of pesticides. Integrated pest management (IPM) is essential for sustainability. This technology is based on applying insecticides only when the pest population reaches the Economic Threshold. For that, it is necessary to monitor the crop for the occurrence of pests and beneficial arthropods. Although the concept of IPM and its benefits have long been known and widespread, it is not clear whether bean producers adopt the technology, since informal reports suggest that preventive insecticide applications are still highly used in the crop. The objective of this study was to survey the level of IPM adoption among bean producers in different regions of Brazil, using a questionnaire, applied to 103 producers/consultants. The results show that the estimated rate of IPM adoption by common bean producers in Brazil is 46.6%. The main causes of the low adoption are a lack of understanding of IPM concepts, high confidence in the efficiency of pesticides, and high costs of crop monitoring. Full article

Although the present use of pesticides in plant protection has limited the occurrence and development of plant diseases and pests, resistance to pesticides and their environmental and health hazards indicates an urgent need for new active ingredients in plant protection products. Recently synthesized coumarin-1,2,4-triazole hybrid compounds have been proven effective against plant pathogenic fungi and safe for soil-beneficial bacteria. Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly, has been used as a model organism for scientific research. Additionally, it is considered a pest since it damages fruits and serves as a carrier for various plant diseases. On the contrary, Orius laevigatus is a beneficial true bug that biologically controls harmful arthropods in agricultural production. In the present study, we performed an adulticidal bioassay against D. melanogaster and O. laevigatus using coumarin-1,2,4-triazole hybrids. Quantitative structure–activity relationship studies (QSARs) and in silico ecotoxicity evaluation elucidated the structural features underlying the compounds’ insecticidal activity. The derivative of 4-methylcoumarin-1,2,4-triazole with a 3-bromophenyl group showed great insecticidal potential. A molecular docking study indicated that the most active compound probably binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels. Full article

Bats (Chiroptera) are among the most diverse and geographically dispersed mammals. They are of great importance to the ecosystem, as pollinators, seed dispersers and pest controllers, in addition to being hosts to several parasitic arthropods, including ticks, mites, lice, fleas and flies. Their diet includes the tissue and blood or other body fluids of bats. Bats are reservoirs of several disease-causing agents, many of them pathogenic to humans, such as bacteria, as well as protozoa, viruses and fungi. This study was conducted in Monte Negro, Rondônia, Brazil and the occurrence of parasitic arthropods in bats was evaluated, as well as a screening of bacteria that these ectoparasites can carry. Through a total of 69 nocturnal captures, 217 chiropterans were sampled, representing 23 species and six families. A total of 592 specimens of parasitic arthropods (ticks, mites and flies) were collected from these bats (9% dipterans, 59% ticks and 32% mites). Bartonella spp. were found in two species of bat flies (Trichobius joblingi and Strebla mirabilis) in peri-urban and forest areas with an infection rate of 62% and 38%, respectively. We report for the first time in Rondônia the argasid tick Ornithodoros hasei and its infection by a spotted fever group bacterium ‘Candidatus Rickettsia wissemanii’ in a peri-urban area. Full article

The conversion of tropical forests into urban and agriculture landscapes may alter insect populations through habitat disturbance and impact the diets of aerial insectivores. Most dietary studies on aerial insectivores have limitation on identifying prey at higher taxonomic levels in broad landscapes, restricting species-level identification and thus making a detailed dietary comparison impossible. This study examines the dietary changes through adaptation of house-farm swiftlets (Aerodramus sp.) and Pacific swallows (Hirundo tahitica) across three distinct habitats in Peninsular Malaysia: mixed-use landscapes, oil palm plantations, and paddy fields. High-throughput DNA metabarcoding with ANML primers targeting mitochondrial CO1 gene, identified 245 arthropod prey species, with six dominant orders: Coleoptera, Diptera, Blattodea, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. Mixed-use landscapes supported the highest dietary diversity and niche breadth, reflecting their ecological complexity. Paddy fields exhibited moderate diversity, while oil palm plantations demonstrated the lowest diversity, influenced by simplified vegetation structures and limited prey availability. The consumption of agricultural pests and vector species highlights the critical ecological role of aerial insectivorous birds in natural pest management and mitigating vector-borne disease risks. This research emphasizes the importance of conserving habitat heterogeneity to sustain the ecological services provided by these birds, benefiting both agricultural productivity and public health. Full article

Chemicals and biological insecticides play a crucial role as pest management strategies in modern agriculture and forestry. However, their excessive and unreasonable use inevitably leads to varying degrees of resistance among insect populations, which seriously affects the sustainability of insecticide use. One primary reason for this resistance is alterations or mutations in insect gene expression. One class of genes encodes proteins that serve as critical targets for insecticides to exert their toxic effects in insects, while another class of genes encodes proteins involved in the detoxification process of insecticides within insects. Reverse genetics has become a vital research tool for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying changes and mutations in these target genes and their impact on insect resistance. The advent of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and the CRISPR-associated gene Cas as gene-editing technologies has significantly advanced our understanding of how insects adapt to and resist insecticides. This article aims to provide a comprehensive and objective review of the progress made using the CRISPR/Cas system in various arthropods within the field of pest control. Full article

Sorghum is a key global crop with substantial economic importance. Implementing green pest management for sorghum is crucial for promoting ecological balance and reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. This study assesses the impact of green pest management on arthropod biodiversity and sorghum yield and quality. Over two years, using Malaise trapping and DNA metabarcoding, we found that green pest management significantly enhanced arthropod diversity, increasing species richness by 5.63% and shifting species composition, notably increasing the abundance of Hymenoptera. Although sorghum yield metrics were higher in the green group compared to the chemical control group, these differences were not statistically significant. However, the green group exhibited improved quality with lower crude fat (3.63% vs. 4.08% in the chemical control group) and higher levels of crude protein (9.18% vs. 9.13%), starch (73.69% vs. 73.41%), and amylopectin (98.53% vs. 98.34%). These findings underscore the benefits of green pest management in fostering biodiversity and enhancing sorghum quality. Future research should focus on optimizing biodiversity-driven agroecosystem resilience and scaling these strategies across diverse agricultural systems. Full article