Search Results (208)

Entomopathogenic fungi are among the most promising non-chemical alternatives for the control of many serious phytophagous insect pests, such as moth species. The present research investigates the use of the little-studied entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria varroae as a biocontrol agent against the notorious pests Helicoverpa armigera and Sesamia nonagrioides in laboratory conditions. Conidial suspensions of B. varroae were prepared at 10³-10⁴-10⁵-10⁶-10⁷-10⁸ conidia/mL to assess their insecticidal potential. In this study, we used 100 3rd-instar larvae for each concentration. During the lab bioassays, almost complete mortality of 35–96.6% was recorded for H. armigera larvae and 40–96.6% for S. nonagrioides larvae 10 days after exposure. The lethal effect of the entomopathogen was related to both dose and exposure time of the entomopathogen, with higher concentrations resulting in increased mortality. The survival effect of S. nonagrioides and H. armigera larvae was dependent on the hazard effect of the used dose and the exposure time. These findings indicate that B. varroae has potential as a biocontrol agent. Further research will elucidate this new isolate and optimize application methods in field conditions. Full article

Oases in arid regions are critical ecosystems, providing essential ecological, agricultural, and socio-economic functions. However, urbanization and climate change increasingly threaten their sustainability. This study examines land cover (LULC) and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics in four representative North African oases: Tolga (Algeria), Nefta (Tunisia), Ghadames (Libya), and Siwa (Egypt) over the period 2000–2023, using Landsat satellite imagery. A three-step analysis was employed: calculation of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-up Index), and LST, followed by supervised land cover classification and statistical tests to examine the relationships between the studied variables. The results reveal substantial reductions in bare soil (e.g., 48.10% in Siwa) and notable urban expansion (e.g., 136.01% in Siwa and 48.46% in Ghadames). Vegetation exhibited varied trends, with a slight decline in Tolga (0.26%) and a significant increase in Siwa (+27.17%). LST trends strongly correlated with land cover changes, demonstrating increased temperatures in urbanized areas and moderated temperatures in vegetated zones. Notably, this study highlights that traditional urban designs integrated with dense palm groves significantly mitigate thermal stress, achieving lower LST compared to modern urban expansions characterized by sparse, heat-absorbing surfaces. In contrast, areas dominated by fragmented vegetation or seasonal crops exhibited reduced cooling capacity, underscoring the critical role of vegetation type, spatial arrangement, and urban morphology in regulating oasis microclimates. Preserving palm groves, which are increasingly vulnerable to heat-driven pests, diseases and the introduction of exotic species grown for profit, together with a revival of the traditional compact urban fabric that provides shade and has been empirically confirmed by other oasis studies to moderate the microclimate more effectively than recent low-density extensions, will maintain the crucial synergy between buildings and vegetation, enhance the cooling capacity of these settlements, and safeguard their tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Full article

This study investigates the capability of Sentinel-1 (S1) SAR time series to identify vegetation sites affected by pest infestations. For this purpose, the statistical method of the Fisher–Shannon analysis was employed to discern infected from unifected forest trees. The analysis was performed on a case study (Castel Porziano) located in the urban and peri-urban areas of Rome (Italy), which have been significantly impacted by Toumeyella parvicornis (TP) in recent years. For comparison, the area of Follonica (Italy), which has not yet been affected by this insect, was also analyzed. Two polarizations (VV and VH) and two orbit types (Ascending and Descending) were analyzed. The results, supported by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, demonstrated that VH polarization in the Descending orbit provided the best performance in identifying TP-infected sites. Full article

Urban expansion has led to two significant environmental challenges: the reduction in green spaces and the rise in urban temperatures, decreasing city livability. Green roofs have emerged as a sustainable solution to mitigate these issues, offering ecological and economic benefits while improving building energy efficiency. Some species of the genus Sedum, particularly Sedum sediforme and Sedum album, are ideal for such green infrastructure due to their non-aggressive and superficial root system, high drought tolerance, low nutrient needs, pest and disease resistance, and metabolic adaptability during dry periods. This study aims to optimize the large-scale production of two native ecotypes of S. sediforme and S. album from the Valencian Community through an efficient propagation system that enables uniform plant production in limited space. For this purpose, we have developed micropropagation systems that allow a rapid multiplication of these two species. A direct morphogenesis system was established using axenic plant shoots, and a protocol for adventitious organogenesis from leaves was also developed. These methods significantly enhance propagation speed, spatial efficiency, and plant uniformity. Notably, the metabolic plasticity of S. sediforme and S. album reduces abiotic stress during acclimatization, promoting efficient ex vitro establishment and functional integration into extensive green roof ecosystems. Full article

As a key pest damaging urban greenery in Yunnan, China, Achelura yunnanensis larvae secrete venom for defense, yet the molecular basis of this process remains poorly understood. This study aimed to uncover the molecular mechanisms of venom secretion by comparing the dorsal epidermis tissue (LDET) with the larval proleg tissue (LP). We performed transcriptomic analysis using RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes between LDET and LP (10 biological replicates per tissue type), followed by functional enrichment and gene expression correlation analyses to explore tissue-specific characteristics. LDET exhibited significant upregulation of pathways related to lipid metabolism, redox reactions, and surface protective structure formation, suggesting their roles in venom stabilization, activation, and safe secretion. Conversely, genes linked to non-venom-related functions, such as extracellular matrix organization and epidermal development, were downregulated in LDET, indicating resource reallocation toward venom production. These findings reveal a multi-component mechanism in LDET that supports venom secretion through metabolic and structural adaptations, with lipid metabolism genes constituting 18.3% of total differentially expressed genes, highlighting evolutionary trade-offs in insect defense. This study provides new insights into insect venom secretion and offers potential targets for pest control strategies. Full article

Extreme drought events under the background of global warming pose a significant threat to China’s forest industry system. This study aims to analyze the impact of drought on China’s forest industry from the perspective of economics, and, through the mechanism test, to further study the communication path of drought to the forest industry. The study finds: (1) drought has been increasing in China in the last 50 years. (2) Drought has a significant restraining effect on the Chinese forest industry. Moreover, inland areas are more vulnerable to drought than coastal areas. (3) Drought will lead to an increase in the occurrence area of forest pests and diseases, forming a compound eco-economic loss effect, thus inhibiting the development of the forest industry. (4) Drought can drive an increase in irrigation facilities. Efficient irrigation may mitigate biological damages caused by drought, so as to resist part of the economic losses. (5) Drought may cause labor to migrate from the forest sector to non-forest sectors, leading to lower production in the forest industry. Labor transfer effects caused by drought are more obvious in the areas where the income gap is relatively big between rural and urban regions, e.g., in inland areas. Full article

Sustainability urgently needs to be achieved in urban green infrastructure. Maintaining and restoring biodiversity are critical for developing an urban ecosystem more resilient to abiotic and biotic stresses. The biodiversity of urban green spaces is vital as it reduces the risks associated with climate change (diseases and pests), improves the resilience of the urban ecosystem, and enhances citizens’ well-being. Urban green areas can provide important ecosystem services necessary for achieving prosperity, urban well-being, and the One Health paradigm at various scales. Urban green areas can serve as corridors and stepping stones between the rural environments surrounding cities, increasing their connections and reducing the risk of ecological traps. The conservation and restoration of biodiversity are strategies to increase ecosystem services. In this context, this review aims to analyze the possible contribution of ornamental plants to urban biodiversity, investigating the available knowledge and the gaps that need to be filled. Plants chosen for their esthetic functions are often allogamous species, characterized by showy flowers that attract fauna for pollination, thus helping insects and other fauna survive. If not invasive, these plants can actively contribute to biodiversity in the urban environment and to human well-being. Choosing suitable species and methods that favor plant communities and sustainable maintenance practices improves biodiversity and the ecosystem services that ornamental plants provide. Full article

This paper examines the potential economic benefits of biological pest control in urban forests by evaluating its effectiveness in controlling these pests and assessing its economic benefits. It also analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of using biological pest control as a sustainable method for managing specific pest populations. Urban forests improve the quality of life in cities, leading to more sustainable communities. Urban trees are more vulnerable to insect excursions, and pest infestations are increasingly threatening urban forests. Pest control methods are necessary to confront this threat, which risks tree health and vitality. However, traditional chemical pest control methods pose significant environmental and human health risks, highlighting the need for more sustainable solutions. Biological pest control methods have many advantages and few disadvantages compared with traditional chemical methods. Biological pest control is an environmentally friendly method that, as an investment, could lead to long-term economic benefits in terms of return on the initial investment, reducing costs over time, and a high benefit-to-cost ratio. Full article

Rodent-borne diseases threaten global public health, impacting the urban poor. Despite widespread application of rodenticide in rodent/rodent-borne disease control programs, empirical evidence demonstrating their effectiveness is lacking. This review proposed guidelines for designing and implementing empirical studies on rodenticides as public health measures. The recommendations include: (i) the importance of the type of quasi-experimental design adopted, and how it creates robust evidence; (ii) how urban slums present both challenges for control and ideal settings for studies; (iii) partnering with pest control authorities and community engagement for long-term viability; (iv) leveraging zoonotic systems with direct/environmental transmission, reliable diagnosis, and high prevalence for effectivity assessment; (v) pairing human cohort studies to observe epidemiological links; (vi) systematic data collection and management protocols; (vii) short- and long-term goals for critical evaluation and course-correction; (viii) focus on mechanistic approach; (ix) the need for standardized reporting of the findings. Full article

The effects of climate change are particularly pronounced in cities, where urban green infrastructure—such as trees, parks, and green spaces—plays a vital role in both climate adaptation and mitigation. This study assesses the carbon sequestration potential of urban forests in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, which lies at the intersection of the Great Hungarian Plain and the Buda Hills, and is traversed by the Danube River. The city is characterized by a temperate climate with hot summers and cold winters, and a diverse range of soil types, including shallow Leptosols and Cambisols in the limestone and dolomite hills of Buda, well-developed Luvisols and Regosols in the valleys, Fluvisols and Arenosols in the flood-affected areas of Pest, and Technosols found on both sides of the city. The assessment utilizes data from the National Forestry Database and the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service High Resolution Layer Tree Cover Density. The results show that Budapest’s urban forests and trees contribute an estimated annual carbon offset of −41,338 tCO₂, approximately 1% of the city’s total emissions. The urban forests on the Buda and Pest sides of the city exhibit notable differences in carbon sequestration and storage, age class structure, tree species composition, and naturalness. On the Buda side, older semi-natural forests dominated by native species primarily act as in situ carbon reservoirs, with limited additional sequestration capacity due to their older age, slower growth, and longer rotation periods. In contrast, the Pest-side forests, which are primarily extensively managed introduced forests and tree plantations, contain a higher proportion of non-native species such as black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and hybrid poplars (Populus × euramericana). Despite harsher climatic conditions, Pest-side forests perform better in carbon sink capacity compared to those on the Buda side, as they are younger, with lower carbon stocks but higher sequestration rates. Our findings provide valuable insights for the development of climate-resilient urban forestry and planning strategies, emphasizing the importance of enhancing the long-term carbon sequestration potential of urban forests. Full article

Urban agriculture is considered by many scientists and policymakers as a key strategy to build climate change-resilient communities within cities by strengthening food systems, with positive food security, biodiversity, nutrition and health outcomes. The estimated potential of urban agriculture to provide between 15 and 20% of the global food supply can be enhanced by applying agroecological principles and practices that revitalize urban agriculture cropping systems, thus leading to the design of highly diversified, productive and resilient urban farms on a planet in polycrisis. Two pillars are used in agroecology: (a) restoring spatial and temporal crop combinations that deter pests by enhancing biological control with natural enemies, and (b) increasing soil organic matter through green manures, compost and other organic practices that enhance soil fertility and beneficial microorganisms. In addition to technical and environmental obstacles, there are a series of social, economic and political barriers that limit the scaling-up of urban agriculture. For this reason, it is important to launch policies that establish mechanisms for cities to provide incentives for urban agriculture, including access to land, water, seeds and technical knowledge. The creation of producer–consumer networks around markets with solidarity is critical for local equitable food provision and consumption. Full article

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) have become established as common and significant commensal pests throughout the world. Effective bed bug monitoring and control programs remain challenging goals within the urban pest management industry. Pitfall “interceptor” traps and sticky “glue board” traps are the most commonly utilized devices for bed bug monitoring and detection in various settings. This study compares a novel leaf-derived trapping material (LDTM) and several selected pitfall and sticky traps for their capture efficacy of bed bugs. The LDTM employs a piercing–trapping mechanism in which trichomes physically impale bed bugs as they traverse the surface, preventing their further movement. Our results indicate that the LDTM captured bed bugs more effectively than three of the four selected commercial devices. Furthermore, our results reveal that the LDTM consistently trapped more bed bug nymphs than three of the four selected commercial traps. These findings underscore the potential of the LDTM as a valuable tool for enhancing monitoring and early detection strategies in bed bug integrated pest management (IPM) programs. 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

A two-year study, starting at the beginning of 2018, in Taipei City, was conducted to investigate the population dynamics of adult litchi stink bugs, Tessaratoma papillosa (Drury), in the trees on roadsides and in urban greenspaces, namely, Litchi chinensis Sonn., Dimocarpus longan Lour., Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. and Koelreuteria henryi Dümmer, and deduce the relationship between the population dynamics and the photoperiod or climatic factors. The winter diapause of the adults might play an important role in the population dynamics and affect their movement among various host species. However, we also found that a warm winter and early-summer rainy season may affect the population size of stink bugs. There were significantly more adults in 2018 than in 2019 when comparing the periods from March to December of the two years. In a comparison of the four tree species, there were significantly more stink bugs on the longan trees than on the other trees, especially during winter. The results of this study might allow decision-makers to apply better control strategies based on the correct timing and targeting of tree species of this invasive pest in Taiwan. 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