Topic Editors

Department of Agriculture, University of Patras, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece
Department of Agriculture, University of Patras, Nea Ktiria, 30200 Mesolonghi, Greece

Advances in Integrated Pest Management: New Tools and Tactics for Pest Control

Abstract submission deadline
30 October 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
31 December 2025
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918

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The demand for sustainable agricultural practices has increased the importance of integrated pest management (IPM), both in the field and during storage. In the field, plants face a dynamic range of threats, including climate change-induced pest and pathogen proliferation, pest resistance development, and biodiversity loss. New research is vital for developing adaptive management strategies that address these challenges. Innovations in precision agriculture, such as pest monitoring systems and targeted interventions, hold promise for enhancing IPM effectiveness. Additionally, exploring the potential of beneficial organisms and natural predators can contribute to environmentally friendly solutions. At the same time, post-harvest losses due to pests and diseases also pose significant risks to food security. Developing advanced monitoring technologies, alongside improved packaging materials, can mitigate these issues. Moreover, understanding the interaction between stored-product pests and storage environments can inform the development of more robust protective measures . The future of global food security depends on the advancement of IPM as a cornerstone of modern agriculture and of resilient agricultural systems. In this context, the focus of this Topic is on the recent advances in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) related to, but not exhausted by, the following: 

  • Integrated management of crop pests and pathogens (insects, acari, plant-parasitic nematodes, etc.); 
  • Integrated management of stored-product insects (heat treatment, modified atmospheres, mating disruption, application of inert dusts, botanicals, etc.);
  • Trapping and monitoring of field and storage pests;
  • Precision farming technologies for crop and produce protection in the field and during storage.

We invite you to submit your manuscripts to this Topic, which aims to highlight recent research in integrated pest management for mitigating pre- and post-harvest losses and controlling field and stored-product pests.

Dr. Christos I. Rumbos
Dr. Eirini Karanastasi
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • biopesticides
  • chemical and non-chemical control
  • digital and precision tools; durable commodities
  • entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi
  • food security
  • integrated pest management
  • pest monitoring and detection tools
  • pre- and post-harvest pest infestations
  • stored-product insects

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Agriculture
agriculture
3.3 4.9 2011 19.2 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Agronomy
agronomy
3.3 6.2 2011 17.6 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Crops
crops
- - 2021 22.1 Days CHF 1000 Submit
Insects
insects
2.7 5.1 2010 16.7 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 6.8 2009 19.7 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Agrochemicals
agrochemicals
- - 2022 16.7 Days CHF 1000 Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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20 pages, 2708 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Pest Management with Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with β-Cypermethrin
by Min Li, Linmiao Xue, Teng Gao, Zhuo Zhang, Dan Zhao, Xing Li and Zhanhai Kang
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030737 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 105
Abstract
β-cypermethrin (BCP) is a broad-spectrum insecticide known for its rapid efficacy. However, it is highly toxic to non-target organisms such as bees and fish, and its effectiveness is limited by a short duration of action. Improving the release profile of BCP is essential [...] Read more.
β-cypermethrin (BCP) is a broad-spectrum insecticide known for its rapid efficacy. However, it is highly toxic to non-target organisms such as bees and fish, and its effectiveness is limited by a short duration of action. Improving the release profile of BCP is essential for reducing its environmental toxicity while preserving its effectiveness. In this study, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) were synthesized using a self-templating method, and BCP-loaded HMSNs were prepared through physical adsorption. The structural and physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The BCP release profile was assessed using the dialysis bag method. The results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibited uniform morphology, thin shells, and large internal cavities. The HMSNs had a pore size of 3.09 nm, a specific surface area of 1318 m2·g−1, a pore volume of 1.52 cm3·g−1, and an average particle size of 183 nm. TEM, FT-IR, and TGA analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of BCP into the HMSNs, achieving a drug loading efficiency of 32.53%. The BCP-loaded nanoparticles exhibited sustained-release properties, with an initial burst followed by gradual release, extending efficacy for 30 days. Safety evaluations revealed minimal toxicity to maize seedlings, confirming the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. These findings indicate that BCP-loaded HMSNs can enhance the efficacy of BCP while reducing its environmental toxicity, providing a biocompatible and environmentally friendly solution for pest control. Full article
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13 pages, 4958 KiB  
Article
Chemical Control of Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Eastern Romania
by Roxana-Georgiana Amarghioalei, Nela Tălmaciu, Monica Herea, Ionela Mocanu, Paula-Lucelia Pintilie, Andreea-Sabina Pintilie, Elena Trotuș and Mihai Tălmaciu
Insects 2025, 16(3), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16030293 - 11 Mar 2025
Viewed by 288
Abstract
This paper aimed to determine the attack caused by WCR (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte) and its control by chemical treatments on soil and vegetation. The research was carried out in eastern Romania between 2023 and 2024, where two trials were conducted [...] Read more.
This paper aimed to determine the attack caused by WCR (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte) and its control by chemical treatments on soil and vegetation. The research was carried out in eastern Romania between 2023 and 2024, where two trials were conducted in the experimental field of the Agricultural Research and Development Station Secuieni—Neamt, where three granular insecticides applied to the soil against larvae and three chemical insecticides used on vegetation against adults were tested. Among the granular insecticides tested, the Force G (tefluthrin 15 g/kg) insecticide stood out with the best results, significantly reducing the number of larvae/plant (1 larva/plant) and, at the same time, the absence of the swan neck symptom was also recorded. Regarding insecticides applied to vegetation, the best results were obtained with the insecticide Inazuma (acetamiprid 100 g/kg + lambda-cyhalothrin 30 g/kg), which recorded a very good efficacy in combating adults of the species (95.4%). In conclusion, applying chemical treatments to soil and vegetation is necessary to control the attack by western corn rootworm (WCR). Full article
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21 pages, 727 KiB  
Article
Research on the Impact of Meteorological Disaster Shocks and Risk Perception on Farmers’ Cooperative Pest and Disease Control Behavior
by Zhiwu He, Xiuling Ding and Qian Lu
Agriculture 2025, 15(6), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060590 - 10 Mar 2025
Viewed by 137
Abstract
Climate change, primarily characterized by rising global temperatures, has led to a continuous expansion in the area affected by pests and diseases. This poses a significant threat to national agricultural production and directly jeopardizes food security. Cooperative pest and disease control behavior represents [...] Read more.
Climate change, primarily characterized by rising global temperatures, has led to a continuous expansion in the area affected by pests and diseases. This poses a significant threat to national agricultural production and directly jeopardizes food security. Cooperative pest and disease control behavior represents a novel approach to pest and disease management and is an important measure for mitigating agricultural production risks. This study employs Probit and IVProbit models to empirically examine the impact of meteorological disaster shocks on cooperative pest and disease control behavior. The results show that both meteorological disaster shocks and their frequency significantly and positively influence cooperative pest and disease control behavior. Moreover, the perception of risk losses plays a mediating role in this relationship. The impact of meteorological disaster shocks on farmers’ cooperative pest and disease control behavior is heterogeneous. Specifically, these shocks and their frequency significantly influence the choice of cooperative pest and disease control behavior among farmers with junior high school education or above and large-scale farmers, while they have no significant impact on farmers with primary school education or below and small-scale farmers. Full article
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