Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata最新文献

The Year 2024 was again very successful for Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata with 110 published articles, including seven mini-reviews and two special issues. Three members of our Associate Editors team stepped down (Anke Steppuhn, Sharon Zytynska and Derek Dunn) and two new members have joined (Jean-Christophe Billeter and Simon Bahrndorff). We also saw some welcome additions to our Editorial Board. As of 1 January 2025, our publisher Wiley has taken over many of the editorial office tasks.

Ivermectin and Neem residues in cattle dung: Effects on dung beetle attraction and ecological functions in Brazilian pastures—A. C. Souza, C. M. A. Correa, R. Souza Ferrera & J. Louzada (https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13540).

Springtails (Collembola) are an integral and beneficial component of soil communities. As part of a comprehensive study of the effects of the Bacillus thuringiensis-maize hybrid DKC4442YG (Bt event MON810) expressing Cry1Ab toxin on nontarget invertebrates, we studied abundance and diversity of surface-active springtails in the temperate region of central Europe (western Slovakia) over 3 years in 10 plots with Bt and 10 plots with the near-isogenic non-Bt event DK440. Standard fertilizer and herbicide applications were used without the use of insecticides. Springtails were collected throughout vegetative season, nine to 11 times in each plot every year, using pitfall traps; a total of 580 samples were collected throughout the study period. In total, 7945 individuals of nine species were collected. We found that maize hybrid (Bt vs. non-Bt) did not affect the average number of species, abundances, or community composition of springtails. There was also no significant interaction between the maize hybrids and seasonal patterns of species numbers, abundances, or community composition. To conclude, the studied genetically modified maize event MON810 did not have any impact on the communities of surface-active Collembola.

Behavioral studies play a crucial role in assessing food utilization in insects. However, there exists a gap in our understanding of the phenotypic plasticity in Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and how it impacts their growth, development, and potential for plant damage. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypic plasticity of S. litura, with a focus on its immature stages, and evaluate the consequences of plant damage and pest management. We conducted in vitro experiments using both a standard artificial diet and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., Solanaceae) plants to assess the growth, development, survival, longevity, reproductive capacity, and egg-laying capability of S. litura larvae and adults. A type II functional response was estimated for all larval instars, utilizing the Likelihood Holling's Disk model, which provided two key coefficients: the search rate (a) and handling time (T_h). Our findings revealed that sixth instars exhibited exceptional agility and efficiency, requiring the shortest time to process each milligram of diet compared with other larval stages. Moreover, when larvae were fed on tobacco, they displayed the shortest developmental time and the highest fecundity. This trend extended to pupal weight, pupal duration, pupal emergence, fecundity, and longevity, which were all significantly higher in individuals fed on tobacco. Additionally, S. litura larvae that fed on tobacco exhibited greater efficiency in converting digested food and lower approximate digestibility compared to larvae fed the artificial diet. These results underscore the importance of focusing on the management of fourth, fifth, and sixth instars, which have the potential to cause severe plant damage. Understanding the functional and nutritional response of S. litura larvae enhances the efficiency of integrated pest management strategies (IPM) at early stages while minimizing ecological impact.

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), vector of the pathogen causing Huanglongbing disease, is currently the most devastating pest of citrus. Despite intensive control efforts, the disease continues to spread. Diaphorina citri typically relies on tactile, visual, and odor cues for host selection. By combining an irritant (kaolin clay), a visual masking (red or blue dye), and true odor repellents, we aim to repel D. citri from citrus trees. In laboratory conditions, we conducted closed-cage bioassays to compare D. citri response to the following treatment combinations: (1) kaolin + food colorants (blue or red); (2) kaolin + odor repellents (thyme, lavender, fir, and coriander oil), and (3) kaolin + red food colorant + thyme oil. The red kaolin treatment exerted a greater deterrent effect on D. citri adults than the blue and uncolored kaolin treatments. We also observed an additive effect in terms of D. citri repellency with the combination of thyme oil and kaolin and, to a lesser extent, coriander oil and kaolin. However, the combination of lavender or fir oils and kaolin did not increase repellency against ACP as compared with kaolin alone. Thyme oil + red kaolin oil combinations induced similar ACP repellency to that of thyme oil + uncolored kaolin. Finally, fecundity was significantly reduced by the kaolin-based treatments compared to the thyme oil treatment and control plants. Our findings suggested the possible use of red kaolin or the combination of thyme and kaolin as a means of reducing D. citri infestation in citrus.

Identification of veterinary medical products carrying reduced risks to dung beetles remains a critical objective for the sustainable management of livestock parasites. Despite the essential role dung beetles play in tropical pasturelands, our understanding of the impact of alternative parasiticides, such as Neem plant extract, on dung beetle attraction and dung use is still limited. This study assessed the effects of dung from cattle exposed to Ivermectin (known to be harmful to dung beetles), Neem, and non-exposed animals (control) on dung beetle assemblage and their ecological functions (dung removal and soil bioturbation), in introduced and native pastures in the Brazilian Cerrado. Our findings revealed similar patterns of dung beetle attraction to Ivermectin, Neem, and control dung in introduced pastures. However, in native pastures, dung beetles exhibited greater attraction to dung from Ivermectin and Neem-treated cattle compared with the control. Telecoprid beetles displayed an increased attraction to Neem-treated dung in native pastures, with two species demonstrating a preference for this dung type. Ecological function performance was higher in Neem-treated dung compared with control, yet no significant difference was noted between Neem and Ivermectin in both pasture types. These results underscore the compelling attractiveness of cattle dung from Neem-treated animals to dung beetles, concurrently ensuring the preservation of dung beetle ecological functions in both pasture settings. This highlights the need for a rigorous evaluation of novel protocols incorporating natural parasiticides, which emerge as important tools in the conservation of dung beetle biodiversity and their ecological functions in tropical pasturelands.

Nutritional effects on growth and development of sepsid flies—N. Gourgoulianni, R. Kümmerli & W. U. Blanckenhorn (https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13524).

This study investigates the attachment ability of harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), focusing on the synergic action of opposite legs, the anisotropy of adhesive organs and sexual dimorphism. Contrary to expectations, experiments showed that beetles with fewer legs sometimes exhibited higher attachment forces, challenging the hypothesis that collective leg action enhances attachment. This result is attributed to differences in experimental set-ups, where our centrifugal method highlighted the importance of pad orientation relative to external forces. The anisotropy of adhesive pads, characterized by the directional dependence of adhesion and friction, significantly influenced attachment performance. Results demonstrated that inward-oriented legs enhanced attachment due to lower peeling angles, whereas outward orientation reduced effectiveness. Sexual dimorphism was evident in the structure of adhesive pads, with males possessing discoidal setae on fore- and midlegs. No significant difference in attachment was observed between intact males and females on smooth surfaces, although ablated males sometimes showed higher forces due to the presence of discoidal setae. These findings underscore that attachment strength in H. axyridis is not solely dependent on pad area but also on the orientation and anisotropic properties of adhesive organs, as well as the specific role of sexual dimorphism in leg morphology.

European earwig, Forficula auricularia L. sensu lato (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), is a univoltine, resident, omnivorous species and a beneficial predator in pome fruit orchards. Here, three methods were used to investigate pear (Pyrus communis L., Rosaceae) orchard inoculation with European earwig for biocontrol of pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), in Washington State, USA. The first method was earwig inoculation experiments. In a first experiment (2019–2020), each of three orchards had one inoculation and one control plot. In a second experiment (2020–2021), there were four inoculation and four control plots in each of the same three orchards. In both experiments, earwigs persisted during the year of inoculation, but earwigs were nearly absent the following season at two orchards that used conventional broad-spectrum pesticides. At the third orchard, which excluded broad-spectrum pesticides under an integrated pest management (IPM) program, earwigs became abundant in year two of the second experiment. The second method was case studies. In the first of two case studies, during 2016, 2017, 2022, and 2023, in half of the integrated orchard from above, conventional broad-spectrum sprays were used. Earwig populations became low in the conventional half. In the second case study, earwigs became abundant after inoculation of an integrated orchard by the grower. Earwigs spread to the edge of the orchard in year two and spilled into a neighboring orchard in years three and four. The third method was an observational study of 36 pear orchards over 5 years. Earwigs were rarely found in conventionally sprayed orchards, and earwigs increased each additional year integrated management was used. The findings suggest conventional pear spray programs in Washington nearly eradicate earwigs, but populations can recover under integrated management with natural dispersal from refuges or with inoculative releases.

The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae), is a vector of pathogens that cause diseases including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Lyme disease. It is a generalist vector feeding on a wide variety of vertebrate hosts. The transmission cycles of these pathogens are affected by the tick's host selection because host species differ in their ability to clear, maintain, or amplify these pathogens. Several generalist parasites exhibit host-associated differentiation (HAD), a process that results in genetically distinct populations associated with different host species. Knowing whether I. scapularis exhibits HAD is important to better understand the ecology of these diseases. To test for HAD in I. scapularis, whole-genome resequencing was performed on ticks collected directly from six hosts in the southern United States (i.e., cotton mice [Cricetidae: Peromyscus gossypinus Le Conte], opossum [Didelphidae: Didelphis virginiana Kerr], raccoon [Procyonidae: Procyon lotor L.], gray fox [Canidae: Urocyon cinereoargenteus Schreber], wild boar or feral hog [Suidae: Sus scrofa L.], and white-tailed deer [Cervidae: Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann]). For the hosts tested, HAD was not found. However, it could not be ruled out if HAD is occurring for ticks associated with lizards in this study. The results of this study contrast with findings from another host generalist, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), that does exhibit HAD. Our results suggest that these two tick species differ in their propensity for HAD. One explanation could be that I. scapularis can mate off-host, maintaining panmixia, whereas D. variabilis mate only on the host. The lack of HAD in I. scapularis should be confirmed by sampling ticks from lizard and rodent hosts. These results will inform control efforts and the use of area-wide tick control strategies.