Insects最新文献

Each year, the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech hosts an entomology-themed outreach event known as Hokie BugFest. This on-campus, festival-sized experience aims to educate the public about insects and other arthropods through hands-on activities, games, displays, and live arthropods. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hokie BugFest and similar large public events were cancelled. In response, the department launched Hokie BugFest on the Go, which offered smaller-scale, in-person learning opportunities during these closures. Instead of hosting the community on campus, Virginia Tech's Department of Entomology brought live arthropods, university experts, and the exciting science of entomology directly into schools, fostering small-group, hands-on learning experiences. In 2022, a playful assessment was added to the traveling outreach program to measure changes in student attitudes and perceptions of insects and other arthropods before and after the program. The assessment also gauged students' favorite arthropods after seeing, and in some cases handling, them live during the program. Assessment results revealed valuable insights into how hands-on, applied learning experiences can shift children's attitudes toward arthropods. Results showed that even after expressing trepidation and fears, students' knowledge and comfort levels with insects and other arthropods increased as they interacted and learned throughout the program. These findings underscore the value of using engaging, hands-on, small-group approaches when designing entomology-themed outreach events for young audiences and offer guidance for future programs.

Growing demands for environmentally safe and sustainable pest management have increased interest in biopesticides as alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides. This review presents the current status of bioacaricides, defined as commercial biopesticide products based on microorganisms (microbial acaricides) and biologically active substances of microbial, plant or animal origin (biochemicals and semiochemicals) used in crop protection against spider mites (Tetranychidae) and other plant-feeding mites. The most important microbial bioacaricides are mycopesticides, which are products manufactured from living propagules of Beauveria bassiana s.l. and several other acaropathogenic fungi. Products based on avermectins and milbemycins, secondary metabolites of actinomycetes, are well-known examples of biochemicals of microbial origin. Among the biochemicals of plant origin, the most widely used to date have been the products based on pyrethrum-obtained from the Dalmatian daisy, Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Asteraceae)-and azadirachtin, obtained from the Indian neem tree, Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae). In recent years, products based on essential oils from aromatic plants belonging to the families Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae and others have also gained increasing importance in the market. Special emphasis in this review is given to the compatibility of bioacaricides with predatory mites of the family Phytoseiidae as biological control agents used in the integrated management of plant-feeding mites.

Eotetranychus sexmaculatus has long been recognized as an important spider mite pest of rubber trees. Recently, increasing damage from Oligonychus biharensis has elevated its importance as a key spider mite pest. These two species share highly overlapping ecological niches, with outbreaks strongly associated with high temperatures and drought stresses. However, little is known regarding the potential competition between these spider mite species and the role of temperature in shaping these interactions. This study investigates the development and reproduction of E. sexmaculatus and O. biharensis at varying population densities, and evaluates their dynamics at 27 °C, 30 °C, and 33 °C. Five initial population densities of E. sexmaculatus and O. biharensis were evaluated in mixed populations: 0:30, 10:20, 15:15, 20:10, and 30:0. The results demonstrate both intra- and interspecific competition between E. sexmaculatus and O. biharensis. At all three intraspecific densities, the survival rate and lifespan of both species declined as density increased, with fecundity also decreasing at higher densities. Single-species populations of each mite were larger in number when compared with mixed populations. Across all treatments, the mean and peak values of the intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) were greater in O. biharensis than in E. sexmaculatus. Additionally, increasing temperatures accelerated the displacement of E. sexmaculatus by O. biharensis, regardless of the initial population density. When the mixed populations of E. sexmaculatus and O. biharensis were at densities of 10:20, the highest interspecific competition coefficients were obtained at 33 °C, with values of 0.6591. In conclusion, O. biharensis consistently outcompeted E. sexmaculatus at all tested temperatures, irrespective of initial densities, providing valuable insights into the competitive dynamics of dominant rubber tree pests.

Most mosquito surveillance programs rely on traps baited with carbon dioxide (CO₂) to attract host-seeking mosquitoes. The source of CO₂, traditionally dry ice or gas cylinders, poses operational challenges, especially in remote locations. CO₂ production from citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) using low-cost intravenous fluid bags ('acid traps') was evaluated in laboratory experiments. Field trials then compared the efficacy of these acid traps with dry ice traps. Using a 2 × 2 Latin square style design, trapping locations were established at two sites in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (one urban and another peri-urban), to assess trap performance in diverse environments. The laboratory results showed CO₂ production of sufficient amount and duration for overnight mosquito capture. Whilst field experiments showed that dry ice traps captured more mosquitoes (up to 59%) than acid traps, numbers were similar in the urban environment. At both sites, species composition was similar, with Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes notoscriptus, and Aedes vigilax predominantly collected, and these are known species of pest and public health concern. Further modifications to the acid traps could further improve CO₂ output and trap efficiency.

Calliphoridae, or blow flies, are of much ecological and practical importance given their roles in decompositional ecology, medical and veterinary myiasis, and forensic entomology. As ephemeral and rapidly developing species, adults are frequently not present for identification, but puparia (the remaining outer integument of the third instar larvae) are frequently found. These heavily sclerotized remains are stable in the environment but they are of a conservative character. Historically, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used for characterization, a technique which is not only time-consuming but also often expensive, effectively making large numbers of specimens impossible to quantify. As an alternative, confocal laser scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) was tested for utility in providing superior data over SEM. Furthermore, due to the use of intrinsic autofluorescence for imagining, CSLM is significantly more rapid than SEM, requiring no preparation for imaging. Three channels of excitation and emission spectra provided not only image data from the pupal wall but also from the hydrocarbons found upon the puparia. The excitation wavelengths were 404.7, 488, and 640.5 nm, and the emissions were 425-475, 500-550, and 663-738 nm. For ten species of calliphorids, CSLM was used to image puparia. Not only did this provide characters for species identification but it also allowed for the examination of hundreds of specimens.

Bird mites are parasites that feed on both wild and domesticated bird species, causing severe degradation in avian welfare. The chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae in particular, is a widespread ectoparasite in poultry, responsible for several challenges faced by the poultry industry, including poor animal health, which causes significant economic losses. This review, based on our current knowledge, aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the biology and distribution of these mites, as well as their impact on poultry health and production. It explores the most prevalent mites in avian species, with a focus on D. gallinae, and examines the different psychological and physiological alterations observed in infected stocks, such as decreased egg production, weight loss, and an increased susceptibility to diseases. This review will also cover existing control strategies, including chemical, biological, and environmental approaches, with attention to the growing concern around pesticide resistance. Additionally, it delves into genetic research conducted on these mites, primarily focusing on phylogenetic studies, which have provided insights into their evolutionary relationships and potential vulnerabilities. By compiling existing studies, this article underscores the urgent need for effective and sustainable countermeasures, as well as further genetic research to mitigate the substantial impact of D. gallinae on the poultry sector.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate insecticide that is extensively utilized globally due to its effectiveness against over 200 pest species. CPF exhibits its toxicity primarily through the inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, while mitochondrial damage and dysfunction have also been observed. The present study quantified the transcript levels of mitochondria protein-coding genes (mtPCGs) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in samples of larvae of three dragonfly species (A. parthenope, E. elegans, and G. confluens) under different levels of CPF stress. By exposing larvae from uncontaminated populations to 0.05 μg/L CPF for 24 h, the transcript levels of seven mtPCGs in A. parthenope were significantly increased (p < 0.05) by 1.89 ± 0.42-fold for COI, 4.30 ± 0.24-fold for COIII, 5.94 ± 0.17-fold for ND1, 4.69 ± 0.56-fold for ND2, 3.44 ± 0.48-fold for ND4, 2.19 ± 0.53-fold for ND4L, and 5.05 ± 0.36-fold for Cytb, respectively. In E. elegans, the transcript levels of ND1, ND2, and ND4 increased by 1.23 ± 0.15, 1.48 ± 0.31, and 1.98 ± 0.25-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). In G. confluens, the transcript levels of COI, COIII, and ND4 increased by 1.56 ± 0.13, 1.50 ± 0.26, and 3.74 ± 0.40-fold, respectively (p < 0.01). It was demonstrated that the transcript levels of different mtPCGs showed significant up-regulation in the three different dragonfly larvae under CPF stress in the absence of mortality. ND4 was significantly increased in all three species, indicating that it is an important target gene. The present study underscores the response of mitochondrial gene expression in larvae of three different species in response to CPF pollutants, indicating that pesticide influences can potentially alter mitochondrial gene expression and potentially act as a method for assessing aquatic ecosystem health.

This study assessed the bioconversion efficiency of Hermetia illucens larvae (BSFL) fed on food waste stored under different conditions, focusing on the nutritional and microbial quality of the resulting larval biomass. Food waste was prepared as a fresh diet (FD) or naturally contaminated and stored at 20-22 °C (OS-T, opened storage-tempered) or under refrigeration, at 5-8 °C (CS-C, closed storage-cooled). Refrigerated, closed storage (CS-C) led to the highest rates of waste reduction (91.0%) and bioconversion efficiency (30.2%), with larvae exhibiting the highest protein content (36.83%) compared to the FD (35.5%) and OS-T (34.71%) groups. Microbiome analysis revealed that the CS-C condition promoted beneficial yeasts like Pichia and Diutia, which correlated positively with improved protein content and microbial safety. In contrast, OS-T storage supported spoilage fungi (Mucor, Rhizopus) and elevated total aerobic counts (7.28 log CFU/g), indicating higher microbial risks. The observed trends in waste reduction and protein content most probably relate to differences in microbial profiles, as controlled cooling affected microbial dynamics, preserving substrate quality and supporting larval growth. These findings emphasize the importance of refrigerated, closed storage to optimize bioconversion, improve larval nutritional value, and minimize microbiological hazards.

The development of the mass rearing technique for the egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi has been under study for about 20 years, with increasing attention on the development of quality control. Here, we evaluated the behavior, biological parameters, morphometrics and presence of endosymbionts of T. podisi produced in cryopreserved eggs compared to those produced in traditional fresh stink bug eggs. Parasitoids reared from cryopreserved eggs showed similar parasitism and emergence rates, sex ratios, longevity, morphometrics, and proportions of flyers compared to those originating from fresh eggs. Slight differences, including an increase in egg-to-adult development time and differences in the presence of endosymbionts, were observed. Despite these differences, we conclude that the use of cryopreserved eggs is suitable for T. podisi mass rearing, allowing more options for timed inundative parasitoid releases for biological control.

The paper presents a description of a new species of the genus Cephalotoma Lesne, caught in northern Thailand. The new species, C. patcharinae Borowski n. sp., is the first species in the Oriental region with a two-segmented club of antennae. The effect of the discussion presented in the paper is synonymising the tribe Cephalotomini Liu and Schönitzer, 2011 n. syn. with Trogoxylini Lesne, 1921. Moreover, the paper contains a key to classify all the species known from the Oriental region and belonging to the genus Cephalotoma.