Journal of Pest Science最新文献

Aedes aegypti, known for transmitting viruses such as dengue, Zika and yellow fever, poses a significant public health threat. Conventional insecticides give rise to a range of issues, including ecological contamination and insect resistance. Hence, there is a pressing demand for environmentally-friendly, safer and more efficacious strategies for mosquito control. With the rapid advancement of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in gene function exploration and pest population control, substantial progress has been achieved in utilizing CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drive systems across various mosquito species. Only a few studies on gene drive technology have been conducted in Ae. aegypti. In this study, we constructed two complete drives for Ae. aegypti with different Cas9 promoters, each targeting kmo. Our drive based on PubCas9 had limited activity, but one with ExuCas9 exhibited super-Mendelian inheritance rates of approximately 60%. We observed low but detectable somatic activity of the drive and no evidence of maternally deposited Cas9. Germline resistance allele formation rates were similar to drive conversion rates, but most wild-type alleles in the germline remained uncut. Injections into the ExuCas9 drive line had 100% knockout efficiency among surviving offspring at three separate target genes. These results support the development and application of novel genetic pest control technologies aimed at combating Ae. aegypti.

The rosy apple aphid is a major pest of apple orchards, it is also potentially ant tended. Attract&Reward strategy is a promising pest management method, combining semiochemicals as attractant and companion plants as food sources for natural enemies. However, this method is difficult to implement owing to complex multi-tropic interactions (including mutualist interactions) at play in agroecosystems. Using sentinel plants (apple seedlings bearing rosy apple aphid) we investigated individual and combined effect(s) of Attract&Reward components on aphid biocontrol in early and late spring in apple orchards. The attract component was implemented by adding apple seedlings treated with a plant defense stimulator (inducing plant semiochemicals attractive for natural enemies). The reward component was implemented by adding potted plants producing extrafloral nectar. Moreover, the impact of ant tending on aphids (in exchange of honeydew) was evaluated using exclusion device. We demonstrated that the Attract&Reward strategy enabled increasing aphid biocontrol (vs. control) but only when ants were excluded, and only in early spring. The exclusion device successfully excluded ants in early and late spring but not Araneae and Syrphidae. Araneae and Syrphidae were not affected by the individual Attract&Reward components or their combination. The combination of Attract&Reward components is an effective strategy but only when ants are excluded. This is among the few studies showing experimentally that presence of ants conditions the efficiency of biocontrol strategies, including those based on Attract&Reward concept. A better understanding of trophic and mutualistic interactions is required to design effective conservation biocontrol strategies.

The insect species Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a stored-product pest which tend to infest a variety of durable agricultural commodities, mostly oriented toward cereals and related amylaceous substrates of low humidity. Thus, the past few years, research on T. molitor has been focused on its biology, ecology, and control methods due to its pest status. However, recently, the same insect species has undergone a significant reevaluation, as it is considered as a promising alternative protein source not only for animal feed but also for human consumption. The direction to new applications of T. molitor in sustainable agriculture and livestock farming has been mainly driven by the green light of the European Commission and European Food Safety Authority, which has redirected the interest of the scientific community toward utilization of T. molitor as a novel protein source. This shift is evidenced by a rapid increase in related publications since 2017. Recent publication of this sector highlights the nutritional benefits of T. molitor larvae, their potential in waste management, and the economic viability of its mass production. However, there is still a gap in the literature concerning the optimization its mass rearing, the disease management, and the exploration of the by-products produced through the rearing of T. molitor, i.e., soil fertilizer. This paper reviews the trajectory of T. molitor research, emphasizing its dual role as both a pest and a valuable resource.

Numerous arthropod pest species can cause significant losses in the quantity and quality of stored products. Currently, the most common pest control strategy is the use of a limited number of authorized synthetic insecticides. However, the overuse of these insecticides has led to an increase in pesticide resistance, reducing their effectiveness. Biological control using natural enemies offers an effective alternative to prevent insect populations from reaching pest status. Generalist predatory mites are noted for their potential as biocontrol agents as they can prey on a large variety of pest species and are easy to manage and apply. We evaluated the suitability of three predatory mites, Blattisocius tarsalis, Cheyletus malaccensis, and Amblyseius swirskii, for controlling several insect pests that are usually present in stored cereals. Prey acceptance and predation rates were assessed in experiments in which a known number of preys were offered to mite females in different arenas. Blattisocius tarsalis and C. malaccensis exhibited broad polyphagous behavior on insect pests commonly found in stored rice and other cereals. In contrast, A. swirskii was ineffective against these pest species. The efficacy of B. tarsalis and C. malaccensis, individually or in combination, in controlling populations of Oryzaephilus surinamensis and Sitotroga cerealella in medium-size arenas was also evaluated. Whether individually or in combination, both predatory mites reduced populations of O. surinamensis or of S. cerealella by half. These results suggest that periodic releases of these predatory mites could maintain these pest populations under control.

Species of generalist phytoseiid mites in the genus Euseius are effective natural enemies of multiple arthropod pests in various types of orchards worldwide. Cover crops increase the densities of these predators and can help reduce pest densities, but their practical roles and effects in enhancing biological control have not yet been completely unveiled yet. Here, we examined the efficacy of biocontrol of Panonychus citri (McGregor) and Aculops pelekassi (Keifer) by naturally occurring Euseius sojaensis (Ehara) in commercial Japanese citrus orchards with cover crops of Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) managed in two different ways: flowering and mowing. In the flowering plots, the numbers of windborne pollen grains and phytoseiid mites were larger, P. citri populations were smaller, and rates of fruit injury caused by A. pelekassi were significantly lower than in mown plots. In early summer, the number of E. sojaensis in the flowering plots peaked following a peak in the abundance of windborne Poaceae pollen caught on the citrus trees. These results suggest that the windborne pollen supplied from cover crops of L. perenne boosts the populations of E. sojaensis inhabiting the citrus trees and enhances the efficacy of biocontrol of P. citri and A. pelekassi. The percentage of E. sojaensis females with eggs was higher in flowering plots than in mown plots. Therefore, in conservation biological control, a perennial ryegrass cover crop flowering in early summer would be beneficial for increasing the fecundity of this predatory mite, even when prey (pest) densities are low.

Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel is one of the most serious pests in dragon fruit, requiring heat treatment before international trade. Here, a novel strategy of combining phosphine fumigation followed by forced hot-air treatment was developed and its effects on B. dorsalis mortality and postharvest quality of dragon fruit were evaluated. B. dorsalis 18-h-old eggs and third instar larvae were the most tolerant stages to heat treatment. The combined treatment demonstrated a significant synergistic effect. Probit analysis revealed that the heat treatment time of combined treatment required to achieve 50% mortality (95% CL) for eggs and third instar larvae was reduced to 72.5% and 66.5% of forced hot-air treatment alone, respectively. Gene expression analysis showed that phosphine fumigation dramatically inhibited induction of HSP genes in insects following forced hot-air treatment, indicating the synergistic effect might derive from the inhibition of heat-response genes by phosphine. Fruit soluble solids content and titratable acidity were not affected by the combined treatment, although respiration was slightly inhibited. This research demonstrated the synergistic effect between phosphine and forced hot-air treatment against B. dorsalis and indicated that compared to the heat treatment alone, combined treatment required less time and a lower temperature, providing great potential as a novel strategy for fruit phytosanitary treatment, especially in heat-sensitive fruit.

Several beneficial microbes have been shown to activate defensive mechanisms in plants, enhancing their resistance against herbivores. However, it remains unclear whether different beneficial microbes can synergize to improve defenses in wild plants, similar to their effects in cultivated plants against insect pests. Here, we investigated the effect of the endophytic entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii, both individually and in combination with the growth-promoting rhizobacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, on plant growth and volatile emissions in the cultivated Solanum lycopersicum and its two wild parents, S. pimpinellifolium and S. habrochaites. We also assessed the ovipositional preference of the destructive pest Tuta absoluta and the olfactory responses of its natural enemy, the mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis, toward these treatments across each tomato species. Both wild and cultivated plants inoculated with M. robertsii exhibited enhanced growth and emitted higher levels of specific volatile compounds than non-inoculated plants. Furthermore, T. absoluta females laid fewer eggs on S. lycopersicum and S. habrochaites inoculated with M. robertsii. Additionally, the inoculation of this beneficial fungus resulted in increased attraction of M. basicornis to the volatiles of S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium. Interestingly, the combined inoculation of B. amyloliquefaciens and M. robertsii generally did not yield an additive effect on volatile emissions and resistance against T. absoluta compared to M. robertsii alone in wild and cultivated tomato plants. These results suggest that the inoculation of M. robertsii could be a promising tool for protecting tomato plants against T. absoluta and enhancing the attraction of its natural enemy, M. basicornis.

The invasion of Hyphantria cunea, also known as “smokeless fires”, poses a significant threat to artificial and natural forest resources. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt safe and effective control strategies to prevent the spread of and harm caused by of H. cunea. In this study, potential repellent active ingredients were screened from the volatiles of Larix gmelinii and Syringa oblata, the non-preferred hosts of H. cunea. The sensitive substances were identified in the H. cunea larvae and adults through electroantennographic (EAG) and behavioral responses. The results showed that fresh branches with leaves of L. gmelinii and S. oblata had significant repellent effects on the fifth and 6th instar larvae and virgin females, which were mainly related to α-pinene and (+)-limonene and other volatile substances. 100 μL/mL α-pinene and (+)-limonene were found to significantly stimulate the olfactory nervous system of H. cunea virgin females and male adults, and could induce significant EAG responses. They could induce avoidance behavior of 4-6th instar larvae, virgin females, and male adults, and also inhibit the selection behavior of fifth and 6th instar larvae and adults to Salix matsudana, the preferred food host. So α-pinene and (+)-limonene can be used as repellents for larvae and adults of H. cunea, with an effective concentration of 100 μL/mL. The two terpenes can induce avoidance behavior of H. cunea during the larval feeding period and before the mating of adults, thus inhibiting the outbreak and spread of the pest, providing an important control strategy for the integrated management of H. cunea.

In the ongoing pursuit of sustainable farming techniques, the constant fight against aphids remains an essential frontier. Aphids are well-known agricultural pests and they continue to jeopardize global crop production, necessitating an immediate demand for sustainable pest control methods. Conventional chemical insecticides not only harm the quality of crops but also cause environmental damage. This comprehensive review starts with a meta-analysis using PRISMA approach, to present innovative, environmentally friendly alternative technologies, the latest developments and advances in aphid control that can reduce pressure on the environment and contribute to a more sustainable aphid control. Good alternative technologies include bioengineered nanoparticles, RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9. In addition, there has been progress in the existing use of natural enemies with parasitoids and predators with increased efficacy, as well as the area of microbial control of aphids with entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria. Because monitoring is very important and a cornerstone of integrated pest management, the latest advances in artificial intelligence and deep learning in aphid control are helping to reduce pressure on the environment and contribute to a reduction in the use of chemicals, supporting the preservation of biodiversity and sustainability, which fits with the policy in many continents. Altogether, this paper aims to provide a valuable guidance for researchers, practitioners and policymakers who are involved in the complex dynamics of aphid control in agriculture.

With the rollback of insecticides, novel tools for pest control are urgently needed. Aphids are particularly a major concern with few sustainable control alternatives. Ecological intensification has been promoted as a way of “inviting" back nature’s self-regulating abilities into agricultural production systems. Although such measures enhance the presence of natural enemies in agroecosystems, we demonstrate that in an ecologically intensified apple orchard, biocontrol of rosy apple aphid was minimal. We verified why the biodiverse settings did not result in enhanced ecosystem services, i.e., biological control of the rosy apple aphid. Close monitoring of food–web interactions in thousands of aphid colonies showed that tending ants dominated responses, while those of natural enemies were weak or absent. However, application of artificial aphid honeydew diverted ants from tending aphids and flipped the myrmecophily-dominated state into favoring numerical responses of a guild of natural enemies. Responses were swift and controlled both Aphis pomi and Dysaphis plantaginea, provided intervention was synced with aphid and predator phenology. Although myrmecophily in aphids is well-known on its own accord, it has been completely overlooked in ecological intensification. To unlock the aphid-biocontrol potential provided through ecological intensification, myrmecophily needs to be disrupted. Although particularly true for perennial systems, generally practices that reduce soil disturbance favor ants and may amplify aphid pests, thereby reducing biocontrol impacts in ecological intensification efforts. Harnessing ecosystem services requires careful analysis and good understanding of agroecosystem intricacies.