Journal of Pest Science最新文献

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.

In response to growing concerns regarding the adverse environmental and health effects of synthetic pesticides, there has been a notable surge in the demand for plant-based bioinsecticides. Botanicals and essential oils (EOs) are emerging as promising alternatives that offer a safer and more sustainable approach to pest management. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these natural insecticides is often hindered by their inherent instability under environmental conditions, high volatility, and susceptibility to thermal decomposition, which necessitates frequent reapplication and diminishes their practical utility. To address these challenges, innovative formulation strategies such as nanoemulsions, microemulsions, nanoencapsulation, and microencapsulation have been developed. These advanced approaches facilitate controlled release, enhance stability, and significantly improve the efficacy of botanical- and EO-based insecticides. By providing target-specific action, these formulations not only reduce the frequency of applications and lower dosage requirements but also minimize environmental contamination and enhance overall pest management efficiency. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of these advanced formulations, including the preparation and characterization of nano-/microemulsion and nano-/microencapsulate systems and the technical challenges associated with their characterization. This manuscript examines the efficacy of these formulations in pest management, focusing on their physical and chemical stability under various storage conditions. Additionally, it addressed the impact of these formulations on nontarget organisms and their potential phytotoxicity. Despite the promising results observed in controlled settings, there is a notable lack of field studies evaluating the suitability of these formulations for different crops and their effectiveness in diverse agricultural environments. This identified gap underscores the necessity for further research to validate the practical application of these technologies. This review also discusses the scalability and cost-effectiveness of these advanced formulations, providing insights into their potential for broader commercial adoption.

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is an important pest of maize, and a key target of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins. These exert a strong selective pressure, so susceptible plants (refuges) are planted together with the transgenic seed to lower such pressure. The system favored in North America is to mix Bt and non-Bt seed (refuge-in-a-bag, or RIB). However, South American farmers favor structured refuges, interplanting rows of Bt and non-Bt seed. Yet, the proportion of susceptible maize must be minimized to prevent yield losses, and flight distance before mating is considered the best way to gauge the adequate distance between non-Bt rows in structured refuges, which has been estimated through mark–release–recapture experiments. The aim of this study was to compare three marking techniques and three trapping systems in laboratory and field experiments. Results suggest conventional marking techniques were not completely innocuous to the moths. UV traps drastically overrode the effect of synthetic and natural pheromones, suggesting they may not reflect normal dispersion behaviors. Marking experiments may not provide reliable measures of flight distance, and although farmers tend to resist the RIB option the data suggests it should be enforced.

Coffee leaf miner (CLM) Leucoptera coffeella stands out as a primary insect pest of arabica coffee plants in some regions of Brazil. Coffee breeding for CLM-resistance has used the species Coffea racemosa as gene donor for C. arabica, resulting in the development of the resistant commercial hybrid ‘Siriema AS1’. However, no previous study has characterized the resistance type, and whether there is variation in the levels expressed in progenies of ‘Siriema’ to CLM. This study aimed to characterize the type, by antixenosis or antibiosis, and the levels of resistance in segregating progenies of ‘Siriema’ plants to CLM. Experiments were conducted under laboratory conditions with artificial infestation of CLM adults in oviposition cages, where dual-choice preference assays compared each tested ‘Siriema’ progeny with the susceptible commercial cv. Arara (C. arabica). A follow-up no-choice assay evaluated five selected ‘Siriema’ progenies on the development of CLM compared to cv. Arara. As main results, ‘Siriema’ progenies were equally susceptible to CLM oviposition, and were overall stimulant relative to cv. Arara. However, there was low CLM larval survival and injury intensity on the selected ‘Siriema’ genotypes, indicating moderate levels of antibiosis-resistance, while cv. Arara and one ‘Siriema’ progeny were moderately susceptible. These findings further our understanding on the type and levels of resistance in ‘Siriema’ genotypes, aiding in the development of resistant coffee hybrids and deployment of management strategies to CLM.

Frankliniella intonsa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a significant invasive pest that can damage numerous plants and crops and spread the tomato spotted wilt virus. During the sunflower flowering period in the primary sunflower production area in China, F. intonsa-infested sunflower heads produce kernels with marked visual damage, including peel scratches, which reduce seed quality and profitability. In this study, the behavioral responses of F. intonsa to buckwheat and sunflowers were measured in a Y-tube. Meanwhile, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed to determine the volatile components of inflorescences of both sunflower and buckwheat and the behavioral effects of these components were evaluated on F. intonsa in a Y-tube. The results revealed that sunflower leaves significantly repelled adults and nymphs of F. intonsa both in olfactometer bioassays. However, F. intonsa was significantly attracted by the volatiles from the leaves and flowers of buckwheat. Interestingly, F. intonsa adults preferred sunflower flowers over buckwheat flowers. Among the four kinds of sunflower flower volatiles selected, F. intonsa was attracted by two kinds of volatiles (γ-terpinene and (R)-( +)-limonene), while one volatile (β-pinene) had the effect of repelling F. intonsa, while among the four selected buckwheat flower volatiles, F. intonsa were attracted by three kinds of volatiles (α-caryophyllene, verbenone, octane). Finally, the field-trapping effect of buckwheat on F. intonsa was verified by a sunflower-buckwheat intercropping experiment. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the feasibility of intercropping with buckwheat and sunflower to control F. intonsa. Thus, buckwheat can be used as a trapping plant in fields to prevent F. intonsa invasion.