Dominic Reisig, Emily Golsworthy, Dawson Kerns, Silvana Paula-Moraes, Juan Luis Jurat Fuentes
Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübner, is a sporadic pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) that was once widespread in the crop across much of the US Cotton Belt. During 2021, we collected beet armyworm larvae from a field in North Carolina of transgenic cotton producing the Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2 + Vip3Aa19 insecticidal proteins with unexpected injury to the plants. In diet-based bioassays with Vip3Aa39 protein, the colony collected from cotton in North Carolina displayed 813-fold resistance to Vip3Aa compared to a field-collected colony from Florida. We then performed reciprocal crosses and bioassays, which determined that the resistance was autosomal, recessive, and monogenic. Furthermore, the resistance likely had fitness costs, supported by the loss of resistance through rearing in the laboratory, requiring re-selection to restore it. Although beet armyworm is not currently a threat to Bt cotton in the United States, our finding of Vip3Aa resistance demonstrates that this pest has the capacity to evolve resistance under field conditions. This finding highlights the potential for beet armyworm to re-emerge as a significant pest if agronomic or climatic conditions shift to favor its establishment and spread. Moreover, the emergence of resistance in this historically sporadic pest should serve as a broader warning that Bt resistance can evolve and persist in non-target or secondary pests.
甜菜粘虫(Spodoptera exigua h bner)是一种散发的棉花害虫,曾在美国棉花带的大部分地区广泛传播。在2021年,我们从北卡罗来纳州的一块转基因棉花田收集了甜菜粘虫幼虫,这些棉花产生Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2 + Vip3Aa19杀虫蛋白,对植物造成了意想不到的伤害。在以Vip3Aa39蛋白为基础的饮食生物测定中,从北卡罗来纳州棉花中收集的菌落对Vip3Aa的抗性是从佛罗里达州田间收集的菌落的813倍。然后我们进行了反向杂交和生物测定,确定抗性是常染色体,隐性和单基因的。此外,这种抗性可能有适应性成本,这是由于在实验室饲养中失去了抗性,需要重新选择才能恢复它。虽然甜菜粘虫目前对美国的Bt棉花没有威胁,但我们对Vip3Aa抗性的发现表明,这种害虫在田间条件下有能力进化出抗性。这一发现突出表明,如果农艺或气候条件有利于甜菜粘虫的建立和传播,甜菜粘虫有可能重新成为一种重要的害虫。此外,在这种历史上零星出现的害虫中出现的抗性应作为一个更广泛的警告,即Bt抗性可以在非目标或次要害虫中进化和持续存在。
{"title":"First characterization of Vip3Aa resistance in beet armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) collected from cotton expressing Vip3Aa19.","authors":"Dominic Reisig, Emily Golsworthy, Dawson Kerns, Silvana Paula-Moraes, Juan Luis Jurat Fuentes","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf303","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua Hübner, is a sporadic pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) that was once widespread in the crop across much of the US Cotton Belt. During 2021, we collected beet armyworm larvae from a field in North Carolina of transgenic cotton producing the Cry1Ac + Cry2Ab2 + Vip3Aa19 insecticidal proteins with unexpected injury to the plants. In diet-based bioassays with Vip3Aa39 protein, the colony collected from cotton in North Carolina displayed 813-fold resistance to Vip3Aa compared to a field-collected colony from Florida. We then performed reciprocal crosses and bioassays, which determined that the resistance was autosomal, recessive, and monogenic. Furthermore, the resistance likely had fitness costs, supported by the loss of resistance through rearing in the laboratory, requiring re-selection to restore it. Although beet armyworm is not currently a threat to Bt cotton in the United States, our finding of Vip3Aa resistance demonstrates that this pest has the capacity to evolve resistance under field conditions. This finding highlights the potential for beet armyworm to re-emerge as a significant pest if agronomic or climatic conditions shift to favor its establishment and spread. Moreover, the emergence of resistance in this historically sporadic pest should serve as a broader warning that Bt resistance can evolve and persist in non-target or secondary pests.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"247-253"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145524871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), has emerged as a key pest of ornamental plants, yet effective monitoring tools for its management remain limited. This study investigated the spatial distribution and developed fixed-precision sequential sampling plans for P. solenopsis populations on Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) under urban landscape conditions in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran. Spatial distribution analyses using Taylor's power law and Iwao's patchiness regression revealed significant aggregation across developmental stages, with nymphs exhibiting the highest degree of clumping and adults showing weaker aggregation due to greater dispersal ability. Based on these aggregation parameters, sequential sampling plans were generated for nymphs, adults, and combined populations at 3 precision levels (D = 0.25, 0.15, and 0.10). Optimum sample size requirements were density-dependent and consistently higher for nymphs than for adults. Validation through resampling confirmed that achieved precision closely matched target levels, with mean sample sizes for combined stages (nymphs and adults) ranging from 47 (D = 0.25) to 294 (D = 0.10). The D = 0.25 plan provided robust accuracy while substantially reducing sampling effort, making it most suitable for practical pest management. By contrast, the D = 0.10 plan is recommended for research requiring high precision. These findings provide the first validated sequential sampling framework for P. solenopsis on hibiscus, offering an efficient and reliable basis for integrated pest management in urban green spaces.
{"title":"Spatial distribution and fixed-precision sequential sampling plan for the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on Chinese hibiscus in Southwestern Iran.","authors":"Leila Ramezani, Zohreh Khorsandi Kouhanestani","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf322","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf322","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), has emerged as a key pest of ornamental plants, yet effective monitoring tools for its management remain limited. This study investigated the spatial distribution and developed fixed-precision sequential sampling plans for P. solenopsis populations on Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) under urban landscape conditions in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran. Spatial distribution analyses using Taylor's power law and Iwao's patchiness regression revealed significant aggregation across developmental stages, with nymphs exhibiting the highest degree of clumping and adults showing weaker aggregation due to greater dispersal ability. Based on these aggregation parameters, sequential sampling plans were generated for nymphs, adults, and combined populations at 3 precision levels (D = 0.25, 0.15, and 0.10). Optimum sample size requirements were density-dependent and consistently higher for nymphs than for adults. Validation through resampling confirmed that achieved precision closely matched target levels, with mean sample sizes for combined stages (nymphs and adults) ranging from 47 (D = 0.25) to 294 (D = 0.10). The D = 0.25 plan provided robust accuracy while substantially reducing sampling effort, making it most suitable for practical pest management. By contrast, the D = 0.10 plan is recommended for research requiring high precision. These findings provide the first validated sequential sampling framework for P. solenopsis on hibiscus, offering an efficient and reliable basis for integrated pest management in urban green spaces.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"165-174"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145530877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The striped flea beetle Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidea) and the crucifer flea beetle P. cruciferae (Goeze) are significant insect pests of Brassica crops. We investigated the relationship between the presence of adult beetles and subsequent root damage caused by larvae. Additionally, we tested various alternative methods to control flea beetle damage, including net covers, fences, and mass trapping with plastic jugs. Our findings showed a correlation between the accumulation of adult striped flea beetles on foliage and the number of roots damaged. Approximately 96% of the larvae collected in 2023 were identified as striped flea beetles. Net covers helped increase marketable yield and reduce losses due to flea beetle damage to Chinese radish roots while insecticide treatments did not reduce root damage compared to untreated control. Mass trapping with jugs did not reduce root damage; instead, it attracted more adults to the plants, leading to increased foliage damage compared to control. A better understanding of the relative contribution to root damage by both flea beetle species would lead to an increase in monitoring efficiency and make its implementation easier. The use of net covers against flea beetle damage is recommended to increase yield and reduce damage to rooted crucifer crops.
{"title":"Monitoring of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in radish in organic soil and evaluation of net covers and mass trapping as alternative control methods.","authors":"Laurence Fleury, Frédéric McCune, Valérie Fournier, Anne-Marie Fortier","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf260","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf260","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The striped flea beetle Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidea) and the crucifer flea beetle P. cruciferae (Goeze) are significant insect pests of Brassica crops. We investigated the relationship between the presence of adult beetles and subsequent root damage caused by larvae. Additionally, we tested various alternative methods to control flea beetle damage, including net covers, fences, and mass trapping with plastic jugs. Our findings showed a correlation between the accumulation of adult striped flea beetles on foliage and the number of roots damaged. Approximately 96% of the larvae collected in 2023 were identified as striped flea beetles. Net covers helped increase marketable yield and reduce losses due to flea beetle damage to Chinese radish roots while insecticide treatments did not reduce root damage compared to untreated control. Mass trapping with jugs did not reduce root damage; instead, it attracted more adults to the plants, leading to increased foliage damage compared to control. A better understanding of the relative contribution to root damage by both flea beetle species would lead to an increase in monitoring efficiency and make its implementation easier. The use of net covers against flea beetle damage is recommended to increase yield and reduce damage to rooted crucifer crops.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"308-319"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145350769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The DBN9936 event (expressing Cry1Ab) and the Ruifeng 125 event (expressing Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj) are the first genetically modified maize varieties granted biosafety certificates in China, primarily targeting Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). However, their lethal and sublethal effects on Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an invasive pest first detected in China in 2018, remain insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the life table parameters of first- to third- instar S. frugiperda larvae fed on V6-V8 stage leaves of DBN9936 and Ruifeng 125 maize under controlled laboratory conditions. Corrected mortality after 7 d was 90.46%, 56.13%, and 6.52% for first to third instars on DBN9936 and 51.85%, 15.79%, and 12.45% on Ruifeng 125, respectively. Both Bt events significantly reduced pupation rate, pupal weight, and fecundity compared to non-transgenic controls. Additionally, larval development was prolonged by 10 to 16 d. Life table analyses revealed reductions in net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and population growth trend index (I) for larvae fed on either Bt maize. Simulated migration scenarios further indicated that brief access to non-Bt maize before transitioning to Bt maize could allow larvae survival, potentially undermining Bt efficacy. These findings demonstrate that both DBN9936 and Ruifeng 125 exert significant lethal and sublethal effects on S. frugiperda, yet intermittent feeding and larval mobility between Bt and non-Bt plants may accelerate resistance evolution.
DBN9936(表达Cry1Ab)和瑞丰125(表达Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj)是中国首批获得生物安全认证的转基因玉米品种,主要靶向玉米螟(Ostrinia furnacalis, guen)。然而,它们对2018年首次在中国发现的入侵害虫夜蛾(Spodoptera frugiperda, J. E. Smith)的致死和亚致死作用尚不清楚。本研究在实验室控制条件下,对采食DBN9936和瑞丰125玉米v6 ~ v8期叶片的1 ~ 3龄frugiperda幼虫的生命表参数进行了评价。1 ~ 3龄DBN9936和瑞丰125 7 d校正死亡率分别为90.46%、56.13%和6.52%和51.85%、15.79%和12.45%。与非转基因对照相比,这两个Bt事件显著降低了蛹化率、蛹重和繁殖力。延长幼虫发育10 ~ 16 d。生命表分析显示,饲喂两种Bt玉米的幼虫的净繁殖率(R0)、内在增长率(r)、有限增长率(λ)和种群增长趋势指数(I)均降低。模拟的迁移情景进一步表明,在过渡到Bt玉米之前,短暂接触非Bt玉米可能会使幼虫存活,从而潜在地破坏Bt的功效。上述结果表明,DBN9936和瑞丰125对果蚜均具有显著的致死和亚致死效应,但在Bt和非Bt植株间的间歇性取食和幼虫迁移可能加速了抗性进化。
{"title":"Lethal and sublethal effects of DBN9936 and Ruifeng 125 Bt corn events on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory conditions.","authors":"Lingli Meng, Qiuju Qin, Guoping Li, Gemei Liang, Kongming Wu, Hongqiang Feng","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf265","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf265","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The DBN9936 event (expressing Cry1Ab) and the Ruifeng 125 event (expressing Cry1Ab/Cry2Aj) are the first genetically modified maize varieties granted biosafety certificates in China, primarily targeting Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). However, their lethal and sublethal effects on Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an invasive pest first detected in China in 2018, remain insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the life table parameters of first- to third- instar S. frugiperda larvae fed on V6-V8 stage leaves of DBN9936 and Ruifeng 125 maize under controlled laboratory conditions. Corrected mortality after 7 d was 90.46%, 56.13%, and 6.52% for first to third instars on DBN9936 and 51.85%, 15.79%, and 12.45% on Ruifeng 125, respectively. Both Bt events significantly reduced pupation rate, pupal weight, and fecundity compared to non-transgenic controls. Additionally, larval development was prolonged by 10 to 16 d. Life table analyses revealed reductions in net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and population growth trend index (I) for larvae fed on either Bt maize. Simulated migration scenarios further indicated that brief access to non-Bt maize before transitioning to Bt maize could allow larvae survival, potentially undermining Bt efficacy. These findings demonstrate that both DBN9936 and Ruifeng 125 exert significant lethal and sublethal effects on S. frugiperda, yet intermittent feeding and larval mobility between Bt and non-Bt plants may accelerate resistance evolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"430-441"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145310461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nourhan A El-Said, Mohamed M El-Mogy, Biju Vadakkemukadiyil Chellappan, Moataz A M Moustafa
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major global pest that threatens cereal crops. Insecticides remain one of the key strategies for its management. This study assessed the toxicity, developmental effects, detoxification enzyme activity, and molecular docking interactions of 2 chemical insecticides profenophos (organophosphates group) and cypermethrin (pyrethroids group) and 2 bio-insecticides (spinosad and Bacillus thuringiensis) on S. frugiperda. Bioassay results revealed that spinosad exhibited the highest toxicity, followed by cypermethrin, profenophos, and B. thuringiensis against second-instar larvae. Exposure to cypermethrin at the estimated LC50 value significantly prolonged larval duration, while all treatments increased pupal duration. However, none of the treatments affected other biological parameters, including pupal weight, pupation rate, and adult emergence. Enzymatic analysis demonstrated significant alterations in the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and detoxification enzymes (α-esterase, cytochrome P450, and glutathione S-transferase [GST]) following exposure to lethal concentrations of the insecticides. Molecular docking analysis further indicated that spinosad exhibited the strongest binding affinity to α-esterase and cytochrome P450, whereas cypermethrin displayed the highest affinity for AChE. In contrast, profenophos showed the weakest binding interactions across all enzyme targets. These findings provide insights into the efficacy and biochemical interactions of chemical and bio-insecticides, offering valuable information for the targeted management of S. frugiperda.
{"title":"Insights into the toxicity, enzyme activity, and molecular docking of chemical and bio-insecticides against the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.","authors":"Nourhan A El-Said, Mohamed M El-Mogy, Biju Vadakkemukadiyil Chellappan, Moataz A M Moustafa","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf279","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf279","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major global pest that threatens cereal crops. Insecticides remain one of the key strategies for its management. This study assessed the toxicity, developmental effects, detoxification enzyme activity, and molecular docking interactions of 2 chemical insecticides profenophos (organophosphates group) and cypermethrin (pyrethroids group) and 2 bio-insecticides (spinosad and Bacillus thuringiensis) on S. frugiperda. Bioassay results revealed that spinosad exhibited the highest toxicity, followed by cypermethrin, profenophos, and B. thuringiensis against second-instar larvae. Exposure to cypermethrin at the estimated LC50 value significantly prolonged larval duration, while all treatments increased pupal duration. However, none of the treatments affected other biological parameters, including pupal weight, pupation rate, and adult emergence. Enzymatic analysis demonstrated significant alterations in the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and detoxification enzymes (α-esterase, cytochrome P450, and glutathione S-transferase [GST]) following exposure to lethal concentrations of the insecticides. Molecular docking analysis further indicated that spinosad exhibited the strongest binding affinity to α-esterase and cytochrome P450, whereas cypermethrin displayed the highest affinity for AChE. In contrast, profenophos showed the weakest binding interactions across all enzyme targets. These findings provide insights into the efficacy and biochemical interactions of chemical and bio-insecticides, offering valuable information for the targeted management of S. frugiperda.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"184-195"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145477343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qi-Lun Zhang, Han-Zhi Yang, Hong Yang, Guy Smagghe, Xin-Yue Zhang, Mao-Fa Yang
The nutritional status of the parasitic wasp Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Aphididae) is a critical factor affecting its physiological activities, which are key to mass reproduction and field application. In this study, we constructed an age-stage, two-sex life table under a group-rearing conditions by feeding adult A. gifuensis with 5% (w/v) solutions of honey, fructose, glucose, or sucrose. The results showed that fructose, sucrose, and glucose significantly extended the longevity of male A. gifuensis compared to the water control. However, fructose, sucrose, and glucose had no significant impact on the longevity of female A. gifuensis. Sugar-fed parasitoid wasps had significantly shorter mean generation time compared with control, with parasitoids fed with glucose having the shortest mean generation time. The order of intrinsic rate of increase (rm) by treatment was Sucrose (0.4140), Glucose (0.4039), Honey (0.3911), Fructose (0.3903), and Water (0.3679). The rm were significantly higher in the glucose and sucrose treatments than in the water control. Additionally, the peaks of age-stage-specific reproductive value (vxj) by treatment were: Sucrose (190.15), Glucose (154.56), Honey (147.64), Fructose (139.41), and Water (104.05). Fructose, glucose, and sucrose treatments significantly increased female fecundity compared to the control, with sucrose-fed females showing the highest fecundity among the sugar treatments. These results demonstrate that sugar supplementation positively affects the reproduction of A. gifuensis. Both sucrose and glucose resulted in significantly higher rm values in adult, highlighting their effectiveness as nutritional supplements. Considering the lower cost of sucrose compared to glucose, sucrose is recommended as a dietary supplement for adults in mass production and field applications.
{"title":"Group-reared life table analysis reveals sugar supplementation improves fitness of parasitic wasp (Hymenoptera: Aphididae).","authors":"Qi-Lun Zhang, Han-Zhi Yang, Hong Yang, Guy Smagghe, Xin-Yue Zhang, Mao-Fa Yang","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf316","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The nutritional status of the parasitic wasp Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Aphididae) is a critical factor affecting its physiological activities, which are key to mass reproduction and field application. In this study, we constructed an age-stage, two-sex life table under a group-rearing conditions by feeding adult A. gifuensis with 5% (w/v) solutions of honey, fructose, glucose, or sucrose. The results showed that fructose, sucrose, and glucose significantly extended the longevity of male A. gifuensis compared to the water control. However, fructose, sucrose, and glucose had no significant impact on the longevity of female A. gifuensis. Sugar-fed parasitoid wasps had significantly shorter mean generation time compared with control, with parasitoids fed with glucose having the shortest mean generation time. The order of intrinsic rate of increase (rm) by treatment was Sucrose (0.4140), Glucose (0.4039), Honey (0.3911), Fructose (0.3903), and Water (0.3679). The rm were significantly higher in the glucose and sucrose treatments than in the water control. Additionally, the peaks of age-stage-specific reproductive value (vxj) by treatment were: Sucrose (190.15), Glucose (154.56), Honey (147.64), Fructose (139.41), and Water (104.05). Fructose, glucose, and sucrose treatments significantly increased female fecundity compared to the control, with sucrose-fed females showing the highest fecundity among the sugar treatments. These results demonstrate that sugar supplementation positively affects the reproduction of A. gifuensis. Both sucrose and glucose resulted in significantly higher rm values in adult, highlighting their effectiveness as nutritional supplements. Considering the lower cost of sucrose compared to glucose, sucrose is recommended as a dietary supplement for adults in mass production and field applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"536-546"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a direct pest of pecan nuts often causing economic injury. Larvae feed and develop within the pecan nut, mature fourth instars emerge from nuts during autumn, drop to the orchard floor and complete development underground. However, a proportion of pecan weevil larvae remain in nuts at harvest. We tested electron beam irradiation of pecan weevil larvae as a potential phytosanitary treatment against infested nuts being shipped to production regions free of pecan weevil. Irradiation doses of 0, 150, 400, 750, and 1,000 Gy were assayed against pecan weevil using different larval exposure methods (bare larvae [bare], larvae in microfuge tubes [tube], and larvae in microfuge tubes placed into empty pecan shells [nut]). After treatment application, larvae were held singly in Petri dishes at 15 °C and examined for 60 d to determine mortality. Results revealed that larval mortality increased with days after treatment for each irradiation dose, including 0 Gy, for the 3 exposure methods. Mortality was generally lower for larvae in the tube and nut at 400, 750, and 1,000 Gy than for bare larvae. Overall mortality was lower for lower irradiation doses but higher for higher doses, and over time no larvae survived 1,000 Gy. These results strongly suggest that irradiation is an effective method to control in-shell pecan weevil larvae.
{"title":"Electron beam irradiation for management of in-shell pecan weevil larvae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).","authors":"Ted E Cottrell, Quentin D Read, Chip Starns","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf300","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a direct pest of pecan nuts often causing economic injury. Larvae feed and develop within the pecan nut, mature fourth instars emerge from nuts during autumn, drop to the orchard floor and complete development underground. However, a proportion of pecan weevil larvae remain in nuts at harvest. We tested electron beam irradiation of pecan weevil larvae as a potential phytosanitary treatment against infested nuts being shipped to production regions free of pecan weevil. Irradiation doses of 0, 150, 400, 750, and 1,000 Gy were assayed against pecan weevil using different larval exposure methods (bare larvae [bare], larvae in microfuge tubes [tube], and larvae in microfuge tubes placed into empty pecan shells [nut]). After treatment application, larvae were held singly in Petri dishes at 15 °C and examined for 60 d to determine mortality. Results revealed that larval mortality increased with days after treatment for each irradiation dose, including 0 Gy, for the 3 exposure methods. Mortality was generally lower for larvae in the tube and nut at 400, 750, and 1,000 Gy than for bare larvae. Overall mortality was lower for lower irradiation doses but higher for higher doses, and over time no larvae survived 1,000 Gy. These results strongly suggest that irradiation is an effective method to control in-shell pecan weevil larvae.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"116-122"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael J Domingue, Alison R Gerken, Erin D Scully, Scott W Myers
Insect quiescence and diapause are characterized by suspension of development, often accompanied by obvious signs of inactivity such as loss of mobility and reduced respiration. However, in some stored product insects such as the khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts, Coleoptera: Dermestidae), larvae may fail to develop with few obvious behavioral indicators. A series of experiments were performed to test whether temperature acclimation or crowding that delays development can also affect subsequent adult reproduction, larval orientation toward food-associated kairomones in a wind tunnel, and outcomes of trapping assays. Results indicate that both mechanisms for delaying reproduction led to greater offspring production compared to normal colonies. It was also found that normal larvae were more likely to approach or enter baited traps than cold-acclimated or crowded larvae. Normal larvae were more likely to recognize and walk upwind to wheat odors when they were present, unlike the cold-acclimated or crowded larvae, whose behavior was not affected by the food odor. However, the 2 types of developmental delay treatments differed in that cold-acclimated larvae were more likely to make no movements at all in the wind tunnel compared to the crowded larvae. The results indicate that both triggers for developmental delay may affect the ability of larvae to orient toward kairomone-baited traps, potentially reducing overall population estimates.
{"title":"Cold acclimation and crowding effects on kairomone-mediated behaviors of khapra beetle larvae.","authors":"Michael J Domingue, Alison R Gerken, Erin D Scully, Scott W Myers","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf298","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf298","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insect quiescence and diapause are characterized by suspension of development, often accompanied by obvious signs of inactivity such as loss of mobility and reduced respiration. However, in some stored product insects such as the khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium Everts, Coleoptera: Dermestidae), larvae may fail to develop with few obvious behavioral indicators. A series of experiments were performed to test whether temperature acclimation or crowding that delays development can also affect subsequent adult reproduction, larval orientation toward food-associated kairomones in a wind tunnel, and outcomes of trapping assays. Results indicate that both mechanisms for delaying reproduction led to greater offspring production compared to normal colonies. It was also found that normal larvae were more likely to approach or enter baited traps than cold-acclimated or crowded larvae. Normal larvae were more likely to recognize and walk upwind to wheat odors when they were present, unlike the cold-acclimated or crowded larvae, whose behavior was not affected by the food odor. However, the 2 types of developmental delay treatments differed in that cold-acclimated larvae were more likely to make no movements at all in the wind tunnel compared to the crowded larvae. The results indicate that both triggers for developmental delay may affect the ability of larvae to orient toward kairomone-baited traps, potentially reducing overall population estimates.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"597-604"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Junyan Liu, Jie Fang, Xiong Zhao He, Mengbo Guo, Yidie Xu, Xinyi Gu, Sijia Yu, Xingzhou Liu, Jianyu Deng
The invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith JE) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major invasive agricultural pest worldwide, requiring effective monitoring tools for timely integrated pest management (IPM). The efficacy of pheromone lures can vary geographically, necessitating regional validation and optimisation. To develop a regionally optimised trapping system for monitoring S. frugiperda populations in Zhejiang Province, China, we conducted sequential two-year field trials to evaluate the effects of seven sex pheromone blends, five lure dosages, four trap designs, and the potential synergist nonanal on trapping efficiency. Our results demonstrated that a two-component blend of (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate in a 99.4:0.6 ratio was the most attractive and specific lure. Trap captures were highest with a high dosage (3,000 µg) deployed in a bucket trap, which significantly outperformed delta, wing, and vertical traps. The addition of 120 µg nonanal to the two-component blend acted as a synergist, significantly increasing S. frugiperda captures. The optimised system was then applied to monitor the local seasonal population dynamics of S. frugiperda, revealing a main flight peak in late September. This study provides the first optimised trapping system for S. frugiperda in this key agricultural region, offering a validated tool for precise, data-driven monitoring and defining a clear 'action window' for improving the sustainable management of this invasive pest.
摘要入侵性秋粘虫(Spodoptera frugiperda, Smith JE)(鳞翅目:夜蛾科)是世界范围内主要的农业入侵害虫,需要有效的监测工具来及时进行害虫综合治理。信息素诱饵的功效可能因地理位置而异,因此需要进行区域验证和优化。为了开发一种区域优化诱捕系统,在浙江省进行了为期两年的连续田间试验,评估了7种性信息素混合剂、5种诱捕剂剂量、4种诱捕器设计以及潜在的增效剂壬醛对诱捕效率的影响。结果表明,(Z)-9-十四烯乙酸酯和(Z)-7-十二烯乙酸酯以99.4:0.6的比例混合的诱饵最具吸引力和特异性。高剂量(3000µg)的桶式捕集器捕集效果最好,显著优于三角捕集器、机翼捕集器和垂直捕集器。在双组分共混物中加入120µg壬醛作为增效剂,显著增加了frugiperda的捕获量。将优化后的系统应用于当地的季节性种群动态监测,发现9月下旬是主要的飞行高峰。本研究为这一关键农业地区的frugiperda提供了第一个优化的诱捕系统,为精确的、数据驱动的监测提供了一个有效的工具,并为改善这种入侵害虫的可持续管理定义了一个明确的“行动窗口”。
{"title":"Optimisation of an effective trapping system for monitoring fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda: lure composition, dosage, trap design, and nonanal synergist.","authors":"Junyan Liu, Jie Fang, Xiong Zhao He, Mengbo Guo, Yidie Xu, Xinyi Gu, Sijia Yu, Xingzhou Liu, Jianyu Deng","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf308","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith JE) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major invasive agricultural pest worldwide, requiring effective monitoring tools for timely integrated pest management (IPM). The efficacy of pheromone lures can vary geographically, necessitating regional validation and optimisation. To develop a regionally optimised trapping system for monitoring S. frugiperda populations in Zhejiang Province, China, we conducted sequential two-year field trials to evaluate the effects of seven sex pheromone blends, five lure dosages, four trap designs, and the potential synergist nonanal on trapping efficiency. Our results demonstrated that a two-component blend of (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate in a 99.4:0.6 ratio was the most attractive and specific lure. Trap captures were highest with a high dosage (3,000 µg) deployed in a bucket trap, which significantly outperformed delta, wing, and vertical traps. The addition of 120 µg nonanal to the two-component blend acted as a synergist, significantly increasing S. frugiperda captures. The optimised system was then applied to monitor the local seasonal population dynamics of S. frugiperda, revealing a main flight peak in late September. This study provides the first optimised trapping system for S. frugiperda in this key agricultural region, offering a validated tool for precise, data-driven monitoring and defining a clear 'action window' for improving the sustainable management of this invasive pest.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"155-164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145508761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sugar transporters play a crucial role in insect life activities, especially in energy metabolism and carbohydrate management. Sugar transporter 1 (St1) is a facilitative glucose transporter highly expressed in the midgut of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), however its physiological function remains unclear. To explore its pest control potential, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to investigate St1's effects on sugar metabolism and female reproduction. Silencing St1 lowered membrane-bound trehalase (TRE2) activity and inhibited the hydrolysis of trehalose into glucose, impeding glycogen accumulation and glucose availability. Our findings show St1 regulates female reproduction by modulating trehalase activity. This study reveals St1's crucial role in insect physiology and highlights it as a potential target for new, eco-friendly insecticides.
{"title":"Effect of sugar transporter 1 on reproduction of Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and trehalose metabolism.","authors":"Yongkang Liu, Yanlin Luo, Liwen Guan, Sijing Wan, Xianzhong Wang, Caidi Xu, Binghua Xie, Shigui Wang, Bin Tang","doi":"10.1093/jee/toaf301","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jee/toaf301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sugar transporters play a crucial role in insect life activities, especially in energy metabolism and carbohydrate management. Sugar transporter 1 (St1) is a facilitative glucose transporter highly expressed in the midgut of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), however its physiological function remains unclear. To explore its pest control potential, we used RNA interference (RNAi) to investigate St1's effects on sugar metabolism and female reproduction. Silencing St1 lowered membrane-bound trehalase (TRE2) activity and inhibited the hydrolysis of trehalose into glucose, impeding glycogen accumulation and glucose availability. Our findings show St1 regulates female reproduction by modulating trehalase activity. This study reveals St1's crucial role in insect physiology and highlights it as a potential target for new, eco-friendly insecticides.</p>","PeriodicalId":94077,"journal":{"name":"Journal of economic entomology","volume":" ","pages":"477-485"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145508776","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}