Article
Entomology
Goncalo Abracos-Duarte, Susana Ramos, Fernanda Valente, Elsa Borges da Silva, Elisabete Figueiredo
Summary: Dicyphus cerastii, a predatory mirid, showed high predation rates for various prey species, making it a promising biological control agent in tomato crops. Prey size and mobility were found to affect predation capacity, with the predator exhibiting a type II functional response for all tested prey.
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniela D'Esposito, Daniele Manzo, Alessandro Ricciardi, Antonio Pietro Garonna, Antonino De Natale, Luigi Frusciante, Francesco Pennacchio, Maria Raffaella Ercolano
Summary: The resilient response of tomato to the South America pinworm involves a combination of constitutive and induced defense mechanisms. The enhanced constitutive barrier in tolerant genotypes is attributed to factors such as increased density of trichomes and modulation of key transcription factors. These findings could be utilized to develop T. absoluta tolerant cultivars for more sustainable production.
Article
Entomology
Vanda H. P. Bueno, Flavio C. Montes, Thibault Costaz, Peter W. de Jong, Jose R. P. Parra, Joop C. van Lenteren
Summary: In the past decade, the efficacy of using predatory mirids and Trichogramma parasitoids for biological control of Tuta absoluta has been tested in Europe. This study evaluated the control of this pest by releasing the Neotropical mirid Macrolophus basicornis and the parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum, alone or in combination. The results showed that both M. basicornis and T. pretiosum significantly reduced T. absoluta density when released alone, with a higher reduction observed during the summer season. However, the combined releases did not result in lower damage than the releases of either natural enemy alone.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Taha O. Ben Husin, Gordon R. Port
Summary: This study found that the selection of EPN species for controlling T. absoluta depends on the temperature and relative humidity environment to maximize efficacy.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Saoussen Ben Abdallah, Chaymaa Riahi, Sandra Vacas, Vicente Navarro-Llopis, Alberto Urbaneja, Meritxell Perez-Hedo
Summary: This study examined the effectiveness of five plant essential oils (PEOs) in controlling Tuta absoluta and their impact on the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis. The PEOs from Achillea millefolium and Allium sativum significantly reduced the infestation by T. absoluta and did not affect the reproduction of N. tenuis. In addition, the spraying of A. millefolium and A. sativum triggered the release of herbivory-induced plant volatiles, which can act as messengers in tritrophic interactions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ying Liu, Xi Chen, Yanqiong Yin, Xiaowei Li, Kang He, Xueqing Zhao, Xiangyong Li, Xiyan Luo, Yang Mei, Zuoqi Wang, Runguo Shu, Ziqi Cheng, Kifle Gebreegziabiher Gebretsadik, Chen Luo, Ran Wang, Yaobin Lv, Aidong Chen, Fei Li
Summary: The tomato pinworm, a destructive pest that threatens global tomato production, has been found to have a high-quality genome assembly through sequencing using Nanopore platforms. This assembly provides valuable gene resources and insights into the species' invasiveness and ecological adaptation. Furthermore, the Hi-C technique allowed for the construction of a chromosome-level genome assembly, facilitating future research on control strategies.
Article
Entomology
Dirk Janssen, Emilio Gonzalez-Miras, Estefania Rodriguez
Summary: This study investigated whether the leaf miner Tuta absoluta is part of the diet of vertebrate animals such as birds, reptiles, and mammals in a high-density tomato greenhouse ecosystem. The results showed that bats and several bird species consumed the pest, and nearby lizards were also likely to feed on it.
Article
Agronomy
Emre Inak, Esengul Ozdemir, Abdullah Emre Atis, Filiz Randa Zelyut, Arda Inak, Unver Demir, Emmanouil Roditakis, John Vontas
Summary: This study investigated the genetic structure of 22 T. absoluta populations in Turkey, compared the efficacy of three different classes of registered insecticides in real field-greenhouse conditions, and identified the geographic distribution of target-site mutations associated with insecticide resistance.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel L. Pereira, Paolo A. F. Silva, Marcos de Oliveira, Teonilo P. Langa, Herbert A. A. Siqueira
Summary: Tuta absoluta, a tomato pest in Brazil, can cause complete yield loss. The most commonly used insecticide, cartap hydrochloride, has shown varying levels of resistance among populations, but the genetic and physiological mechanisms behind this resistance were unknown. This study revealed that the resistance to cartap hydrochloride is polygenic, with incomplete dominance, and there is significant cross-resistance with other insecticides. The findings provide valuable information for the management of insecticide resistance in Brazil.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gurmeet Kour Bali, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Vinod Kumar Chauhan, Neha Joshi, Firdous Ahmad Bhat, Waseem Akram Malla, Boman Ramanujam, Richa Varshney, Manpreet Kour, Radhakrishnan Sitaram Pandit
Summary: This study analyzed the proteome of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta after fungal infections. Significant alterations were observed in proteins related to immune systems and detoxification processes following infection with Purpureocillium lilacinum and Beauveria bassiana. Understanding the proteomics and genomics of T. absoluta and the effects of entomopathogenic fungal infection on insect immune response could contribute to the development of improved strategies for integrated pest management.
Article
Agronomy
Diego F. Rincon, Hugo Fernando Rivera-Trujillo, Lorena Mojica-Ramos, Felipe Borrero-Echeverry
Summary: This study compared the efficiencies of four sampling plans for estimating the mean number of larvae per plant and classifying pest populations according to economic thresholds. The results showed that sampling plans based on counts can provide reliable information on the current level of a T. absoluta infestation relative to a decision threshold.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Review
Entomology
Nicolas Desneux, Peng Han, Ramzi Mansour, Judit Arno, Thierry Brevault, Mateus R. Campos, Anais Chailleux, Raul N. C. Guedes, Javad Karimi, Kouassi Arthur J. Konan, Anne-violette Lavoir, Maria G. Luna, Meritxell Perez-Hedo, Alberto Urbaneja, Francois J. Verheggen, Lucia Zappala, Khaled Abbes, Abid Ali, Yunus Bayram, Fernando Cantor, Andrew G. S. Cuthbertson, Raf De Vis, Fedai Erler, Dnyaneshwar M. Firake, Khalid Haddi, M. Jamal Hajjar, Khasan Ismoilov, Coline C. Jaworski, Marc Kenis, Hao-tian Liu, Hossein Madadi, Thibaud Martin, Ahmed Mazih, Gerben J. Messelink, Samira A. Mohamed, Robert S. Nofemela, Abiola Oke, Cesar Ramos, Michele Ricupero, Emmanouil Roditakis, Pathour R. Shashank, Fang-Hao Wan, Ming-hui Wang, Su Wang, Yi-Bo Zhang, Antonio Biondi
Summary: The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, poses a threat to worldwide tomato production. Integrated pest management programs have been effective in controlling this pest, with the most successful practices being biological control and biotechnical control. Research on agronomic control is ongoing to enhance IPM effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniela D'Esposito, Anna Guadagno, Ciro Gianmaria Amoroso, Pasquale Cascone, Gabriele Cencetti, Marco Michelozzi, Emilio Guerrieri, Maria Raffaella Ercolano
Summary: Dissimilar patterns of variants affecting genes involved in response to herbivory, including those leading to difference in VOC production, were identified in tomato lines with contrasting response to Tuta absoluta.
Article
Entomology
Karolina Gomes de Figueiredo, Gabriel Tadeu de Paiva Silva, Luis Clepf Passos, Dejane Santos Alves, Antonio Biondi, Geraldo Andrade Carvalho
Summary: This study evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of Cinnamomum essential oils on Tuta absoluta and found that the essential oils significantly decreased the duration of the pest's life cycle stages and fecundity, as well as showed high toxicity to the larvae. However, the essential oils also caused significant mortality to the predatory insect Macrolophus basicornis, indicating potential incompatibilities with other integrated pest management tools.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Marianna Stavrakaki, Aris Ilias, Panagiotis Ioannidis, John Vontas, Emmanouil Roditakis
Summary: The tomato borer Tuta absoluta has developed high resistance to the insecticide emamectin benzoate, with no non-synonymous SNPs detected in the target genes. The involvement of P450s in metabolic resistance to emamectin benzoate was suggested through enzyme inhibitor assays. RNA-seq analysis identified over-expression of a cytochrome P450-like gene potentially linked to emamectin benzoate resistance, expanding genomic resources for this species.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Angel Plata, Maria A. Gomez-Martinez, Francisco J. Beitia, Alejandro Tena
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of tending ants on the biological control of Delottococcus aberiae and found that the presence of ants reduces the abundance of natural enemies, therefore promoting the reproduction of Delottococcus aberiae. Thus, disrupting their mutualistic relationship by using physical barriers can be a better approach to control this pest.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Apostolos Pekas, Alejandro Tena, Ezio Peri, Stefano Colazza, Antonino Cusumano
Summary: Competition for hosts is common in insect parasitoids, and it is increasingly recognized that microorganisms play a significant role in parasitoid ecology. This review emphasizes the importance of considering microbial influence in parasitoid competition, particularly from a tritrophic perspective. Recent studies have shown that microbial symbionts not only affect the competitive traits of parasitoids but also the environment in which competition takes place. However, there are still important gaps in the literature that need to be addressed to advance our understanding.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pablo Urbaneja-Bernat, Joel Gonzalez-Cabrera, Estrella Hernandez-Suarez, Alejandro Tena
Summary: A biological control program has been established in Europe to control the spread of citrus greening disease, with the introduction of the parasitoid Tamarixia dryi. The main food source of T. dryi is the honeydew produced by its host, Trioza erytreae. Feeding on this honeydew increases the longevity of T. dryi, enhances egg production, and leads to increased parasitism of citrus psyllids.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alberto Urbaneja, Aurelio Ciancio, Samir Droby, Mark Hoddle, Jia Liu, Alejandro Tena
Summary: Citrus cultivation has a high species richness and a large number of pests and natural enemies. Classical biological control programs have been successful in controlling citrus pests, but the spread of huanglongbing disease and invasive pest species pose challenges. Increased insecticide use disrupts biological control and destabilizes integrated pest management programs. The special issue covers different aspects of classical biological control programs against pests and diseases in citrus-growing regions.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Angel Plata, Maria A. Gomez-Martinez, Francisco J. Beitia, Alejandro Tena
Summary: The invasive mealybug Delottococcus aberiae has become a significant pest in Mediterranean citrus. It has a mutualistic association with the native ant Lasius grandis, which promotes the establishment and invasion of the mealybug in Spanish citrus orchards. The colony size of the mealybug and the activity of L. grandis were positively correlated, and these interactions varied across seasons.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Luis Hernandez-Pelegrin, Ricardo Garcia-Martinez, Elena Llacer, Lorena Nieves, Angel Llopis-Gimenez, Marta Catala-Oltra, Oscar Dembilio, Meritxell Perez-Hedo, Alberto Urbaneja, Vera I. D. Ros, Francisco Beitia, Salvador Herrero
Summary: With the development of high-throughput sequencing, numerous asymptomatic insect-infecting RNA viruses have been found. This study focused on the interaction between Ceratitis capitata nora virus (CcaNV) and its medfly host, as well as the influence of CcaNV on multitrophic interactions. It was found that CcaNV infection in medflies resulted in reduced pupal weight and decreased adult longevity, while enhancing the parasitism performance of the endoparasitoid Aganaspis daci. These findings demonstrate the impact of covert RNA viruses on insect biology and ecological interactions.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chaymaa Riahi, Alberto Urbaneja, Rafael Fernandez-Munoz, Isabel M. Fortes, Enrique Moriones, Meritxell Perez-Hedo
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of using zoophytophagous predators to enhance the constitutive resistance of tomato plants against whiteflies and whitefly-transmitted viruses. Feeding-punctured by the predator N. tenuis significantly increases the density of type IV trichomes and acylsugar production. This induces the expression of defensive genes and provides early protection. Preplant release of N. tenuis in tomato nurseries could be an effective strategy for controlling these pests and transmitted viruses.
Article
Plant Sciences
Saoussen Ben Abdallah, Chaymaa Riahi, Sandra Vacas, Vicente Navarro-Llopis, Alberto Urbaneja, Meritxell Perez-Hedo
Summary: This study examined the effectiveness of five plant essential oils (PEOs) in controlling Tuta absoluta and their impact on the predator Nesidiocoris tenuis. The PEOs from Achillea millefolium and Allium sativum significantly reduced the infestation by T. absoluta and did not affect the reproduction of N. tenuis. In addition, the spraying of A. millefolium and A. sativum triggered the release of herbivory-induced plant volatiles, which can act as messengers in tritrophic interactions.
Article
Horticulture
Meritxell Perez-Hedo, Virginia Pedroche, Alberto Urbaneja
Summary: Recent studies suggest that predatory mirid bugs can be an effective alternative for controlling aphids in sweet pepper greenhouses. This study analyzed the impact of different constant temperatures on the life history traits of three mirid species preying on aphids in sweet pepper plants. The results show that the survival rate and intrinsic rate of increase varied with temperature, indicating different adaptations of the mirid species to temperature regimes.
Article
Agronomy
Beltran Ortola, Alberto Urbaneja, Marcelo Eiras, Meritxell Perez-Hedo, Jose-Antonio Daros
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of dsRNA molecules as oral insecticides in medfly.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Caitlin C. Rering, Amanda Quadrel, Pablo Urbaneja-Bernat, John J. Beck, Yahel Ben-Zvi, Fatemeh Khodadadi, Srdan G. Acimovic, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
Summary: This study examined the volatile emission from infected blueberries and identified two repellents that could be useful for controlling D. suzukii in the field. These findings are important for reducing pest damage and insecticide use in agricultural practices.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alice Mockford, Alberto Urbaneja, Kate Ashbrook, Duncan B. Westbury
Summary: In order to support sustainable food production and ecosystem services, wildflower strips have become popular. However, they remain understudied in Mediterranean ecosystems, hindering their adoption. This study assessed the suitability of native perennial forbs and grass species for wildflower strips in commercial orchards and developed a seed mix for pest regulation services. The wildflower strips successfully increased plant species richness and resources for natural enemies.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Pablo Urbaneja-Bernat, Alejandro Tena, Joel Gonzalez-Cabrera, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
Summary: This article reviews the potential role of plant guttation as a food source for natural enemies, discussing its nutritional value, effects on insect communities, and potential use in conservation biological control.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2024)
Correction
Agronomy
Sarra Bouagga, Alberto Urbaneja, Jose L. Rambla, Victor Flors, Antonio Granell, Josep A. Jaques, Meritxell Perez-Hedo
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
