Article
Forestry
Chiara Ferracini, Valerio Saitta, Gabriele Rondoni, Ivan Rollet
Summary: This study conducted investigations in NW Italy over a five-year period and found that environmental variables and biological parameters affect the population dynamics of the pine processionary moth. The collected data will be valuable for developing predictive risk models and implementing timely and cost-effective countermeasures, given its environmental and sanitary importance.
Article
Forestry
Francisco M. Azcarate, Javier Seoane, Mariola Silvestre
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of factors influencing the susceptibility of pine forests to the pine processionary moth (PPM) in Central Spain. It finds that pine species and grazing pressure are important determinants of vulnerability to PPM. The occurrence of structurally simple pine forests with abundant open spaces is associated with higher incidences of PPM.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Khaled Bouzar-Essaidi, Manuela Branco, Andrea Battisti, Andre Garcia, Maria Rosario Fernandes, Younes Chabane, Mourad Bouzemarene, Leila Benfekih
Summary: The study investigated egg parasitism of Thaumetopoea pityocampa in pine and cedar forests in Algeria, finding that parasitism rates were influenced by tent density, forest cover, and temperature. Different parasitoid species had varying effects on parasitism rates, highlighting the complexity of host-parasitoid interactions. Further research is needed to explore the impacts of parasitoids on host population dynamics.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andre Garcia, Jean-Charles Samalens, Arnaud Grillet, Paula Soares, Manuela Branco, Inge van Halder, Herve Jactel, Andrea Battisti
Summary: Early detection of insect infestation is crucial for effective control measures. Remote sensing may not work well for low-intensity signals or difficult-to-detect items. The use of drones and deep learning methods such as YOLO can improve the detection of insect nests, particularly for the pine processionary moth (PPM) in southern Europe.
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Julio Camarero, Jacques Tardif, Antonio Gazol, France Conciatori
Summary: This study analyzes tree-ring data from 14 sites in Teruel, eastern Spain, and finds that the pine processionary moth has not expanded its distribution as expected with climatic warming, nor has the frequency of outbreaks increased. Furthermore, severe defoliation events are positively related to the winter North Atlantic Oscillation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
J. A. Lombardo, B. T. Sullivan, S. W. Myers, M. P. Ayres
Summary: Climate change is causing changes in the geographic distribution of forest insect pests, such as the southern pine beetle. The southern pine beetle has extended its range to the north, while its impacts in the southeastern United States have decreased. The study found that the southern pine forest region has not experienced an increase in the severity or duration of heat waves over the past 80 years, suggesting that alternative explanations for the reduced activity of the southern pine beetle within its historic range must be considered.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Laura Poitou, Christelle Robinet, Christelle Suppo, Jerome Rousselet, Mathieu Laparie, Sylvain Pincebourde
Summary: Temperature has a strong impact on ectotherms, and some species, like the pine processionary moth, build nests that provide a warm microenvironment to larvae. The research found that nest temperature is mainly influenced by radiation load and increases at the same rate as air temperature change. This effect of warm microclimates created by pest insects could have implications for studying the impact of climate change on phenology and distribution.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chiara Ferracini, Cristina Pogolotti, Monica Vercelli, Eleonora Vittoria Fontana, Valerio Saitta, Serena Gallizia, Ivan Rollet
Summary: Investigations were conducted on the egg parasitoid complex of the pine processionary moth in NW Italy to determine the species composition, seasonal emergence, and parasitism rate. Altitude and summer temperatures were found to influence the egg batches parameters and parasitism rate. The findings highlight the importance of further research on the regulating effect of parasitoids in reducing the population of the pine processionary moth.
BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Safia Sebti, Luis Bonifacio, Gahdab Chakali
Summary: The sustainable protection of cedar stands in Chrea National Park relies on the stability of the ecosystem. Outbreaks of Thaumetopoea pityocampa are a major threat, influenced by high population fecundity, changes in natural enemies' diversity, and global interactions within the ecosystem. Egg parasitoids play a crucial role in the biological control of T. pityocampa.
Article
Entomology
Jean-Claude Martin, Xavier Mesmin, Maurane Buradino, Jean-Pierre Rossi, Carole Kerdelhue
Summary: Climate change affects the life cycle of many species, and the response to yearly weather variation can either be beneficial or maladaptive. A study on pine processionary moths in southern France found that individuals from higher elevations emerged earlier than those from lower elevations, indicating local adaptation. Additionally, temperature variations throughout the year also influenced the phenology of the moths. The study identified synchronization mechanisms and highlighted the complexity of the effects of spatial and temporal temperature variations on adult emergence.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Yvette Buist, Marleen Bekker, Lenneke Vaandrager, Maria Koelen, Barbara van Mierlo
Summary: Social learning theory can help understand how diverse actors tackle complex challenges in public health adaptation. This study examines the strategies of oak processionary moth (OPM) adaptation using a social learning framework, and highlights the role of stakeholder relations in the learning process. The study emphasizes the importance of building relationships among stakeholders and taking incremental steps in the learning process to develop new adaptation strategies and prevent negative health impacts.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
S. Leblebici, F. Donbaloglu Bozca, E. F. Topkara, O. Yanar
Summary: This study compares the ecological and physiological parameters of pine trees (Pinus species) with and without infestation of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni). The results show significant differences in various parameters between infested and non-infested individuals, indicating defense responses in infested individuals.
RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Kate R. Searle, Adam Butler, James J. Waggitt, Peter G. H. Evans, Maria Bogdanova, N. Thompson Hobbs, Francis Daunt, Sarah Wanless
Summary: Understanding how ecological processes shape population dynamics is crucial. This study examines the density dependence in upper trophic marine species in relation to temporal variation in climate and spatiotemporal variation in food resources. The results show that temporal variation in climate strengthens density dependent feedbacks to population growth, while spatiotemporal variation in prey resources has a weaker effect on density dependence.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gergana Zaemdzhikova, Tsvetelin Zaevski
Summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of temperature on the flight initiation of Thaumetopoea pityocampa. The findings reveal that the flight initiation temperature for males is relatively lower compared to females. Additionally, the average temperature for the flight initiation of the summer form is lower than for the winter form. This suggests that the summer form has better adaptability to lower ambient temperatures, thereby promoting its distribution in habitats located at higher altitudes.
COMPTES RENDUS DE L ACADEMIE BULGARE DES SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jean-Claude Martin, Jean-Pierre Rossi, Maurane Buradino, Carole Kerdelhue
Summary: This study presents a valuable dataset of individual monitoring of pine processionary moth from pupation to adult emergence between 1970 and 1984 in southern France. The dataset provides historical baseline of the species' phenology patterns and offers unique insights into how phenological patterns can be modified according to changes in temperature regimes. The dataset is significant for understanding the impacts of climate change on species' life cycles.
BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Giacomo Ortis, Lorenzo Marini, Giacomo Cavaletto, Luca Mazzon
Summary: The study shows that summer temperature has a significant impact on the development of insect eggs, while winter temperature has less influence on egg survival. The species has the ability to switch from a multiyear to an annual life cycle through temperature changes.
Article
Entomology
Andrea Battisti, Jose A. Hodar, Rodolfo Hernandez, Stig Larsson
Summary: This study examines the relationship between population density and egg mass aggregation in two species of pine processionary moths. The results show that egg mass aggregation deviates from uniform distribution at high population density, which may have significant implications for insect outbreaks.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Samuel F. Ward, Eckehard G. Brockerhoff, Rebecca M. Turner, Takehiko Yamanaka, Lorenzo Marini, Songlin Fei, Andrew M. Liebhold
Summary: The unintentional transport of insects beyond their native ranges has increased with globalization, leading to higher propagule pressure in non-native ranges. This study investigated the interceptions of European spruce bark beetle in the USA from 1914 to 2008 and found that interceptions were not related to outbreak levels in the native range, but were inversely related to annual import volume. The abundance of this beetle in invasion pathways has recently decreased, possibly due to strengthened phytosanitary protocols.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ilaria Laterza, Paride Dioli, Giovanni Tamburini
Summary: This study investigated the effects of habitat type and landscape composition on stink bug pests in Mediterranean agroecosystems. The results showed that semi-natural habitats supported more stink bug populations, with forests having more overwintering individuals. Forest cover in the landscape was positively related to active stink bug abundance. Simplified landscapes with perennial crops had suitable overwintering sites.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mathilde Chen, Andrea Schievano, Simona Bosco, Ana Montero-Castano, Giovanni Tamburini, Marta Perez-Soba, David Makowski
Summary: The identification of sustainable fertilisation practices is crucial for reducing agriculture's environmental impact and ensuring sufficient crop production. Enhanced efficiency fertilisers (EEFs) have been found to increase nutrient uptake by crops and reduce nutrient losses to the environment. This review synthesizes evidence from 26 meta-analyses and reviews to assess the effects of four commonly used EEFs on the environment, nutrient use efficiency, soil fertility, and crop production.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Aurora Bozzini, Saverio Francini, Gherardo Chirici, Andrea Battisti, Massimo Faccoli
Summary: Extreme weather events are causing an increase in forest-pest outbreaks, with a windthrow event in 2018 in the southern Italian Alps causing a shift in populations of the European spruce bark beetle. This study used remote sensing techniques and a random forest model to detect outbreak spots in the southeast Alps. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 72% in 2022 and 58% in 2021, demonstrating the potential to locate even small outbreak areas or areas with mixed healthy and infested trees.
Article
Entomology
Julianne Farrell, Myron P. Zalucki, Andrea Battisti
Summary: Host specificity of an Australian processionary moth species was studied using reciprocal transplant experiments. The moth, Ochrogaster lunifer, has genetically distinct nesting forms associated with acacias and eucalypts. The study confirmed genetic separation and the importance of host specialization in the speciation process.
Article
Ecology
Irene Bottero, Christophe Dominik, Olivier Schweiger, Matthias Albrecht, Eleanor Attridge, Mark J. F. Brown, Elena Cini, Cecilia Costa, Pilar de la Rua, Joachim R. de Miranda, Gennaro Di Prisco, Daniel Dzul Uuh, Simon Hodge, Kjell Ivarsson, Anina C. Knauer, Alexandra-Maria Klein, Marika Maend, Vicente Martinez-Lopez, Piotr Medrzycki, Helena Pereira-Peixoto, Simon Potts, Risto Raimets, Maj Rundloef, Janine M. Schwarz, Deepa Senapathi, Giovanni Tamburini, Estefania Tobajas Talavan, Jane C. Stout
Summary: This study analyzed the impacts of landscape heterogeneity and climate conditions on pollinating insect communities in two economically important mass-flowering crops in Europe. The results showed that flower-visiting insects responded differently to landscape diversity and climate parameters, and these responses varied depending on the crop type. Therefore, it is important to understand the population changes of pollinating insects in response to land use and climate change, in order to ensure the continued provision of pollination services to pollinator-dependent crops in the context of global change.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Claude Bragard, Paula Baptista, Elisavet Chatzivassiliou, Francesco Di Serio, Josep Anton Jaques Miret, Annemarie Fejer Justesen, Alan MacLeod, Christer Sven Magnusson, Panagiotis Milonas, Juan A. Navas-Cortes, Stephen Parnell, Roel Potting, Philippe Lucien Reignault, Emilio Stefani, Hans-Hermann Thulke, Wopke Van der Werf, Antonio Vicent Civera, Jonathan Yuen, Lucia Zappala, Andrea Battisti, Hugo Mas, Massimo Faccoli, Ciro Gardi, Alzbeta Mikulova, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Giuseppe Stancanelli, Fabio Stergulc, Paolo Gonthier
Summary: The European Commission has proposed the use of sulfuryl fluoride on ash log shipments for phytosanitary certification. The Panel on Plant Health conducted a quantitative assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from A. planipennis for two different commodities fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride. They concluded that the likelihood of pest freedom is lower for ash logs with bark compared to debarked ash logs.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Giovanni Tamburini, Ilaria Laterza, Davide Nardi, Alberto Mele, Nicola Mori, Massimiliano Pasini, Davide Scaccini, Alberto Pozzebon, Lorenzo Marini
Summary: The brown marmorated stink bug, a highly polyphagous and invasive species, is a serious pest in fruit orchards worldwide. This study found that landscapes with more semi-natural habitats and vineyards, and fewer annual crops, had higher abundance of stink bug juveniles. The composition of agricultural landscapes plays a key role in the dynamics of this pest in agroecosystems.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elena Gazzea, Peter Batary, Lorenzo Marini
Summary: Animal pollination is crucial for diverse and balanced diets, improving the commercial attributes and shelf life of fruits and vegetables. However, its impact on nutritional value is limited. The meta-analysis shows that pollination plays a significant role in maintaining food quality.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Chiara Rosace, Martina Cendoya, Giulia Mattion, Antonio Vicent, Andrea Battisti, Giacomo Cavaletto, Lorenzo Marini, Vittorio Rossi
Summary: World trade has led to an increased risk of introducing non-indigenous pests. However, the lack of historical data on pest introductions poses a challenge. By collecting and compiling data from various sources, a comprehensive dataset on pest introductions in the EU has been created, providing a basis for understanding the factors associated with the likelihood of pest introductions.
Article
Entomology
Mizuki Uemura, Myron P. Zalucki, Andrea Battisti
Summary: This study observed the tent construction and foraging behavior of Thaumetopoea pityocampa caterpillars and found differences among individuals in terms of sex, body size, and larval stage. The findings highlight the importance of communal living as a defense against environmental elements and natural enemies, and provide insights for further investigation in polyethism.
Article
Forestry
Davide Nardi, Aurora Bozzini, Giuseppe Morgante, Angelo Gaccione, Valerio Finozzi, Andrea Battisti
Summary: During pest outbreaks, mapping tools are crucial for accurate detection. Participatory projects can provide ground data with high accuracy in detecting early-stage infestations and small spots. However, satellite approaches are essential for estimating infestations due to spatial bias in ground data. This study shows how a participatory approach involving nonspecialized staff and a GIS-based app can provide complementary ground truth data to satellite data.
ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Juan Carlos Cambronero-Heinrichs, Andrea Battisti, Peter H. W. Biedermann, Giacomo Cavaletto, Victor Castro-Gutierrez, Lorenzo Favaro, Giacomo Santoiemma, Davide Rassati
Summary: Ambrosia beetles have abundant bacteria in their active galleries, which play a crucial role in providing nutrition and defense. This study supports the hypothesis of mutualistic interaction between Erwiniaceae bacteria and ambrosia beetles.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)