Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ammar Alhmedi, Tim Belien, Dany Bylemans
Summary: This article investigates the indirect interactions between different pests, such as Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini, Aphis pomi De Geer, and Myzus cerasi Fabricius, through shared natural enemies and ants. The results show that cherry aphids may serve as an important source of natural enemies that attack apple aphids, and significantly reduced numbers of ants associating with apple aphids are found in intercropping habitats. These findings highlight the importance of considering indirect interactions in pest management strategies.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Inanc Ozgen, Mehmet Mamay, Ertan Yanik
Summary: By releasing adults of the lady beetle Oenopia conglobata in pistachio orchards in Turkey, the population of the common pistachio psylla can be effectively controlled, with the most effective method being the release of 100 adults per tree.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Qiao Gao, Bei Li, Zhong Tian, Arnold De Loof, Jia-Lu Wang, Xiao-Ping Wang, Wen Liu
Summary: Our study reveals that in the Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis, the absence of juvenile hormone (JH) triggers reproductive diapause, as indicated by JH measurements and the knockdown of the intracellular JH receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met). Furthermore, we demonstrate that JH biosynthesis, rather than the degradation pathway, determines the reduction of JH titer in diapausing females.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jordan R. Croy, Tania Zaviezo, Michael S. Crossley, Olivia M. Smith, William E. Snyder, Audrey A. Grez
Summary: Generalist predators can either enhance or disrupt biological control depending on their interaction with other predators and parasitoids. In this study, we examined the interaction between native and exotic lady beetles attacking aphids in alfalfa fields near Santiago, Chile. We found that exotic lady beetles reached peak abundance earlier in the growing season and closely aligned with aphid peaks, suggesting potential complementarity with the natives. Habitat edges and landscape composition also influenced the abundance and lag behind aphid peaks of the lady beetles.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Deividy V. Nascimento, Rogerio Lira, Jorge B. Torres
Summary: Exposure of Eriopis connexa to pyrethroid residues in agroecosystems has led to the development of resistance. The maintenance of selection pressure, frequency of mating with susceptible phenotypes, and reproductive performance play a major role in the development of resistance. The presence of resistant phenotypes persists even in the absence of selection pressure, and reselection can occur after insecticide exposure, explaining the high frequency of resistance in E. connexa.
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
T. Jake Liang
Summary: New strategies utilizing nucleic acid technologies are being explored for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, with a pilot clinical study of antisense oligonucleotide treatment demonstrating the potential promise of this approach.
Article
Agronomy
Elzbieta Wojciechowicz-Zytko, Edyta Wilk
Summary: The study compared the influence of different semi-natural surroundings on the occurrence of predatory syrphids and biological control of Aphis pomi and Dysaphis plantaginea in apple orchards. Yellow traps and hand picking were used to catch hoverflies and a total of 1029 Syrphidae were collected. The results showed that a greater number of hoverflies were found in the surroundings than in the orchards, indicating that they are attracted by flowering plants in semi-natural habitats and migrate to the orchards to control aphid populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hans-Peter Rusterholz, Sylvain Ursenbacher, Urs Weibel, Armin Coray, Bruno Baur
Summary: Knowledge of genetic diversity patterns in threatened species is crucial for effective conservation. Destructive sampling should be avoided in order to prevent further risk of local population extinction. This study used beetle remains and collected beetles to examine genetic variation in the flightless longhorn beetle Iberodorcadion fuliginator in the border area of Switzerland, France, and Germany. Genetic differentiation was found between populations within each metapopulation, but distinct differentiation was observed across metapopulations. The genetic distance between populations was correlated with geographic distance.
Article
Entomology
Emily A. W. Nadeau, Melise C. Lecheta, John J. Obrycki, Nicholas M. Teets
Summary: Lady beetles undergo reproductive diapause in winter, where females do not lay eggs, and transcriptome analysis shows that genes related to flight are consistently upregulated, while genes involved in ovarian development are downregulated, contributing to the survival strategy during diapause.
Article
Entomology
Enrico Ruzzier, Marcin Kadej, Andrea Di Giulio, Andrea Battisti
Summary: Larvae of Dermestidae Megatominae possess modified setae, called hastisetae, which serve as the primary defense against predators and are important contaminants of stored products and environments. Exposure to hastisetae can cause allergic reactions in humans. The study aims to increase knowledge about hastisetae, explore their diversity and morphology, and propose potential implications for the systematics of skin beetles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hee-Wook Cho, Sang Ki Kim
Summary: The leaf beetle genera Suinzona and Potaninia, consisting of over 20 and two species respectively, have been found to be distinct based on molecular and morphological evidence. A new species, Suinzona borowieci sp. nov., has been identified with high genetic divergence and distantly related host plants. Population decline in these species is attributed to habitat loss, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Agronomy
Frederic Francis, Christiane Then, Adrien Francis, Yao Aime Constant Gbangbo, Lisa Iannello, Ibtissem Ben Fekih
Summary: The control of aphids in sugar beet and the management of associated viruses face new challenges. Viable alternatives are being sought after the prohibition of neonicotinoid-based control. Developing sugar beet varieties with resistance and tolerance to aphids and viruses, using semiochemicals and plant volatile organic compounds, employing entomopathogenic fungi, and inducing systemic resistance with soil bacteria are all potential solutions.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Claire Hoarau, Heather Campbell, Gillian Prince, Dave Chandler, Tom Pope
Summary: This paper reviews the potential of biological alternatives for controlling the cabbage stem flea beetle, the most important pest in oilseed rape crops in Europe. Current research shows the potential of using biological control agents, but more studies are needed, especially for the cabbage stem flea beetle itself.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Graham A. McCulloch, Brodie J. Foster, Ludovic Dutoit, Thomas W. R. Harrop, Joseph Guhlin, Peter K. Dearden, Jonathan M. Waters
Summary: Recent genomic analyses have shown a connection between altitude and divergence in response to ecological gradients, but the specific role of altitude in repeated speciation remains unclear. By analyzing a stonefly species complex in New Zealand, this study revealed widespread parallel speciation between wing-reduced and full-winged ecotypes, suggesting that ecological speciation may have evolved recently in response to ecological gradients.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Shaohui Wu, Michael D. Toews, Ted E. Cottrell, Jason M. Schmidt, David I. Shapiro-Ilan
Summary: The toxicity of metabolites produced by two bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens and Xenorhabdus bovienii, was tested against different insects. The metabolites showed high toxicity against a specific aphid species but were not toxic to ladybugs.
JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY
(2022)
