Search Results (20)

Corn–soybean strip intercropping (abbr. CSSI system) can enhance species biodiversity and ecological services for ecological control of insect pests. To improve its effectiveness and fully utilize it to improve ecological control of insect pests and crop production, two monoculture types of corn (C) and soybean (S), and two strip intercropping patterns (i.e., C3S3 and C3S4, indicating three rows of corn strip intercropped with three and four rows of soybeans respectively), were conducted to assess the CSSI system’s (i.e., C3S3 and C3S4) impacts on the abundance of insect pests and crop yields by a two-year field experiment. The results indicated that a total of 11 species of insect pests were found in the CSSI system. Compared with C or S monoculture, the community indexes of insect pests (including the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H), the Pielou’s evenness index (E), and the Margalef’s richness index (D)) increased, and the Simpson’s dominance index (C) decreased in the C3S3 and C3S4 patterns in 2022. Compared to the C and S monoculture, the CSSI system decreased the population dynamics of total insect pests and the key insect pests Trialeurodes vaporariorum on corn and soybean plants, respectively. In the CSSI system, T. vaporariorum exhibited higher population dynamics on corn plants than on soybean plants, indicating a preference for corn plants under the CSSI system. Moreover, the corn yield per hectare in the C3S4 pattern was significantly higher than that of the C monoculture in 2022–2023. The biomass per plant and the 1000-grain weight of corn in the C3S3 pattern were significantly lower than that in the C monoculture and C3S4 pattern in 2022. The biomass per plant, the 1000-grain weight and yield per hectare of soybean in the C3S3 and C3S4 patterns were significantly lower than that in the S monoculture in 2022–2023. The land equivalent ratio (LER) was <1.0 in the CSSI system, posing yield loss risk for soybeans in the CSSI system. The competitive ratio (CR) of corn was greater than soybean in the CSSI system. In addition, the yield of corn and soybeans were not significantly correlated with the abundance of total insect pests, while the soybean yield was significantly positively correlated to the abundance of T. vaporariorum. In conclusion, it is presumed that the CSSI system can decrease the abundances of insect pests, particularly key insect pests, and maintain their community stability, thereby preventing insect pests’ outbreak. However, the CSSI system is disadvantageous for soybean yield, as it cannot fully utilize land resources and may pose a risk of system yield loss. Full article

Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus, 1758) is a hematophagous fly species of veterinary importance, known for its negative effects on animal health and productivity. The stress caused by their painful bites results in losses in milk and meat production. Despite its impact, data on its ecology and activity in Algeria are lacking. Such knowledge is needed to evaluate its potential effects on livestock production and rural health, and to support surveillance, outbreak prediction, and control strategies. This study aimed to investigate the monthly and daily dynamics of S. calcitrans in livestock farms in the Batna region and evaluate the influence of climatic factors on its abundance. From July 2022 to July 2023, Vavoua traps were placed monthly from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on four farms in the Batna region, representing different livestock types. Captured flies were identified, sexed, and counted every two hours. Climatic data were collected both in situ and from NASA POWER datasets. Fly abundance was analyzed using non-parametric statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis. A total of 1244 S. calcitrans were captured, mainly from cattle farms. Activity occurred from August to December, with a peak in September. Males were more abundant and exhibited a bimodal activity in September. Fly abundance was positively correlated with temperature and precipitation and negatively correlated with wind speed and humidity. This study presents the first ecological data on S. calcitrans in northeastern Algeria, highlighting its seasonal dynamics and the climatic drivers that influence it. The results highlight the species’ preference for cattle and indicate that temperature and rainfall are key factors influencing its abundance. These findings lay the groundwork for targeted control strategies against this neglected pest in Algeria. Full article

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), bluetongue (BT), and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) are major emerging and re-emerging viral infections affecting ruminants. These diseases can threaten livestock health, food security, and economic stability in low- and middle-income countries, including Algeria. However, their dynamics remain mostly unknown, limiting the implementation of effective preventive and control measures. We analyzed outbreak data reported by Algerian veterinary authorities and the WAHIS database from 2014 to 2022 for FMD; from 2006 to 2020 for BT; and from 2011 to 2022 for PPR to investigate their spatiotemporal patterns and environmental drivers. Over these periods, Algeria reported 1142 FMD outbreaks (10,409 cases; 0.16/1000 incidence), 167 BT outbreaks (602 cases; 0.018/1000), and 222 PPR outbreaks (3597 cases; 0.096/1000). Small ruminants were the most affected across all diseases, although cattle bore the highest burden of FMD. BT primarily impacted sheep, and PPR showed a higher incidence in goats. Disease peaks occurred in 2014 for FMD, 2008 for BT, and 2019 for PPR. Spatial analyses revealed distinct ecological hotspots: sub-humid and semi-arid zones for FMD and BT, and semi-arid/Saharan regions for PPR. These patterns may be influenced by species susceptibility, animal movement, trade, and climatic factors such as temperature and rainfall. The absence of consistent temporal trends and the persistence of outbreaks suggest multiple drivers, including insufficient vaccination coverage, under-reporting, viral evolution, and environmental persistence. Our findings underscore the importance of targeted species- and region-specific control strategies, including improved surveillance, cross-border coordination, and climate-informed risk mapping. Strengthening One Health frameworks will be essential to mitigate the re-emergence and spread of these diseases. Full article

In recent years, many spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., Pinaceae) forests have been severely affected by bark beetle (Ips typographus L., Coleoptera: Curculionidae) outbreaks in the Southern Alps, but their ecological impacts remain poorly studied. We analyzed the distribution, ecological, and floristic–vegetational characteristics of forests recently affected by the bark beetle in the upper basin of the Oglio River (Northern Italy) and developed a MaxEnt model to map forests with a bioclimate more prone to severe insect attacks in the coming decades. The results showed that the spruce forests affected by the bark beetle are located exclusively in the submountain and mountain belts (below 1600 m a.s.l.) and that 85% of them are found in areas with high annual solar radiation (>3500 MJ m⁻²). The predictive model for areas susceptible to severe bark beetle attacks proved highly accurate (AUC = 0.91) and was primarily defined by the mean temperature of the dry winter quarter (contribution: 80.1%), with values between −2.5 and 2.5 °C being particularly suitable for the pest. According to the model, more than 58% of the current spruce forests in the study area will exhibit high susceptibility (probability > 0.7) to severe bark beetle attacks by 2080. The floristic–vegetational and ecological analysis of plant communities of 11 bark beetle-affected areas indicated that more thermophilic and significantly different forest communities (in both floristic and physiognomic terms) are expected to develop compared to those of pre-disturbance. Furthermore, the high coverage of spruce snags/standing dead trees appears to accelerate plant succession, enabling the establishment of mature forest communities in a shorter time frame. Full article

When selecting a habitat, it is optimal for organisms to choose one that maximizes reproductive success through access to high-quality resources, particularly in species that engage in parental care. However, organisms may inadvertently select a habitat for breeding that would initially appear preferential and undamaged, but may, in reality, be detrimental to parent and/or offspring fitness. In this study, we tested whether migratory European Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) nesting in forest patches affected by outbreaks of the great web-spinning sawfly (Acantholyda posticalis) experienced fitness reductions indicative of an ecological trap, compared to those nesting in unaffected forest patches. After installing nest boxes to attract breeding pairs and potentially combat the outbreak, we found that Flycatchers inhabiting areas with sawfly outbreaks had similar clutch sizes to pairs breeding in unaffected forest patches. Contrarily, the fledgling number and body condition were significantly lower for those nesting in the damaged forests. In providing nest boxes for migrating Flycatcher pairs in forest patches that were subsequently impacted by a pest insect outbreak, an ecological trap arose for those pairs choosing to nest in what appeared to be an unaffected forest at first. Given the inability of breeding pairs to distinguish habitat quality on initial inspection, we suggest that nest boxes be used with caution in areas with unfavorable habitat conditions when attracting migratory birds, given the trends of their declining global numbers. Full article

The Baluchistan melon fly (Myiopardalis pardalina) is a highly invasive tephritid pest. It poses a critical threat to global cucurbit production, with crop losses exceeding 90% during outbreaks. This review synthesises current research on the pest’s biology, ecology, and management, focusing on its severe economic repercussions for key crops—including melon, watermelon, and cucumber—across Africa, Asia, and Europe. M. pardalina has a four-stage life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) and distinct morphological adaptations. The species’ geographic range continues to expand, driven by global trade networks and its adaptability to shifting climatic conditions. Infestations by this pest severely reduce fruit yields, undermining food security and destabilising rural economies reliant on cucurbit cultivation. We evaluate diverse control strategies, including monitoring and quarantine methods, cultural practices, physical controls, chemical management, biological agents, and emerging genetic tools. This review emphasises the urgency of adopting integrated pest management (IPM) to strategically balance efficacy, ecological sustainability, and operational scalability. By consolidating fragmented knowledge and identifying critical research gaps, this work provides a framework for mitigating M. pardalina’s impacts, offering actionable insights to safeguard agricultural productivity and enhance resilience in vulnerable regions. Full article

In recent decades, forests have experienced an increasing trend in the number of pest outbreaks worldwide, apparently driven by strong annual variability in precipitation, higher air temperatures, and strong winds. Pest outbreaks have negative ecological, economic, and environmental impacts on forest ecosystems, such as reduced biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and overall forest health. Traditional monitoring methods of these disturbances, while accurate, are time-consuming and limited in scope. Remote sensing, particularly UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)-based technologies, offers a precise and cost effective alternative for monitoring forest health. This study evaluates the temporal and spatial progression of bark beetle damage in a fir-dominated forest in the Zao Mountains, Japan, using UAV RGB imagery and DL (Deep Learning) models (YOLO - You Only Look Ones), over a four-year period (2021–2024). Trees were classified into six health categories: Healthy, Light Damage, Medium Damage, Heavy Damage, Dead, and Fallen. The results revealed a significant decline in healthy trees, from 67.4% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2024, with a corresponding increase in damaged and dead trees. Light damage emerged as a potential early indicator of forest health decline. The DL model achieved an accuracy of 74.9% to 82.8%. The results showed the effectiveness of DL in detecting severe damage but highlighted that challenges in distinguishing between healthy and lightly damaged trees still remain. The study highlights the potential of UAV-based remote sensing and DL for monitoring forest health, providing valuable insights for targeted management interventions. However, further refinement of the classification methods is needed to improve accuracy, particularly in the precise detection of tree health categories. This approach offers a scalable solution for monitoring forest health in similar ecosystems in other subalpine areas of Japan and the world. Full article

Forests are affected by a wide range of disturbances globally, resulting in the decline or death of large areas of them. There is a lack of comparative studies on how soil properties change in forests that die under the influence of disturbances, especially considering different levels of disturbance. For this study, we took Larix olgensis—a major plantation forest species in northeast China—as the research object, one in which a large outbreak of bark beetle led to large-scale forest death, and set up fixed sample plots characterized by different disturbance intensities. We investigated the responses of soil physicochemical properties and microbial community compositions to different disturbance intensities through the determination of soil nutrient indices and high-throughput sequencing. The results show that there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the effects of different disturbance intensities on soil physicochemical properties, where the soil moisture content, total nitrogen, total carbon, and total phosphorus in the control group were significantly higher than those in the disturbed groups. The soil pH was highest under low-intensity disturbance and the soil total potassium content was highest under high-intensity disturbance. At different disturbance intensities, the highest soil moisture content was found in the high-intensity group. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, Candidatus_Rokubacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Thaumarchaeota were the dominant populations with higher abundances; meanwhile, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Tenericutes, and a tentatively unclassified fungus differed significantly (p < 0.05) across disturbance intensities. Among the dominant microbial populations, Acidobacteria showed a significant negative correlation with soil pH and a significant positive correlation with total potassium content, Thaumarchaeota showed significant positive correlations with soil moisture content and total nitrogen content, and Firmicutes and Gemmatimonadetes showed significant negative correlations with total carbon content in the soil. Furthermore, soil total nitrogen content was the key factor driving changes in microbial communities. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the study of the long-term effects of tree mortality caused by insect pests on soil microbial communities and their response mechanisms, which is of great theoretical value for the establishment of scientific and effective methods for woodland restoration. Full article

Infestations of pests are perhaps an anthropogenic catastrophe for trees. Aeolesthes sarta (Sart longhorned beetle—SLB) is one of the most severe pests that cause serious damage to a number of hardwood tree species, i.e., Populus, Salix, Acer, Juglans, and Malus. To investigate people’s attitudes towards pest damage cost and future control extent of SLB, a door-to-door method was adopted to survey two major cities (Quetta—QU and Peshawar—PE) of the northwestern region of Pakistan where this pest has caused severe damage. Respondents were asked about SLB pest knowledge, pest damage costs, preferences for control choices, and program extent. According to respondents, more trees (181 ± 1.20 trees/ha/annum) were damaged in QU compared to PE. Populus spp. was the dominant tree genre that attacked and damaged the most. Around 85% of respondents from both cities stated the pest damage cost was calculated as high for QU (480,840.80 ± 4716.94$/annum) compared to PE. Respondents in both locations strongly supported (more than 82%) biological control of future SLB outbreaks. They all agreed that protecting ecologically vulnerable places and wildlife habitats should be the primary priority in a future SLB outbreak. Respondents from both cities who preferred to protect more land area in future SLB outbreaks were calculated to be high for QU (61%) compared to PE (58%). However, city variations in opinions regarding forest-type priority that should be protected and control options were observed. Socio-demographic characteristics were discovered to impact pest damage cost positively, as well as preferred SLB control extent. The findings of this study can help policymakers and forest managers develop publicly permissible pest control plans and make more accurate predictions about future pest outbreaks. Full article

This study focuses on interacting with insects and their ectosymbiont (lato sensu) microorganisms for environmentally safe plant production and protection. Some cases help compare ectosymbiont microorganisms that are insect-borne, -driven, or -spread relevant to endosymbionts’ behaviour. Ectosymbiotic bacteria can interact with insects by allowing them to improve the value of their pabula. In addition, some bacteria are essential for creating ecological niches that can host the development of pests. Insect-borne plant pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These pathogens interact with their vectors to enhance reciprocal fitness. Knowing vector-phoront interaction could considerably increase chances for outbreak management, notably when sustained by quarantine vector ectosymbiont pathogens, such as the actual Xylella fastidiosa Mediterranean invasion episode. Insect pathogenic viruses have a close evolutionary relationship with their hosts, also being highly specific and obligate parasites. Sixteen virus families have been reported to infect insects and may be involved in the biological control of specific pests, including some economic weevils. Insects and fungi are among the most widespread organisms in nature and interact with each other, establishing symbiotic relationships ranging from mutualism to antagonism. The associations can influence the extent to which interacting organisms can exert their effects on plants and the proper management practices. Sustainable pest management also relies on entomopathogenic fungi; research on these species starts from their isolation from insect carcasses, followed by identification using conventional light or electron microscopy techniques. Thanks to the development of omics sciences, it is possible to identify entomopathogenic fungi with evolutionary histories that are less-shared with the target insect and can be proposed as pest antagonists. Many interesting omics can help detect the presence of entomopathogens in different natural matrices, such as soil or plants. The same techniques will help localize ectosymbionts, localization of recesses, or specialized morphological adaptation, greatly supporting the robust interpretation of the symbiont role. The manipulation and modulation of ectosymbionts could be a more promising way to counteract pests and borne pathogens, mitigating the impact of formulates and reducing food insecurity due to the lesser impact of direct damage and diseases. The promise has a preventive intent for more manageable and broader implications for pests, comparing what we can obtain using simpler, less-specific techniques and a less comprehensive approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Full article

Charonia tritonis (Charoniidae), one of the largest marine gastropods and an echinoderm specialist, preys on Crown-of-Thorns starfish (CoTS), a recurring pest that continues to be a leading cause of coral mortality on Indo-Pacific reefs. Widespread historical exploitation has impacted their numbers, with standing populations considered rare throughout their habitat. Their life-stage attributes, i.e., teleplanic larvae, planktotrophic phase spanning years permitting transoceanic dispersal, and recruitment to coral reefs through oceanic influx with intense larval mortality, have likely hindered their recovery. Decline in numbers is hypothesised to account partially for periodic CoTS outbreaks, yet predator-prey dynamics between these two species that might influence this are poorly understood. The C. tritonis excretory secretome elicits a proximity deterrence effect on CoTS, the nature of which is under investigation as a possible tool in CoTS biocontrol scenarios. However, specificity and zone of impact in situ are unknown, and whether the mere presence of C. tritonis and/or predation pressure has any regulatory influence over CoTS populations remains to be established. The fundamental taxonomy and distinctive characteristics, biology and ecology of C. tritonis is summarized, and knowledge gaps relevant to understanding their role within coral reefs identified. Information is provided regarding exploitation of C. tritonis across its habitat, and prospects for conservation interventions, including captive rearing and stock enhancement to repopulate local regions, are discussed. Its predator-prey ecology is also examined and potential to mitigate CoTS considered. Recommendations to direct future research into this predator and for its inclusion in a CoTS integrated pest management strategy to improve coral reef health are offered. Full article

Insect pests show phenotypic plasticity as a function of resource availability and limiting conditions. Although Rhynchophorus palmarum displays high variation in certain morphological traits, it is still not clear how and which of these are being filtered along agricultural management gradients in palm plantations. This study assesses the influence of biophysical structure of ornamental palm plantations and agrochemical use on morphological traits of adults in 15 permanent plots of ornamental palm plantations in Veracruz, Mexico. A total of 4972 adults were and their body length, pronotum width, rostrum length, and mesothorax depth were measured. Body length and mesothorax depth of adults of both sexes were greater in plantations with a high diversity of palm species and frequency of fertilizer use. Rostrum length of females increased as a function of palm density, and pronotum width of both sexes was positively related with the use of insecticides. Local characteristics of agricultural management of palm plantations might filter integrated, adaptative, and environment-specific phenotypes. This is the first ecological study of the south American palm weevil that provides new insights on the current intensive management of ornamental palm plantations that far from controlling, benefits current geographic expansion, demographic outbreak, and economic impact of this pest. Full article

Smallholder irrigation schemes (SISs) have been portrayed as a panacea to climate change adaptation. However, there is an emerging discourse that established schemes are becoming vulnerable to increased climate variability and change, particularly increased water stress. This paper reviews the existing knowledge on risks of climate change and variability in water supply in smallholder irrigation farming in Zimbabwe. In addition, this paper highlights adaptation options to climate change in SISs. Data for this review were collected systematically from peer-reviewed and published literature. The literature used for this study showed that SISs in Zimbabwe are beset with water stress, competing water needs and the outbreak of pests and diseases, which have been related with climate change and variability. Climate change is making Zimbabwe more arid through decreasing precipitation and warming. Droughts and floods are increasing in frequency and severity. Damage by floods is increasing exponentially, impacting environments, ecological systems and national economies. Climate change affects SISs’ productivity and decimates the livelihoods of scheme farmers. The review suggests that there is a need for increased adsorptive, adoptive and transformational capacity for SISs to obtain a new state of resilience from adverse effects of increased climate variability and change. This review recommends understanding and prioritizing solutions to vulnerability to climate change in SISs. Full article

The pine looper Bupalus piniaria (L.) is one of the most common pests feeding on the Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. Pine looper outbreaks show a feature of periodicity and have significant ecological and economic impacts. Climate and weather factors play an important role in pine looper outbreak occurrence. We tried to determine what weather conditions precede B. piniaria outbreaks in the southeast of the West Siberian Plain and what climate oscillations cause them. Due to the insufficient duration and incompleteness of documented observations on outbreaks, we used the history of pine looper outbreaks reconstructed using dendrochronological data. Using logistic regression, we found that the factor influencing an outbreak the most is the weather four years before it. A combination of warm spring, dry summer, and cool autumn triggers population growth. Summer weather two years before an outbreak is also critical: humidity higher than the average annual value in summer is favorable for the pine looper. The logistic regression model predicted six out of seven outbreaks that occurred during the period for which weather data are available. We discovered a link between outbreaks and climatic oscillations (mainly for the North Atlantic oscillation, Pacific/North America index, East Atlantic/Western Russia, West Pacific, and Scandinavian patterns). However, outbreak predictions based on the teleconnection patterns turned out to be unreliable. We believe that the complexity of the interaction between large-scale atmospheric processes makes the direct influence of individual oscillations on weather conditions relatively small. Furthermore, climate changes in recent decades modulated atmospheric processes changing the pattern predicting pine looper outbreaks: Autumn became warmer four years before an outbreak, and summer two years before became drier. Full article

Pesticides released to the environment can indirectly affect target and non-target species in ways that are often contrary to their intended use. Such indirect effects are mediated through direct impacts on other species or the physical environment and depend on ecological mechanisms and species interactions. Typical mechanisms are the release of herbivores from predation and release from competition among species with similar niches. Application of insecticides to agriculture often results in subsequent pest outbreaks due to the elimination of natural enemies. The loss of floristic diversity and food resources that result from herbicide applications can reduce populations of pollinators and natural enemies of crop pests. In aquatic ecosystems, insecticides and fungicides often induce algae blooms as the chemicals reduce grazing by zooplankton and benthic herbivores. Increases in periphyton biomass typically result in the replacement of arthropods with more tolerant species such as snails, worms and tadpoles. Fungicides and systemic insecticides also reduce nutrient recycling by impairing the ability of detritivorous arthropods. Residues of herbicides can reduce the biomass of macrophytes in ponds and wetlands, indirectly affecting the protection and breeding of predatory insects in that environment. The direct impacts of pesticides in the environment are therefore either amplified or compensated by their indirect effects. Full article