Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera Calliphoridae) is a blowfly spread throughout Europe, several Asian countries, across North and Central America, and, to a lesser degree, in Africa. It is commonly known as the blue bottle fly or orange-bearded blue bottle due to some of its morphological features. As necrophagous carrion breeders, its larvae participate in organic matter decomposition. Gravid females may also target meat prepared for human and/or animal consumption for their oviposition, and the resulting larvae would render the foodstuffs unmarketable. In addition, if developing on human remains, it can help with the estimation of the minimum post-mortem interval in forensic investigations. When adult, C. vomitoria can act as a pollinator of some wildflowers and crops. On the other hand, adults may be mechanical vectors of several pathogens they encounter in the septic breeding and feeding sites. This narrative review includes a description of C. vomitoria morphology, spatiotemporal distribution worldwide, biology, and behaviour. The focus then shifts to its habits that are considered beneficial (relevance in legal investigations, interactions with plants and fungi, potential source of antimicrobials) or harmful (larval development in food, mechanical transmission of pathogens, allergies) to the ecosystems, humans, and animals. Finally, we discuss the strategies currently implemented for its monitoring, trapping, and management through chemical, microbial, and biological agents. The research areas not yet investigated enough, some future exploitation prospects, and the possibility to actualise more biorational control strategies are highlighted.

IPM approaches based on pheromone-based techniques for the management of the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), are of great interest. We evaluated the effectiveness of mating disruption (MD) experiments against T. absoluta using a biodegradable pheromone dispenser (Isonet-T TT BIOX234) in greenhouse-grown tomatoes over two years in southern Italy. A base treatment alternating the most used insecticides for the pest, i.e., the farmer treatment schedule (FTS), was assigned as a reference, and two MD dispenser densities (i.e., 300 and 500 dispensers/ha) were compared with the MD commercial product Isonet T at 1000 units/ha. We conducted two trials on crops at a density of 37,000 plants/ha. Pest flights were monitored in summer–autumn 2023 and 2024 with pheromone-baited Delta traps. The FTS ensured a generally low level of T. absoluta attacks (about 1 leaflet/leaf and 1/300 fruits). Even so, mating disruption resulted in further appreciable reductions in the presence and attacks of the target pest: 89%, 76% and 52% fewer catches; 61%, 45% and 37% fewer mined leaflets; and 76%, 59% and 54% fewer attacked fruits, for Isonet-T TT 500, Isonet-T TT 300 and Isonet T 1000, respectively. Overall, MD biodegradable dispensers could be a valuable tool for controlling T. absoluta in greenhouse-grown tomatoes, while also reducing plastic waste in the agricultural setting.

Abstract Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are vectors of various pathogens of public health concern and replacing conventional insecticides remains a challenge. In this regard, natural products represent valuable sources of potential insecticidal compounds, thus increasingly attracting research interest. Commiphora myrrha (T.Nees) Engl. (Burseraceae) is a medicinal plant whose oleo-gum resin is used in food, cosmetics, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals. Herein, the larvicidal potential of its essential oil (EO) was assessed on four mosquito species (Aedes albopictus Skuse, Aedes aegypti L., Anopheles gambiae Giles and Anopheles stephensi Liston), with LC50 values ranging from 4.42 to 16.80 μg/mL. The bio-guided EO fractionation identified furanosesquiterpenes as the main larvicidal compounds. A GC–MS-driven untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed 32 affected metabolic pathways in treated larvae. The EO non-target toxicity on Daphnia magna Straus (LC50 = 4.51 μL/L) and its cytotoxicity on a human kidney cell line (HEK293) (IC50 of 14.38 μg/mL) were also assessed. This study shows the potential of plant products as innovative insecticidal agents and lays the groundwork for the possible exploitation of C. myrrha EO in sustainable approaches for mosquito management. Graphical Abstract

AbstractRapid urbanization and migration in Latin America have intensified exposure to insect-borne diseases. Malaria, Chagas disease, yellow fever, and leishmaniasis have historically afflicted the region, while dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have been described and expanded more recently. The increased presence of synanthropic vector species and spread into previously unaffected areas due to urbanization and climate warming have intensified pathogen transmission risks. This review examines recent outbreaks and reemergence of insect-borne diseases through five case studies: (i) malaria transmission linked to political instability and large-scale migration through the Amazon jungle; (ii) the expansion of triatomine bug habitats into overcrowded, substandard urban settlements, increasing Chagas disease incidence; (iii) the influence of movement and ecotourism in the Amazonia on yellow fever transmission in peri-urban areas; (iv) the spread of visceral leishmaniasis driven by deforestation and human–canine movement; and (v) dengue outbreaks in rural Amazon regions, spurred by urbanization and rural development. The findings underscore the complex interactions among vectors, pathogens, and shifting environmental and social conditions, complicating predictability and control. Addressing the social, economic, and political determinants of health is crucial to reducing disease transmission. Key measures include scaling vaccine coverage, especially for dengue and yellow fever; developing vaccines and treatments for neglected diseases; improving housing and sanitation; strengthening vector surveillance and control; fostering community engagement; enhancing data-driven interventions. Graphical Abstract

The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) (L.), is the primary vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xanthomonadales: Xanthomonadaceae) (Wells et al.), which causes a severe vascular disease leading to significant economic losses in olive production in southern Italy. In this study, we investigated the deterrent effect of ant scent on the behavior and activity of P. spumarius on olive twigs. Using binary choice experiments, we found that the compounds released by Crematogaster scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Olivier) ants significantly reduced the time spent by spittlebugs on the olive twigs. Chemical analysis of ant cuticular composition, and of ant-scented and control olive leaves identified a mixture of specific compounds, which include octadecanal, triacontane, nepetalactol, and pelargonic acid, presumably involved in this interaction. Our findings contribute to the understanding of trait-mediated indirect interactions in agroecosystems and suggest further studies focused on behavioral bioassay-based experiments to evaluate the potential role of ants' chemical cues in P. spumarius control to preserve olive groves.

Hematophagous flies pose a significant threat to livestock health and productivity. Traditional pest control methods, which heavily rely on chemical insecticides, present risks such as resistance development and environmental harm. This study presents a novel smart trap for real-time monitoring and identification of Tabanidae, Hippoboscidae (i.e., Hippobosca equina L.), and Muscidae (i.e., Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)) on cattle. The system includes a microcontroller for managing various sensors (light, temperature, humidity, and gas) and power management. The control unit is complemented by a microprocessor responsible for managing and processing images from a camera. The system integrates high-resolution imaging, a convolutional neural network (CNN) for species recognition, and environmental sensors to monitor factors affecting insect behavior. On the test set, the CNN achieved an overall precision of 0.96 and recall of 0.98 in detecting instances, with an overall classification accuracy of 0.96. Equipped, also, by lithium-ion battery and by communication module, the trap can operate autonomously and transmit data, becoming suitable for large-scale deployments. Overall, the tool developed here offers a practical and cheap solution for sustainable and accurate pest monitoring of hematophagous flies attacking cattle in pasture and feedlot.

Pest control has faced several challenges during the last decades, increasing research about innovative ecofriendly bioinsecticides to replace and integrate the conventional strategies. In this scenario, botanical extracts are promising substances for pest management. In this study, we developed a novel small-scale sprayer for precision application of botanical insecticides on plant material; the insecticidal activity of the essential oil (EO) from cultivated aniseed, Pimpinella anisum L., and its main constituent trans-anethole (> 95

Xylella fastidiosa, a notorious bacterial plant pathogen with a broad host range, has recently emerged as a significant threat to olive trees worldwide, causing the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS). This disease severely affects olive production and leads to the death of the plants, causing significant economic losses and dramatic changes in the landscape. To date, no determined control strategies have been identified to fight the OQDS. Since the pathogen is an obligate host of some species of spittlebugs, managing the insect vectors themselves may be an effective approach for limiting OQDS. For that, plant-based products, due to their low toxicity to non-target organisms and minimal adverse effects on the environment, have gained significant interest as tools to tackle the diffusion of OQDS through X. fastidiosa insect vector management. Ongoing studies are exploring the role of plant secondary metabolites as infochemicals in insect–host plant interactions. Some of these focus on essential oils, plant extracts, and their major constituents, examining their potential role as toxic or attractive/repellent active ingredients against insects. These compounds are being evaluated as bioinsecticides or in semiochemical-based control strategies (e.g. mass trapping, push–pull, attract-and-kill) potentially relevant for monitoring and controlling the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (L.), the primary vector of X. fastidiosa subspecies pauca. In this scenario, our review offers an analysis of the current state of research on botanical products applied as toxicants or behaviour-modifying tools towards P. spumarius, highlighting emerging developments, innovative technologies, and recent breakthroughs.

Honeybees (Hymenoptera Apidae) and the beekeeping industry are increasingly threatened by parasitic mites such as Varroa destructor, Acarapis woodi, Tropilaelaps clareae, and T. mercedesae, as well as by insects like the wax moths Galleria mellonella and Achroia grisella and the small hive beetle Aethina tumida. While organic acids and thymol have been commercially available to manage such pests for almost 40 years, the widespread use of conventional acaricides and insecticides continues, making the development of biorational formulations crucial. This review focuses on various botanicals, including essential oils, plant extracts in organic and inorganic solvents, primary and secondary plant metabolites, vegetable oils, powders, plant smoke, propolis, and volatile organic compounds, that have been tested against hive-dwelling arthropod pests in both laboratory and field conditions. We listed the botanical families of the most employed species, plant parts extracted, and key phytochemicals identified. Additionally, we noted the methods and materials used in bioassays, the bioactivity (i.e. toxicity, repellence, attractiveness), and sub-lethal effects (e.g. prolonged or reduced development) on the pests, along with any data on the effects on honeybees, Apis cerana, and human cells. A brief overview of commercially available botanical-based formulations is also provided. Extracts from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica, Meliaceae), Lamiaceae herbs, and clove and eucalyptus (Myrtaceae) show results worthy of further investigation. Future challenges include developing nano/micro-encapsulated or emulsified formulations that are cost-effective, practical for hive use, and safe.

Developing effective and sustainable green solutions for managing arthropod pests and vectors is a timely challenge. The present review is dedicated to mites and ticks (Acari), species which represent a burden for human and animal health. The focus is on hard ticks (Ixodidae), primarily belonging to the genera Haemaphysalis spp., Hyalomma spp., and Rhipicephalus spp., house dust mites Dermatophagoides spp., stored-product mites Tyrophagus putrescentiae and Acarus siro, various strains of the itch mite Sarcoptes scabiei, the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae, and the main ectoparasitic mite of honeybees Varroa destructor. We overviewed all the nano- and microemulsions and capsules loaded with essential oils, plant extracts, and/or singular compounds applied as toxicant or repellent treatments to manage such pests. Additionally, we explored current knowledge about the effectiveness of metal nanoparticles obtained through green synthesis routes by exploiting phytochemicals in botanical extracts. For all the products, we reported their mean particle size, tested formulation, efficacy, and when available, mode of action, comparison with synthetic acaricides, and non-target effects. Future challenges involve the need to improve the synthesis technologies and storage conditions of the different formulations; scaling up the production is necessary too to achieve lower prices and wider distribution. Notably, research on S. scabiei and V. destructor is required, as these species are extremely overlooked when compared to hard ticks and other mites.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) represent a significant portion of infectious diseases of global public health interest. In Italy, knowledge about the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in ticks parasitizing cattle is scarce. In this research, we focused on ticks infesting Maremmana cattle grazing in open pasture and silvopasture systems. After being morphologically identified, ticks were molecularly tested for the presence of pathogens of the genus Rickettsia. Of the 794 ticks detected, 117 were collected, being the majority Hyalomma marginatum (72.6%), followed by other Hyalomma species (23%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (1.7%), Rh. bursa (0.9%), Hy. lusitanicum (0.9%) and Dermatocentor marginatus (0.9%). All ticks were adults, 58.1% males and 41.8% females. The highest tick prevalence was noted in April for silvopasture system cattle (90%), and in May for open pasture ones (85%). TBPs were detected only in Hy. marginatum, and all belong to Rickettsia spp. of zoonotic interest. In particular, 21/40 (52.5%) ticks scored positive for Rickettsia spp. by gltA gene and of these 15/21 (71.4%) also to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae by ompA gene. Of the total positive specimens, 19 were successfully sequenced and scored Rickettsia aeschilimannii (17/19, 89.5%), R. slovaca (1/19, 5%), and R. massiliae (1/19, 5%). This research highlights the potential impact of grazing systems on cattle parasitization by hard ticks. The molecular investigation of TBPs in ticks collected from Maremmana cattle shed light on the presence of pathogenic bacteria of SFG Rickettsia spp., pointing out the potential risk of TBPs transmission between livestock and humans.

Understanding the biology and ecology of parasitoids can have direct implications for their evaluation as biological control agents, as well as for the development and implementation of mass-rearing techniques. Nonetheless, our current knowledge of the possible influence of lateralized displays (i.e., the asymmetric expression of cognitive functions) on their reproductive behavior is scarce. Herein, we characterized the behavioral elements involved in courtship, and quantified the durations of 2 important aphid parasitoids, Aphidius ervi Haliday and Aphidius matricariae Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). We quantified the main indicators of copulation and examined the occurrence of lateralized traits at population level. Results indicated that A. matricariae exhibited longer durations of wing fanning, antennal tapping, pre-copula and copula phases compared to A. ervi. Postcopulatory behavior was observed only in A. matricariae. Unlike other parasitoid species, the duration of wing fanning, chasing, and antennal tapping did not affect the success of the mating of male A. ervi and A. matricariae. Both species exhibited a right-biased female kicking behavior at the population level during the pre-copula. Our study provides insights into the fundamental biology of aphidiine parasitoids and reports the presence of population-level lateralized mating displays, which can serve as useful benchmarks to evaluate the quality of mass-rearing systems.

Social wasps can be exceptionally invasive in both natural and urban environments, posing significant challenges to biodiversity conservation efforts and human health. On the other hand, they provide a wide variety of ecosystem services unnoticed by most, such as predation of pest species and pollination, and should be included among beneficial insects. As a result, despite the growing interest in the long-term impacts of biological control agents like biopesticides on ecologically important insects, social wasps are either not evaluated as taxa suffering from ecotoxic effects or, in some cases, are the target species themselves. Aside from this dichotomy, experimental evidence of the effects of biopesticides on these insects is scarce. Keeping in mind these two opposite aspects of social wasps, this review analyzed the existing knowledge of the effects of biopesticides on social wasps, highlighting the current knowledge gaps.

Social wasps can be exceptionally invasive in both natural and urban environments, posing significant challenges to biodiversity conservation efforts and human health. On the other hand, they provide a wide variety of ecosystem services unnoticed by most, such as predation of pest species and pollination, and should be included among beneficial insects. As a result, despite the growing interest in the long-term impacts of biological control agents like biopesticides on ecologically important insects, social wasps are either not evaluated as taxa suffering from ecotoxic effects or, in some cases, are the target species themselves. Aside from this dichotomy, experimental evidence of the effects of biopesticides on these insects is scarce. Keeping in mind these two opposite aspects of social wasps, this review reported the existing knowledge of the effects of biopesticides on social wasps, highlighting the current knowledge gaps.

Xylella fastidiosa Wells, a bacterial plant pathogen, represents a threat to many crops all around the word. Unfortunately, no effective treatments are available to reduce the infection and, to date, the most promising strategy relies on controlling the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius L. one of the main vectors of X. fastidiosa. Among insecticides and repellents, botanical insecticides represent valuable candidates. Their encapsulation into stable formulations, like nanoemulsions (NEs), can boosts the efficacy and stability. We investigated the toxicity, repellent, and antifeedant activity of carlina oxide, a polyacetylene isolated from the roots of Carlina acaulis L. (Asteraceae), and its NEs, against P. spumarius adults. In addition, we carried out electroantennographic (EAG) tests to evaluate the capability of the male and female antennae to perceive carlina oxide. EAG assays demonstrated that P. spumarius antennal olfactory system of both sexes is capable of perceiving carlina oxide over a wide range of doses and that females, at the lowest doses, have significantly greater olfactory sensitivity than males (0.01 and 0.1 mu g, respectively (p < 0.001)). In toxicity experiments, the percentage of adult survival in topical and fumigant trials was high, while it resulted significantly lower in ingestion trials. In olfactory tests, P. spumarius showed a slight preference for green beans treated with 1 % carlina oxide. However, no significant differences were observed between treatments when the concentration of carlina oxide was increased to 3 %. On the contrary, feeding tests showed a significant repellent effect of carlina oxide against P. spumarius adults up to 24 h after the treatment and a reduction in P. spumarius presence on treated green beans ranging from 51.2 % to 94.7 %, if compared with control green beans. Overall, this study sheds light on the possible development of effective and environmentally friendly formulations of carlina oxide to manage P. spumarius. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this natural compound in field conditions, and to investigate its potential side effects on non-target species.

Knowledge of the ecology and behavior of biological control agents is essential for their effective use in biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. There is a lack of information regarding the courtship and mating traits that are crucial for successful mating in biocontrol population of coccinellids. To expand our current understanding in this area, 2 coccinellid species commonly used for the biocontrol of soft-bodied insects, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Mulsant) and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were studied. A quantitative analysis was performed to compare their courtship and mating displays. Key behavioral traits of the precopulatory, copulatory, and postcopulatory phases were investigated. The courtship and mating sequences of C. montrouzieri and P. quatuordecimpunctata were similar to each other. During the mating phase, the key displays were the opening of the elytrae and wings followed by body shaking in C. montrouzieri and leg tapping followed by body shaking in P. quatuordecimpunctata. The mating success of both species was not correlated with any courtship display, such as antennal tapping. Only in C. montrouzieri mounting attempt showed a higher frequency from the backside without affecting male mating success. This research adds baseline knowledge about the courtship and mating behavior of the biocontrol population of coccinellids, contributing to the identification of potentially useful benchmarks (e.g., body shaking, leg tapping) for monitoring prolonged mass-rearing processes, thus reducing mating failures.

Research on vineyard pests is crucial for the reduction of annual yield losses and the development of sustainable methods of pest control. The vine-bud moth, Theresimima ampellophaga, has long been considered a harmful grapevine pest in the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin. The larvae feed extensively on vine leaves and buds, and records from the early 20th century indicate that even a minor infestation could halve a vine’s total productivity. Despite this, it has received limited scientific attention in recent years, with limited updated information on its biology, ecology, and pest activity. Herein, we conducted a systematic literature review to consolidate all available data about the vine-bud moth into a single body of work. The gathered data revealed that this insect may not currently be as widespread and detrimental to modern vineyards as their historical reputation indicates. However, the vine-bud moth should also not be underestimated or overlooked, as its pest status is prone to evolve as climate changes. There is still a possibility that it could revert to being a major pest in the future, as factors like environmental resilience, trophic dominance and phenology are modified. We recommend a thorough reassessment of the currently available knowledge on this species to fill in knowledge gaps and clarify existing uncertainties. Additionally, there is much scope for further studies on this insect, especially in the fields of phylogenetics and behavioral ecology.

Pesticide exposure, even at low doses, can have detrimental effects on ecosystems. This study aimed at validating the use of machine learning for recognizing motor anomalies, produced by minimal insecticide exposure on a model insect species. The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), was exposed to food contaminated with low concentrations of Carlina acaulis essential oil (EO). A deep learning approach enabled fly pose estimation on video recordings in a custom-built arena. Five machine learning algorithms were trained on handcrafted features, extracted from the predicted pose, to distinguish treated individuals. Random Forest and K-Nearest Neighbor algorithms best performed, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.75 and 0.73, respectively. Both algorithms achieved an accuracy of 0.71. Results show the machine learning potential for detecting sublethal effects arising from insecticide exposure on fly motor behavior, which could also affect other organisms and environmental health.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) play important roles in plant–insect interactions by altering plant physiology and histology. We hypothesized that UV-B-induced oxidative stress was mitigated by AMF symbiosis. In this study, we conducted a multifactorial experiment to explore lettuce plant response to AMF inoculation and UV-B exposure (0.4 W m−2; 16 h d−1; 2 weeks), either together or individually, as well as the interaction with the polyphagous insect pest Myzus persicae (Sulzer). Lettuce plants subjected to UV-B radiation showed an increase in callose and oxidative stress indicators, as well as a decrease in stomatal density. Mycorrhizal colonization cancelled out the effect of UV-B on stomatal density, while the symbiosis was not affected by UV-B treatment. The plant volatile emission was significantly altered by UV-B treatment. Specifically, the non-terpene 1-undecene abundance (+M/+UVB: 48.0 ± 7.78%; −M/+UVB: 56.6 ± 14.90%) was increased, whereas the content of the non-terpene aldehydes decanal (+M/+UVB: 8.50 ± 3.90%; −M/+UVB: 8.0 ± 4.87%) and undecanal (+M/+UVB: 2.1 ± 0.65%; −M/+UVB: 1.20 ± 1.18%) and the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (+M/+UVB: 18.0 ± 9.62 %; −M/+UVB: 19.2 ± 5.90%) was decreased. Mycorrhization, on the other hand, had no significant effect on the plant volatilome, regardless of UV-B treatment. Aphid population was unaffected by any of the treatments, implying a neutral plant response. Overall, this study provides new insights about the interactions among plants, UV-B, and AMF, outlining their limited impact on a polyphagous insect pest.