The management of Bactrocera oleae (Rossi, 1790) has relied on chemical insecticides, applied as bait or cover sprays. However, concerns over insecticide resistance and environmental impact have driven the search for more effective and eco-friendly alternatives, such as mass trapping. The aim of the study was to assess a novel food-based attractant, derived from Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus, 1758 excreta "Frass", for its attractiveness to B. oleae adults compared to widely used commercial food-based attractants. Over a four-year period, five field trials were conducted in two organic olive groves in Crete, Greece, using a randomized complete block design with five or six replicate blocks. Results showed that frass-based attractants captured significantly higher number of B. oleae adults than the other tested attractants. Additionally, trap-attractant combinations were assessed to determine the most efficient mass-trapping system. Frass-based attractant deployed in Anel or container traps demonstrated significantly higher attractiveness than all commercial traps and lures tested. The significant advantages of mealworm frass as an attractant highlight its potential to enhance the monitoring and suppression of B. oleae in olive orchards. Its consistent performance, sustainability, and environmental safety make it a promising tool in integrated pest management strategies.

The predatory mite Amblyseius andersoni Chant (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is a key biological control agent against spider mites and other pests. For its broad application, efficient and affordable mass-rearing systems are essential. This study evaluated the effects of rearing substrate, food type, and rearing history on the development, survival, reproduction, and predation efficiency of the predator. Mites were reared on leaf discs or Plexiglas plates and fed one of five diets, including various plant pollens and the stored product mite Carpoglyphus lactis (L.) (Acari: Carpoglyphidae). Additionally, it was assessed whether rearing five generations on cattail pollen supplemented with the natural prey (Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) or frozen C. lactis influenced later predators’ performance. The substrate type did not affect development or survival contrary to the food source, with mites fed on cattail pollen or C. lactis developing faster and producing more eggs. Survival remained high across all diets. The intrinsic rate of increase was highest with cattail pollen and C. lactis. The five-generation rearing did not affect performance or feeding on natural prey such as T. urticae or Aculops lycopersici (Tryon) (Acari: Eriophyidae). These findings demonstrate that A. andersoni can be effectively mass-reared on alternative diets and substrates, supporting biocontrol strategies.

BACKGROUND:Biological control with predatory mites is applied against pests in greenhouse crops. Chemical control with the use of selective, reduced-risk pesticides, is an important component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, that often needs to be combined with biological control. Here, we evaluated the effect of plant pollen when used as supplementary food on the survival, reproduction and predation of the predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) after exposing young larvae and adults to flonicamid, an insecticide of moderate toxicity to phytoseiids. Pollen is an important alternative food for generalist phytoseiids ensuring survival and supporting populations build-up during periods of prey scarcity. Two regimes of cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) pollen differing in application frequency were used. In the first, the total amount of pollen was supplied once, within 30 min after insecticide application, whereas in the second regime, the same amount of pollen was supplied gradually, i.e., every 48 h. RESULTS:Regardless of the frequency of application, pollen provisioning results in a reduction in prey (thrips) consumption relative to the control (no pollen provisioning). Nevertheless, when adult mites were directly exposed to flonicamid residues, pollen provisioning attenuated the reduction in prey consumption as compared to the control. In addition, the gradual (every 48 h) provisioning of pollen to adult predators exposed to flonicamid residues impacted positively the intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) of A. limonicus as compared to when feeding on prey. CONCLUSION:Our results reveal an unexpected role of pollen provisioning in alleviating pesticides side-effects on phytoseiids. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

In the evolving landscape of precision agriculture, the integration of remote pest traps with deep learning technologies marks a critical step forward in remote pest detection, with the potential to substantially improve traditional pest monitoring methods. This article provides a comprehensive review of the developments, challenges, and innovative solutions in creating sensor-based electronic traps and applying deep learning for efficient and autonomous pest identification. By addressing the complexities of sensor integration, data collection, and the need for adaptive algorithms capable of classifying a wide range of insect pests, this review highlights the effective combination of electronic trap advancements with the precision offered by convolutional neural networks. An in-depth analysis of the technological advancements in electronic pest trap development is presented, highlighting improvements in design, efficiency, and sustainability while referring to ongoing and future challenges. Moreover, this article explores deep learning techniques, emphasizing on dataset enhancement and model optimization to overcome traditional challenges such as data scarcity and to improve the robustness of pest detection models. A thorough evaluation of various trap types against 85 unique pests is conducted, with the delta trap emerging as the most versatile, showcasing compatibility with multiple sensors and effectiveness against various pests. This review equips researchers, practitioners, and agricultural developers with critical insights and methodologies that can significantly enhance pest monitoring efficiency, reduce pesticide usage, and support sustainable agricultural practices.

This study investigated the phenology and population dynamics of potential insect vectors of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. and other Auchenorrhyncha species in olive and citrus groves of Chania province, Crete, Greece. Although X. fastidiosa has not been reported in Greece, its introduction could cause serious diseases in many crops, including olives and citrus. Olive groves of Olea europaea L. ‘Koroneiki’ were sampled systematically using sweep net and Malaise traps over 24 months. One citrus grove was sampled for one year using a Malaise trap. Sweep net samples were taken from the herbaceous cover, tree canopy, and field borders of olive groves. Auchenorrhyncha were more abundant on the herbaceous cover compared to the canopy and field margins. Aphrophoridae species were mostly found on the herbaceous cover and in low numbers during fall (October–December) and spring (April–May). Cicadellidae species, such as Euscelis spp., were frequently found on the herbaceous cover of both olive and citrus groves. One Aphrophoridae and several Cicadellidae species were recorded in the citrus grove. Altitude was found to influence the population abundance of some Auchenorrhyncha species in olive groves. These results provide information for effective integrated management of insect vectors and their vector-borne pathogens.

Chrysoperla species include well-known predators of aphids and other soft-bodied arthropods. As such, they are considered important biological control agents of herbivorous pests in agroecosystems where many of green lacewings species occur. Despite the high number of species of the genus Chrysoperla, only a few have been assessed for the predation efficiency of their larvae against pests infesting plants, and even fewer are currently marketed for use in biocontrol practice. Difficulties in species identification within the Chrysoperla carnea complex species in particular has been related to varying success of commercial C. carnea s.l. releases in the field. In this study, we assessed the ability of two Chrysoperla species, Chrysoperla agilis a member of the carnea cryptic species group, and Chrysoperla mutata of the pudica group to consume aphid and mealybug individuals and suppress their populations in sweet pepper plants. We found that third-instar larvae of both species were able to consume a high number of aphids (approximately 120 nymphs per larva) and mealybugs (approximately 105 nymphs per larva) within 24 h. Furthermore, the release of second-instar larvae of both C. agilis and C. mutata was shown to be remarkably efficient in suppressing the pest populations in long-term greenhouse experiments. Aphid populations were suppressed by approximately 98% and mealybugs by 78% as compared to control plants. Our results highlight the predation efficiency and the biocontrol potential of two widespread Chrysoperla species for their use in pest control.

The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae is a polyphagous herbivore with a worldwide distribution, and is a serious pest in tomato and other crops. As an alternative to chemical pesticides, biological control with the release of natural enemies such as predatory mites represent an efficient method to control T. urticae in many crops, but not in tomato. Other biological control agents, such as beneficial microbes, as well as chemical compounds, which can act as plant defense elicitors that confer plant resistance against pests and pathogens, may prove promising biological solutions for the suppression of spider mite populations in tomato. Here, we assessed this hypothesis by recording the effects of a series of fungal and bacterial strains and the plant strengthener acibenzolar-s-methyl for their plant-mediated effects on T. urticae performance in two tomato cultivars. We found significant negative effects on the survival, egg production and spider mite feeding damage on plants inoculated with microbes or treated with the plant strengthener as compared to the control plants. Our results highlight the potential of beneficial microbes and plant strengtheners in spider mite suppression in addition to plant disease control.

Effective insect pest remote monitoring is critical for precision agriculture as it facilitates timely pest detection and management strategies. This study conducts a comparative anal-ysis of camera-based and sensor-based traps by evaluating their suitability for real-time monitoring and data collection in agricul-ture fields. By examining the strengths and limitations of each approach, this research highlights the potential of integrating camera-based systems with sensors and wireless communication technologies. These integrated traps, leveraging image processing, AI algorithms, and IoT technologies, contribute to sustainable agricultural practices by enabling targeted interventions and reducing the need for indiscriminate pesticide use. The study discusses the potential benefits of trap network development, providing cost-effectiveness and statistical efficacy, highlights the importance of advancing detection algorithms, and integrating data analytics for proactive and precise pest management in the context of precision agriculture.

The island of Crete, due to the favorable temperate environmental conditions, is known for its high insect species biodiversity. In this contribution, we report the occurrence of two leafhoppers in Crete, Greece, Euscelis ohausi (Wagner) and Euscelidius variegatus (Kirschbaum) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), collected during systematic surveys for Auchenorrhyncha performed from 2017 to 2019. This represents the first record of these leafhopper species for the island of Crete. Data on their distribution and bioecology on the island are included.

Quantifying functional responses is a cornerstone in evaluating the predation efficiency of biological control agents such as predatory insects and mites. In this study, we investigate whether the efficiency of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in consuming prey is driven by intraspecific interactions. For this purpose, laboratory functional response experiments were conducted using one, two, three or four predators at several initial egg densities of the two‐spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae). The data fitted to the predator‐dependent Crowley–Martin model which accounts for intraspecific interactions. The results suggest that at high prey densities, i.e. the densities at which the predator is satiated, intraspecific interactions did not affect the predation potential of N . californicus , as the maximum number of T. urticae eggs that can be attacked by predator individuals did not differ between treatments (i.e., predator densities). However, at low prey densities and the highest predator density (i.e., four individuals), intraspecific interactions were detected, as revealed by the estimated attack rates, i.e. the per capita prey consumption at low prey densities. While mean attack rates did not differ significantly when one, two and three predators were exposed to prey, when predator density increased to four individuals, attack rate was considerable lower compared to the other predator densities. These results indicate that intraspecific interactions are more intense at low prey densities, where the predator is not satiated and therefore digestion breaks do not exist. In contrast, at high prey densities digestion breaks exist, so that may fully accommodate the cost of intraspecific interactions. These results also suggest that predator density should be considered when functional responses are measured.

EDITORIAL article Front. Plant Sci., 12 January 2022Sec. Plant Pathogen Interactions Volume 12 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.773439

Several biological control agents of the hemipteran insect families Miridae, Anthocoridae and Pentatomidae, as well as mites of the family Phytoseiidae are known as zoophytophagous predators, a subset of omnivores, which are primarily predaceous but also feed on plants. It has been recently demonstrated that zoophytophagous predators are capable of inducing defenses in plants through their phytophagy. Despite the vast fundamental knowledge on plant defense mechanisms in response to herbivores, our understanding of defense induction by zoophytophagous predators and applied implications is relatively poor. In this review, we present the physiological basis of the defense mechanisms that these predators activate in plants. Current knowledge on zoophytophagous predator-induced plant defenses is summarized by groups and species for the predators of economic importance. Within each group, feeding habits and the effects of their induced-plant defenses on pests and natural enemies are detailed. Also, the ecological implications of how the induction of defenses mediated by zoophytophagous predators can interact with other plant interactors such as beneficial soil microorganisms and plant viruses are addressed. Based on the above, we propose three approaches to exploit zoophytophagous predator-induced defenses in crop protection and to guide future research. These include using predators as vaccination agents, employing biotechnological approaches, as well as applying elicitors to elicit/mimic predator-induced defenses.

Lacewings are important natural enemies of soft‐bodied arthropods. Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae in particular include promising biological control agents of key agricultural pests. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of larvae and adults of the brown lacewing Micromus angulatus and the green lacewing Chrysopa formosa in controlling the green peach aphid Myzus persicae under laboratory conditions. We found that the release of the first instar larvae of both species at the rate of 2 or 10 individuals per pepper plant was effective in reducing the populations of M . persicae , irrespectively of the initial pest infestation pressure, i.e., 10 or 20 aphids per plant. The brown lacewing larvae at the highest release rate managed to completely eliminate the aphids from the pepper plants within two weeks following release. Adult lacewings of both species released at a rate of one to two females per plant were also effective in drastically reducing of M . persicae populations. Our results highlight the potential of these two widespread but overlooked lacewing species for use in biological pest control.

Plant pollen is an important alternative food for generalist phytoseiid mites ensuring survival and supporting population build-up during periods of prey scarcity. However, in the short term predator efficacy can be negatively affected by pollen provisioning as a consequence of predator satiation or when pollen is preferred over prey. This is counteracted by the fact that, combining pollen with prey in a balanced mixed diet, may benefit the numerical response of the predator and thus, improve the effectiveness of long-term biological control. Here, we assessed the effects of pollen (Typha angustifolia, Zea mays, Pinus brutia) provisioning in a mixed diet with prey (thrips) on the performance and predation efficiency of Amblydromalus limonicus, a predatory mite used against thrips and whiteflies in greenhouse crops. We found that provisioning pollen in mixed diets with high-quality prey resulted in significant decrease in prey consumption. This effect was shown to be stronger for T. angustifolia and weaker for P. brutia when both were combined with thrips larvae. When pollen was provided alongside thrips, this resulted in a significant decrease in juvenile dispersal and oviposition was always higher. The highest value of intrinsic rate of population increase (r(m)) was recorded for the mix of cattail pollen and thrips, and the strongest increase in r(m) when thrips were combined with pine pollen followed by corn and cattail pollen. Overall, mixing prey with pollen resulted in higher r(m) values thus enhancing the medium- to long-term thrips-control potential of A. limonicus.

Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Madrid, Spain, 2 KeyGene N.V., Wageningen, Netherlands, Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Japan, Department of Agricultural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece, Department of Plants and Crops, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, Centro de Biotecnología y

Beneficial soil microbes have long been recognized for their ability to improve plant growth, to antagonize pathogens and to prime plants against biotic stressors. Nevertheless, their ability to enhance plant resistance against arthropod pests remains largely unexplored, especially in crop plants such as pepper. Herein, we assessed the effects of several fungal and bacterial species/strains applied in the soil on the performance of key pests of pepper plants. Specifically, we recorded the impact of pepper inoculation with commercial strains of beneficial bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Pseudomonas spp.) as well as fungi (Trichoderma spp. and Cordyceps fumosorosea) on the population growth of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, and the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. Furthermore, we recorded the effects of microbial inoculation on plant growth parameters, such as stem and root weight. We found that both pests can be negatively affected by microbial inoculation: spider mites laid up to 40% fewer eggs, and the number of aphids were up to 50% less on pepper-inoculated plants, depending on the microbe. We also recorded a variation among the tested microbes in their impact on herbivore performance, but no significant effects were found on plant biomass. Our results add to the growing literature that beneficial soil microbes may be capable of exerting biocontrol capabilities against aboveground herbivorous pests possibly, among other means, via the elicitation of plant defense responses.

EDITORIAL article Front. Plant Sci., 11 August 2021Sec. Plant Pathogen Interactions https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.730290

Chrysoperla agilis Henry et al. is one of the five cryptic species of the carnea group found in Europe. They are known to widely occur in agricultural fields and survive and reproduce in a wide range of temperatures. The reproductive biology of the cryptic species is poorly known, especially regarding the number of matings required for the females’ maximum reproductive output. We recorded the egg production and longevity of virgin females, as well as of females that had access to males for 1 week or for their lifetime. Longevity of C. agilis females with access to males was similar whether these were present for 1 week or for their lifetime (64.8 and 66.1 days, respectively). On the other hand, oviposition was higher in the long-term exposure to males (302.1 vs. 421.1 eggs, respectively). Virgin females lived longer (94.1 days) than mated females and laid a low number (54.5) of (unfertile) eggs. Egg hatchability and progeny sex ratio were similar in treatments with males. Nevertheless, the highest value (0.1321) of intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was recorded when females were continuously exposed to males. These results are relevant to biological control and could be applicable in mass-rearing C. agilis and predicting its population dynamics in the field.

Abstract Functional response models describe the relationship between prey density and per capita prey consumption rate by a predator. Type II functional responses, in which density‐dependent predation occurs via a decelerating feeding rate, seem to prevail in nature and are commonly described by Holling’s disk equation. In the derivation of the disk equation, Holling did not include digestion time. Although some authors have later extended the interpretation of handling time by also including digestion time, this violates the key assumption of the disk equation that the processes of searching for and handling prey are mutually exclusive. The steady‐state satiation (SSS) equation is a functional response model that discriminates between handling and digestion time. The application of the SSS equation is underutilized so far in the ecological literature, probably due to its complexity. In this study, we first tested the viability of the SSS equation. Second, we investigated the mechanistic basis of the SSS equation, comparing the model’s predictions with directly observed data. For this purpose, we used predator–prey systems of different taxa, that is, the ladybird beetle Hippodamia variegata preying on the aphid Aphis fabae, the lacewing Chrysoperla agilis preying on the aphid Myzus persicae, and the predatory mite Iphiseius degenerans preying on the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Our results show that the SSS equation is viable and can realistically describe type II functional response. In all predator–prey systems we tested, the model fitted the data reasonably well and provided realistic estimation of its parameters.