Accurately estimating the likelihood of occurrence of threatened species is essential for effective impact assessments at development sites. Current survey guidelines often rely on coarse, static species distribution maps, risking misalignment for migratory birds present only seasonally. We evaluated 70 wind farms in eastern Australia to assess the alignment between survey timing and seasonal occurrence of four migratory species. Using eBird-based relative abundance models, we classified recommended and actual survey periods as optimal, suboptimal or poorly timed. Approximately half of all surveys were not optimal, and one fifth missed the species' potential temporal window of presence altogether. Field detections mostly occurred within modelled optimal or suboptimal windows, validating the effectiveness of our modelling approach for identifying suitable survey timing. Likelihood of occurrence conclusions presented in the reviewed impact assessments were significantly lower at sites with suboptimal or poorly timed surveys compared to those with optimal timing, suggesting that poor survey timing can lead to systematic underestimation of species presence. Synthesis and applications: Current guidance and approaches to surveying migratory birds at windfarm developments in Australia are insufficient. Evidence-based alignment with seasonal presence is needed to improve biodiversity assessment standards, ensuring renewable energy expansion proceeds in a way that better safeguards migratory species and supports global biodiversity and sustainability goals. (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)70(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)4(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic) eBird (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic). (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic):(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).

The mechanisms guiding nocturnal insect migration remain poorly understood. Although many species are thought to use the geomagnetic field, the sensory basis of magnetic orientation in insects has yet to be clarified. We developed an indoor experimental system to investigate the integration of geomagnetic and visual cues in the seasonal orientation of a globally distributed pest moth, the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a highly invasive species which in the past decade has colonized almost all potentially habitable regions of the globe. Our results demonstrate that fall armyworms require both geomagnetic and visual cues for accurate migratory orientation, with visual cues being indispensable for magnetic orientation. When visual and geomagnetic cues are placed in conflict, moths become disoriented, although not immediately, indicating that sensory recognition of the conflict requires time to process. We also show that the absence of visual cues leads to a significant loss of flight stability, which likely explains the disruption in orientation. Our findings highlight that visual cues are critical for stable magnetic orientation in the fall armyworm, offering a basis for future investigations of visual-magnetic integration in noctuid migrants.

We are excited to announce the launch of npj Entomology, a fully open-access journal in the Nature Portfolio that is dedicated to rapidly publishing high-quality, cutting-edge research in all aspects of entomology and arachnology. As Editor-in-Chief, I am deeply honoured to launch this new venue for the publication of important new studies in what must rank as one of the most critical yet understudied topics in biology, especially in the fields of ecology and biodiversity. Our mission is to provide a platform for the dissemination of new knowledge that will help the entomological community confront a variety of significant challenges, including the trials that many insects and arachnids face themselves, but also the hazards that some species pose to our health, food security and economic welfare.

BACKGROUND:The migratory invasive species fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, FAW) has established year-round populations in several West African countries following its initial invasion of Africa in early 2016. However, its seasonal migratory dynamics within West Africa remain poorly understood. If FAW populations in West Africa were able to successfully cross the Sahara Desert and serve as a major source population in North Africa, this could increase the risk of further invasion into southern Europe. In this study, we used atmospheric data to perform trajectory simulations, predicting the seasonal migratory pathways of short-distance migratory FAW individuals within West African breeding habitats and assessing the monthly probabilities of long-distance migrants departing from West Africa successfully crossing the Sahara Desert. RESULTS:The results indicate that from May to September, the vast majority of short-distance migrants (>70%) remained within West African breeding habitats, whereas in other months, a larger proportion of individuals were blown into the Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, short-distance migrants exhibited clear seasonal movement patterns within West Africa: shifting southwestward from January to May, turning northeastward in June and July, and returning southwestward from August to December. Long-distance migrants had an extremely low success rate (≤0.3%) of crossing the Sahara Desert, which occurred only between February and April each year. CONCLUSION:This study revealed the seasonal migration patterns of FAW within West Africa, providing important insights for predicting regional outbreak risks and optimizing management strategies in the region. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Insects are the most abundant and ecologically important animal migrants. Yet, we know relatively little about the patterns and processes underlying insect migration. Dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera) comprise the ancient insect order Odonata, whose ancestors were the first organisms to fly on Earth. Several members of Odonata are known to migrate long distances and have considerable impacts on ecosystems through biomass and nutrient transfer, pest control and species interactions. However, most aspects of odonate migration remain unknown and available data have not been fully reviewed from a global perspective in over two decades. This lack of consensus has repercussions on species monitoring, specialised conservation efforts and scientific progress. Here, we review odonate migration ecology, addressing: (i) what odonate migration is; (ii) why odonates migrate; and (iii) which odonate species migrate. We define two types of odonate migration: multi-generational migration, where back-and-forth migratory journeys are completed over several generations, and single-generational migration, where the same individuals leave and return to the original reproductive habitat. We conclude that within single-generational migration, altitudinal migration is currently the only known strategy, and we present the first complete list of species observed to perform this type of migration, where refuge is temporarily sought at high-altitude sites away from the reproductive habitat. In addition, we generate an exhaustive global list of 85 dragonfly and 15 damselfly species for which migration has been confirmed (total = 100 species) and a list of 85 possible migrants (22 damselfly species; 63 dragonfly species). Consideration of phylogeny suggests that migration has evolved multiple times within Odonata, and is present in four extant dragonfly families and two extant damselfly families. Approximately 1.5% of all odonate species are migratory, with the proportion rising to approximately 2.9% if species deemed to be possible migrants are also included. Thus, overall, migration is a relatively uncommon strategy in Odonata. Among dragonflies, the vast majority (73%) of migratory species occur in the Libellulidae with 62 confirmed migratory species, equating to 5.9% of all libellulids, whereas in damselflies, migrants are divided almost equally between Coenagrionidae (N = 8) and Lestidae (N = 7), with the genus Ischnura in Coenagrionidae having the most migrants of all damselfly genera (N = 5). Biogeographically, the proportion of migratory species is highest in the Palearctic (10.8%), followed by the Nearctic (6.8%), results that may reflect research bias or indicate that migration is an adaptation favoured at high latitudes. Interestingly, most odonate migrants appear to be species of 'Least Concern' according to the IUCN Red List and are potentially resilient to environmental change because of adaptations associated with their migratory strategy, such as opportunism, generalism and long-distance mobility.

Reports of serious and widespread insect declines have been a source of concern for years, but long-term changes in migratory insect communities-which are important components of large-scale ecosystem functioning-are still little understood. Most migratory insects fly at high altitudes, making quantitative investigation problematic. Aerial trapping is the oldest sampling method, and generally still the only one that can provide information on species identity and adequately sample the smaller species. However, aerial sampling is laborious, and thus sampling periods are usually not continuous and sampling sites are sparsely scattered worldwide. To address these issues, we integrated existing data obtained by sampling from aerial platforms (and some high-mountain netting in East Asia) in a comprehensive analysis. We found that, between 1926 and 2017, the aerial density of high-flying migratory insects from samples taken about 200 m above Europe (eastern United Kingdom), North America (southern and central United States), and Asia (east-central China, India, and the Philippines), remained relatively stable overall. Additionally, some key migratory agricultural pests have significantly increased over this period, indicating that the non-pest portion of the aerial migrant community may have declined. Changes in the community structure of high-altitude migratory insects will be closely associated with large-scale ecosystem changes. Thus, apart from continued long-term monitoring of agricultural insect pests and the development of diversified prevention and control methods, there is a need to protect the diversity of non-pest and beneficial migratory insects.

The navigational mechanisms employed by nocturnal insect migrants remain to be elucidated in most species. Nocturnal insect migrants are often considered to use the Earth’s geomagnetic field for navigation, yet the underlying mechanisms of magnetoreception in insects remain elusive. We developed an indoor experimental system to investigate the integration of geomagnetic and visual cues in the seasonal orientation of a globally distributed pest moth, the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a highly invasive species which in the past decade has colonized almost all potentially habitable regions of the globe. Our results demonstrate that fall armyworms require both geomagnetic and visual cues for accurate migratory orientation, with visual cues being indispensable for magnetic orientation. When visual and geomagnetic cues are placed in conflict moths become disoriented, although not immediately, indicating that sensory recognition of the conflict requires time to process. We also show that the absence of visual cues leads to a significant loss of flight stability, which likely explains the disruption in orientation. Our findings highlight the essential and conserved role of visual cues in maintaining stable magnetic orientation in nocturnal migratory moths.

BACKGROUND:Species distribution models (SDMs) are widely used in pest management to predict outbreak areas. Migratory pests cause seasonal crop damage through long-distance migration, making it crucial to understand their seasonal activity when estimating outbreak regions. Fall armyworm (FAW), a highly migratory pest, was studied using SDMs to predict its seasonal distribution in the central and eastern USA and explore the environmental factors influencing its distribution. RESULTS:We used monthly environmental and species distribution data to model each month or season individually. Based on model results, the suitable habitat for FAW expands rapidly in summer, covering most of the central and eastern USA in July and August, and then begins to contract in September. Based on the environmental variables included in models for different seasons, FAW distribution in winter is mainly influenced by minimum temperature. In spring, rainfed corn cultivation area and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) also play important roles. In summer, minimum temperature is no longer important, and the main factors are precipitation, evapotranspiration, rainfed corn cultivation area, and NDVI. In autumn, minimum temperature becomes important again, while rainfed corn cultivation area is no longer a key factor. CONCLUSION:This study indicates that FAW may have outbreaks across the central and eastern USA in July and August, emphasizing the necessity of implementing early large-scale pest control. Using separate models for each season, rather than a single model to predict whether seasonal distribution could improve prediction accuracy by identifying key environmental variables in each season and refining niche characterization. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

The fall armyworm (FAW), an important migratory pest native to the Americas, was first detected in a nonnative region (West Africa) in 2016. In the following years, it quickly spread to multiple regions worldwide. FAW exhibits long-distance seasonal migration in both the Americas and Asia, primarily to take advantage of suitable seasonal habitats as they appear along the migratory pathways. Tropical West Africa experiences minimal annual temperature variation and has widely distributed potential year-round habitats, leading us to hypothesize that the migration capacity of FAW populations in this region may be substantially reduced. To test our hypothesis, we assessed the flight performance of FAW collected from Ghana in West Africa with tethered flight mills and compared it to that of a FAW population from southern China. Additionally, we quantified the relationships between morphological characteristics and flight performance of the FAW from Ghana. Based on observed flight behaviors, we categorized FAW into migratory and non-migratory types. The flight capabilities of first-generation Ghanaian FAW bred in the laboratory were similar to that of the field population from Yunnan, Southwest China, with migrants making up the majority. However, after several generations of laboratory rearing, the flight capability of the Ghanaian population significantly declined, primarily due to a marked increase in the proportion of non-migratory individuals. The low correlation between morphological variables and flight duration suggests that genetic factors likely determine most variations in flight propensity. The results of this study indicate that FAW with high migratory capacity in West Africa is likely to pose a threat to crops in eradication zones and neighboring uninvaded areas and may possibly be capable of crossing the Sahara Desert and invading Europe. Therefore, it is crucial to establish comprehensive pest early warning and management systems.

Many insect migrants rely on favorable seasonal winds to carry out long-range latitudinal migrations. In East China, the annual advance and retreat of the East Asian summer monsoon produces ideal conditions for seasonal range expansion and contraction of many migratory crop pests. However, climate-induced changes in the strength, timing, and location of the monsoon are impacting wind systems which may, in turn, affect migration patterns. We investigated these questions in the rice leafroller (RLR) moth, a severe pest of rice that annually invades the Lower Yangtze River Valley (LYRV) of China from winter-breeding areas further south. Using a 24-y dataset of RLR population dynamics from 31 monitoring stations across Southeast China, we investigated the impact of changes in monsoon wind regimes on fall migration patterns of the pest. Historically, RLR emigrated from the LYRV to South China on the favorably directed winds produced by the retreat of the monsoon at the end of the outbreak season (from mid-August onward). We show that in the recent 12-y period, prevailing late-season winds remain northward for longer than previously, preventing locally produced moths from emigrating southward. Additionally, winds now facilitate mass late-season immigrations into the LYRV, creating an ecological trap, as immigrants do not have time to produce another generation. As a consequence of the changing wind patterns, pest pressure is declining, and climate-induced changes to the East Asian summer monsoon result in seasonal migration becoming a riskier strategy. Such changes in insect migration patterns have severe implications for the population dynamics of windborne migrants, ecosystem functioning, and pest management strategies.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important invasive migratory pest that poses a serious threat to global food security. However, behavioral and physiological responses to seasonal changes in photoperiod have received little attention in FAW. Here, we present behavioral evidence that FAW under shorter photoperiods (12L:12D and 10L:14D) exhibited stronger flight capacity and pathogen resistance to Beauveria bassiana compared to those under longer photoperiods (16L:8D and 14L:10D), but weaker reproductive performance. After prolonged flight, shorter photoperiods facilitated the reproduction of flying females compared to the controls (nonflying moths), while longer photoperiods suppressed reproduction. Short photoperiod reduced larval mortality and pupal weight of FAW but increased adult emergence rate. Our results indicate that shorter photoperiods enhance the migration propensity for improved survival in FAW, and provide insights into how photoperiod controls seasonal changes in behavior and physiology that lead to seasonal adaptation in this globally important pest.

Insect migration is crucial to many natural processes and human activities, yet large-scale patterns remain poorly understood. On the Mediterranean’s eastern shores lies a 70 km-wide stretch of hospitable habitat between the sea and the Arabian Desert, which we term the Levantine Corridor, extending ~400 km south from Turkey to the edge of the Sahara. We deployed 7 biological radars over 8 years, recording 6.3 million individual large insects (>10 mg) and revealing an important migration route at the nexus of three continents, with over 700 million large insects estimated to cross annually. However, a comparison with European insect migration flows suggests that Levantine insect fluxes are lower than at higher latitudes, challenging the conjecture that the Levantine Corridor acts as a funnel for insect migration as reported for birds. Insects showed strong migratory directionality differing from prevailing wind direction in spring and autumn, with mass migrations separated by periods of weaker movements. Migration intensity strongly depended on the weather, with insects preferentially migrating in seasonally beneficial tailwinds when possible and in warmer temperatures. The study reveals an unexplored insect migration route with implications for food webs, pollination, disease transmission, pest outbreaks and species invasions across West Asia, East Europe and Northeast Africa.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue threaten billions of people and cause the death of hundreds of thousands annually. Recent studies have revealed that many mosquito species regularly engage in high-altitude wind-borne migration, but its epidemiological significance remains unclear. The hypothesis that high-flying mosquitoes spread pathogens over long distances has not been directly tested. Here, we report that high-flying mosquitoes are commonly infected with arboviruses, protozoans, and helminths and provide a insights into this pathogen-vector aerial network. A total of 1,017 female mosquitoes intercepted on nets suspended from helium balloons at 120 to 290 m above ground over Mali and Ghana were screened for infection with arboviruses, Haemosporida, and filariae. The mosquitoes collected at altitude comprised 61 species, across 10 genera, dominated by Culex, Aedes, and Anopheles. Infection and infectiousness (capacity to transmit a pathogen to another host inferred based on disseminated infection) rates of migrant mosquitoes were 7.2% and 4.4% with Plasmodium spp., 1.6% and 0.6% with filariae, and 3.5% and 1.1% with flaviviruses, respectively. Twenty-one mosquito-borne pathogens were identified, including Dengue, West Nile, and M'Poko viruses, 15 avian Plasmodium species including Plasmodium matutinum, and three filariids, including Pelecitus sp. Confirmed head-thorax (disseminated) infections of multiple pathogens in Culex perexiguus, Mansonia uniformis, and Anopheles squamosus reveal that pathogens carried by high-altitude wind-borne mosquitoes are capable of infecting hosts far from their departure location. This high-altitude traffic of sylvatic pathogens (circulating in wild animals) may be key to their maintenance among enzootic foci as well as initiating outbreaks at distant locations.

Weather radars are increasingly used to study the spatial-temporal dynamics of airborne birds and insects. These two taxa often co-occur and separating their contributions is crucial for reliable interpretation of their movement patterns. Most studies have restricted analyses to locations, seasons, and periods in which one or the other taxa dominates. In this study, we describe an analytical method to estimate the proportion of birds and insects in cases where both taxa share the same airspace. Our approach partitions vertical profiles of biological reflectivity into bird and insect components, using assumptions of downwind heading selection by insects and information on expected airspeeds for birds and insects. We evaluated our method in regions, where existing approaches of studying bird migration with weather radars can be particularly challenging due to high airborne insect density: the tropics (Colombia) and the southern temperate zone (Southeast Australia). We found that bird and insect signals routinely reached similar magnitudes in these regions. Retrieved patterns of bird and insect occurrence across daily and annual cycles reflected expected biological patterns that are indicative of migratory and non-migratory movements in both climates and migration systems, particularly broad-front migration in birds. Contrary to fixed airspeed thresholding, we were able to partition birds along the full range of bird-insect proportions, retaining more spatial-temporal complexity that was crucial to revealing the aerial habitat use of both taxa. Our analytical procedure readily extends existing vertical profiling approaches, empowering ecologists to explore complex aerial ecosystems across a diverse range of climates, as well as potential diurnal movements of birds and insects that remain heavily understudied. center dot We developed a simple analytical method for partitioning bird and insect signals in weather radar data.center dot The approach is based on minimal assumptions about the flight speeds and directions of birds and insects.center dot We tested the method in regions with high insect density: the American tropics (Colombia) and southern temperate zone (Southeast Australia).center dot After partitioning, we found bird and insect movements captured expected patterns of daily and annual movements, which were indicative of migratory and non-migratory movement of both taxa.center dot Unlike fixed airspeed criteria for bird and insect separation, our approach provides a more detailed understanding of aerial habitat use by both birds and insects.center dot The methodology is readily applied post-hoc to vertical profile retrievals and easily implemented in existing software packages, helping ecologists study bird and insect movements, where their separation in air space has previously proved challenging. Los radares meteorol & oacute;gicos se utilizan cada vez m & aacute;s para estudiar la din & aacute;mica espacio-temporal de aves e insectos en el aire. Estos dos taxones suelen presentarse en simult & aacute;neo, y separar sus contribuciones es crucial para una interpretaci & oacute;n fiable de sus patrones de movimiento. La mayor & iacute;a de los estudios han restringido sus an & aacute;lisis a ubicaciones, estaciones y per & iacute;odos en los que uno de los dos taxones domina. En este estudio, describimos un m & eacute;todo anal & iacute;tico para estimar la proporci & oacute;n de aves e insectos en casos en los que ambos taxones comparten el mismo espacio a & eacute;reo. Nuestro enfoque divide los perfiles verticales de reflectividad biol & oacute;gica en componentes de aves e insectos, utilizando suposiciones sobre la selecci & oacute;n de rumbo a favor del viento por parte de los insectos e informaci & oacute;n sobre las velocidades a & eacute;reas esperadas para aves e insectos. Evaluamos nuestro m & eacute;todo en regiones donde los enfoques actuales para estudiar la migraci & oacute;n de aves con radares meteorol & oacute;gicos pueden resultar particularmente dif & iacute;ciles debido a la alta densidad de insectos en el aire: los tr & oacute;picos (Colombia) y la zona templada del sur (sureste de Australia). Encontramos que las se & ntilde;ales de aves e insectos alcanzaban magnitudes similares de manera rutinaria en estas regiones. Los patrones obtenidos de la presencia de aves e insectos a lo largo de los ciclos diarios y anuales reflejaron patrones biol & oacute;gicos esperados que son indicativos de movimientos migratorios y no migratorios en ambos climas y sistemas de migraci & oacute;n, en particular la migraci & oacute;n de frente amplio en las aves. A diferencia del umbral fijo de velocidad a & eacute;rea, fuimos capaces de separar las aves en todo el rango de proporciones entre aves e insectos, manteniendo una mayor complejidad espacio-temporal, lo que fue crucial para revelar el uso del h & aacute;bitat a & eacute;reo por parte de ambos taxones. Nuestro procedimiento anal & iacute;tico ampl & iacute;a f & aacute;cilmente los enfoques actuales de perfilado vertical, facilitando a los ec & oacute;logos la exploraci & oacute;n de ecosistemas a & eacute;reos complejos en una amplia variedad de climas, as & iacute; como los posibles movimientos diurnos de aves e insectos, que siguen estando poco estudiados.

Salt marsh mosquitoes must adapt to the ephemeral conditions of coastal areas. Historical findings from mark-release-recapture experiments, combined with accidental captures out at sea, suggest that salt marsh mosquitoes use wind-borne migration as one strategy to cope with temporally harsh environments. Considering the recent evidence reappraising the scale of wind-borne mosquito movement, we review the evidence for salt marsh mosquito migration and the possible evolutionary drivers. Source: Created with BioRender.com.

Aim: Migratory birds are declining globally. In regions where bird migration patterns remain poorly documented, comprehensive data and tools are needed to advance conservation efforts, support sustainable development and fulfil international biodiversity commitments. We aim to enhance understanding of migratory birds in understudied regions by quantifying migration dynamics and identifying overlooked species, using Eastern Australia as a model to demonstrate how multi-method approaches can resolve uncertainties in migration patterns. Location: Eastern Australia. Time Period: 2018-2022. Major Taxa Studied: Migratory birds. Methods: We estimated migration phenology from eBird data in ten regions across Eastern Australia based on abundance changes of species throughout the year; we cross-validated phenology estimates with those estimated from movement traffic measured by weather radar. We identified species with movement indicative of migration in each region and investigated their legal protection status in Australia. Results: Radar and eBird data showed strong correlations in mid-latitude regions (Victoria to Southeast Queensland), with median migration dates aligning closely, but weaker agreement in Tasmania and tropical Queensland. We identified 311 species with fluctuations of relative abundance suggestive of migration-far exceeding prior estimates-averaging > 90 migratory species per region. Eleven of 18 avian orders included migratory taxa, but legal protection varied: 70% of migratory Charadriiformes (e.g., internationally migrating shorebirds) were listed under national law. In contrast, Passeriformes, Psittaciformes, Anseriformes, primarily moving within Australia, have lower representation, with only 19% of identified Passeriformes formally protected. Main Conclusions: This study uncovers a hidden diversity of migratory birds in Australia, many of which lack formal protections, especially short-distance and intracontinental migrants. We recommend additional conservation measures and targeted surveys focused on these species to better assess threats and support nature-positive development, including potentially impactful renewable energy projects. Our approach-combining radar and citizen science data-offers a replicable framework to document and protect poorly understood migratory systems globally.

BACKGROUND:The occurrence of migratory takeoff behavior is the essential first step for long-distance migration of insects. However, its characteristics, frequency of occurrence, and the identity of environmental and physiological factors influencing this process remain largely unknown. RESULTS:We investigate the global pest fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) as an exemplar species to investigate the behavioral traits associated with migratory takeoff of nocturnally migrating moths in year-round breeding areas. Our studies of FAW were carried out in Yunnan (2020-2022) and Hainan (2023) provinces of South China. Most migratory FAW moths were observed to takeoff at the age of Day (D)1-3, with the highest migratory proportion on D2, whereas mating behavior mostly happened during the first half night on D1. Typically, the migratory individuals took off within 40 min after sunset when the illumination fell below 2.7 lx, reaching its peak within 15 min. The optimal conditions for their takeoff are warm and dry weather with gentle winds. Yunnan and Hainan field populations showed a similar seasonal pattern in their migratory proportion, with the highest proportion in spring, and then decreasing as the seasons progress. Additionally, FAW moths emerging from caterpillars fed on maize plants at V14-R1 stages showed a higher migratory proportion than those from larvae fed on maize plants at other growth stages. Compared with nonmigratory individuals, migratory ones had slightly longer forewings (marginally significant) and flew faster, with higher wingbeat frequency, but other morphological characteristics and flight parameters were similar. CONCLUSION:The study of FAW moths in Yunnan and Hainan from 2020 to 2023 found that migratory moths take off under specific conditions and show a seasonal pattern, with those from certain maize stages having higher migratory proportion, longer forewings and faster flight. These findings advance our understanding of the migratory takeoff behavior of FAW and, thus, provide a basis for the accurate prediction and management of the migratory dynamics. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Many insects depend on high-altitude, migratory movements during part of their life cycle. The daily timing of these migratory movements is not random, e.g. many insect species show peak migratory flight activity at dawn, noon or dusk. These insects provide essential ecosystem services such as pollination but also contribute to crop damage. Quantifying the diel timing of their migratory flight and its geographical and seasonal variation, are hence key towards effective conservation and pest management. Vertical-looking radars provide continuous and automated measurements of insect migration, but large-scale application has not been possible because of limited availability of suitable devices. Here, we quantify patterns in diel flight periodicity of migratory insects between 50 and 500 m above ground level during March-October 2021 using a network of 17 vertical-looking radars across Europe. Independent of the overall daily migratory movements and location, peak migratory movements occur around noon, during crepuscular evening and occasionally the morning. Relative daily proportions of insect migration intensity and traffic during the diel phases of crepuscular-morning, day, crepuscular-evening and night remain largely equal throughout May-September and across Europe. These findings highlight, extend, and generalize previous regional-scale findings on diel migratory insect movement patterns to the whole of temperate Europe. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.

Invasive insects threaten ecosystem stability, public health, and food security. Documenting newly invasive species and understanding how they reach into new territories, establish populations, and interact with other species remain vitally important. Here, we report on the invasion of the South American leafhopper, Curtara insularis into Africa, where it has established populations in Ghana, encroaching inland at least 350 km off the coast. Importantly, 80% of the specimens collected were intercepted between 160 and 190 m above ground. Further, the fraction of this species among all insects collected was also higher at altitude, demonstrating its propensity to engage in high-altitude windborne dispersal. Its aerial densities at altitude translate into millions of migrants/km over a year, representing massive propagule pressure. Given the predominant south-westerly winds, these sightings suggest an introduction of C. insularis into at least one of the Gulf of Guinea ports. To assess the contribution of windborne dispersal to its spread in a new territory, we examine records of C. insularis range-expansion in the USA. Reported first in 2004 from central Florida, it reached north Florida (Panhandle) by 2008–2011 and subsequently spread across the southeastern and south-central US. Its expansion fits a “diffusion-like” process with 200—300 km long “annual displacement steps”—a pattern consistent with autonomous dispersal rather than vehicular transport. Most “steps” are consistent with common wind trajectories from the nearest documented population, assuming 2—8 hours of wind-assisted flight at altitude. Curtara insularis has been intercepted at US ports and on trucks. Thus, it uses multiple dispersal modalities, yet its rapid overland spread is better explained by its massive propagule pressure linked with its high-altitude windborne dispersal. We propose that high-altitude windborne dispersal is common yet under-appreciated in invasive insect species.