Intensive laboratory rearing often reduces key phenotypic traits in farmed insects. We tested royal jelly (RJ) as a nutritional intervention in Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), assessing life-history traits and gut microbiota. Larvae were supplemented with RJ at 0%, 1%, 5%, or 10% (w/w, of the total bovine liver paste diet); a subset of emerging adults continued to receive the same RJ dose, creating "larval-only" and "larval + adult" dietary regimens. Although RJ did not alter mean larval weight at dispersal, it significantly accelerated larval growth and increased pupation rate. Adult lifespan was extended by larval supplementation and further prolonged when RJ was provided to both larvae and adults. Fecundity followed the same pattern: the "larval + adult" regimen exceeded the corresponding "larval-only" dose across concentrations. Dose-response relationships were non-linear, with modest gains at 1% and a plateau between 5% and 10%, indicating a mid-range optimum. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that RJ reduced gut α-diversity and shifted community composition; control-enriched taxa were suppressed under RJ. Functional predictions indicated that RJ-treated larvae harbored a gut microbiota with reduced metabolic potential, suggesting less microbial nutrient use and a lower immune challenge to the host. Together, results suggest that RJ is a promising tool to improve mass-rearing efficiency. Under our experimental conditions, a 5% RJ diet applied at both larval and adult stages appears to be an effective starting formulation, with the observed gains likely reflecting both direct nutritional benefits and microbiome restructuring.

Drosophila suzukii Matsumura poses a significant threat to various soft-skinned fruit crops, causing substantial economic losses worldwide. Behavioral management using the repellent 2-pentylfuran has shown potential to manage this invasive pest. This 2-year study aimed to improve the effectiveness of 2-pentylfuran and identify cost-efficient deployment tools. In 2022, we evaluated automated canister puffers in isolated raspberry plantings and in semi-field cage trials using choice and no-choice assays. In 2023, we tested polyvinyl chloride spiral dispensers combined with below canopy insecticide applications in a large-scale raspberry planting, assessing D. suzukii infestations 72 h after 2-pentylfuran deployment. In addition, we monitored natural enemy and pollinator activities in both years using yellow sticky cards and visual counts, respectively. Treatments using 2-pentylfuran delivered by either puffers or spirals resulted in a small reduction in D. suzukii infestation, particularly in fall-bearing raspberries. However, combining 2-pentylfuran with insecticide in 2023 did not significantly improve efficacy. In semi-field trials, puffer density significantly reduced infestation in choice assays, while puffing frequency had no significant effect in either choice or no-choice assays. Importantly, 2-pentylfuran did not adversely affect the activity of beneficial insects and increased parasitism by the larval parasitoid Leptopilina japonica Novković & Kimura, potentially complementing biological control. Our findings suggest that further optimization of deployment strategies may facilitate the commercial integration of 2-pentylfuran into D. suzukii management programs.

Almonds (Prunus dulcis) (Mill.) are an economically important crop in California, with an estimated value of $8.6 billion dollars annually. The aim of this study was to identify the hemipteran pest and beneficial species in conventionally managed almond orchards when the developing almond crop was vulnerable to feeding damage. Insects were collected in 9 orchards by multiple methods and then Hemiptera were sorted to morphospecies. The DNA barcode of the mitochondrial DNA COI gene was sequenced for each specimen. For each species, the haplotype diversity was determined. A high diversity of Hemiptera was collected, including 26 species from 12 families. Pest species included Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Chinavia hilaris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Lygus hesperus Knight, and Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Coreidae); beneficials included Brochymena quadripustulata (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), Orius spp. Wolff (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Nabis spp. Latreille (Hemiptera: Nabidae) and Geocoris atricolor Montandon (Hemiptera: Geocoridae). Several orchards had high species diversity (13 species), others had only one species recovered. Haplotype diversity was low in most pest species except for L. hesperus (0.6) and was high in 2 beneficial groups, Nabis spp. and Orius tristicolor (White) (0.6 to 0.76). Hemipteran pests were detected through the time when developing almonds were susceptible to feeding damage, while beneficial Hemiptera were more abundant later. Correct identification of insect species is an integral component to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to trace the origin of invasive species, uncover cryptic species, and to develop a relationship between species and crop damage.

Amid growing concerns over environmental change and increasing food demand, the development of sustainable agricultural practices is becoming increasingly urgent. Black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is widely recognized for its ability to convert organic waste into high-value protein for animal feed. However, the potential of BSF by-products, including frass/exuviae, as soil amendments remains insufficiently studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different BSF by-products on plant growth, photosynthesis, pest performance, and defense-related hormone dynamics. We tested BSF frass/exuviae subjected to fermentation and granulation, alongside unprocessed materials, using bok choy (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis cv. Chun Xiu) and its pest, the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), as a model system. Plant performance, photosynthetic traits, aphid population growth, defense gene expression, and hormone levels were measured across treatments. Processing by fermentation or granulation did not alter plant growth or photosynthetic performance compared with unprocessed BSF by-products. Across treatments, BSF by-products promoted lower overall plant growth than conventional chemical fertilizers but significantly increased the root-to-shoot ratio. Aphid population growth and several defense-related genes were not significantly affected. However, salicylic acid (SA) levels were elevated in treated plants even in the absence of herbivory, indicating activation of defense pathways. Our findings indicate that black BSF frass/exuviae represent functionally relevant insect-derived inputs capable of contributing to crop protection. By altering plant biomass allocation and inducing SA-associated defenses, these by-products may indirectly affect herbivore performance.

Aggregation behavior is common in insects, and plays a key role in population dynamics. Ophraella communa LeSage is an important biocontrol agent against common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), yet its aggregation behavior and density-dependent responses remain poorly understood. This study examined aggregation and intersexual attraction in O. communa and evaluated the effects of larval densities on its development and reproduction using a 2-sex life table approach. Behavioral assays showed that both males and females were significantly attracted to conspecifics of either sex, with no difference in attractiveness between genders. Attraction responses were density-dependent, at low density (5 individuals), only males attracted females, whereas at high density (50 individuals), both sexes attracted conspecifics of both sexes. Life table analysis revealed that larval density significantly influenced the development and reproduction. At a density of 10 individuals per branch, larval and pre-adult stages shortened, adult longevity increased, and pupal and adult survival peaked. Fecundity was significantly higher at densities of 5 and 10, with the longest oviposition period at density 5. Life table parameters reached their maximum at density 10, while density 25 supported prolonged reproductive activity. Adult body weight, body length, and head width also varied with density. Males exhibited the highest body weight at a density of 10, while females showed the greatest body length and head width at the same density. This study enhances our understanding of the aggregation behavior and density-dependent population dynamics of O. communa, and provide basis for optimizing mass rearing to improve biological control of A. artemisiifolia.

Planthoppers transmit pathogens to various economically important crops. In Central Europe, the sugar beet, Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris var. altissima (Döll) (Amaranthaceae: Caryophyllales) and potato production are threatened by diseases associated with the γ-proteobacterium "Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus" and the phytoplasma "Candidatus Phytoplasma solani". Infections cause yellowing and wilting, reduce sugar yield in sugar beet, induce rubbery taproots in potato, and can lead to plant decline. In Austria, the cixiid Reptalus quinquecostatus (Dufour) is considered a main vector of these pathogens. While several plant species have been reported as feeding or shelter plants for adult R. quinquecostatus, no reproductive host plant supporting nymphal development has previously been confirmed. In this study, we investigated whether sugar beet is a potential host plant for the development of R. quinquecostatus. Host plant trials were conducted using potted sugar beet plants placed outdoors in insect cages. Four cages were infested with a total of 15 adult Reptalus spp. (10 females and 5 males) per cage to allow oviposition. Egg masses and nymphs were observed in 75% of the cages during the trial period. After 366 ± 3.46 (SD) d, 4 adult R. quinquecostatus emerged from 2 out of 4 cages. Our findings provide the first experimental evidence that sugar beet can function as a reproductive host plant for R. quinquecostatus.

Integrating entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) into crop protection programs requires ensuring their compatibility with insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides to enable simultaneous applications and reduce operational costs. Compatibility is typically assessed by incorporating pesticides into growth media and measuring toxicity through germination, growth, and sporulation (Biological Index). However, field applications mainly expose conidia directly to pesticides, potentially leading to mismatches between laboratory and real-world outcomes. Here, we evaluated the compatibility of 5 fungicides (copper oxychloride, fosetyl + proamocarb, potassium phosphonate, difenoconazole, and fluopyram + tebuconazole) and 4 herbicides (diflufenican, oxyfluorfen, MCPA, and glyphosate) with 2 virulent EPF strains (Metarhizium brunneum and Beauveria bassiana) selected for efficacy against olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae), comparing the conventional medium-amendment approach (MAA) with a direct conidial-pesticide mixture method (CPM), and relating both to in vivo biological activity. For M. brunneum, only one of 4 herbicides was compatible using MAA, whereas CPM classified all 4 as compatible. Of the 5 fungicides, MAA classified 3 as compatible and 2 as toxic, while CPM classified 3 as compatible and 2 as moderately toxic. In vivo bioassays using adults of the tephritid model Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) indicated that CPM results aligned more closely with observed efficacy. B. bassiana showed similar results, with lower virulence and fungicide compatibility, and CPM again better reflecting in vivo biological activity. Overall, results suggest that CPM may provide a more realistic approach than MAA for assessing EPF compatibility with agrochemicals and could facilitate EPF integration into crop protection.

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are major pests of soybean in the southeastern United States, causing $279 million in soybean costs and losses over the past 6 years. Current field-based direct scouting techniques could be supported by indirect monitoring systems. This study evaluated the effectiveness of seven pheromone trap types (delta, black pyramid, yellow pyramid, blue, clear, yellow, and white sticky cards) and two lure types/formulation to capture stink bugs across 68 soybean fields. From August to December 2023 and 2024, we checked the traps twice a month, counted stink bugs, identified stink bug species, and recorded trap captures at each soybean growth stage. Stink bug abundance varied by trap and lure combination. Pyramid traps captured the greatest species diversity. Trap captures also varied across soybean reproductive stages, with species-specific peaks occurring from flowering (R1) to maturity (R7). The dual-component lure (murgantiol <1%, methyl E, E, Z-2,4,6-decatrienoate <1%) consistently attracted more stink bugs than the single-component lure (methyl 2-E, 4Z-decadienoate <1%). These findings demonstrate that ground-deployed pyramid traps combined with dual-component lures may be effective tools for monitoring economically important stink bug species. Future research should explore the correlation between trap captures and in-field stink bug densities.

The Agromyzidae are a diverse family of small flies whose larvae mine plant tissues, often with a high degree of host specificity. However, several species of Liriomyza-including the vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae Blanchard), pea leafminer (Liriomyza huidobrensis [Blanchard]), American serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii [Burgess]) and tomato leafminer (Liriomyza bryoniae [Kaltenbach]) - are highly polyphagous and pose significant biosecurity risks to Australian agriculture. The stone leek leafminer (Liriomyza chinensis [Kato]), though host-specific to Allium spp., is also a concern. Effective surveillance and diagnosis are challenging due to the flies' small size, rapid life cycles, and morphological similarities. While previous quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays have enabled detection of L. sativae, L. trifolii, and L. huidobrensis, and the non-pest species Liriomyza brassicae (Riley) (cabbage leafminer), we extend this capability by developing species-specific assays for L. bryoniae and L. chinensis. The new assays were highly specific across 16 agromyzid species collected globally and demonstrated strong sensitivity. A revised assay for L. huidobrensis, targeting the mitochondrial ND5 region, eliminated cross-reactivity observed with the original qPCR assay. We also validated a simplified DNA extraction method suitable for field use and demonstrated successful in-field diagnosis using the portable FranklinTMthree9 real-time PCR themocycler. These assays have already proven valuable during post-incursion surveys and general surveillance efforts. Together, they provide a flexible and rapid diagnostic toolkit to support the early detection and management of Liriomyza pests in Australia and elsewhere.

Management of corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in fresh-market sweet corn requires multiple, precisely timed applications of effective insecticides. An alternative method to manage H. zea is sweet corn hybrids that express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins, but this approach has become limited because H. zea populations have developed resistance to multiple Bt toxins. We hypothesized that spraying a marginally performing Bt hybrid with an effective insecticide would provide a level of H. zea control that neither approach could achieve independently. To test this idea, we compared H. zea control using Cry1A.105+Cry2Ab2 Bt sweet corn treated with chlorantraniliprole following either a 7, 4, or 2-3 day silk-stage spray schedule with control following the same spray schedule and the non-Bt isoline. This study was conducted in high and low H. zea pressure environments in 2024 and 2025. Results showed that the combination of insecticidal sprays and the Bt hybrid provided minimal additional benefit relative to the sprays alone. We did find that weekly applications of chlorantraniliprole resulted in measurable reductions in H. zea damage, but the benefit of additional sprays dissipated with increasing frequency. This effect was most apparent where H. zea pressure was low and there was no statistical separation among spray interval treatments. Our results highlight the challenge of producing undamaged sweet corn, even when a Bt hybrid is treated intensively with an insecticide. Outcomes show that existing action thresholds may need revision to include additional variables that are sensitive to current input and damage costs.