Anoplophora horsfieldii (Hope, 1843) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a destructive wood-boring pest that causes extensive damage to forestry resources and threatens the health of forest ecosystems. With the accelerating effects of climate change, its spread and potential invasion could severely affect forest ecosystems and threaten the timber industry. In this study, we constructed ensemble models to predict suitable areas for A. horsfieldii in China under current and future climate change, and analyzed the effects of bioclimatic factors on its habitat distribution. The results indicate that the AUC and TSS values of the ensemble model were 0.982 and 0.865, respectively, and the bioclimatic factors affecting the distribution of A. horsfieldii were the mean diurnal range (Bio2), mean temperature of the wettest quarter (Bio8), and mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio9). In the current period, the suitable habitat of A. horsfieldii is concentrated in central and southern China, and it is expected that climate change in the future will significantly change its distribution pattern, with an increase of 16.09% to 74.74% in suitable habitat and shifting towards higher latitudes. Additionally, the analysis of the multivariate environmental similarity surfaces and most dissimilar variables confirmed that the bioclimatic conditions of future expansion areas closely resemble those of the current distribution. These findings elucidate the response patterns of A. horsfieldii to climate change and provide a scientific basis for regional prevention and control strategies. The study provides crucial insights into mitigating the potential threats posed by this invasive pest to forest ecosystem stability and economic sustainability.

Pesticide resistance in agricultural pests has become a growing concern, as many species have developed resistance to most commercially available insecticides. Phthorimaea absoluta Meyrick, the tomato leaf miner, is one of the most destructive pests of tomato crops, capable of causing severe damage and even complete yield loss. This species has shown high levels of resistance to various insecticides, complicating effective pest management. Chlorfenapyr is a pro-insecticide that disrupts mitochondrial ATP production, ultimately leading to insect death. This study evaluated the lethal, sublethal, and histopathological effects of a chlorfenapyr-based insecticide on P. absoluta larvae through oral exposure. Lethal concentrations were determined using a concentration-mortality bioassay, and the LC50 value(3.72 ppm) was applied to assess histopathological alterations in the midgut. Chlorfenapyr-based insecticide exhibited high toxicity against P. absoluta. Histopathological and histochemical analyses revealed midgut epithelial damage, morphological alterations associated with cell degeneration, as well as the elimination of mycetocytes, which may play roles in digestion and xenobiotic detoxification. These findings provide one of the first histopathological characterizations of pesticide effects in this species and in microlepidoptera more broadly, reinforcing the potential use of chlorfenapyr within integrated pest management strategies.

The sunflower looper, Rachiplusia nu (Guenée, 1852) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has evolved practical resistance to the Cry1Ac toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) expressed in soybean in Brazil and neighboring countries. In view of this, the use of chemical or biological insecticides is required for their control. In 2023, a bioinsecticide based on Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV: Baculoviridae: Alphabaculovirus) was registered for the control of R. nu in Brazil. To support the use of this new insecticide, we conducted diet-overlay bioassays to characterize the baseline susceptibility of Brazilian populations of R. nu to AcMNPV and establish a diagnostic concentration for resistance monitoring. Additionally, we evaluated cross-resistance between AcMNPV and Cry1Ac by testing AcMNPV in both Cry1Ac-susceptible and -resistant populations of R. nu. The tested field populations of R. nu were susceptible to AcMNPV. The LC50 of AcMNPV ranged from 1.9 × 107 to 7.9 × 107 occlusion bodies (OBs)/mL, indicating a low (< 4.2-fold) interpopulation variation in susceptibility. The diagnostic concentration of AcMNPV established, based on the calculated LC99 (1.6 × 109OBs/mL), caused > 97% mortality in field populations of R. nu. No cross-resistance was detected between AcMNPV and Cry1Ac Bt toxin in this species. These findings indicate that the AcMNPV-based bioinsecticide may be a valuable tool in integrated management programs to control R. nu and that the diagnostic concentration determined here is suitable for resistance monitoring.

A successful augmentative biological control program requires continuous and large-scale production of high-quality natural enemies, which depends on the development of appropriate storage techniques for these organisms and their hosts. In this study, we stored Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1978) eggs at low temperatures, to determine the most viable storage condition and the duration for which these eggs can be stored without reducing acceptance by the parasitoid Telenomus podisi Ashmead, 1893, as well as the quality of its progeny (individuals to be released in the field). Egg storage was evaluated under three conditions: a conventional freezer (-15°C), an ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezer (-80°C), and liquid nitrogen (-196°C) for a period of 12months. Parasitism of eggs stored under these three conditions was assessed at different intervals. The parasitoid parental (F0) generation was evaluated for parasitism, egg-to-adult development time, emergence, and sex ratio. In the progeny (F1), parasitism, emergence, and longevity in newly laid E. heros eggs were assessed. The ULT freezer and liquid-nitrogen storage conditions resulted in the highest parasitism rates of T. podisi in both the parental generation and its progeny. Storage in a conventional freezer was less suitable for parasitism and the viability of T. podisi. The results confirm that E. heros eggs can be stored in a ULT freezer or liquid nitrogen while maintaining theirquality, therebyenabling production and storage during the off-season.

Invasive alien species can significantly impact the environment, public health, and food production. Identifying high-risk areas is essential for implementing preventive measures, especially for species with several traits linked to invasive behavior, such as Spodoptera litura (F.). This study aimed to predict the potential global distribution of S. litura and assess its implications for five major crops in Brazil. Climatic suitability was estimated using the MaxEnt correlative algorithm, with fifty models generated by varying feature classes and regularization multiplier values. The best model selected based on the corrected Akaike Information Criterion demonstrated strong predictive performance, with high Area Under the Curve (AUCtrain = 0.92, AUCtest = 0.86) and Continuous Boyce Index (CBItrain = 0.95, CBItest = 0.75) values. Predictions identified highly and moderately suitable areas for S. litura across all continents, including regions where the species has not yet been recorded, such as the Neotropics. In Brazil, highly suitable areas include the mid-west, northeastern coast, and the southeastern and southern regions. Among the assessed crops, citrus (97.2%) had the greatest overlap with the suitable range for S. litura, followed by rice (94.2%), coffee (90.3%), and soybean (72.8%). These findings suggest that S. litura could cause significant economic damage if introduced and spread in Brazil. The results of this study can inform the development of preventive measures against the introduction and spread of this important agricultural pest, especially on high-risk areas near airports and seaports with intense international trade and in proximity to host crops.

Rhynocoris fuscipes (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)is an important predatory insect that targets Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in tobacco fields. Here, laboratory tests were conducted to identify the optimal temperature, duration, and developmental stage for the low-temperature storage of R. fuscipes. This study examined the effects of storage temperatures (7°C°C, 9°C, 11°C, 13°C, 15°C) and durations (5d, 10d, 15d, 20d, 25d, 30d) on the hatching rate, lifespansr and survival rates of fifth-instar nymphs and adult females, egg production, adult female median lethal time, and the predation capacity of adult female R. fuscipes on S. litura. The results showed that under various low-temperature conditions, storing adult R. fuscipes was more effective than storing nymphs or eggs, and the optimal storage temperature ranged from 13 to 15°C. At 15°C, the average lifespan of adult female R. fuscipes was 25.47days, with a median lethal time of 36.53days. The eclosion rate for R. fuscipes eggs stored at 15°C for 12days exceeded 78%. Storage temperature and duration significantly influenced the predation capacity of adult female R. fuscipes on S. litura. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the large-scale storage and transportation of R. fuscipes.

In forensic entomology (FE), understanding larval dispersal is crucial for determining key data such as the time, distance, trajectory, speed, and burial depth for pupation. This study aimed to characterize the mobility, horizontal dispersal and burial behaviour of larvae of two forensically important species of Sarcophagidae: Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (Wiedemann) and Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens (Wiedemann). To achieve that, we designed and assessed the efficacy of a Larval Mobility Arena (LMA). Third-instar larvae of each species were released in the centre of the LMA and the following variables were quantified: speed, trajectory orientation, distance travelled, time to reach the soil, and time to burial. Peckia (P.) chrysostoma showed a higher speed (x̄ = 1.58) (P = 0.002) and a greater total distance travelled (x̄ = 61.58) (P = 0.04) compared to P. (S.) lambens (speed x̄ = 1.31; total distance travelled x̄ = 53.21). Mobility in Peckia (P.) chrysostoma was oriented, with displacements concentrated towards specific directions in the arena, whereas P. (S.) lambens displayed a scattered dispersal. The larvae moved fast and quickly reached the substrate for pupation, but the time spent in the arena was longer for P. (S.) lambens (x̄ = 84.12) (P < 0.001). Larvae of both species immediately buried themselves once they encountered the substrate, with no differences in burrowing time (P = 0.68). These findings improve our understanding of larval behaviour and its applications in forensic entomology, supporting experts in locating larvae, inferring parameters of dispersal distances, and improving the accuracy of minimum post-mortem interval estimation.

There are still many gaps in knowledge about how different preservative solutions can guarantee sufficient DNA recovery for the taxonomic determination of flies of forensic importance. In the present study, we evaluated the recovery and amplification rates of mitochondrial DNA from larvae of the forensically important blow fly Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (Diptera, Calliphoridae), preserved for up to 47days in the solutions commonly used in routine forensic investigations. Some larvae (N = 88) were immediately placed in the preservative solution, while another group of larvae (N = 88) was killed by immersion in water heated up to 80°C for 30s before being preserved at room temperature. In general, it was possible to recover highly pure DNA from larvae subjected to almost all treatments, with yields varying proportionally across different storage intervals. Among the solutions that yielded the highest DNA and consequently achieved successful amplification rates were 99.3% ethanol (> 100ng/µL, with rates of 95%) and 70% ethanol (20-100ng/µL, with rates of 90%), primarily up to the 28-day storage interval. The worst DNA yields and low amplification rates (approximately 50%) were associated with the 47-day storage interval, despite the preservative method used, except for Kahle's solution, which presents no amplification at all. Our results suggest that ethanol at concentrations of 70-99.3% is the most efficient preservative for preserving the integrity and usability of forensically important larvae DNA for diagnostic purposes, particularly within a range of up to 28days.

We report the first records in Brazil of Diocalandra frumenti (Fabricius) and Polytus mellerborgii (Boheman), weevil species of potential phytosanitary concern. These detections were made through surveys in the Entomological Collection of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (CERPE) and targeted field inspections in northeast Brazil. These findings expand the known distribution of these weevils in Brazil and underscore the need for enhanced phytosanitary surveillance due to their potential impact on crop production in other countries and the implications for quarantine regulations.