Infestation Levels Research Articles

POSSIBLE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE Calacarus carinatus (PROSTIGMATA: ERIOPHYIDAE) ON THE FIRST HARVESTING OF TEA IN EASTERN BLACK SEA AREA

Tea Camellia sinensis L. is a perennial crop onrush by many arthropod pests. The eriophyid purple tea mite, C. carinatus lead to damage to the fresh tea leaves and had a brownish discoloration and and affected flaovur of tea. It also major tea pest together with Acaphylla theae in Indıa. This study focused on the population situations and chlorophly content changes related to the C. carinatus infestations. Study conducted during one year and collect tea leaves 6 different tea plantation areas in eastern Black Sea area. Individual count and chlorophyll content was performed same day after collecting for avoiding chlorophyll content changing and specimens dying during the preservation period. Study results showed that the C. carinatus found every season but population start to increase early february to reached to peak level end of march. It also showed that the population start to desrease early april and finally remains at very low levels throughout the summer. During the high population density time chlorophyll content was adversely affected by the infestation levels. Density dependent measurements also verify this situation according to the seven density category chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll content of the 0, 0-5 individual category showed the statisticall significant differences than the other density category. This work may help future tea prodution plan and its quality by focusing pest management.

Classifying Serrated Tussock Cover from Aerial Imagery Using RGB Bands, RGB Indices, and Texture Features

Monitoring the location and severity of invasive plant infestations is critical to the management of their spread. Remote sensing can be an effective tool for mapping invasive plants due to its capture speed, continuous coverage, and low cost, compared to ground-based surveys. Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) is a highly problematic invasive plant in Victoria, Australia, as it competes with the species in the communities that it invades. In this study, a workflow was developed and assessed for classifying the cover of serrated tussock in a mix of grazing pastures and grasslands. Using high-resolution RGB aerial imagery and vegetation field survey plots, random forest models were trained to classify the plots based on their fractional coverage of serrated tussock. Three random forest classifiers were trained by utilising spectral features (RGB bands and indices), texture features derived from the Grey-Level Co-occurrence Matrix, and a combination of all the features. The model trained on all the features achieved an overallaccuracy of 67% and a kappa score of 0.52 against a validation dataset. Plots with high and low infestation levels were classified more accurately than plots with moderate or no infestation. Notably, texture features proved more effective than spectral features for classification. The developed random forest model can be used for producing classified maps to depict the spatial distribution of serrated tussock infestation, thus supporting land managers in managing the infestation.

Seasonal Incidence of Tea Mosquito Bug, Helopeltis spp. in Guava, cv. L-49 at ARS- Hagari, Ballari, Karnataka, India

Guava production faces significant challenges due to insect pests, with the tea mosquito bug (TMB), Helopeltis spp. (Heteroptera: Miridae), posing a major threat by causing extensive damage. Both adult and nymph stages of TMB feed on young leaves, tender shoots, flower buds, and small fruits, leading to substantial plant stress. Infestation at the fruit’s early stages often causes premature drying and fruit drop, while damage to leaves and shoots results in drying and withering of shoots. TMB also causes visible black specks on flower buds that later merge, leading to bud desiccation, and its feeding punctures on fruits expand as fruits mature, forming corky patches that reduce marketable yield by up to 60–70%. Although TMB’s impact on guava is severe, limited information exists regarding its pest status and seasonal incidence. To address this, a study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Hagari, Ballari, Karnataka, to observe TMB incidence on guava. Bi-weekly observations from June 2019 to May 2021 recorded both affected and healthy plant parts, including young leaves, flower buds, and fruits. Over the two-year period, pest incidence on young leaves began in early July (4.11%) and peaked in the first fortnight of October (18.59%). Infestation on flower buds started in early August (8.29%) and reached a maximum (23.30%) by mid-October, while fruit infestation began at 8.89% in early August, peaking at 23.30% in mid-October. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between fruit infestation and temperature, while relative humidity and rainfall showed significant positive correlations with infestation levels.

Individual patterns of anadromy determine the cost of salmon lice exposure in brown trout

AbstractFacultative anadromous salmonids may alter migratory behavior to mitigate against detrimental infections of aquaculture‐derived salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis); however, this likely incurs negative growth and fitness consequences. This flexibility in migratory behavior also creates analytical challenges in estimating lice infestation levels and the consequences of exposure. We utilized simulated individual migration trajectories of facultatively anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta) (N = 8049), generated from spatial‐temporal fjord‐use models fitted to empirical tracking data (N = 517). These trajectories were superimposed with open‐access spatial‐temporal modeled lice densities. Individual accumulated lice exposure and infestation were simulated over a 6‐month period for smolts and annually for veteran migrant life‐stages. The degree of lice‐induced mortality was estimated according to year (2013–2015), population (N = 5), and life‐stage of brown trout, within a semi‐enclosed fjord system (Sognefjorden, Norway). A gradient of lice was spatially distributed throughout the fjord. Highest densities were modeled in the outer‐fjord at a closer vicinity to aquaculture facilities. Accordingly, estimates of accumulated lice infestation were higher for individuals that underwent long‐distance migrations, residing for longer in the outer‐fjord, with limited differences observed between years. As most brown trout remained in the inner‐fjord, an area protected from aquaculture, individual accumulated levels of lice exposure and infestation were low, resulting in infestation estimates largely below critical‐mortality thresholds. The fraction of total mortality attributed to lice during sea‐sojourn was greater for long‐distance migrants (smolts: 25.3%; veteran migrants: 14.8%) versus those remaining within the inner‐fjord (smolts: 14.7%; veteran migrants: 1.7%). This resulted in an unequal contribution of lice to total mortality among populations (range: 3.3%–34.3%). Despite an equal distribution of lice exposure for all populations within the fjord, diverse mortality consequences among populations were estimated, largely resulting from individual selection of migration trajectory. Therefore, generic models of lice effects on facultative anadromous salmonids should be used with caution. Instead, the application of simulated migration trajectories to incorporate flexible behavior at the individual level is suggested. The findings indicate that Sognefjorden brown trout may have reduced their seaward migration extent to avoid direct mortality from salmon lice. This emphasizes the importance of monitoring and management actions to preserve selection for anadromy.

Development of Biofertiliser Based on Agricultural Waste for Sustainable Agriculture

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the use of chemical fertilisers in Indonesia has increased by 50% in the last two decades, contributing to the decline of soil fertility and groundwater pollution (Rosadi, 2023). Research by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) found that the use of biofertilisers from agricultural waste can reduce the need for chemical fertilisers by up to 40%, while improving soil fertility in a sustainable manner. This research will focus on the development of agricultural waste-based biofertiliser formulations, with trials of their application in various crop types and land conditions in Indonesia. This research uses an experimental method with a quantitative approach, which aims to develop and test the effectiveness of agricultural waste-based biofertilisers. Table 1. The Bima variety (a1) has a larger number of plants than the Mentes variety (a2). Nutrient management also has a major impact on plant growth. Application of one dose of recommended NPK together with 100 kg/ha of pearl NPK (b3) and one dose of recommended NPK together with organic fertiliser and biofertiliser (b4) resulted in the highest plant growth at 8 weeks of age (Table 1). In the experiment, intensive pest control was carried out in the field. As a result, onion caterpillar (Spodoptera exigua hubn) populations per clump were low and fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum hanz) infestation levels were generally low in both variety and nutrient management treatments. There was no evidence that varietal treatments or nutrient management had a significant impact. The application of agricultural waste-based biofertilisers not only improves crop yields, but also supports the sustainability of the agricultural ecosystem by minimising the use of synthetic chemicals and optimising the use of available resources.

Hyperspectral Characterization of Coffee Leaf Miner (Leucoptera coffeella) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) Infestation Levels: A Detailed Analysis

Brazil is the largest coffee producer in the world. However, it has been a challenge to manage the main pest affecting the plant’s foliar part, the Coffee Leaf Miner (CLM) Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). To mitigate this, remote sensing has been employed to spectrally characterize various stresses on coffee trees. This study establishes the groundwork for efficient pest detection by investigating the spectral characteristics of CLM infestation at different levels. This research aims to characterize the spectral signature of leaves at different CLM levels of infestation and identify the optimal spectral regions for discriminating these levels. To achieve this, hyperspectral reflectance measurements were made of healthy and infested leaves, and the classes of infested leaves were grouped into minimally, moderately, and severely infested. As the infestation level rises, the 700 nm region becomes increasingly suitable for distinguishing between infestation levels, with the visible region also proving significant, particularly during severe infestations. Reflectance thresholds established in this study provide a foundation for agronomic references related to CLM. These findings lay the essential groundwork for enhancing monitoring and early detection systems and underscore the value of terrestrial hyperspectral data for developing sustainable pest management strategies in coffee crops.

The role of rehabilitating and restoration the green dam in managing the impact of invasive forest pests in Algeria

The rehabilitation of Algeria’s "Green Dam" project, a large-scale reforestation initiative, represents a key strategy for mitigating climate change, especially in semi-arid regions. This study, conducted between 2021 to 2024 in the semi-arid region of Djelfa (Algeria), evaluates the impact of defoliators in three different stands. Our findings reveal that infestation levels were significantly lower in mixed-species stands compared to monoculture stands, with monoculture plantations showing the highest infestation rates. Seasonal analysis revealed consistent stability in rehabilitated zones, with lower infestation indices throughout the year. The study highlights the role of species diversity in enhancing forest resilience to pest outbreaks, as mixed-species plantations naturally disrupt pest population dynamics and support healthier ecosystems. These results highlight the effectiveness of Green Dam’s rehabilitation in enhancing ecosystem health, increasing biodiversity, and reducing vulnerability to climate-induced disturbances, positioning it as a critical tool for ecological restoration and climate mitigation in northern Algeria. Furthermore, the project exemplifies a scientifically driven approach to combating desertification and climate change in semi-arid ecosystems. By integrating tritrophic analyses examining forest species, pest insects, and their antagonists—along with spatiotemporal monitoring, the study provides valuable insights into ecological interactions under changing climatic conditions. As expanding defoliators and xylophages pose increasing challenges, adaptive management strategies tailored to semi-arid regions are necessary. The rehabilitation of the Green Dam project emerges as a model for large-scale ecological restoration, combining reforestation efforts with scientific innovation to bolster ecosystem resilience, enhance sustainable land management, and address global issues such as biodiversity loss, desertification, and climate instability. Continued monitoring and adaptive management are essential to ensure the long-term success of reforested landscapes.

New aspects concerning <i>Pediculus capitis</i> (Anoplura: Pedicullidae) infestation in Iran

Pediculosis caused by the Pediculus capitis (De Geer, 1767), is a major public health concern worldwide, including in Iran. Policymakers must be well-informed on the relevant evidence through comprehensive studies. No study has been done concerning trends of Pediculus capitis infestation in provinces of Iran, geographic and climatic regions, seasons, location of meridians and tropics areas, together with the distribution and stratification. Therefore, a study of the mentioned objectives was conducted. The data on P. capitis infestation levels and factor impacts on P. capitis infestation levels in Iranian people were extracted and summarized from 126 articles. The trends of P. capitis infestation have increased in about half of the country’s provinces over the previous two decades. These provinces are located mostly in the southern Caspian Sea shores, the central plateau, and the south coast. Pediculus capitis infestations are in the range of -ꝏ–-0.40, -0.40–-0.20, and -0.20–0.00 in the regression coefficient regarding the distribution and stratification. For the first time in this study, the impact of the meridians and the tropics that pass through Iran was also evaluated on P. capitis infestation. Based on the intensity of P. capitis infestation, the order of the influence of the factors that affect infestation is estimated. Interaction modeling demonstrated that primary school has a synergistic impact on time trends. In addition, the Western mountains, the central plateau, and the southeast showed synergistic effects with time trends on the incidence of the outcome. The findings provide the national baseline data to initiate steps for national pediculosis intervention programs.

Planting System and Cultivar Influence Olive Key-Pests Infestation in an Olive-Growing Vocated Area

Traditional and intensive planting systems have paved the way for the phenomenon of intensification, with the super high-density (SHD) system being the most prominent. This system has demonstrated high levels of profitability due to both the reduction in production costs achieved through complete mechanization and a significant increase in olive oil production per hectare, stemming from the more efficient utilization of resources such as light, water, and nutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a vocated olive-growing area, the phytosanitary status of a SHD olive orchard compared to a traditional one (TRD). The research focused on six key olive pests, considering the interaction between planting systems and eight cultivars in a semi-arid environment. The comparative analysis of pest infestations across the two planting systems revealed significant and complex patterns in pest population distribution and intensity. Overall, the planting system appeared to be the main factor influencing pest dynamics. The SHD olive orchard exhibited the highest infestation levels of Otiorhynchus cribricollis, Palpita unionalis, and Bactrocera oleae. Conversely, in the TRD system, the highest infestation levels of Saissetia oleae, Euphyllura olivina, and Prays oleae were observed. Moreover, the study highlighted a less pronounced effect of cultivars on the prevalence of all monitored key pests. These findings underscore the potential for developing more sustainable and effective pest management strategies tailored to specific planting systems. Furthermore, the results contribute to advancing eco-friendly control approaches and improving pest infestation management practices. Additional research will be necessary to deepen the understanding of these key pests and their interactions within different olive-growing systems.

Incidence of Banana Pseudostem Weevil, Odoiporous longicollis Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Major Banana Growing Districts of Northern Karnataka, India

A roving survey during 2020-21 was undertaken in different banana growing districts of Northern Karnataka to study the prevalence and the magnitude of the infestation of the banana pseudostem weevil, O.longicollis and to know the varietal reaction and preference to the banana pseudostem weevil. Observations of the survey revealed that the districts - wise mean percent infestation varied from 3.73 in Belagavi to 15.35 in Vijayanagar district. The maximum mean percent infestation was recorded in Vijayanagar (15.35) and Kalaburgi (14.67) districts. This was followed by the lowest infestation in Belagavi (3.73) district. The mean per cent infestation varied from 2.50 in the Rajapuri variety to 22.53 in the Sugandhi cultivar across the varieties in different districts. In respect to varieties, Sugandhi banana recorded the maximum level of infestation (22.53) followed by Red banana (22.00), whereas, Elakki recorded 12.53 and 11.33 mean percent infestation in Vijayanagar and Uttara Kannada districts. Grand-Naine was cultivated in all the districts, while redbanana, Sugandhi and Sakkare bale were cultivated only in Kalaburgi and Vijayanagar districts. The mean damage grade index of banana pseudostem weevil across seven varieties in seven districts of North Karnataka revealed highest damage grade index in redbanana (0.98) at Kalaburgi followed by Sugandhi (0.75) in Vijayanagar district. There were statistically significant differences in percent infestation among seven varieties and also among seven districts. Hence, the study highlighted the infestation of banana pseudostem weevil varied in North Karnataka based on the variety, cultivation practices and geographical location.

Inactivation of Anisakis simplex Allergens in Fish Viscera by Acid Autolysis

The evisceration of infested species on board commercial fleets and the throwing of viscera into the sea, as is mostly the case for hake, is common practice for reducing the occurrence of Anisakis in fishery products. Moreover, the high levels of infestation and the lack of technically and economically feasible solutions hinder the possibility of recovering viscera with other fish processing byproducts as raw material for feed without the risk of transmission of allergens to humans, with the subsequent risk for public health. The aim of this work was to study the fate of Anisakis simplex allergens during 11 days of silage of infested hake (Merluccius merluccius) viscera, as a potential method for eliminating this risk. While the viscera were almost completely liquefied, an increase in the allergenicity of the soluble fraction was observed, which decreased only slightly after day 9. As we are aware of the resistance of parasite allergens to gastrointestinal enzymes, silage was also analyzed after 12 and 15 months. While the lower molecular weight fragments of Anisakis proteins are fully digested, some larger fragments with potential allergenicity resisted autolysis after long silage periods, but they were present in a very low concentration. The study concludes that there is the potential of silage as a method for recovering fish viscera infested with Anisakis.

Field releases of Trichogramma cacoeciae (Marchal, 1927) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a key pest of apples in Tunisia and other countries around the world. Various management strategies have been applied to manage this pest including releases of parasitoids. Trichogramma wasps are known as efficient biocontrol agents tested against a large number of lepidopteran pests including C. pomonella. Two inundative releases of Trichogramma cacoeciae Marchal, at the rates of 25 000 and 50 000 parasitoids per ha, were performed when threshold was reached (2 to 3 adults per pheromone trap) in a commercial apple orchard, in 2018. Results indicated the occurrence of three flight peaks registered in the spring, summer and autumn of the growing season. The efficacy of the two release rates in reducing the infestation level of the population of the codling moth was proved herein. Average infestation level of fruits was significantly reduced after of the first release with reduction of about 27% for rate 1 and 22% for rate 2 compared to the untreated control (45%). Likewise, the average percentage of damaged apples was significantly reduced after the second release (23, 18.37 and 43.37 % respectively for the rate 1, rate 2 and the untreated control). The results showed the efficacy of T. cacoeciae parasitoids as efficient candidates to control C. pomonella.

Survey on Influence of Cultural Practices on Banana Pseudostem Weevil, Odoiporus longicollis Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Infestation in Major Banana Growing Districts of Northern Karnataka, India

The production and productivity of banana is governed by many biotic and abiotic factors. Among biotic factors, incidence of insect-pests is considered as one of the major impedimentin successful cultivation of banana. With respect to the Indian condition around eight pests commonly infest the banana crop. However, the banana pseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis is cosmopolite insect pest that threatens the banana cultivation. The most common management practices followed for managing this pest includes cultural practices. Diverse cultural practices have been communicated to and/or applied by resource-poor households over the past two decades to improve the overall farm health and crop tolerance to biotic/abiotic factors. Therefore, cultural practices are the only measures available to small-scale farmers for the control of banana pseudostem weevil. Hence the survey was conducted during 2020-21 to study the influence of cultural practices on O. longicollis infestation in major banana growing districts of north Karnataka. From the survey results on the cultural practices reveals that the pest severity was more severe on ratoon crop fields and the frequency recorded was 37.82%. However, the frequency recorded was 1.68% in first crop, wherein no pest infestation was recorded in main crop. Whereas, good number of farmers could not make a difference in infestation of pest between main and ratoon crop (60.50%) and in such fields infestation level was 4.11%. The banana farmers who were interacted mainly used suckers (36.13%) and tissue culture plants (36.13%) for planting followed by rhizome (24.37%), whereas few farmers used suckers and rhizomes (3.36%) for planting in a single piece of land. Accordingly, the per cent infestation of BPW was less when both tissue cultured plants (4.84%) and suckers (5.53%) used for planting. Whereas, infestation was more severe when both suckers and rhizomes were used (27.50%) on same piece of land and which was followed by rhizomes alone (16.00%).

Role of silicon in legume‐insect interactions: Insights from a plant experiencing different levels of herbivory

Abstract Silicon (Si) supplementation can enhance symbiotic functions in some legumes (Fabaceae) with their nitrogen‐fixing rhizobia, such as root nodulation and nitrogen fixation. However, it is still poorly understood how Si influences legume–insect interactions. Here, we investigated how a symbiotic legume responds not only to Si supplementation but also to herbivory treatment with varying infestation levels in two events. We conducted a controlled climate chamber experiment by growing Medicago truncatula plants inoculated with rhizobia. For half of the plants, the soil was kept without Si (−Si), whereas the other half was regularly supplemented with Si (+Si). We then infested the plants with caterpillars of Spodoptera littoralis with 0, 1 or 3 larvae and 0, 1 or 1 larva in single herbivory attack and in double herbivory attack, respectively. To understand plant responses to such treatment combinations, we examined 16 functional traits. Nodule number, nodule fresh mass and nodule leghaemoglobin concentrations were not affected in single attack plants. However, increasing levels of herbivory led to decreases in such measured traits in double attack plants. Foliar C to N ratio increased in single attack plants but decreased in double attack plants with increasing levels of herbivory, indicating contrasting resource allocation. Herbivory did not affect the content of foliar Si, which was higher in +Si than −Si plants. Si and herbivory led to reduced foliar phenolics in double attack plants, suggesting a potential trade‐off between silicification and phenolic production. Si and herbivory led to increased trichome densities in single attack plants, but patterns were less clear in double attack plants. Herbivory but not Si reduced plant biomass with increasing levels of herbivory in double attack plants. Relative growth rates of the caterpillars, as proxy for plant resistance, decreased mainly due to herbivory treatment, when fed on single attack plants. Using a trait‐based approach, we provide novel insights to better understand the response of a legume to Si supplementation and different herbivory levels and events. We conclude that herbivory predominantly exerts much stronger effects than Si on various plant traits, pointing to a necessity to respond to herbivory by induced defence strategies. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Night-time light-traps and push–pull integrated system enhanced the control of different life stages of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

BackgroundMaize, Zea mays L (Cyperales: Poaceae), is one of the major cereal crops grown in Ethiopia for its food and feed values. Recently, the fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) has become a major challenge of maize production threatening smallholder farmers in the country. Developing effective and smallholder farmers-friendly integrated pest management for FAW is vital. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of night-time light-traps and push–pull integrated system on controlling different life stages (adult, larvae and eggs) of FAW.MethodsThe study was conducted in Northern Ethiopia included four treatments; maize monocrop, maize plots with night-time light-trap, a push–pull system, and night-time light-trap and push–pull integrated system. Each treatment was replicated five times. The study was carried out twice involving a rain feed (from July to October 2018) and irrigated (from April to June 2019) experiments.ResultsA significantly greater number of FAW moths were captured on traps placed outside maize field plots treated with light-trap and push–pull integrated system than traps placed outside the maize monocrop, light-trap alone and push–pull alone treated plots during the 2018 and 2019 experiment seasons. As a result, a significantly lower number of moths was found inside maize field plots treated with light-trap and push–pull integrated system than the other treatments. The levels of FAW eggs and larval infestation were significantly lower in maize plots treated with the light-trap and push–pull integrated system than the maize monocrops, push–pull alone, and light-trap alone treated plots. The proportion of plants damaged by FAW larvae was significantly lower in maize plots treated with the light-trap and push–pull integrated system relative to maize plots treated with the other treatments.ConclusionThis study proved that a system integrating night-time light-traps and push–pull results in better and more effective control of different stages of FAW than a push–pull system or night-time light-traps alone.

Rice Responses to the Stem Borer Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by Infrared-Thermal Imaging: Implications for Field Management

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) is a major pest of rice crops, and its early detection—before any visible plant damage occurs—is crucial to prevent yield losses and establish effective, rational control methods. This study aimed to model the infrared-thermal responses of rice cultivars to D. saccharalis infestation levels. Between 2019 and 2020, two experiments were conducted in a controlled environment using the cultivars IR 40 and BR IRGA 409, previously identified as having different resistance reactions. Rice plants grown in pots were manually infested with first-instar larvae of D. saccharalis, ranging from 0 to 10 caterpillars per plant, with the plants maintained in cages covered with voile fabric throughout the trial. After 30 days of infestation, the number of live and dead caterpillars, the number of damaged and healthy stems, and the dry mass of the aerial parts were evaluated. A generalized linear mixed model was applied to the data obtained from leaf temperature as a function of infestation level throughout the infestation period, using the F-test to detect significant differences between cultivars. Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale, and Shape (GAMLSS) were fitted to the variables related to resistance. It was observed that leaf surface temperature is related to the level of infestation and could be used to detect susceptibility in IR 40. In both cultivars, leaf temperatures were higher within the first 15 days post-infestation.

Forecasting Western Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) Density and Non-Chemical Control of Larvae: A Practical Review

The western corn rootworm (WCR) (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte; Chrysomelidae) is one of the most significant maize pests in Europe, with farmers spending a substantial amount (approximately 140 EUR) on its control. In the context of climate change, WCRs could pose an even greater threat to EU maize production, particularly as the European Union continues to withdraw an increasing number of effective yet environmentally harmful active agents. Biological control methods have now emerged to the forefront in creating sustainable agriculture. In this review, we carried out an extensive literature analysis on methods for forecasting WCRs and evaluated the practical applicability of the latest non-chemical control methods targeting its larvae. Effective forecasting is essential for successful pest management, enabling informed planning and the selection of the most suitable control methods. Several traditional predicting techniques remain in use today, but recent advancements have introduced modern electronic forecasting units combined with sensor-equipped pheromone and colour traps, as well as thermal sum calculations. Research has demonstrated that crop rotation is one of the most effective methods for controlling WCR larvae. Biological agents, such as entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bossiana and Mettarrhyzum anasoplia), entomopathogenic nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora), and botanical insecticides such as azadirachtin can significantly reduce larval populations and root damage, thereby maintaining infestation levels below the economic threshold. Genetically modified maize plants that produce specific toxins, along with conventional breeding efforts to increase root system regeneration, are also promising tools for the sustainable management of this pest. This review summarizes the solutions for prediction of western corn rootworm infestations and non-chemical control of its larvae. Accurate forecasting methods provide a clear picture of infestation levels in a given area, enabling precisely targeted control measures. In all cases, the control should be directed primarily against the larvae, thereby reducing root damage and reducing the size of the emerging imago population. This review demonstrates that biological control methods targeting larvae can be as effective as pesticides, supporting sustainable pest management.

Possibilities of competitive displacement of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) by Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) (Tephritidae: Diptera) in guava Psidium guajava ecosystem in Sudan

Oriental fruit fly (OFF) Bactrocera dorsalis and peach fruit fly (PFF) Bactrocera zonata are the most notorious pests that invaded Sudan in 2005 and 2012, respectively, causing severe losses and hindering horticultural production and exports. Prior to 2012, OFF was the most abundant fly in guava orchards in Gezira State. Monitoring fruit flies to determine species composition, seasonality, and possibilities of competitive displacement was conducted in two guava (Psidium guajava) orchards in Gezira State; Fadasi and Gezirat Elfil, using food bait attractant and rearing flies from infested fruits..Longevity and survival percentages of developmental stages of the two species were also determined. Monitoring fly populations using Torula yeast and rearing of fruit flies from guava fruits revealed that OFF and PFF were the most prevalent species in guava ecosystem at both sites. At the Fadasi site, PFF was the predominant species representing (99.3%) of the guild of the trapped flies with an infestation level of 99.6%) flies/kg of guava fruits. At G. Elfil, OFF comprised 80.8% of the trapped flies with infestation level ca 53.6% while 19.2% of trapped flies were B. zonata with 46.4% infestation level. The high percentage of trapped OFF at G. Elfil might be attributed to multi-cropping system in the area. Developmental stages of PFF were shorter than that of OFF by 9.2 days, while its survival percentage was higher than that of OFF for all developmental stages. Competitive displacement of OFF by PFF in guava orchards at Fadasi site may have occurred as a result of the mono-cropping system, short developmental period, and high survival percentage of developmental stages of PFF on guava compared to that of OFF.

First Global Host Report and New Distribution Record of Bactrocera penecorrecta Drew (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Bihar, India

This study showed that brinjal, Solanum melongena Linnaeus is the first global host of the fruit fly, Bactrocera penecorrecta Drew (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Bihar, North India. Earlier report of B. penecorrecta was from Kerala, South India. In the present investigation, B. penecorrecta was recorded 22 years after its discovery in Kerala, South India in 2002 by R. A. I. Drew and S. Raghu. The record of brinjal as the first host of B. penecorrecta warrants in in-depth investigation of the level of infestation and sanitary and phytosanitary protocol development for the export as many recent invasions by different Bactrocera species in various part of the world beyond their native distributional records.

Multi-year evaluation of an attract-and-kill strategy for apple maggot fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in New England commercial apple orchards.

Previously developed behavioral approaches for controlling the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), include attract-and-kill (AK) systems such as perimeter trapping using either, odor-baited red sticky spheres or odor-baited, sticky-free attracticidal spheres with contoured tops that ensure the sustained release of both insecticide and feeding stimulant. Here, over a 3-year span in 26 commercial apple orchards across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, we evaluated the effectiveness of a novel AK strategy for R. pomonella management. Synthetic apple blend lures were deployed on perimeter-row trees to attract the pest, while perimeter-row insecticide sprays blended with 2% sugar, a known phagostimulant, served as the lethal component. Comparatively, grower standard (GS) blocks received full-block insecticide sprays devoid of sugar and lures. Monitoring revealed that red sticky spheres in AK blocks captured significantly more R. pomonella adults than unbaited monitoring spheres in GS blocks. Penetration of R. pomonella into block interiors remained consistently low and statistically similar for both AK and GS blocks. Whole-block infestation levels showed no significant difference between the 2 management approaches. Notably, insecticide application in AK blocks was reduced by 75%, 64.7%, and 64.2% in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively, compared with GS blocks. This grower-friendly AK approach could be integral to a reduced insecticide spray-based strategy for apple cultivation in the northeastern United States.