Invasive Pest Research Articles

Ionotropic Receptor IR75q.2 Mediates Avoidance Reaction to Nonanoic Acid in the Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae).

Ionotropic receptors (IRs) play an important role in olfaction, but little is known in nondrosophila insects. Here, we report in vitro and in vivo functional characterization of IR75q.2 in the invasive moth pest Spodoptera frugiperda. First, 13 IRs (including four coreceptor IRs) were found specifically or highly expressed in adult antennae. Second, these IRs were tested for responding profiles to 59 odorants using the Xenopus oocyte expression system, showing that only SfruIR75q.2 responded to 8-10C fatty acids and their corresponding aldehydes, with SfruIR8a as the only coreceptor. Third, the three acids (especially nonanoic acid) showed repellent effects on moth's behavior and oviposition, but the repellence significantly reduced to the insects with IR75q.2 knockout by CRISPR/Cas9. Taken together, our study reveals the function of SfruIR75q.2 in perception of acid and aldehyde odorants and provides the first in vivo evidence for olfactory function of an odor-specific IR in Lepidoptera.

Can the Seed Trade Provide a Potential Pathway for the Global Distribution of Foliar Pathogens? An Investigation into the Use of Heat Treatments to Reduce Risk of Dothistroma septosporum Transmission via Seed Stock.

The international plant trade results in the accidental movement of invasive pests and pathogens, and has contributed significantly to recent range expansion of pathogens including Dothistroma septosporum. Seeds are usually thought to present a lower biosecurity risk than plants, but the importation of Pinus contorta seeds from North America to Britain in the mid-1900s, and similarities between British and Canadian D. septosporum populations suggests seeds could be a pathway. Dothistroma septosporum has not been isolated from seeds, but inadequately cleaned seed material could contain infected needle fragments. This case study investigated whether cone kilning, and wet and dry heat treatments could reduce D. septosporum transmission without damaging seed viability. Pinus needles infected with D. septosporum were incubated alongside cones undergoing three commercial seed extraction processes. Additional needles were exposed to temperatures ranging from 10 to 67 °C dry heat for up to 48 h, or incubated in water heated to between 20 and 60 °C for up to one hour. Pinus sylvestris seeds were exposed to 60 and 65 dry heat °C for 48 h, and further seed samples incubated in water heated to between 20 and 60 °C for up to one hour. Dothistroma septosporum survived the three kilning processes and while seeds were not damaged by dry heat exceeding 63.5 °C, at this temperature no D. septosporum survived. Wet heat treatments resulted in less than 10% pathogen survival following incubation at 40 °C, while at this temperature the seeds suffered no significant impacts, even when submerged for one hour. Thus, commercial seed kilning could allow D. septosporum transmission, but elevated wet and dry heat treatments could be applied to seed stock to minimise pathogen risk without significantly damaging seed viability.

First report of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood in the Canary Islands

AbstractThe chilli thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an invasive polyphagous pest of several crops, and is native to South and East Asia. In recent decades, this thrips has successfully established in parts of the African and American continents. In the EPPO region its distribution is limited to Israel and Türkiye, and it is considered as under eradication in mainland Spain. This paper presents the first report of S. dorsalis on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain), where individuals were initially found infesting mango in 2016, and subsequent inspections revealed infestations in 2022 that allowed its identification.

Field trials of pheromone blends of longhorned beetles in South Korea

Longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are a diverse family of wood-boring insects that provide valuable ecosystem services but also cause significant damage to forests and crops. South Korea is a crucial region for studying Cerambycidae due to the presence of invasive and endemic pests. In this study, we tested four blends of known cerambycid pheromones and a control (isopropanol) as attractants for longhorned beetles in two sites in central Korea and two sites in Jeju Island in southern Korea from April to August 2022. A total of 309 individuals from 17 species were caught, with five species being significantly attracted to a particular pheromone blend. The attraction of species whose pheromones are not known to specific blends provides promising leads that can be used to expedite identification of the actual pheromones for these species. Our results also provide further confirmation that pheromone components are often widely shared among related cerambycid taxa on different continents.

Impact of Cowpea-maize Intercropping and Bio-rational Product on Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) in Fodder Maize

Background: A recent occurrence of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) a new invasive pest in Africa attained epidemic form in 2016. Consequently, researchers probed various ecofriendly methods to manage the pest. The effect of intercropping cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] with fodder maize (Zea mays L.) on the incidence of FAW was investigated. Methods: The maize fodder was protected against FAW by intercropping with cowpea along with a biorational product, Brahamastra and compared with the recommended insecticide used to manage the insect by conducting field experiments during kharif 2020, 2021 and 2022 comprising the eight treatments viz. T1: Maize + Cowpea 1:1 ratio (unsprayed); T2: Maize + Cowpea 1:1 ratio (coragen @ 100 ml ha-1); T3: Maize + Cowpea 1:1 ratio (brahamastra @ 12.5 litre ha-1 sprayed); T4: Maize sole (brahamastra @ 7.5 litre ha-1 sprayed); T5: Maize sole (brahamastra @ 10.0 litre ha-1 sprayed); T6: Maize sole (Brahamastra @ 12.5 litre ha-1 sprayed); T7: Maize sole (coragen 18.5 SC @ 100 ml ha-1 sprayed as standard check) and T8: Maize sole (Unsprayed). The plot size for each treatment was 500 m2, demarcating 5 ´ 4 m2 for sampling with three replications in a completely randomized design (CRBD). Result: The treatments, Maize + Cowpea (1:1 row) (Coragen @ 100 ml ha-1 sprayed) and Maize sole (Coragen @ 100 ml ha-1 sprayed) though had significantly the lowest pooled pest incidence and the highest per cent reduction over control (PROC), the bio-rational applied on maize + Cowpea (1:1 row) (brahamastra @ 12.5 litre ha-1 sprayed) encounted the lowest pest incidence, the highest PROC combined with the highest fodder yield and economic returns without any statistical singnificant difference with Maize + Cowpea (1:1 row) (unsprayed).

Community composition of invasive, outbreak, and non-pest snail species along a source spring-to-fishpond gradient in a spatially structured aquacultural region

Agricultural lands are integrated into and interact with natural areas. Such is the case of Emek HaMa'ayanot, northern Israel, comprising a springs-rich area characterized by multiple land-uses, including spring-water-based aquaculture, recreational springs, and nature reserves. Aquacultural farms suffer from pest snails that carry fish disease; in the study region, these species are invasive (Thiara scabra, Tarebia granifera, Pseudosuccinea columella) and outbreak endemic (Melanoides tuberculata). Previous snail control efforts have focused on individual fishponds without considering management on larger environmental scales in the waterways from the source springs to the fish farms. To broaden our understanding of the status of the pest snail problem in the study area prior to suggesting environmental managerial solutions, we quantified changes in the community composition of snail species along the springs-to-fishponds gradients in a spatially explicit system. We found a remarkable increase in pest snail abundances along these gradients, indicating that pest snails might be invading upstream towards the springs. There were always nearly 100% pest snails in the endpoint sites for water tracks that ended in fishponds. Moreover, pest snails dominated the site when it was used as a fishpond, even though the site was also a spring. In contrast, in a water track that does not end in a fish farm, the relative abundances of non-pest snail species was similar between the source spring and the downstream endpoint, in spite of an increase in pest snail abundance at a midpoint site. These results suggest that invasive pest snails are actively moving upstream and that the fishponds have a marked upstream effect on the ability of non-pest snails to resist pest species invasions. We suggest further investigation of possible strategies for biocontrol of the observed invasion of the snails into natural areas as a basis for environmental management efforts. Finally, the observations made during this study could have practical global implications for snail management in aquaculture and agriculture, and for the control of snails and snail vectors implicated in animal and human diseases.

The complete genome and biological activity of a novel Spodoptera litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus for controlling Spodoptera frugiperda

The fall armyworm, known as Spodoptera frugiperda, is a notorious invasive pest wreaking havoc on agricultural crops globally. In the course of this study, a novel variant of the S. litura multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV-T0) was isolated from S. litura larvae found on tobacco plants in China. This research delved into the molecular and biological characteristics of SpltMNPV-T0. Electron microscopy revealed that this variant exhibited the characteristics features of a baculovirus. The complete genome of SpltMNPV-T0 was 137,925 bp in length, with a G + C content of 42.88 %, housing a total of 130 open reading frames (ORFs). Phylogenetically, this variant was similar to the published genome of the SpltMNPV-G2 strain, aligning itself with the Alphabaculovirus group II. However, it distinguished itself from the SpltMNPV-II in terms of sequence similarity (76.45 %), shared ORFs (only 63 genes in common), and gene order (exhibiting inversion and reordering). Crucially, SpltMNPV-T0 demonstrated notable effectiveness in controlling third-instar larvae of S. frugiperda and S. litura. Furthermore, the virulence of crude SpltMNPV-T0 matched that of the commercially available virus-based pesticide (SpltMNPV-KY), as evident in terms of mortality rates and speed of kill. These findings yield valuable insights into the molecular biology and functional genomics of this newly discovered variant, characterized by its high virulence. Such knowledge holds promise for advancing bio-control technologies aimed at mitigating the destructive impact of the pest S. frugiperda.

Laboratory evaluation of interspecific mating between Zeugodacus fruit flies and Bactrocera dorsalis

AbstractThe increasing number of tephritid pest invasions worldwide highlights the importance of interspecific interactions among tephritid pests. The melon fly [Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett)], the pumpkin fruit fly [Zeugodacus tau (Walker)], and the oriental fruit fly [Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)] (all Diptera: Tephritidae) are neotropical fruit flies with overlapping distributions. Their interactions during mating hours have rarely been observed in nature due to their nocturnal behavior. Here, laboratory studies were conducted under no‐choice and choice conditions to quantify interspecific mating. The interactions during mating hours resulted in interspecific mating, which reduced conspecific mating success and interrupted mating activity patterns. Successful interspecific mating pairs of Z. cucurbitae and Z. tau were recorded in no‐choice and choice tests. Interspecific mating between male Z. cucurbitae and female Z. tau significantly reduced conspecific mating in Z. tau. Observations of the diel mating activity patterns showed that male Z. cucurbitae initiated calling behaviors earlier than Z. tau males, giving Z. cucurbitae more chances to court Z. tau. Though males of neither Zeugodacus species formed mating pairs with B. dorsalis, Zeugodacus males reduced conspecific mating in B. dorsalis in the choice trials. Thus, interspecific interactions among Z. cucurbitae, Z. tau, and B. dorsalis affected conspecific mating; interrupted conspecific mating activity patterns were recorded in all three species. This information could be used to improve management practices.

Addition of organic amendments derived from invasive apple snails alleviated soil acidification, improved soil nitrogen and phosphorus effectiveness, microbial growth and maize yield in South China

Pomacea canaliculata (apple snail) is an invasive agricultural pest posing serious threats to aquatic crop production and wetland ecosystem function in Asia. The shell of P. canaliculata is composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), while its soft tissue is protein-rich (carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sources). Thus, P. canaliculata has the potential to be used as a source of organic soil amendments. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of snail derivatives (powder, including shells and soft tissues of the snails) as organic soil amendments to improve the productivity of an acidic dryland soil in South China. Snail powder (SP) was incorporated into the soil at application rates of 0–50 g kg−1, followed by planting of maize. Our results showed that SP addition significantly increased soil pH (up to 7.25–7.95), alleviated soil acidification. Moreover, SP addition improved soil N, phosphorus (P) effectiveness, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content, increasing biomass of actinobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to stimulate microbial growth. Notably, SP addition increased height (up to 42.4 %), biomass (up to 117.6 %) and yield (up to 118.9 %) of maize, with 10 g kg−1 SP optimal for plant productivity. However, the optimal application rate and buffer time for field application of SP warrant further study. Our findings demonstrate the potential of SP resource utilization for acidic soil remediation and the invasive snail P. canaliculata control.

Engineered pine endophytic Bacillus toyonensis with nematocidal and colonization abilities for pine wilt disease control.

The pinewood nematode (PWN) is responsible for causing pine wilt disease (PWD), which has led to the significant decline of conifer species in Eurasian forests and has become a globally invasive quarantine pest. Manipulating plant-associated microbes to control nematodes is an important strategy for sustainable pest management. However, it has proven difficult to find pine-associated bacteria that possess both nematocidal activity and the ability to colonize pine tissues. The stress experiments with turpentine and pine tissue extract were carried out to screen for the desired target strain that could adapt to the internal environment of pine trees. This strain was used to construct an engineered nematocidal strain. Additionally, a fluorescent strain was constructed to determine its dispersal ability in Pinus massoniana seedlings through plate separation, PCR detection, and fluorescence microscopy observations. The engineered nematocidal strain was tested in the greenhouse experiment to assess its ability to effectively protect P. massoniana seedlings from nematode infection. This study isolated a Bacillus toyonensis strain Bxy19 from the healthy pine stem, which showed exceptional tolerance in stress experiments. An engineered nematocidal strain Bxy19P3C6 was constructed, which expressed the Cry6Aa crystal protein and exhibited nematocidal activity. The fluorescent strain Bxy19GFP was also constructed and used to test its dispersal ability. It was observed to enter the needles of the seedlings through the stomata and colonize the vascular bundle after being sprayed on the seedlings. The strain was observed to colonize and spread in the tracheid after being injected into the stems. The strain could colonize the seedlings and persist for at least 50 days. Furthermore, the greenhouse experiments indicated that both spraying and injecting the engineered strain Bxy19P3C6 had considerable efficacy against nematode infection. The evidence of the colonization ability and persistence of the strain in pine advances our understanding of the control and prediction of the colonization of exogenously delivered bacteria in pines. This study provides a promising approach for manipulating plant-associated bacteria and using Bt protein to control nematodes.

Competitive interactions between invasive fall armyworm and Asian corn borer at intraspecific and interspecific level on the same feeding guild.

Interspecific competition is an important factor in the population dynamics and geographical distribution of insect populations. Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, an invasive species, and the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis, a native pest species are major pests on maize in China, posing a threat to maize yield and grain quality. A series of laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments were conducted to elucidate the competitive interactions between FAW and ACB. In the laboratory experiments, FAW exhibited aggressive behaviors more frequently when compared with ACB, while the latter species exhibited defense behaviors more frequently. Higher intraspecific competition was recorded in the FAW conspecific rather than in ACB, particularly in the 6th larval stage. FAW had a higher interspecific competitive advantage through intraguild predation over ACB, resulting in partial or complete displacement ACB when initially the ratio of the 2 species was 1 : 1. The interspecific competition also had significantly influenced on the population parameters, defensive enzymes, and nutrient of these 2 species. Competitive interaction proved that the response of superoxide, catalase, and soluble protein in FAW were significantly increased, whereas the total sugar content in both species was substantially decreased. Survival rate, and the plant damage that co-infested by both species varied significantly among the sequential combinations under greenhouse and field conditions. FAW consistently exhibited stronger intraspecific aggression than ACB under laboratory and field conditions when co-existing on the same feeding guild. These findings contribute to efforts toward the improvement of integrated pest management programs for FAW, in decision making for invasive and native pests' management strategies to reduce the high risks of FAW and ACB outbreaks.

Will Genomic Information Facilitate Forest Tree Breeding for Disease and Pest Resistance?

Forest trees are beleaguered by the ever-increasing onslaught of invasive pests and pathogens, with some species in danger of functional extinction. Recent successes in developing resistant populations using traditional tree breeding assures that some of the affected species will persist in future forests. However, the sheer number of threatened species requires increases in breeding efficiency. The time is right to consider how the use of genomic resources might aid breeding efforts in the next 20 years. Any operational benefit of genomic resources will be minimal without closer collaboration between tree breeders, forest managers, and genomic researchers. We reflect here on what attributes were responsible for the success of traditional resistance breeding programs and whether advances in genomics can realistically accelerate breeding. We conclude that the use of genomics to directly advance resistance breeding efforts in the next 20 years will be limited. Major obstacles will include factors such as the undomesticated nature of most tree species, the quantitative genetic nature of resistance in many species, and the lack of adequate funding to accelerate and more fully develop genomic resources. Despite these limitations, genomic tools have potential to help increase our understanding of the nature of resistance, and the genetic variability in the host, which can aid in the deployment of resistant populations and may assist in marker-assisted selection, particularly for major gene resistance.

Research on invasive pests and diseases in New Zealand and the law

​Two New Zealand statutes have important implications for research with organisms not previously found in New Zealand and either incidentally or illegally introduced. The Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 define the legal framework and allowable activities for ‘unwanted’ and ‘new’ organisms, respectively. Aspects of these Acts that are relevant to research activities possible with plant pest and disease organisms after their discovery, in particular those organisms requiring rapid development of management strategies and tools, are summarised. The need for accurate, detailed and accessible lists of ‘unwanted’ and ‘new’ organisms, and the need for the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Environmental Protection Authority to respond rapidly when the status of these organisms needs to be changed is highlighted. Consideration should be given to making the legislation concerning ‘new’ organisms more applicable to incidentally or illegally introduced organisms.

Composition and distribution of Thysanoptera (Insecta) in the area of Balcalı, Adana Province, Türkiye

This study was conducted to identify thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) species in the Balcalı area of Adana Province, Türkiye, known as a polyculture area having diverse topographic features. Thrips were extensively collected by the tapping method from awide range of agricultural crop plants during 2019-2020. A total of 1150 adult thrips individuals were collected, representing 24 identified species. Among them, the most prevalent and abundant species were the cotton thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman and the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). These two species showed varying population dynamics based on the flowering patterns of the plants sampled. Thankfully, no thrips damage was observed on the sampled plants. Although invasive pest thrips species such asThrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) and Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) were found in low numbers, and both of them were collected mostly from flowers of sesame and green pepper plants. A low number of predatory thrips belonging to geniuses, Aeolothrips (Aeolothripidae) and Scolothrips (Thripidae) were detected on beans, potatoes and cotton after March.

SPSL1 is essential for spermatophore formation and sperm activation in Spodoptera frugiperda.

The reproductive process in various species has undergone evolutionary adaptations at both the physiological and molecular levels, playing a significant role in maintaining their populations. In lepidopteran insects, the spermatophore is a unique structure formed in the female reproductive system, in which sperm storage and activation take place. It is known that the formation of the spermatophore is regulated by seminal fluid proteins derived from males. However, studies investigating the genetic mechanisms behind spermatophore formation in lepidopterans have been limited. In this study, our focus was on SPSL1, a gene that encodes a trypsin-type seminal fluid protein in Spodoptera frugiperda, a pest species with global invasive tendencies. Our findings revealed that SPSL1 expression was predominantly observed in the male reproductive tracts, and the disruption of this gene resulted in male sterility. Surprisingly, fluorescence analysis indicated that the absence of SPSL1 did not affect spermatogenesis or sperm migration within the male reproductive system. However, when females mated with SPSL1-mutant males, several defects were observed. These included disruptions in spermatophore formation, sperm activation in the copulatory bursae, and sperm migration into the spermathecae. Additionally, mass spectrometry analysis highlighted reduced levels of energy-related metabolites, suggesting that SPSL1 plays an essential role in promoting hydrolysis reactions during copulation. Consequently, our study demonstrates that SPSL1 is crucial for male fertility due to its functions in spermatophore formation and sperm activation. This research provides valuable insights into the genetic factors underlying reproductive processes in lepidopteran insects and sheds light on potential strategies for controlling invasive pest populations.

Abstracts from the 132nd Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science November 18, 2022

Jennifer Cartwright is the Science Coordinator for the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC). She is an ecologist with a background in GIS and hydrology and a focus on supporting effective natural-resource management. Her research has concerned climate-change impacts on a variety of terrestrial, wetland, and freshwater ecosystems across North America. Jen has overseen studies of forest drought impacts on local-to-regional scales, modeling of wetland ecohydrology leveraging remote sensing and field observations, identification of refugia from climate change, and assessments of climate impacts to at-risk ecosystems and species. She has been affiliated with the USGS Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center since 2009 and received her Ph.D. in Biology from Tennessee State University in 2014. Climate Change Impacts Across Tennessee The state of Tennessee encompasses many landscapes and ecosystems, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River. Climate change and other global-change processes are likely to impact a variety of natural resources and human communities throughout the state. This keynote address will offer a virtual “tour” of the state, touching on potential climate impacts to terrestrial ecosystems such as forests and grasslands, as well as freshwater systems such as streams, reservoirs, and wetlands, plus potential impacts to agriculture and cities. Increasingly, scientific information is becoming available to help anticipate climate-change influences on a variety of processes, including drought patterns, fire regimes, geographic ranges and seasonal timing for native species, hydrologic patterns, water quality and temperature, invasive species, and pest and pathogen dynamics. This keynote address will highlight some of these scientific resources to help researchers, natural-resource managers, and Tennessee residents better anticipate and prepare for climate impacts over the years ahead.

Positive association between emerald ash borer residence time and accumulation of invasive plants

AbstractInvasive forest pests can affect the composition and physical structure of forest canopies that may facilitate invasion by non‐native plants. However, it remains unclear whether this process is generalizable across invasive plant species at broad spatial scales, and how other landscape characteristics may simultaneously facilitate non‐native plant invasion. Here, we assembled a dataset of over 3000 repeatedly measured forest plots and quantified the impact of emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) residence time, land cover, and forest structure on the accumulation and coverage of invasive plants. We show plots in counties with longer EAB residences tended to accumulate more invasive plants than plots with shorter EAB residences. On average, nearly half of the plots with ash (Fraxinus spp.) in counties with EAB accumulated an additional 0.48 invasive plant species over the 5‐ to 6‐year resample interval compared to plots with ash in counties without EAB at the time of sampling. Increases in invasive species coverage were also evident in counties with EAB—although residence time did not have a strong effect, while forest gap fraction and vertical complexity were each negatively associated with increased coverage. This work has implications for understanding how invasive forest pests can facilitate the spread of non‐native plants.

Characterization of CrufCSP1 and Its Potential Involvement in Host Location by Cotesia ruficrus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an Indigenous Parasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in China.

Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a class of soluble proteins that facilitate the recognition of chemical signals in insects. While CSP genes have been identified in many insect species, studies investigating their function remain limited. Cotesia ruficrus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) holds promise as an indigenous biological control agent for managing the invasive pest Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in China. This study aimed to shed light on the gene expression, ligand binding, and molecular docking of CrufCSP1 in C. ruficrus. A RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the expression of CrufCSP1 was higher in the wings, with male adults exhibiting significantly higher relative expression levels than other developmental stages. A fluorescence competitive binding analysis further demonstrated that CrufCSP1 has a high binding ability with several host-related volatiles, with trans-2-hexenal, octanal, and benzaldehyde showing the strongest affinity to CrufCSP1. A molecular docking analysis indicated that specific amino acid residues (Phe24, Asp25, Thr53, and Lys81) of CrufCSP1 can bind to these specific ligands. Together, these findings suggest that CrufCSP1 may play a crucial role in the process of C. ruficrus locating hosts. This knowledge can contribute to the development of more efficient and eco-friendly strategies for protecting crops and managing pests.

Forecasting global spread of invasive pests and pathogens through international trade

AbstractNon‐native plant pests and pathogens threaten biodiversity, ecosystem function, food security, and economic livelihoods. As new invasive populations establish, often as an unintended consequence of international trade, they can become additional sources of introductions, accelerating global spread through bridgehead effects. While the study of non‐native pest spread has used computational models to provide insights into drivers and dynamics of biological invasions and inform management, efforts have focused on local or regional scales and are challenged by complex transmission networks arising from bridgehead population establishment. This paper presents a flexible spatiotemporal stochastic network model called PoPS (Pest or Pathogen Spread) Global that couples international trade networks with core drivers of biological invasions—climate suitability, host availability, and propagule pressure—quantified through open, globally available databases to forecast the spread of non‐native plant pests. The modular design of the framework makes it adaptable for various pests capable of dispersing via human‐mediated pathways, supports proactive responses to emerging pests when limited data are available, and enables forecasts at different spatial and temporal resolutions. We demonstrate the framework using a case study of the invasive planthopper spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). The model was calibrated with historical, known spotted lanternfly introductions to identify potential bridgehead populations that may contribute to global spread. This global view of phytosanitary pandemics provides crucial information for anticipating biological invasions, quantifying transport pathways risk levels, and allocating resources to safeguard plant health, agriculture, and natural resources.

Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Prevention against Early Life Stages of the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Laboratory and Greenhouse Trials.

The red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is a highly destructive invasive pest for palms whose management is mainly by application of synthetic pesticides. As a key pest of date palm plantations, it is necessary to integrate environmentally safe measures for its management. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have been primarily studied as a preventative control measure due to the horizontal transfer of conidia within the RPW population. We previously demonstrated the horizontal transmission of fungal conidia from an egg-laying surface to the female weevil and then to the eggs and larvae. Based on that strategy, this study aimed to evaluate the virulence of commercial EPF products and laboratory EPF preparations to RPW females and their progeny, and their ability to protect palms against infestation. As such, it serves as a screening platform for field experiments. Mortality rates of females and eggs depended on the applied treatment formulation and fungal strain. Velifer®, a Beauveria bassiana product, and Metarhizium brunneum (Mb7) resulted in 60-88% female mortality. Mb7-as a conidial suspension or powder-resulted in 18-21% egg-hatching rates, approximately 3 times less than in the non-treated control. Treating palms with Mb7 suspension or dry formulation significantly inhibits infestation signs and results in protection. These results lay the foundation for investigating the protective rate of EPF products against RPW in date plantations.