Damage caused by Brassicogethes aeneus primarily affects the reproductive organs of rapeseed, disrupting fertilization and often leading to premature pod opening. In addition to direct yield loss, it is hypothesized that injury to generative tissues may also alter seed nutrient composition, particularly the unsaturated fatty acid profile, which is a key determinant of rapeseed quality. To assess this indirect effect, field experiments were conducted in 2024–2025, and seed samples were collected after ripening. The study aimed to evaluate pest-induced variation in nutrient content under different insecticide treatments. Alongside an untreated control, two active substances were tested: a systemic insecticide (acetamiprid) and a combined formulation of acetamiprid and lambda-cyhalothrin. Our results demonstrated that the widely used active insecticides are not effective against B. aeneus adults. Checking the fatty acid (FA) profile, within saturated FAs, the proportion of palmitic acid (C16:0) was the highest in the control; the single and combined pesticide treatments were characterized by increasing LA (C18:2n6) and ALA (C18:3n3) levels, in which both FAs exhibited a linear pattern with the single and combined treatments. In MUFAs, the most important finding was the negligible level of erucic acid (C22:1n9) below the detection limit. Oleic acid (C18:1n9) proportion was generally high (~50) and significantly decreased in treated groups. Oil quality affection highlights the importance of effective pest management to maintain the nutritional and technological value of rapeseed, as shifts in the n6:n3 ratio and thrombogenic index reflect stress responses rather than agronomic benefits.

The growing global population and increasing food demand highlight the need for sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivity with environmental protection. Traditional blanket pesticide spraying leads to overuse of chemicals, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss. This study aims to develop an innovative approach to precision pest management using mobile computing, computer vision, and deep learning techniques. A mobile measurement platform equipped with cameras and an onboard computer was designed to collect real-time field data and detect pest infestations. The system uses an advanced object detection algorithm based on the YOLOv4 architecture, trained on a custom dataset of rapeseed pest images. Modifications were made to enhance detection accuracy, especially for small objects. Field tests demonstrated the system’s ability to identify and count pests, such as the pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus), in rapeseed crops. The collected data, combined with GPS information, generated pest density maps, which can guide site-specific pesticide applications. The results show that the proposed method achieved a mean average precision (mAP) of 83.7% on the test dataset. Field measurements conducted during the traversal of rapeseed fields enabled the creation of density maps illustrating the distribution of pollen beetles. Based on these maps, the potential for pesticide savings was demonstrated, and the migration dynamics of pollen beetle were discussed.

The use of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) for pest insect management presents a promising strategy for protecting crop yields, preserving ecosystem integrity and improving food security and safety. However, to address the natural instability of dsRNA, nanocarriers have been developed to enhance both its stability and cellular uptake in vivo. This study evaluates the laboratory efficacy of naked vs complexed dsRNA in the RNAi-mediated control of the pollen beetle Brassicogethes aeneus, a major insect pest of rapeseed crops. After selecting a synthetic cationic polymer that successfully protects dsRNA from degradation by B. aeneus gut nucleases, pollen beetles were orally exposed to either complexed or naked dsRNA targeting essential genes. Our results demonstrate that the low-molar-mass synthetic polymer nanocarrier PAEMA enhances the stability of dsRNA in the insect gut environment and facilitates its release. However, it does not lead to an increased mortality rate of B. aeneus. These findings suggest that nanocarrier systems achieving successful dsRNA complexation and enhanced stability do not necessarily result in a significant reduction of survival in pollen beetles. They also highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the complexation and release conditions specific to each dsRNA-nanocarrier system within a relevant biological context to develop effective dsRNA delivery strategies for B. aeneus control. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Towards sustainable insect pest management: A conceptual review using the example of pollen beetles in rapeseed

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has led researchers to explore alternative methods for controlling plant diseases and pests. Among these alternatives, essential oils (EOs) derived from various plant species have gained significant attention due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, which can be utilized in plant protection. Essential oils are volatile compounds that possess strong aromatic characteristics and are found in many medicinal and aromatic plants. They are known for their antifungal, antibacterial, and insecticidal activities, making them viable candidates for eco-friendly pest and disease management strategies. In this research, six essential oils—pine, patchouli, geranium, spruce, coriander, and eucalyptus oil—have been tested in vitro for controlling mycelium growth of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria brassicicola, and Cylindrosporium concentricum. The study also covers experiments in controlling pollen beetle and cabbage seed weevil (laboratory trials). In greenhouse conditions, the phytotoxicity of EOs to oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and the effect of these substances on the control of cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) were also tested. The results obtained indicate a large diversity of different essential oils in terms of their action on pathogens, pests, weeds, and winter rapeseed. Differences in their effectiveness were also found, depending on the applied dose.

This article presents the results of an ecological assessment of modern agricultural crop cultivation technologies (winter wheat, spring rapeseed, corn, sunflower, soybean, buckwheat) based on a complex of phytosanitary indicators. It was determined that under conditions of increasing anthropogenic load and global challenges (demographic and climate change, evolution of resistant pests, diseases, and weeds), the intensive use of agrochemicals makes the phytosanitary state of agrocenoses a critical factor affecting the quality, yield, and ecological sustainability of agroecosystems in Ukraine. The research was conducted on the agricultural lands of the Skvyra Experimental Station for Organic Production (SESOP, Skvyra) during the growing seasons of 2023–2024. The studies analyzed the weed-critical periods of crops, the species composition and level of weediness in crops, and identified dominant weed species, including scentless chamomile, sticky brome, common lambsquarters, creeping thistle, and others. The spread and intensity of damage by pests and diseases were determined. Key pests observed were cereal thrips and red-breasted cereal leaf beetle for winter wheat, and crucifer fleas and pollen beetle for spring rapeseed. Common diseases included fusarium head blight and powdery mildew for winter wheat, and white mold and gray mold for spring rapeseed. Based on phytosanitary indicators (disease prevalence, pests, crop weediness), a scoring system for ecological assessment of technologies was applied: Class I — unsatisfactory, Class II — satisfactory, Class III — normal. It was established that the phytosanitary state of organic winter wheat, spring rapeseed, and buckwheat crops is characterized by an unsatisfactory (1 point) or satisfactory (2 points) condition, especially in terms of weediness and disease prevalence. For corn, sunflower, and soybean, a range from unsatisfactory to normal was observed, with the best indicators achieved through the comprehensive application of fertilizers and plant protection products. The ecological assessment of agricultural crop cultivation technologies demonstrates that further improvement of agrotechnologies is necessary to achieve an optimal phytosanitary state of crops and increase the ecological sustainability of agroecosystems. This should be achieved by integrating preventive approaches into plant protection systems, with mandatory consideration of local growing conditions, biological characteristics of crops, and the dynamics of harmful organism populations.

Arecaceae (palms) constitute a highly diversified family of monocots, distributed especially in tropical and subtropical areas, including approximately 2600 species and 180 genera. Palms originated by the end of the Early Cretaceous, with most genus-level cladogenetic events occurring from the Eocene and Oligocene onward. Meligethinae (pollen beetles) are a large subfamily of Nitidulidae (Coleoptera), including just under 700 described species, and some 50 genera. Meligethinae are widespread in the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Oriental Regions. All meligethine species are associated with flowers or inflorescences of several plant families, both dicots (the great majority) and monocots (around 7%); approximately 80% of known species are thought to be monophagous or strictly oligophagous at the larval stage. The origin of Meligethinae is debated, although combined paleontological, paleogeographical, and molecular evidence suggests placing it somewhere in the Paleotropics around the Eocene-Oligocene boundary, ca. 35-40 Mya. This article reviews the insect-host plant relationships of all known genera and species of Meligethinae associated with Arecaceae, currently including some 40 species and just under ten genera (including a possibly new African one). The role of adults as effective and important pollinators of their host palms (also in terms of provided ecosystem services) has been demonstrated in some common palm species. All Meligethinae living on palms show rather close phylogenetic relationships with one another and with the mainly Eastern Palearctic genus Meligethes Stephens, 1830 and related genera (associated with dicots of the families Rosaceae, Brassicaceae, or Cleomaceae). Molecular data suggests that the palm-associated Paleotropical genus Meligethinus Grouvelle, 1906 constitutes the sister-group of Meligethes and allied genera. Some hypotheses are presented on the evolution of Meligethinae associated with palms and their probably rather recent (early Miocene-Pleistocene) radiation on their host plants. Meligethinae likely radiated on palms long after the diversification of their hosts, and their recent evolution was driven by repeated radiation on pre-existing and diverse palm taxa, rather than ancient host associations and coevolution. Finally, this article also briefly summarized the relationships that other unrelated groups of Nitidulidae have established with palms around the world.

The decline in the global forest area has increased the demand for timber and forest products, necessitating sustainable forestry practices. Agroforestry integrates trees with crops and livestock, offering multifunctional benefits including soil improvement, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. This review explores agroforestry’s diverse roles, emphasizing biomass production enhancement through optimized planting methods, nutrient management and water conservation. It highlights the environmental, economic and social benefits of agroforestry while addressing sustainable land use. Agroforestry enhances soil quality through improved nutrient cycling and biodiversity. Researchers indicated that agroforestry practices reduce the soil temperature (3.37-9.25 %) and increase the soil moisture considerably (10-20 %). They also reduce the soil erosion by 50 % thus stabilizing soil structure. An increase in soil organic carbon (40 %), nitrogen storage (13 %) and accessible nitrogen and phosphorus (46 % and 11 %) availability was also reported by many. In pest management, it considerably reduces flies (38 %), pollen beetles (57 %), wheat stem sawflies (37 %) and aphid damage by 13 % while increasing farm income. Agroforestry represents a viable strategy for sustainable land management, food security and ecological restoration. Tailored models can improve economic returns, environmental sustainability and climate resilience. Further research should refine best practices and integrate advanced technologies to maximize the benefits.

Cabbage stem flea beetle, Psylliodes chrysocephala (Linnaeus 1758), and pollen beetle, Brassicogethes viridescens (Fabricius 1787), are pests of oilseed rape [Brassica spp. (Brassicales: Brassicaceae)] crops in Europe and pose a potential threat to canola production in North America. We used species occurrence and environmental data to develop ensemble species distribution models describing P. chrysocephala and B. viridescens habitat suitability, creating risk maps for either species under current (1981–2010; globally) and future [2011–2040 and 2041–2070, across 2 IPCC Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs); North America only] environmental conditions. Projections for both species show improvement in northern North American habitat suitability under either SSP over time. Crop dominance was the most important predictor of suitable habitat for both species, followed by mean annual temperature range, precipitation metrics, and elevation (P. chrysocephala only). Risk maps for P. chrysocephala show broad habitat suitability, increasing under future scenarios, for this insect if it becomes introduced to North America; however, a phenological mismatch between P. chrysocephala, which specializes on winter oilseed rape (WOSR) in Europe, and spring oilseed rape (SOSR) would likely inhibit the long-term persistence of this insect in central North America. For B. viridescens, which impacts SOSR in Europe and is present in northeastern North America, predictive maps show increased risk in discontinuous patches across central North America that improve in suitability over time. While SOSR-cropping systems in central North America are environmentally suitable for both P. chrysocephala and B. viridescens, the establishment potential of these species may depend upon future sowing practices.

Oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus) is a major crop requiring numerous phytosanitary treatments. It is of paramount importance to find sustainable insect pest management to guarantee long term OSR availability. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of OSR intercropping with faba beans (FB, Vicia faba) on the OSR insect pest complex. In addition, we aimed to understand the underlying mechanisms of crop protection via intercropping by distinguishing between the effects of visual and physical disruptions caused by companion plants and those of olfactory disruptions in host location and selection, and to evaluate whether this effect is direct or indirect. In a field trial run over 2 years, OSR was grown either as a monocrop or intercropped with winter FB (WFB, frost-resistant), spring FB (SFB, frost-sensitive), or polyethylene artificial plants (ART) designed to mimic FB. Compared to the monocropped OSR the OSR + FB intercropping systems significantly reduced the feeding damage caused by cabbage flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.), the immigration of adult cabbage stem flea beetles (Psylliodes chrysocephala), the number of rape stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus napi) oviposition punctures on stems and the number of pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus) per inflorescence. The intercropping with SFB had a stronger impact on C. napi and B. aeneus than intercropping with WFB. Compared to the monocropped OSR the ART treatment significantly reduced Phyllotreta spp. damage on leaves, C. napi oviposition punctures and the number of B. aeneus. The yield of OSR intercropped with SFB was higher than monocropped OSR, while the other treatments did not affect yield. This study shows that intercropping reduces the incidence of the OSR insect pest complex. Mechanisms of action include the direct visual and physical disruption provided by the companion plants. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The aim of the experiment was to compare the efficacy of the synthetic pyrethroids lambda-cyhalothrin, alpha-cypermethrin and tau-fluvalinate on the spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.), as well as to observe the response based on the sex of the spruce bark beetle. The beetles were captured using barrier pheromone traps (Ridex s. r. o.). For laboratory evaluation of sensitivity, the methodology for testing resistance of the pollen beetle Brassicogethes aeneus (Fabricius, 1775) to insecticides was used according to the recommendations of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee. The sex of each individual was determined by dissection. After 24 hours of exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin, 0% of both males and females survived, with alpha-cypermethrin, 0% of males and 0.16% of females survived, and with tau-fluvalinate, 2.8% of males and 3.87% of females survived. Statistical analysis of the data (using the Kruskal-Wallis test) indicated that tau-fluvalinate is less effective than lambda-cyhalothrin and alpha-cypermethrin, and that the sensitivity of the spruce bark beetle does not depend on its sex. More females (on average 72%) than males (on average 28%) were attracted to the pheromone traps used.

The European Union is debating ambitious biodiversity targets. These measures have seen early adoption in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with a new law aiming for a 50% reduction in the use of synthetic chemical plant protection products (CPPP) by 2030. Estimating the economic viability of reducing CPPPs without compromising farm revenues is an important step in reaching the goal, but the necessary data are often incomplete, unavailable, or non-existent. We calibrated a coupled crop-insect model using available field data on oilseed rape and its pest pollen beetle, and tested if we could upscale the field data both spatially and temporally. The simulation results show that while the damage threshold of 10 insects per plant is reached currently only in 4–5% of cases, the threshold will be reached in 23–53% of cases in the near future (2040–60), and 37–96% in the far future (2080–2100). Particularly warmer winters favor pollen beetle populations and lead to more cases of explosive population growth. Resulting yield losses may amount to up to 40% in the near, and up to 90% in the far future. Even with CPPP applied, yield losses could not be decreased to satisfactory levels in our simulations, suggesting that current methods of pollen beetle control may have to be adapted in the future. The study highlights the critical interplay between climate change, agricultural practices, and pest management, stressing the importance of data- and model-driven approaches to ensure food security and biodiversity conservation.

The pollen beetle Brassicogethes viridescens has become an invasive pest to rapeseed crops in North America, especially Canada, the world’s most prolific grower of rapeseed. The use of conventional insecticides to control Brassicogethes spp. can lead to substantial insecticide resistance development in target pest populations and detrimental effects on non-target organisms in and around rapeseed crops. Therefore, economically and ecologically sustainable alternatives to conventional insecticides must be explored. Given the continued increases in production efficacy- and the nucleotide sequence-specific mode of action of dsRNA pesticide products, RNA pesticides represent a potential tool for use within the management of B. viridescens. We examined the insecticidal efficacy of dsRNA against B. viridescens, using transcripts of its intragenus relative Brassicogethes aeneus as a template for dsRNA design. In B. viridescens, we observed similar sensitivities to dsRNA compared to B. aeneus. Furthermore, survival assays using three model non-target species suggest highly selective insecticidal activity of the dsRNAs. Finally, we generated the first transcriptome draft for B. viridescens, which provides valuable information for future management needs against this pest species. Given these first insights towards sustainable RNAi-based management of B. viridescens, further work (different exposure methods, semi-field larval studies) is needed to develop RNAi-based approaches to managing B. viridescens in both European and North American rapeseed systems.

Intoxication of sheep and cattle by Astylus atromaculatus recently occurred in Uruguay and Argentina in association with severe drought. Although the disease was experimentally reproduced in sheep in the 1970s, there is limited information on clinical and pathologic findings of sheep experimentally intoxicated by this beetle. Here, we described the clinical, gross, and microscopic findings in 3 sheep orally dosed with A. atromaculatus (treatment group, TG) and in 2 control sheep (control group, CG) dosed with distilled water. Anorexia, lethargy, ruminal stasis, reluctance to move, prolonged recumbency, and bruxism were observed in the TG but not the CG sheep. Gross postmortem lesions were only observed in TG sheep and included fibrinonecrotizing enteritis affecting the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, and multifocal hemorrhages in rumen, omasum, and abomasum. Microscopically, all 3 TG animals had multifocal necrosis in the small intestine; the lesions were most severe in the jejunum. Multifocal necrosis was seen in the mucosa of the rumen, omasum, and abomasum. No significant gross or microscopic abnormalities were observed in the 2 CG sheep. The study supports the role of A. atromaculatus in acute, fatal gastrointestinal disease like that previously described in experimental and spontaneous cases in sheep.

Background:Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is an important global crop, and insect-mediated pollination significantly influences its productivity. Although honeybees (Apis mellifera) are widely recognized as effective cotton pollinators, other insect visitors, such as pollen beetles (Carpophilus aterrimus), frequently occur in cotton fields, but their role in pollination remains poorly understood.Aim: This study investigated the role of C. aterrimus in cotton pollination and examined how its presence affects honeybee foraging behavior. Understanding these interactions under Australian field conditions would provide valuable insights for optimizing integrated pest and pollinator management strategies in cotton agroecosystems.Methods:Experiments were conducted in Narrabri, Australia, using a combination of caging and bagging trials. Periodic observations were carried out throughout the cotton flowering period to assess the impact of beetle presence on honeybee visitation.Results:Carpophilus aterrimus did not enhance cotton yield, and high beetle densities negatively affected boll set and deterred honeybee visitation.Conclusion:Carpophilus aterrimus is not an effective pollinator and may reduce cotton productivity.

Rice is the staple food of Bangladesh grown in Aus, Aman and Boro seasons. Most of the cultivable lands are occupied by rice in Aman season. Insect pests are the major concern of rice cultivation. Different species of insects are found in rice field based on growing seasons and localities. The study was conducted in T. Aman season around Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) to know the prevalence and abundance of insect pests in T. Aman rice ecosystem. Sweeping net was used to collect the insect samples. The prevailing insect pests were rice bug (Leptocorisa acuta Thun.), green leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens Dis.), brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stal), short horned grasshopper (Hieroglyphus daganensis Krauss), long horned grasshopper (Tettigonia viridissima Krauss), leaf roller caterpillar (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee), green horned caterpillar (Melanitis leda Lin.), yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas Walker), rice caseworm (Parapoynx stagnalis Zeller), rice pollen beetle (Chiloloba acuta Wied.) and rice skipper (Pelopidas mathias Fab.). Among these pests, green leafhopper (51.96% relative abundance) and brown planthopper (21.79% relative abundance) were the most abundant while rice pollen beetle was the least abundant (0.565%). These insect pests belong to 9 different families under the orders of Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.

An unexpected new species of the genus Aristogethes Audisio & Cline, 2009, A. pelikani sp. nov., is described from southern Oman (Arabian Peninsula). This new species appears to be morphologically rather closely related to a couple of species known from southern Africa (northern South Africa, Botswana and southern Namibia): A. eremita (Audisio, Kirk-Spriggs & Kirejtshuk, 1998) and especially A. rufofuscus (Audisio, Kirk-Spriggs & Kirejtshuk, 1998), with which it shares several morphological traits and some interesting eco-ethological adaptations; these three species are, in fact, all specialized to live in stony sub-desert environments, with phenology mostly in August-September in both areas (southern Africa and southern Arabian Peninsula); they are also all associated for larval development with sub-desertic Malvaceae: Sterculioideae of the genus Hermannia L. The new species is otherwise easily distinguished from its two southern African relatives by the peculiarly shining and coarsely punctuated elytral surface, smaller average body sizes, narrower and at base much more acutely toothed tarsal claws, and the different male and female genitalia, more like those of Aristogethes rufofuscus. The larval hostplant of the new species is represented by Hermannia (Mahernia) paniculata Franch., a small eremic southern Arabian and Northeast African species, typically growing at low altitude in stony sub-desert habitats, close to the sea. An updated and commented checklist to known species of Aristogethes is presented.

Identifying insect predators using camera traps reveal unexpected predator communities in oilseed rape fields

In highly specialised phytophagous insects, important insights on phylogeny of the involved insect group can be often inferred from the evolutionary history of their host plants, and vice-versa, as in the case for a new, peculiar species of pollen beetles, recently discovered in Central China (Hubei Province). This new species is described herein as Teucriogethes huangae Liu & Audisio, sp. nov., and information on its ecology and systematic position is provided. The new species, associated as larvae with a strongly isolated member of the genus Teucrium L. (Lamiaceae), T. ornatum Hemsl., exhibiting a problematic taxonomic position, represents in turn an isolated and morphologically rather aberrant taxon in its lineage, probably the largest in size (2.2-2.8mm), and the first endemic representative of its genus in the whole Eastern Palaearctic. An updating of the taxonomic assessment of members of Teucriogethes and on possible evolutionary relationships with their larval host plants, based on an integrative taxonomy approach, is finally presented. A key to identification of all known species is also introduced. ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E349044B-29A5-416C-85CA-56143C7A29BE.

The common swift Apus apus is an obligate aerial, migratory, insectivorous bird, that has experienced significant declines in the UK since the 1990s. Reductions in the availability of prey during their summer breeding season in the UK are likely to be a key factor in this decline. This short communication aims to contribute new insights into the current foraging behaviours of adult swifts feeding their nestlings, as a means of provoking new conversation and stimulating further work. Food bolus samples are small ball‐like structures containing the insect prey that is regurgitated to nestlings. Boluses from adult swifts provisioning their nestlings were collected incidentally at a breeding colony in Suffolk, UK. These were taxonomically identified and compared to corresponding daily insect catches from a nearby Rothamsted Insect Survey suction trap operating within the foraging area of common swifts. There was a distinction between the contents of the bolus samples and the suction‐trap samples, whereby larger‐bodied aerial invertebrates appeared in greater numbers in bolus samples. This was evidenced by the relatively high numbers of agriculturally important species, pollen beetles, and cabbage stem flea beetles in bolus samples compared to low numbers in suction traps. Smaller invertebrates such as aphids (Aphididae), parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera), and thrips (Thysanoptera) were not frequent in the bolus samples, relative to the high numbers identified from the suction‐trap catch. These results are discussed in relation to swifts providing a pest suppression service, potential impacts of pesticides, and how selective foraging may both buffer and facilitate the challenges swifts face in a modern agricultural landscape.