Insect Protection Research Articles

Endophyte mixture effects on ryegrass staggers in sheep

Epichloë endophytes protect ryegrass from insect pests, but no strain provides both the highest level of insect protection and lowest risk to livestock health. This study examined mixtures of endophytes to find combinations that could mitigate ryegrass staggers in sheep. At Barenbrug NZ, Courtenay, pastures varying widely in sown proportions of perennial ryegrass infected with nea3, nea12 and standard endophyte (SE) were sown in May 2019 and tested with lambs in summer and hoggets in spring 2020. In summer, sown proportions of >65% nea3, <35% nea12 and no SE delayed severe staggers (score 4–5) by 1 week. Alkaloid profiles of these pastures included the tremorgens epoxyjanthitrem I (<0.28 ppm) of nea12 and paxilline (<0.15 ppm) and terpendole C (<1.37 ppm) of nea3. In spring, sown proportions of >65% nea3 and <35% nea12 and/or SE did not induce staggers (score 0–0.1). Those pastures had low concentrations of the potent tremorgen lolitrem B (<0.30 ppm) of SE, epoxyjanthitrem I (<0.39 ppm) of nea12 and paxilline (<0.09 ppm) and terpendole C (<0.41 ppm) of nea3 and SE. The optimal endophyte formulations that minimised staggers across summer and spring were >65% nea3, <35% nea12 and no SE.

Yield Loss Quantification Due to Stalk-Eyed Fly (Diopsidae) Infestations on Rice Crops (Oryza Sativa) in Fogera Plain

Stalk-Eyed Flies (Diopsidae) pose a significant threat to rice crops (Oryza sativa), causing yield loss and affecting crop development. This study aims to quantify yield loss due to Stalk-Eyed Fly infestations and identify susceptible growth stages of rice crops to this insect. Field experiments were conducted to assess the yield loss of rice due to stalk eyed fly at Fogera, in 2021 and 2022. With the treatments Both Thiamethoxam seed treatment and Chlorpyrifos systemic foliar insecticide were applied to combat the infestation, with untreated varieties serving as controls. And the pot experiment was conducted to assess susceptibility of rice growth stage to the stalk eye fly artistically analyses, were employed to evaluate treatment impacts. With the treatments of different crop stages, Seedling Stage, Tillering Stage, Stem Elongation Stage, Panicle Initiation Stage, Booting, Heading, Flowering. The effect of rice growth stage on stalk eyed fly infestation showed that there is statistically significant difference among the different growth stage, tillering stage appears to be the most susceptible to Stalk-Eyed Fly infestations in terms of the impact on tiller growth in rice crops. During this stage, the mean percentage change of tillers is the highest at 59.3%, indicating a substantial impact of infestations on tiller growth. This suggests that rice crops are particularly vulnerable to stalked fly infestations during the tillering stage, highlighting the importance of effective pest management strategies during this critical growth phase to mitigate potential yield losses. In the field experiment, significant variations in yield loss were observed across treatments. The presence of dead hearts, indicative of infestation, varied notably between treated and untreated rice. Rice varieties incorporating pesticide applications demonstrated lower dead heart percentages, suggesting there is rice yield loss if the stalk-eyed fly is not controlled. Notably, treatments influenced grain yield, with insect protection measures resulting in higher yields and lower yield loss compared to controls. In conclusion, stalk-eyed fly infestation impacts rice crop productivity, particularly during vulnerable growth stages. Pesticide applications show promise in reducing infestation severity and mitigating yield loss. We recommend implementing targeted treatment strategies, focusing on susceptible growth stages, to effectively manage infestations and optimize rice crop yields.

Utility of Cry1Ja for Transgenic Insect Control.

Insect control traits are a key component of improving the efficacy of insect pest management and maximizing crop yields for growers. Insect traits based on proteins expressed by the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have proven to be very effective tools in achieving this goal. Unfortunately, the adaptability of insects has led to resistance to certain proteins in current commercial products. Therefore, new insecticidal traits representing a different mode of action (MoA) than those currently in use are needed. Cry1Ja has good insecticidal activity against various lepidopteran species, and it provides robust protection against insect feeding with in planta expression. For Bt proteins, different MoAs are determined by their binding sites in the insect midgut. In this study, competitive binding assays are performed using brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) from Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera frugiperda, and Chrysodeixis includens to evaluate the MoA of Cry1Ja relative to representatives of the various Bt proteins that are expressed in current commercial products for lepidopteran insect protection. This study highlights differences in the shared Cry protein binding sites in three insect species, Cry1Ja bioactivity against Cry1Fa resistant FAW, and in planta efficacy against target pests. These data illustrate the potential of Cry1Ja for new insect trait development.

Management of Carrot Root Borer, Melanagromyza sp. in Carrot Dacus carota L

A field experiment was conducted during rabi/summer 2021-22 at Nagaral village of Ron taluka in Gadag district, Karnataka to identify the appropriate causal agent for carrot root damage and to assess the field efficiency of different insecticide molecules against agromyzid fly, Melanagromyza sp. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 11 treatments replicated thrice. The crop was cultivated during 1st January 2022 as per the recommended package of practices except the insect protection measures. Observation on per cent infestation by agromyzid fly was recorded in each treatment by adopting a destructive sample technique from 40 days after sowing to 100 days after sowing. Per cent damage and yield parameters were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Result indicated that highest reduction of agromyzid fly damage over untreated control was recorded in treatment with soil application with chlorantraniliprole 0.4% GR @ 10 kg/ha at 35 DAS (71.86% reduction over control) and soil application with fipronil 0.3 % GR @ 20 kg/ha at 35 DAS with 69.10 per cent reduction over control. These are followed by seed treatment with cyantraniliprole 19.8% + thiamethoxam 19.8% @10 ml/kg, seed treatment with thiamethoxam 30 FS @ 10 ml/kg, seed treatment with imidacloprid 600 FS @ 10ml/kg and soil drenching with chlorpyriphos 20% EC @ 3 ml/l at 35 DAS, these treatments registered a maximum reduction of agromyzid fly viz., 69%, 58.03%, 56.79% and 58.03%, respectively.

Modernizing and harmonizing regulatory data requirements for genetically modified crops-perspectives from a workshop.

Genetically modified (GM) crops that have been engineered to express transgenes have been in commercial use since 1995 and are annually grown on 200 million hectares globally. These crops have provided documented benefits to food security, rural economies, and the environment, with no substantiated case of food, feed, or environmental harm attributable to cultivation or consumption. Despite this extensive history of advantages and safety, the level of regulatory scrutiny has continually increased, placing undue burdens on regulators, developers, and society, while reinforcing consumer distrust of the technology. CropLife International held a workshop at the 16th International Society of Biosafety Research (ISBR) Symposium to examine the scientific basis for modernizing global regulatory frameworks for GM crops. Participants represented a spectrum of global stakeholders, including academic researchers, GM crop developers, regulatory consultants, and regulators. Concurrently examining the considerations of food and feed safety, along with environmental safety, for GM crops, the workshop presented recommendations for a core set of data that should always be considered, and supplementary (i.e., conditional) data that would be warranted only on a case-by-case basis to address specific plausible hypotheses of harm. Then, using a case-study involving a hypothetical GM maize event expressing two familiar traits (insect protection and herbicide tolerance), participants were asked to consider these recommendations and discuss if any additional data might be warranted to support a science-based risk assessment or for regulatory decision-making. The discussions during the workshop highlighted that the set of data to address the food, feed, and environmental safety of the hypothetical GM maize, in relation to a conventional comparator, could be modernized compared to current global regulatory requirements. If these scientific approaches to modernize data packages for GM crop regulation were adopted globally, GM crops could be commercialized in a more timely manner, thereby enabling development of more diverse GM traits to benefit growers, consumers, and the environment.

2018–2022年杨凌地区天敌瓢虫、食蚜蝇数据集

Agriculture holds a significant strategic position in Yangling.In crop cultivation management, the strategic use of insect natural enemies can effectively reduce the reliance on pesticides and mitigate the potential harm caused by pesticide residues. Among these natural enemies, Coccinellidae and Syrphidae are the most prevalent and valuable guilds preying on many pests including aphids, in the field. However, there was limited knowledge of the species and occurrence of Coccinellidae and Syrphidae due to a lack of systematic monitoring in Yangling farmland. In order to clarify the resources of Coccinellids and Syrphids in Yangling, we monitored these two groups using both Malaise traps and regular surveys in farmland in Yangling, Shaanxi Province from 2018 to 2022. In the past five years, a total of 914 predatory Coccinellids and 1440 Syrphids have been collected. Among Coccinellids, 22 species of Coccinellids were identified, with 16 species and 6 genera. Additionally, there were 14 species of Syrphids, with 12 species and 2 genera identified. The screening and identification of natural enemy insects were conducted by professionals to ensure data quality. This dataset provides basic data on the species, quantity, and occurrence dynamics of predatory Coccinellids and Syrphids. Moreover, it also offers a large number of natural enemy insect specimen photos, ecological photos, Malaise trap photos, specimen bottle photos, and photos of the surrounding environment. It can serve as valuable references for future endeavors aimed at the protection and utilization of predatory insects.

Integrated Assessment for the Estrogenic Effects of Pyrethroid Compounds: Defining the Molecular Initiating Events and Key Events for the Adverse Outcome Pathway.

Pyrethroids, which are derived from natural insecticides found in chrysanthemum flowers, are widely utilized in various sectors, including agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and personal insect protection. Due to their widespread use, concerns have arisen regarding their potential estrogenic effects on female reproductive health. This review aims to address data gaps and inconsistencies in previous studies by defining molecular initiating events and key events within the adverse outcome pathway associated with pyrethroid-induced estrogenic effects. To achieve this, we propose utilizing Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA), which incorporate in vitro assays and in vivo assessments to comprehensively investigate the estrogenic effects of pyrethroids. An initial search was conducted in the PubMed database to identify relevant articles. Subsequently, the findings were classified according to the IATA strategy. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of pyrethroids and their estrogenic effects, identifies data gaps, and highlights the use of IATA in existing studies on the estrogenic effects of various pyrethroids. It emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive research on the estrogenic effects of pyrethroids and highlights the importance of standardized testing methods like IATA to accurately assess their impact on human and environmental health. By promoting the use of Integrated Testing Strategies (ITSs) and addressing data gaps, researchers and regulators can enhance the accuracy of assessments, ensuring better protection of human and environmental health from the potential estrogenic effects of pyrethroid exposure.

No recovery in the biomass of flying insects over the last decade in German nature protected areas.

Five years after a German study on insect biomass described a multi-decade decline in nature protected habitats, the DINA (Diversity of Insects in Nature protected Areas) project has investigated the status of insects in 21 selected nature reserves across Germany in the years 2020 and 2021. We used the same methods and protocols for trapping and measuring the biomass of flying insects as in the earlier study. Across two vegetation periods, we accumulated a comprehensive data set of 1621 data points of two-week emptying intervals to evaluate the insect biomass along gradients from arable land into nature reserves through transects of Malaise traps. On average, we observed an increase in maximum insect biomass per day along the transect from the edge to the centre of the nature reserve. Overall, the measured insect biomass remained at low levels, consistent with previous findings from the years 2007-2016. There were no significant regional differences. The results show that protected habitats have higher insect biomass compared to farmland and are therefore essential for insects but are unlikely to be sufficient to sustain insect biodiversity. Further measures need to be taken for better protection and sustainment of insects, which fulfil key functions in all terrestrial ecosystems.

Insect ear‐feeding impacts Gibberella ear rot and deoxynivalenol accumulation in corn grain

AbstractHigh deoxynivalenol (DON) levels in corn (Zea mays L.) is a grain quality issue for many growers in the US Great Lakes region. High DON levels can be attributed to the interaction of environment, pathogen (Fusarium spp. causing ear rot), and hybrid susceptibility. However, ear‐feeding insects can provide easy access for fungal infection and increase DON accumulation, hence the evaluation of insect protection strategies such as hybrid insecticidal proteins is crucial. Field trials were conducted at four locations in Michigan to study the impact of hybrids insect protection trait on ear injury, ear rot infection, and DON levels. Fungicide application (prothioconazole at silking stage) was conducted at two locations and included non‐treated control. Insect feeding incidence (IFI) and ear rot incidence (ERI) were correlated at three locations but were stronger at locations with environments not conducive to fungal growth soon after silking. Correlation between IFI and DON was observed only at locations with highest insect pressure. Hybrid with Vip3A protein reduced IFI by >70% at all locations but lowered DON concentration at one out of three tested locations compared to non‐Vip3A hybrids. Fungicide application reduced ear rot severity at one of two locations but did not impact ERI or DON levels. Overall, results showed that ear‐feeding by insects can lead to an increase in ear rot and DON levels, and use of hybrids with Vip3A protein can reduce DON levels especially under high insect pressure.

Marked variations in diversity and functions of gut microbiota between wild and domestic stag beetle Dorcus Hopei Hopei

BackgroundAlthough stag beetles are a popular saprophytic insect, their gut microbiome has been poorly studied. Here, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to reveal the gut microbiota composition and functional variations between wild and domestic Dorcus hopei hopei (Dhh) larval individuals.ResultsThe results indicated a significant difference between the wild and domestic Dhh gut microbiota., the domestic Dhh individuals contained more gut microbial taxa (e.g. genera Ralstonia and Methyloversatilis) with xenobiotic degrading functions. The wild Dhh possesses gut microbiota compositions (e.g. Turicibacter and Tyzzerella ) more appropriate for energy metabolism and potential growth. This study furthermore assigned all Dhh individuals by size into groups for data analysis; which indicated limited disparities between the gut microbiota of different-sized D. hopei hopei larvae.ConclusionThe outcome of this study illustrated that there exists a significant discrepancy in gut microbiota composition between wild and domestic Dhh larvae. In addition, the assemblage of gut microbiome in Dhh was primarily attributed to environmental influences instead of individual differences such as developmental potential or size. These findings will provide a valuable theoretical foundation for the protection of wild saprophytic insects and the potential utilization of the insect-associated intestinal microbiome in the future.

Analysis of the Application of Modern Technologies in Agriculture in Three Balkan Countries and the Impact on Biodiversity

In this study, an in-depth analysis of the application of modern technologies in agriculture in three Balkan countries - Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro were conducted and its potential impact on the biodiversity of these regions is examined. Agriculture, as a main activity in these countries, brings challenges and opportunities due to the need to increase food production while preserving natural ecosystems.The first part of the study analyzes available data on the use of modern technologies in agriculture. Special attention is given to technologies such as precision agriculture, the use of drones, sensors and software solutions to control the crop production process.The second part of the research is devoted to the analysis of the impact of these technologies on biodiversity. Changes in land use, pesticide application, and water resource management are used to examine how digital transformation affects local ecosystems and biodiversity. Possible positive and negative impacts will be compared, taking into account the protection of wildlife, insects and plants. Based on the analysis, possible strategies for the sustainable use of technologies in agriculture will be explored to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity.

Enhancing melon growth and sustainability through spun-bonded polypropylene fabric wrapping

This study aimed to assess various weights of spun-bonded nonwoven polypropylene (PP) fabrics for wrapping outdoor-grown melons, providing cost-effective options for both construction and insect protection. Fruit wrap bags were crafted using different materials, and spun-bond fabrics with weights of 30, 40, 50, and 60 gsm were tested for encasing melons. The results demonstrated that the 50 gsm spun-bonded bags significantly improved melon growth after a four-week period, establishing them as the preferred choice for outdoor melon cultivation. To evaluate their growth in comparison to unwrapped fruits, we measured melon circumference after four weeks. Unwrapped melons exhibited the slowest growth, whereas those enveloped in 50 gsm spun-bond fabric displayed the most substantial growth. Additionally, we employed hanging weights to gauge melon development. Melons encased in 30, 40, 50, and 60 gsm spun-bond fabric weighed 663, 680, 707, and 870 grams, respectively. Significantly, melons wrapped in 50 gsm spun-bond fabric exhibited the highest weight gain, underscoring its effectiveness. This study highlights the potential of spun-bonded PP fabric as a sustainable packaging option and a growth enhancer for melons, contributing to sustainable agriculture and improved crop quality.

Transcriptome analysis of immune-related genes of Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis [Guenée]) after oral bacterial infection.

The Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) is an important agricultural pest causing serious damage to economic crops, such as corn and sorghum. The gut is the first line of defense against pathogens that enter through the mouth. Staphylococcus aureus was used to infect the O. furnacalis midgut to understand the midgut immune mechanism against exogenous pathogens to provide new ideas and methods for the prevention and control of O. furnacalis. A sequencing platform was used for genome assembly and gene expression. The unigene sequences were annotated and functionally classified by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Significant differences were found in the induced expression profiles before and after infection. Some differentially expressed genes have important relations with lipid metabolism and immune mechanism, suggesting that they play an important role in the innate immune response of O. furnacalis. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used to identify the key genes involved in the signaling pathway, and the expression patterns of these key genes were confirmed. The results could help study the innate immune system of lepidopteran insects and provide theoretical support for the control of related pests and the protection of beneficial insects.

Navigating Agricultural Expansion in Harsh Conditions in Russia: Balancing Development with Insect Protection in the Era of Pesticides.

As the world's population continues to increase, ensuring food security becomes a major problem. This often leads to the expansion of agricultural production, even in harsh conditions and becomes a key problem for many countries, including Russia. However, such expansion may entail certain costs, including the potential loss of insect populations, which are vital for ecological balance and agricultural productivity. The development of fallow lands in these regions is necessary to increase food production and increase food security; it is important to balance this with protection from harmful insects and sustainable farming methods. Research into the effects of insecticides on insects is an ongoing challenge, and new, sustainable farming methods are needed to ensure that protection from harmful insects and sustainable development can coexist. This article discusses the use of pesticides to protect the well-being of mankind, the problems of studying the effects of pesticides on insects and the vulnerability of insects to pesticides in regions with harsh conditions. It also discusses successful methods of sustainable agriculture and the importance of the legal framework governing the use of pesticides. The article emphasises the importance of balanced development with insect protection to ensure the sustainability of agricultural expansion in harsh conditions.

Hybrid insect protection and fungicide application for managing ear rots and mycotoxins in silage corn

AbstractMycotoxins in silage corn (Zea mays L.) accumulate due to ear rot infections by certain ascomycete fungi and cause health issues in livestock. Fungal infections intensify with increase in ear‐damaging insect injury and favorable environment in the US Great Lakes region. Therefore, evaluating strategies such as hybrid insect protection and fungicide decisions to manage insects, ear rots, mycotoxin, and silage quality is crucial. Field trials were conducted in randomized complete block design at 11 Michigan site‐years across 2019–2021 using three hybrid insect protection levels under two levels of prothioconazole fungicide (treated and non‐treated). Hybrids (two per level) included: conventional (non‐Bt); Bt with Cry1F and Cry1Ab (BtE), protection only against European corn borer (ECB); and Bt with Cry1F and Vip3A (BtEW), protection against both ECB and western bean cutworm (WBC). Insect injury and ear rot index were 80%–90% and 75%–90% lower, respectively, in BtEW hybrids than non‐Bt hybrids. Strong correlation between insect injury and ear rot severity was observed when insect pressure was high. Mycotoxin levels, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON), was also lowest in BtEW hybrids. Weak correlations were observed between ear injury and mycotoxin concentration. Under low disease pressure, a 50%–70% reduction was observed in fungicide treated plots for both ear rot incidence and DON concentration. However, fungicide application did not reduce ear rot infections driven by high insect injury. Treatments had negligible impact on forage quality. Overall, results indicated that incorporating insect protection in hybrid selection decisions reduced insect feeding, disease occurrence, and mycotoxins, especially under high insect pressure.

Cry1Ba1-mediated toxicity of transgenic Bergera koenigii and Citrus sinensis to the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, vectors the bacterial causative agent of citrus greening disease, which has severely impacted citrus production on a global scale. As the current repeated application of chemical insecticides is unsustainable for management of this insect and subsequent protection of groves, we investigated the potential use of the bacteria-derived pesticidal protein, Cry1Ba1, when delivered via transgenic citrus plants. Having demonstrated transformation of the Indian curry leaf tree, Bergera koenigii, for Cry1Ba1 expression for use as a trap plant, we produced transgenic plants of Duncan grapefruit, Citrus paridisi, Valencia sweet orange, Citrus sinensis, and Carrizo citrange, C. sinensis x Poncirus trifoliata, for expression of Cry1Ba1. The presence of the cry1ba1 gene, and cry1ba1 transcription were confirmed. Western blot detection of Cry1Ba1 was confirmed in most cases. When compared to those from wild-type plants, leaf discs from transgenic Duncan and Valencia expressing Cry1Ba1 exhibited a "delayed senescence" phenotype, similar to observations made for transgenic B. koenigii. In bioassays, significant reductions in the survival of adult psyllids were noted on transgenic B. koenigii and Valencia sweet orange plants expressing Cry1Ba1, but not on transgenic Duncan grapefruit or Carrizo citrange. In contrast to psyllids fed on wild type plants, the gut epithelium of psyllids fed on transgenic plants was damaged, consistent with the mode of action of Cry1Ba1. These results indicate that the transgenic expression of a bacterial pesticidal protein in B. koenigii and Valencia sweet orange offers a viable option for management of D. citri, that may contribute to solutions that counter citrus greening disease.

Efficacy of drought-tolerant and insect-protected transgenic TELA® maize traits in Nigeria.

Assessment of efficacy of drought tolerance (DT) and insect protection (Bt) genes in maize genotypes is invaluable for commercialization and production of transgenic maize in Nigeria. Seven maize hybrids, known as TELA® maize, with stacked events of Bt insect protection (MON89034) and drought tolerance (MON87460; DroughtGard®) and their respective non-GM versions (isohybrids) developed through the TELA Maize Project were evaluated in confined field trial site at Zaria in 2020 and 2021. The objective was to assess the efficacy of stacked DT and Bt genes to seek deregulation and commercialization of both traits in Nigeria. Significant (P < 0.05-0.01) differences were observed among genotypes (G), environments (E) and genotype × environment interaction (GEI) for grain yield and most other traits under stem borer (moth species) and fall armyworm infested, drought stress, and optimum-moisture conditions, except E and GEI under drought. TELA® GM hybrids with Bt MON89034 had 19% higher yield than their non-GM isogenic versions, and 40% higher yield than the commercial checks under the target pests infestation. The foliar damage score of all the TELA® GM genotypes was ≤ 2 relative to their non-GM isogenic versions which scored ≥ 4, indicating the effectiveness of the Bt MON89034 gene in conferring resistance against stem borer and fall armyworm. Under moderate drought, pairwise comparison showed TELA® GM Hybrid 1-1 and Hybrid 2-1 had 12.4-20.4% higher (P < 0.01) yield than their isogenic versions. Under optimum-moisture condition with pests controlled, the TELA® GM and their isogenic hybrids were similar, but both had 32% higher yield than the commercial checks. Adoption of TELA® GM technology by farmers as adaptation strategy to cope with climate change, will ensure sustainability of maize production and productivity in Nigeria.

The Glass is Half Full: Environmental and Climate Policy of the Last Merkel Government Between Protest and Pandemic

ABSTRACT A number of situational events had an impact on the environmental and climate policy of the last Merkel government. The drought in the summer of 2018, the flood disaster of 2021, the climate protests of Fridays for Future throughout 2019 and also the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court on the Climate Protection Act of 2021 generated a great deal of attention for environmental and, above all, climate policy. On the contrary, the COVID 19 pandemic since March 2020 diverted public attention from environmental issues. All in all, however, the processes can largely be characterised as ‘business as usual’ – with the usual conflicts of partisan, departmental, and interest politics, and an overall impact of EU policies. In terms of the policy results, the glass seems more ‘half full’ than ‘half empty’. Some progress was made on insect protection and the circular economy, and the coal phase-out was finally initiated. In climate policy, however, there is still a gap in implementation despite clear progress, and there is also what can best be described as an ambition gap. Other issues remain to be fixed, for example in wind energy, animal welfare, and moorland protection.

Control of pests and diseases in plants using IOT Technology

The term "smart agriculture" describes how farming is carried out in the modern day as technology develops. Application of diverse insect protection and agricultural production tactics is crucial for crop monitoring. The structure as it is now has problems. A particular core Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) is used to manage the numerous sensors connected for crop surveillance and pest management. A Parallel and Distributed Simulation Framework (PDSF) with the Internet of Things (IoT) is proposed for pest management and agricultural monitoring tools. It lessens the pressure on a certain GPU, evenly distributes the workload over all available GPUs at simultaneously, and delivers data to the dashboards even when it's broken. The procedure will decrease system performance. In the PDSF multi-threading paradigm, each GPU unit distributes workloads to specific additional cores. To carry out the various tasks, the four levels of this system—crop management, pest identification and control, output activities, and input functional areas—are distributed among them. The information is processed simultaneously and handled in an efficient and controlled manner. The proposed system improves the performance measures of 98.65%.

From science to society to practice? Public reactions to the insect crisis in Germany

Abstract The insect crisis, as conservation topic, has historically received little attention among the general public. Yet, the publication “More than 75% decline over 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas” by Hallmann et al. gained vast media coverage in Germany in October 2017. Given the media's known influence on public perception, we investigated (i) whether coverage of this publication increased awareness among the German public for insect die‐off, and (ii) whether it contributed to people's intentions to undertake insect protecting actions. We used Google Trends to examine people's internet activity in Germany in relation to keywords relevant to our research question. A high peak in Google searches for insect die‐off (“Insektensterben”) was indeed visible immediately after the study publication, and search volume remained significantly higher for the following 6 months, confirming that the topic gained attention. Further, searches for the three keywords insect hotel, bee‐friendly and bee meadow (“Insektenhotel”, “bienenfreundlich”, “Bienenweide”) increased significantly over the summers of the years 2017 to 2019. It appears that increased media attention around insect die‐off spurned by the publication of Hallmann et al not only addressed the crisis but also encouraged implementation of simple insect protection measures by the public. These findings suggest that cooperation between the media, conservation organizations and scientists to disseminate evidence‐based information alongside practical conservation measures may have lasting benefits. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.