Functional analysis of inducible choline/carboxylesterase CCE01 associated with fenpropathrin and abamectin detoxification in Tetranychus urticae (Koch).

Knockout of nAChR subunits in spider mites and their phytoseiid predators confers spinosyn cross-resistance and reveals a conserved mode of action in mites.

Tetranychus urticae Koch, 1836 (red form) (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a major global pest known for its broad host range and rapid development of resistance to synthetic acaricides. This necessitates the urgent exploration of effective and environmentally friendly alternative control strategies, such as botanical pesticides. This study evaluated the toxicity of ethanol extracts from Salvia officinalis L. (Sage), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Rosemary), Achillea millefolium L. (Yarrow) and Cuminum cyminum L. (Cumin) against T. urticae eggs (after 7 days), nymphs, and adults (after 24, 48, and 72 hours), as well as their repellent effects on adults (after 24, 48, and 72 hours) using leaf disc bioassays. All tested extracts demonstrated significant toxic and repellent activities, although with varying degrees of efficacy depending on the plant species, concentration, exposure time, and mite life stage. In terms of egg toxicity, C. cyminum exhibited the highest potency (LC₅₀ = 0.139%), while S. officinalis showed significant effectiveness (LC₅₀ = 0.268%). R. officinalis was consistently the least effective extract tested. Against nymphs and adults, the toxicity profiles varied over time, with S. officinalis generally showing high efficacy, particularly at 72 hours against adults (LC₅₀=3.344%) and nymphs (LC₅₀=1.466%). C. cyminum also exhibited high toxicity against nymphs, with comparable LC₅₀ values to S. officinalis at 24 and 48 hours, and was the most repellent extract against adults, causing 100% repellency at 2.5% after 48 and 72 hours. These findings highlight the potential of S. officinalis and C. cyminum extracts as promising botanical acaricides for integrated T. urticae management, offering potential alternatives to synthetic pesticides due to their effectiveness against different life stages and repellent properties. Further research is needed to identify the specific bioactive compounds and evaluate their efficacy under field conditions.

Effects of consuming two-spotted spider mite eggs on nutritional profile and digestive enzymes in omnivorous pest western flower thrips

Intraguild predation (IGP) regulates predator populations through direct predation and risk effects, shaping the life-history traits of intraguild prey. This study examines the impacts of IGP on life-history traits of two biocontrol agents, Neoseiulus barkeri and Scolothrips takahashii, reared on their shared prey Tetranychus urticae, using age-stage, two-sex life-table analysis and computer simulations. Life-table analysis revealed that IGP significantly reduced pre-adult survival of both predators. Neoseiulus barkeri developed faster, but exhibited reduced fecundity under IGP, which resulted in declines in its net reproductive rate (R0, from 30.76 to 10.51 offspring per individual), intrinsic rate of increase (r, from 0.2555 to 0.1872 day-1), and finite rate of increase (λ, from 1.2911 to 1.2059 day-1). Conversely, S. takahashii maintained stable development and fecundity, showing no significant differences in R0, r, λ and mean generation time (T) between IGP and control groups. The net predation rate (C0) of N. barkeri decreased from 381.00 to 172.97 prey per individual, and that of S. takahashii from 416.58 to 25.31, under IGP. Computer simulations indicated that IGP led to smaller populations and reduced predation potential for N. barkeri, whereas S. takahashii showed an increase in both. IGP differentially alters the population parameters and predation capacity of these two species. Neoseiulus barkeri experiences a decline in population growth, whereas S. takahashii benefits from IGP. These findings highlight species-specific adaptive strategies in response to IGP, providing insights for designing compatible multipredator application programs in biological control. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study evaluated integrated pest management (IPM) components for controlling four major tea pests (tea mosquito bug, red spider mite, thrips, and looper caterpillar) in Bangladesh through multi-location field and laboratory experiments. The study was conducted at the main farm of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), Srimangal, Moulvibazar, and BTRI Sub Station, Panchagarh, during April 2017 to September 2018. The experiments were set up following a completely randomized design (CRD) in laboratory conditions and a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in field conditions with three replications. Data were collected at 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment (HAT) at laboratory conditions and 7 days intervals at field conditions following respective methods. The results revealed that under cultural control measures, light pruning (LP) significantly reduced the infestation of pests of tea other than skiff pruning. Seven days of regular plucking rounds reduced the incidence of Helopeltis and other foliar pests of tea. Weeding significantly reduced the infestation of red spider mite in tea. Under mechanical control measures, solar power light traps and yellow sticky traps captured a greater number of thrips, jassids, aphids, moths of the looper caterpillar, and other flying insects in the tea ecosystem. Among the botanical extracts, fresh leaves, succulent stems, and seeds of Bishkatali, Bhat, Burweed, Garlic, Lantana, Mahogani, and Tobacco demonstrated strong insecticidal properties. The host plant resistance trials revealed that clones BT1, BT2, and BT15 were less susceptible to Helopeltis; BT5, BT6, and BT17 showed relatively high resistance to red spider mite, while BT3, BT4, BT8, BT9, BT12, BT13, BT14, BT15, BT18, BT19, and BT20 were less infested by thrips. The bio-control agent, Bracon hebetor, as a larval parasitoid, effectively suppressed looper caterpillar populations. Microbial pesticides Metarhizium anisopliae and Pseudomonas fluorescens significantly reduced red spider mite population, while Bacillus thuringiensis significantly reduced looper caterpillar population. These findings collectively support a robust, eco-friendly IPM framework for sustainable tea cultivation in Bangladesh, reducing pesticide dependency, lowering production costs, and promoting environmental safety. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 15(2): 1-18, Dec 2025

Banker plants are non-crop plants that sustain populations of biological control agents prior to pest outbreaks, offering a preventive strategy within integrated pest management (IPM). Their benefits have primarily been attributed to top-down regulation via natural enemy-mediated pest suppression; however, their potential bottom-up effects remain largely unexplored. Here, we show that airborne cues emitted from banker plants infested with the zoophytophagous mirid bug Nesidiocoris tenuis altered the performance of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae on neighboring tomato plants Solanum lycopersicum. Exposure to airborne cues from infested sesame Sesamum indicum significantly reduced mite fecundity, whereas those from tomato and spider flower Cleome hassleriana had no detectable effect, indicating that the induction of crop resistance is dependent on banker plant species. Moreover, T. urticae infestation of banker plants consistently suppressed mite oviposition on neighboring tomato plants across all banker plant species tested. These findings suggest that banker plants can exert previously unrecognized bottom-up effects by modulating crop resistance-related responses through airborne cues. Therefore, selecting banker plant species that emit effective airborne cues may strengthen crop protection and stabilize biological control performance in sustainable IPM strategies.

The microbiota associated with Cannabis sativa L. plays a crucial role in plant growth and health, although the mechanisms by which it is modulated in response to different types of stress during cultivation remains under investigation. In this study, the bacterial microbiota of both rhizospheric and bulk soil associated with a therapeutic C. sativa variety was characterized across three stages of the cultivation cycle (early vegetative, late vegetative, and late flowering), comparing healthy plants and those under stress induced by Tetranychus urticae. In addition to microbial profiling, plant physiological parameters were assessed, along with the analysis of cannabinoid and terpene profiles in floral tissues. Analyses of alpha diversity, community structure, discriminant taxa (LEfSe), and functional predictions (PICRUSt2) were performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing data. The results revealed stress-associated shifts in the rhizospheric bacterial community, characterized by changes in the dominance of several genera across plant developmental stages, including a reduced representation of taxa commonly associated with plant growth promotion. Functional predictions further indicated that in control conditions the rhizosphere community exhibited higher metabolic activity, enriched in pathways related to replication, transcription and protein synthesis, whereas under stress, functions shifted toward resource recycling and metabolic flexibility. These findings suggest that biotic stress triggers a functional and structural reorganization of the soil bacterial microbiota, favoring more resilient yet less beneficial communities for plant development.This study provides novel evidence of the interaction between insect, plant, and microbiota, with both agronomic and biotechnological implications.

Tetranychus urticae is a globally distributed agricultural pest with exceptional thermotolerance, enabling rapid outbreaks under hot conditions, particularly in glasshouses. Antioxidant enzymes contribute to heat resistance, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying long-term thermotolerance remain unclear. Our transcriptome analysis identified several autophagy-related genes (ATGs) as being significantly responsive to heat stress, making them strong candidates for functional investigation in T. urticae, where their roles have not yet been examined. This study combined transcriptomics, reference gene validation, expression profiling and RNA interference (RNAi) to investigate autophagy-mediated heat tolerance. Comparative RNA-seq analysis (25 °C versus 39 °C) revealed broad transcriptional reprogramming, with significant enrichment of lysosomal, antigen processing and presentation, apoptosis, metabolic, immune and autophagy pathways. Lysosome was the most significantly enriched pathway, and additional changes were observed in PI3K-Akt and mTOR signaling, suggesting coordinated regulation of stress, immunity and metabolism under heat exposure. GAPDH and α-tubulin were validated as stable reference genes under heat stress. Expression profiling showed temperature- and time-dependent induction of TuATG1. RNAi silencing of TuATG1 achieved 76.36% knockdown, causing 31.47% mortality at 25 °C, and high lethality under 42 °C, with complete mortality after 5 h exposure. These results confirm that TuATG1 is critical for both basal homeostasis and heat adaptation in T. urticae. This study provides the first functional evidence that autophagy mediates thermotolerance in T. urticae and identifies TuATG1 as a promising RNAi target. Manipulating autophagy-related pathways may enable sustainable, climate-resilient control strategies for T. urticae, reducing reliance on chemical acaricides. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Tetranychus urticae is a globally important economic pest mite. Isaria cateniannulata can infect the mite through its conidial penetration of the cuticle, ultimately leading to host mortality; however, the immune mechanisms involving enzyme activity systems and chitinase genes of T. urticae during this process remain unclear. In this study, T. urticae infected with I. cateniannulata was used as experimental material to analyze changes in antioxidant and detoxification enzyme activities during infection. In addition, the expression patterns of six chitinase genes were analyzed, and significantly upregulated genes were selected for bioinformatics analysis and functional verification. The results showed that infection with I. cateniannulata enhanced the activity of defense-related enzymes in T. urticae, with Catalase (CAT) and mixed function oxidase (MFO) playing dominant roles. All six chitinase genes were activated, among which TuCHT7 and TuCHT12 were significantly upregulated at 24 h post-infection, and then TuCHT7 gradually declined. Whereas TuCHT12 maintained a sustained and stable induction pattern, TuCHT10 was suppressed, while the other genes exhibited transient expression. Feeding dsTuCHT12 suppressed the expression of this gene within 72 h, with significant suppression observed at 48 h. At this time, the expression levels of TuCHT8, TuCHT9 and TuCHT10 genes were activated, whereas TuCHT7 and TuCHT11 were suppressed. The combined application of dsCHT12 and I. cateniannulata increased the mortality of T. urticae by 3.19-fold and reduced egg production by 52.8%. This study preliminarily revealed the defense response mechanism of T. urticae against I. cateniannulata infection and provides a theoretical basis for eco-friendly pest control based on the combined application of RNAi and arthropodpathogenic fungi.

Banana (Musa spp.) is an economically important crop whose relevance is steadily increasing in greenhouse-based production systems. This study aimed to determine pest and natural enemy species, and pest population densities in greenhouse banana fields in the Western Mediterranean Region of Türkiye. Periodic studies were conducted every 15 days in 2.4 hectares for two consecutive years (2022-2023), while nonperiodic studies covered 128.9 hectares. Species were collected through visual inspection, sticky traps, and plant sampling. Seventeen pest species from four orders and eight families were recorded: Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom 1895), Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Thrips tabaci Lindeman Hercinothrips femoralis (Reuter), Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach), Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov & Nycolsky, Tetranychus urticae Koch, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Aleyrodes sp., Planococcus citri (Risso), Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), Ceroplastes rusci (L.), Coccus hesperidum L., and Chrysomphalus aonidum (L.). Twenty-two natural enemies from six orders and thirteen families were identified. This study also provides the first Turkish records of parasitoid Coccophagus shillongensis Hayat and Singh from C. hesperidum and Encarsia aurantii (Howard) from C. aonidum. The data showed that spider mites were the most abundant pests, while phytoseiid mites were their most abundant natural enemies. This study represents an important contribution to the scarce literature on insect and mite fauna associated with banana greenhouses in the Western Mediterranean Region. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of effective and sustainable pest management strategies for greenhouse banana production.

Effect of group size on life table parameters of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) was assessed using an age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. One (single), 2 (double), 4 (quadruple), and 6 (sextuple) individuals were placed on leaf discs, under controlled conditions like 25℃, 60-80% RH and a 16L: 8D photoperiod. Leaf discs of varying sizes, e.g., of 8, 11, 16, and 20 mm were used to maintain approximately equal mite densities, allowing us to evaluate the impact of conspecific presence on mite behavior without confounding effects related to density. Both male and female T. urticae successfully completed development under all rearing conditions, confirming that the experimental setup was suitable for subsequent evaluation of density effects on life-history traits and life table parameters. Rearing density significantly affected several life-history traits of T. urticae. The average pre-oviposition period decreased from 2.29 days in singly reared females to 1.66 days in the sextuple group, while oviposition duration increased from 8.29 to 13.62 days. Female longevity and fecundity were highest in the sextuple treatment, with females producing 82.00 eggs compared with 34.45 eggs in the single treatment. Demographic parameters were also significantly influenced by rearing density. The net reproductive rate (R₀) increased from 15.71 in singly reared mites to 45.88 in the sextuple group, and the intrinsic rate of increase (r) rose from 0.1340 to 0.1858 day⁻¹. Similarly, the finite rate of increase (λ) increased from 1.1434 to 1.2042 day⁻¹, indicating enhanced population growth at higher rearing densities. These results demonstrate that rearing density strongly influences life-history traits and population growth parameters of T. urticae, with single rearing producing significantly lower reproductive output and intrinsic growth rates compared with group-rearing conditions. This study underscores the significance of group size on the life parameters of T. urticae, which has potential implications for better pest management.

This study was prepared in two multiple greenhouses of a private farm at Sundus Scheme in Jebel Aulia Locality in Khartoum during February–August 2018 i.e. in summer. The present work was based on all agricultural practices, in the greenhouses for tomatoes and cucumber and the effect of these practices on the end products. The infection types, diseases, nutritional deficiencies and economic revenue were identified. The results revealed the occurrence of many diseases and common problems found in experiment of greenhouses. High humidity and warm temperatures in greenhouses provide a favorable environment for development of certain diseases i.e. tomato and cucumber were infected by Viruses and powdery mildew. In addition, physiological leaf roll, fruit cracking and Leaf minor were noted on tomatoes. Cucumber was infected by red spider mite, pythium disease and Botrytis cinerea disease. This experiment revealed many nutritional deficiencies symptoms and disorders like potassium, calcium and zinc in cucumber and tomato. Using techniques such as such as drip irrigation reduced the consumption of water and fertilizers as crops.According to the results of this study, net return in tomato production about 219.8% and net return in cucumber production about 126.9%. The empirical results indicated that the production inside greenhouses helps to improve the quantity and quality of the tomato and cucumber crop with biggest production and better quality that is much demanded in the supermarket with high prices and good economic returns

Tolerance to sublethal stress of pesticides bifenazate mediated by cathepsin L genes TuCTS-L2 in spider mite Tetranychus urticae.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a significant pest in strawberry cultivation worldwide, causing substantial crop damage and economic losses. Biological control using predatory mites such as Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) is an essential component of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. However, the efficacy of these natural enemies can be negatively affected by acaricide applications. This study assessed the sublethal effects of two acaricides; bromopropylate, a synthetic agent, and GC-Mite, a botanical formulation, on the life history and population growth parameters of A. swirskii and N. californicus feeding on T. urticae in strawberry crops. Acute toxicity assays demonstrated that both predatory mites exhibited significantly lower susceptibility to these acaricides than T. urticae, with A. swirskii showing the greatest resistance. Perinatal exposure to LC25 residue of bromopropylate and GC-Mite prolonged immature development, reduced adult longevity, and decreased fecundity in both predatory mite species. N. californicus experienced more pronounced negative effects, including marked declines in survival rates and reproductive output, whereas A. swirskii displayed greater resilience and more stable reproductive potential. Population growth parameters, such as the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and net reproductive rate (R0), declined significantly under acaricide treatments, with bromopropylate producing stronger adverse effects than GC-Mite. These results emphasize the relative compatibility of GC-Mite within IPM programs due to its lower toxicity to beneficial predatory mites. Careful selection and application of acaricides that minimize harm to natural enemies are crucial for sustainable management of T. urticae in strawberry cultivation.

Fluazinam is a broad-spectrum fungicide and acaricide, but its field performance is limited by temperature sensitivity and phytotoxicity. To overcome these challenges, a thermoresponsive nano-formulation (Flu@TRNP) was developed by encapsulating fluazinam in a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-styrene) copolymer matrix via emulsion polymerization. The microcapsules exhibited uniform spherical morphology (mean diameter: 3.4 μm), high encapsulation efficiency (75.3%), and temperature-dependent release governed by the polymer lower critical solution temperature (~32 °C). Below this temperature, release was almost complete, whereas above it, polymer shrinkage slowed diffusion and enabled sustained release. Flu@TRNP displayed significantly lower contact angles on leaf surfaces compared with commercial fluazinam, indicating improved wettability. Bioassays showed enhanced acaricidal activity against Tetranychus urticae, with median lethal concentration (LC50) values reduced by up to 25% at 35 °C. Antifungal tests against Phytophthora infestans confirmed greater inhibition at 20 °C. Field trials demonstrated comparable or superior disease control efficacy at reduced or standard doses. Pot experiments under heat stress (40 °C) indicated lower phytotoxicity on cowpea and potato compared with the commercial formulation. These results demonstrate that the thermoresponsive microcapsule formulation improves bioefficacy and crop safety while reducing the risk of phytotoxicity under fluctuating environmental conditions. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Odorant-binding proteins plus ionotropic receptors mediate olfaction of d-limonene in Tetranychus urticae.

Odorant-binding proteins plus ionotropic receptors mediate olfaction of d-limonene in Tetranychus urticae.

Species sharing the same trophic level can interact not only through competition for resources but also through intraguild predation (IGP). Therefore, an important step toward implementing successful multiple predator releases in biological control strategies requires resolving how predators respond to the presence of heterogeneous competitors. This study examined the compatibility of two predatory mites, N. californicus and P. persimilis, which are both widely employed to suppress two-spotted spider mite populations in greenhouses and open fields. The experiments quantified the frequency and intensity of IGP across different developmental stages of these species on bean leaves, considering scenarios both with and without their shared prey being present. Additionally, a Y-tube olfactometer was employed to assess whether either predator avoided prey patches previously occupied by other heterospecifics, thereby providing insights into potential chemical cues that influence predator behavior. The results revealed that adult females of both predatory mite species predominantly targeted heterospecific eggs and larvae, whereas adults were largely avoided. In the absence of shared prey, N. californicus attacked 83% of the P. persimilis larvae and 37% of the eggs, whereas P. persimilis consumed 67% of the N. californicus eggs. The presence of shared prey reduced IGP risk by approximately 60%. Olfactometer assays revealed no significant avoidance of plants inhabited by heterospecifics at densities of 20 or 40 adults; both predators were similarly attracted to herbivore-induced volatiles. Generalized linear models indicated that host plant experience had a significant influence on the foraging response of N. californicus, whereas the effects of the feeding state weakened over time. Understanding predator foraging plasticity and responsiveness to chemical cues can help optimize biological control strategies in complex agroecosystems.

Citrus and red fruit crops are exposed to constant pest pressure, leading growers to rely heavily on synthetic insecticides. This dependence raises problems related to resistance, impacts on non-target organisms, and chemical residues. This review synthesizes data from 411 peer-reviewed articles to evaluate the effectiveness of plant-based extracts as pest control tools in the context of these crops. Research activity on plant-based products and their applications in this sector grew sharply after 2011, with most studies conducted in Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran, and the USA. The focus was predominantly on mite species, like Tetranychus urticae, while other pests are underrepresented. Essential oils are the most tested products, particularly those containing α-pinene, carvacrol, thymol, and 1,8-cineole. Laboratory studies dominate while field-based testing is still rare. Most trials target adult pests, and immature stages, including eggs and/or larvae, are often ignored. Plant extracts trigger multiple negative effects in targeted pests, encompassing high mortality, reduced fertility, longer development times, enzyme disruption, and altered behavior. Yet, some extracts also produce unexpected results, such as increased reproduction, attraction to treated areas, or no effect. Only 11% of the studies included non-target species, and 6% reported harmful side effects with some compounds reported to cause mortality in natural enemies or pollinators. While current research is uneven and often disconnected from practical farming needs, future research priorities should include testing under real conditions, evaluating more pest species and extract types, and addressing non-target safety. Plant extracts hold strong potential, but their real value depends on how they can be applied and validated in the field.