Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata最新文献

{"title":"Effects of different hosts and ages on the diversity of larval gut bacteria in Tuta absoluta","authors":"Yu Xue,&nbsp;Jiaxin Ding,&nbsp;Haixu Wang,&nbsp;Rongrong Fan,&nbsp;Xinpu Wang","doi":"10.1111/eea.13596","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13596","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Gut bacterial composition is closely associated with the food intake and developmental age of herbivorous insects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diversity of larval gut bacteria in different instar stages of <i>Tuta absoluta</i> (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) feeding on different hosts. Gut bacterial DNA was extracted from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instar larvae of <i>T. absoluta</i> feeding on tomatoes, potatoes, and wolfberries for three generations. Subsequently, diversity and richness of gut bacteria were analyzed via the second-generation Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. Alpha diversity index analysis revealed the highest diversity and abundance of gut bacteria in the <i>T. absoluta</i> larvae fed wolfberry and potato leaves, respectively. The highest gut bacterial diversity and richness were observed in the 1st-instar larvae feeding on potato and tomato leaves. <i>Tuta absoluta</i> feeding on wolfberry leaves exhibited the lowest gut bacterial diversity in the 1st-instar stage and highest abundance in the 2nd-instar stage. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in the gut bacteria of stages 1–4 instar larvae feeding on different host plants. The dominant genus was <i>Enterobacter</i> (60.1%) in the 4th-instar <i>T. absoluta</i> larvae feeding on tomatoes and <i>Wolbachia</i> in those feeding on other plants. PICRUSt2 gene function prediction revealed that the larval gut bacteria of <i>T. absoluta</i> played essential roles in food digestion and nutrient supply. Specifically, <i>Wolbachia</i> may enhance nucleotide metabolism in <i>T. absoluta</i> feeding on potatoes. Overall, this study provides a basis to explore the interactions of <i>T. absoluta</i> with gut bacteria and suggests directions for its adaptive evolution and integrated management.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"802-814"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144245093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preface to the Proceedings of the 18th International Symposium on Insect–Plant Relationships","authors":"Caroline Müller,&nbsp;Georg Petschenka,&nbsp;Erik H. Poelman,&nbsp;Rabea Schweiger","doi":"10.1111/eea.13597","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13597","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The 18th Symposium on Insect-Plant Relationships (SIP-18) took place in Bielefeld, Germany, in August 2024. Since the previous meeting (SIP-17) could be executed only online because of the pandemic, we enjoyed meeting in person even more. The conference has resulted in five exciting contributions to the journal <i>Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata</i>. Two of these are reviews, one presenting an overview of the arthropod fauna associated with the plant genus <i>Annona</i> and the other providing an ecological and evolutionary perspective on pharmacophagy—that is, the attraction of insects to plant specialized metabolites and their use for purposes other than nutrition in insects. Three research articles show original work on differential gene expression in larvae sequestering plant metabolites, resistance to thrips in several <i>Chrysanthemum</i> accessions, and the role of light intensity in physical defense against native and invasive caterpillar species in trees, respectively. These articles are presented in this themed issue as the proceedings of SIP-18, in addition to nine other articles relevant to the research field of insect–plant relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"649-650"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.13597","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144245139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plant–arthropod associations in custard apples, genus Annona: A global perspective","authors":"Helena Romero,&nbsp;Mónica Aquilino,&nbsp;Rosario Planelló,&nbsp;Eduardo de la Peña","doi":"10.1111/eea.13587","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13587","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Annona</i> L. species, custard apples, interact with a wide range of arthropods, including both herbivorous arthropods and pollinators that play vital roles in their ecology. Understanding their interactions with phytophagous arthropods and pollinators is crucial for developing effective pest and crop management strategies. <i>Annona</i> species present diverse secondary metabolites of significant interest for their potential defensive roles against arthropod pests. In addition, the introduction of <i>Annona</i> crops to new regions using planting material carries risks, including the potential introduction of pests that may harm local ecosystems and crops. Nonetheless, the diversity of <i>Annona's</i> associated phytophagous arthropods remains largely underexplored. This study aimed to fill this gap by documenting the diversity of arthropods associated with <i>Annona</i> species across various geographical regions using information available in the scientific literature and specialized databases. We explored whether the phylogenetic relationships of <i>Annona</i> species are also reflected in their associated phytophagous arthropods. Our review identified 614 arthropod species, with most associations recorded on the cultivated species <i>A. muricata</i> L., <i>A. squamosa</i> L., and <i>A. cherimola</i> Mill. (Annonaceae). The most common orders were Hemiptera, followed by Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. The study also revealed that arthropod assemblages associated with genetically closely related <i>Annona</i> species tend to be more similar to those of more distantly related species. These findings illustrate the diverse arthropod communities associated with these fruit trees, offering valuable insights into plant–insect interactions and contributing to the prevention of phytosanitary risks in their cultivation.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"651-660"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.13587","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contribution of awns and hairy glumes in spring wheat to resistance against wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana","authors":"Bridget White,&nbsp;Curtis McCartney,&nbsp;Robert J. Lamb,&nbsp;Chaminda De Silva Weeraddana,&nbsp;Tyler Wist,&nbsp;Santosh Kumar,&nbsp;Robert J. Graf,&nbsp;Pierre Hucl,&nbsp;Alejandro C. Costamagna","doi":"10.1111/eea.13581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13581","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The wheat midge, <i>Sitodiplosis mosellana</i> (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), poses a threat to spring wheat in North America. Larvae feed on the developing kernels, causing decreased grain quality and yield loss. The resistance gene <i>Sm1</i>, a single, naturally occurring gene that results in larval mortality, is important for managing this pest. However, relying on a single resistance gene may result in the evolution of virulent pest biotypes. To identify possible alternative mechanisms of resistance, mechanical deterrence against wheat midge oviposition was evaluated using doubled haploid spring wheat lines (DH lines) with different combinations of awns and hairy glumes. Adult wheat midges were introduced to cages containing 12 preanthesis wheat spikes consisting of combinations of the presence or absence of awns with either hairy or smooth glumes, and oviposition on these phenotypes was recorded. In addition, kernel damage of five lines per phenotype was assessed under field conditions. The presence of awns on wheat spikes reduced oviposition in the laboratory choice cages, but not all wheat lines with awns reduced damage in the field. Hairy glumes did not reduce midge oviposition or grain damage. Independent of the awned and hairy-glumed phenotypes, egg numbers and damage varied among the DH lines. Four wheat lines exhibited wheat midge deterrence and are promising candidates as sources of novel resistance to combine with <i>Sm1</i> to pyramid resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"781-793"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.13581","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacophagy in insects: Ecological and evolutionary perspectives on the non-nutritional use of plant specialized metabolites","authors":"Pragya Singh,&nbsp;Caroline Müller","doi":"10.1111/eea.13586","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13586","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Herbivorous insects can interact with plants in ways that go beyond nutrition, with plant specialized (secondary) metabolites (PSMs) mediating complex non-nutritional relationships. While PSMs often function as anti-herbivore defenses, many insects have evolved strategies to counteract and even exploit these compounds, using them for purposes such as their own defense against antagonists, enhanced mating success, or self-medication. This review explores pharmacophagy, where insects actively seek and acquire specific PSMs from both food and non-food plants for benefits unrelated to nutrition, across different insect orders such as Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Neuroptera. Key examples are provided for species taking up PSMs of different compound classes, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, neo-clerodane diterpenoids, cucurbitacins, raspberry ketone, methyl eugenol, and other metabolites such as ethanol or resin. The insect species demonstrate unique adaptive uses of these non-nutritional plant chemicals. We discuss the intra- and intergenerational transfer of pharmacophagously acquired PSMs among conspecifics and the methods for identifying and testing pharmacophagy, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches that combine field observations, behavioral studies, and chemical analyses. The evolutionary pathways leading to pharmacophagy are considered, highlighting selective pressures such as predation, parasitism, and sexual selection. We also address the costs associated with pharmacophagy, including energetic demands and potential toxicity. Extending the discussion to non-insect taxa suggests that pharmacophagy may be a broader ecological phenomenon. By establishing a comprehensive framework for understanding pharmacophagy, we aim to stimulate further research into this intriguing aspect of plant–insect interactions and highlight its potential applications in pest management, conservation, and human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"661-673"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.13586","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differential gene expression toward species of Aristolochia impairing the performance of the Troidini butterfly Battus polydamas","authors":"Karina L. Silva-Brandão,&nbsp;Clécio Fernando Klitzke,&nbsp;Marcelo M. Brandão,&nbsp;José Roberto Trigo","doi":"10.1111/eea.13589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13589","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The swallowtail butterfly <i>Battus polydamas</i> L. (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) is a specialist on <i>Aristolochia</i> (Aristochiaceae). Larvae sequester secondary compounds, such as aristolochic acids (AAs), from their host plants and transfer them to adults through the pupae. In this study, we evaluated the performance of <i>B. polydamas</i> larvae fed from 1st instar through pupation on two host plants with distinct chemical compositions, <i>Aristolochia ringens</i> Vahl. (which has several diterpenes) and <i>Aristolochia gigantea</i> Mart. (which has acyclic monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, but no diterpenoids or AAs). Differential gene expression in gut and fat body tissues in response to two larval host plants was evaluated in 5th-instar larvae. We found significant differences in the survival of larvae feeding on the two host plants; the survival in <i>A. gigantea</i> is significantly higher than survival in <i>A. ringens</i>. In <i>A. gigantea</i>, 46% of the larvae persisted until pupation, whereas none of the larvae feeding on <i>A. ringens</i> survived until the end of larval development. Upregulated and downregulated contigs comprise genes encoding ribosomal proteins, protein farnesyltransferase, phosphomevalonate kinase, dolichyl-phosphate-mannose-protein mannosyltransferase 4, and O-glucosyltransferase (possibly involved in AA metabolization), as well as genes encoding superoxide dismutase, P450s, UGTs, glutathione S-transferase, and many proteases. As expected, larvae of <i>B. polydamas</i> were strongly influenced by host plants containing different compounds, leading to worse larval performance on key fitness components, such as life cycle performance attributes and larval survival. We suggest that there is a threshold of toxicity in the host plant that larvae can tolerate, and above such a threshold, the impact of plant secondary chemicals is no longer beneficial for the larvae but negative, disrupting their detoxification mechanism.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"696-707"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.13589","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Later instars of two poplar caterpillar species excrete higher nitrogen content in frass","authors":"Zhimin Qin,&nbsp;Xiaogang Li,&nbsp;Shucun Sun,&nbsp;Xinqiang Xi","doi":"10.1111/eea.13588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13588","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Herbivores consume large quantities of plant tissues while excreting excess elements to compensate for mismatches between the element content in their food plants and their physiological needs. This energetically costly excretion process decreases the fitness of herbivorous insects, yet how stoichiometric mismatches with food plants vary during their development remains poorly understood. In this study, we reared 4th- and 5th-instar caterpillars of <i>Micromelalopha sieversi</i> (Marumo) and <i>Clostera anachoreta</i> (Denis &amp; Schiffermüller) (both Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) on fresh poplar leaves to investigate changes in carbon: nitrogen ratio in their bodies during development. We measured the weight of the caterpillars and analyzed the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents in their bodies, frass, and consumed plants. Results showed that the 5th-instar caterpillars gained three times more body mass, absorbed and assimilated two times more N and three times more C than the 4th instar. C content in the caterpillar body increased, while N content decreased as the caterpillars developed. Consequently, a greater stoichiometric mismatch with host plants was observed in the 4th instar than in the 5th, as plant quality remained constant throughout development. In addition, N content in frass significantly increased from 4th- to 5th-instar caterpillars, indicating that caterpillars excrete more N in later development stages. Our study clearly revealed the decreasing extent of nutrient imbalance in the later stage of herbivorous insects, highlighting the need to incorporate changes in element contents during organismal development in studies of ecological stoichiometry.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"794-801"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What is the potential for artificial selection of insect biological control traits? A systematic review of their genetic variation, heritability, and evolvability","authors":"Sophie R. Chattington,&nbsp;Jiaqi Chen,&nbsp;Bart A. Pannebakker,&nbsp;Kelley Leung","doi":"10.1111/eea.13572","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13572","url":null,"abstract":"<p>There is growing interest in trait selection for the improvement of insect biological control. Constraints from the Nagoya Protocol for sourcing novel biocontrol agents (BCAs) make optimization of accessible populations a higher priority. However, the effectiveness of selection programs remains unclear. This requires knowing whether biocontrol traits are heritable and whether captive populations have sufficient genetic variation for selection. To address this knowledge gap, we systematically reviewed reported values of broad-sense heritability (<i>H</i>²), narrow-sense heritability (<i>h</i>²), and evolvability (<i>CV</i>_<i>a</i>) for insect biocontrol traits, providing an overview of the potential for their genetic improvement while identifying the irregularities in the reporting of heritability data across studies. Our algorithmic search string focused on studies working with arthropod BCAs widely used in augmentative biocontrol and/or permitted for use in the EPPO region (European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization). Five thousand two hundred and nine initial search hits from the CAB Abstracts (<i>n</i> = 2321) and BIOSIS (<i>n</i> = 3442) databases recovered 277 relevant papers after screening, 94 of which included estimation methods and reported biocontrol traits as being heritable. However, over half (52) of these papers did not report any <i>H</i>², <i>h</i>², or <i>CV</i>_<i>a</i> values. There was strong indication of genetic variation (e.g., <i>h</i>² &gt; 0.2) for numerous traits. Most data focused on pest suppression ability and mass reproduction, while little was reported on abiotic/biotic adaptation or ecological risk, despite their importance for biocontrol success. Contrary to expectations, heritabilities for complex life-history traits were equally high as those for morphology, whereas the heritability of insecticide resistance was relatively low. Despite relatively few data points and a large value range, this review demonstrates good potential for artificial selection of biocontrol traits and provides a single resource for collated data. We make recommendations for more consistent and expansive collection and repository of biocontrol trait data and to revise the Nagoya Protocol to facilitate breeding programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 6","pages":"463-497"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.13572","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143925907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Within-generational but not cross-generational effects of host plant on Myzus persicae performance and preferences","authors":"Perran A. Ross,&nbsp;Ella Yeatman,&nbsp;Xinyue Gu,&nbsp;Alex Gill,&nbsp;Torsten N. Kristensen,&nbsp;Ary A. Hoffmann","doi":"10.1111/eea.13582","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer) (Hemiptera:Aphididae) aphids feed on a wide range of host plants but exhibit strong preferences for plants from some families, particularly Brassicaceae. Previous studies demonstrate local adaptation of <i>M. persicae</i> populations, where populations collected on a given host plant have increased performance on this host, highlighting the potential for plant preferences and fitness to shift through cross-generational changes or rearing on different plants within generations. Endosymbionts living within aphid cells can have substantial impacts on aphid fitness and also influence host plant responses. <i>Rickettsiella</i> is a facultative endosymbiont that shows potential biocontrol applications due to its host fitness costs, but it is unclear if costs change when aphids are reared on different host plants across generations. In experiments with two <i>M. persicae</i> lines (one carrying a transinfection of <i>Rickettsiella</i>) we show that maintenance for 15 generations on leaf discs of three different host plants (bok choy, clover and potato) had little effect on fitness when reciprocally tested on each host plant. Fitness was mainly influenced by the host plant used for testing compared with cross-generational effects. In two-choice Petri dish experiments involving bok choy and clover, maintenance for 15 generations on either plant had no effect on plant preferences, but aphids acclimated to clover shifted their preference towards clover. The transinfected endosymbiont <i>Rickettsiella</i> was stable in all lines, where its deleterious effects and body colour alterations were not dramatically modified by the host plant used for maintenance or testing. This study highlights the adaptability of <i>M. persicae</i> to diverse host plants, stable transinfected endosymbiont effects and the importance of within-generational host plant effects for fitness, with implications for the use of endosymbionts for pest management.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"756-766"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.13582","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity of hoverflies and their floral visitation patterns in cultivated cucurbit crops in Morogoro, Tanzania","authors":"Sija A. Kabota,&nbsp;Jenipher C. Tairo,&nbsp;Maulid W. Mwatawala,&nbsp;Ramadhani O. Majubwa,&nbsp;Kudra B. Abdul,&nbsp;Massimiliano Virgilio,&nbsp;Marc De Meyer,&nbsp;Kurt Jordaens","doi":"10.1111/eea.13583","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13583","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) provide valuable ecosystem services, such as pollination, to a large variety of wild and cultivated sexually reproducing plant species. In this study, we examined the diversity, number of visits, visitation rate and foraging time of hoverfly species in three main cucurbit crops (cucumbers (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.), watermelons (<i>Citrullus lanatus</i> (Thunb.) Matsum &amp; Nakai) and squash (<i>Cucurbita moschata</i> D.)) in two agroecological zones (mountainous and plateau) of the Morogoro region in Tanzania, between March and July 2020. We recorded 801 hoverflies of 12 species, of which the most common were <i>Toxomerus floralis</i> (Fabricius, 1798) (37.7% of total records), <i>Eristalinus megacephalus</i> (Rossi, 1794) (25.3%) and <i>Mesembrius caffer</i> (Loew, 1858) (16.4%). Hoverfly diversity was significantly higher in watermelon and squash crops within the mountainous zone as compared to the plateau zone. <i>Toxomerus floralis</i> was the most frequent visitor across all crops and agroecological zones. <i>Eristalinus megacephalus</i> showed a higher visitation frequency than <i>M. caffer</i> in cucumber and watermelon in the mountainous zone. Visitation rates for <i>E. megacephalus</i>, <i>T. floralis</i> and <i>M. caffer</i> were markedly higher in the mountainous zone than in the plateau zone. Of all hoverfly species, <i>T. floralis</i> displayed the longest foraging times in the mountainous zone. Seasonality appeared to have no significant impact on foraging duration and number of flower visits. These findings provide a valuable baseline for understanding hoverfly diversity and foraging behaviour on cucurbit crops and serve as a crucial stepping stone towards a deeper understanding of hoverfly feeding behaviour and its implications for agriculture. Additional studies are required to describe the actual role in pollination of the hoverflies and the factors that may enhance their potential as pollinators of cucurbit crops.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"173 7","pages":"767-780"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}