Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata最新文献

{"title":"Assessing the Efficacy of Steinernema carpocapsae for Biological Control of Megaselia halterata on Mushroom Farms","authors":"Malachi Brought,&nbsp;Michael Wolfin","doi":"10.1111/eea.70182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70182","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mushroom phorid flies (<i>Megaselia halterata;</i> MPF) are a major pest of commercial mushroom production, where larval feeding in compost and casing can reduce crop yield and quality. Effective and sustainable larval control options in these substrates remain limited. The potential of the entomopathogenic nematode <i>Steinernema carpocapsae</i> for MPF larval control in the mushroom production system has not been well established. The present study evaluated the infectivity of <i>S. carpocapsae</i> against larval MPF and entomopathogenic nematode persistence in mushroom compost under laboratory conditions. In compost-only arenas, applications of nematodes applied at a rate of 167 Infective Juveniles (IJs)/cm² caused 60% larval mortality within 48 h, significantly higher than water (32%) and untreated controls (15%). In casing-layer arenas, nematode applications resulted in 41% mortality at 72 h, compared to 10% and 16% in water and untreated control treatments, respectively. Nematode survival in compost declined over time, with approximately 50% of the initial population alive at 4–5 days post application. These results indicate <i>S. carpocapsae</i> can infect and kill MPF larvae in substrates representative of the mushroom production system. However, persistence results suggest that repeated nematode applications at approximately 5-day intervals may be required to maintain consistent control. The findings support the potential incorporation of entomopathogenic nematodes as a component of integrated pest management programs for commercial mushroom production.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 11","pages":"1401-1407"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70182","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149177498","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":"The Silent Orchestrators: Redefining Invertebrate Host Defense Through the Lens of Innate Defense Regulator Peptides","authors":"Yanying Sun,&nbsp;Yanan Wei,&nbsp;Jeong Kyu Bang,&nbsp;Woo Jae Kim","doi":"10.1111/eea.70171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70171","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The study of invertebrate immunology has long been defined by the paradigm of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as direct effectors of microbial killing. This classical view posits that the primary function of the insect immune system's peptide repertoire is to generate cationic, amphipathic molecules that permeabilize bacterial membranes, functioning as endogenous antibiotics. Although this model successfully explains the activity of potent effectors like Cecropins and Drosomycins, it fails to account for a significant portion of the peptidome—the “silent” peptides that are robustly induced upon infection yet lack detectable microbicidal activity in vitro. This review articulates a necessary paradigm shift: the recognition of Innate Defense Regulator (IDR) peptides as a fundamental, evolutionarily conserved component of invertebrate immunity. By synthesizing data from vertebrate immunology with recent breakthroughs in <i>Drosophila</i> research—specifically the characterization of the natural peptide Paillotin and the AI-generated synthetic peptide PAN4—we demonstrate that peptides without direct microbicidal capacity are critical for host survival. These molecules function through sophisticated non-canonical mechanisms, including the modulation of inflammatory signaling, metabolic reprogramming via mitochondrial biogenesis, physiological regulation of the gut environment, and the control of cellular proliferation. The identification of PAN4, in particular, illustrates how artificial intelligence can unlock this functional landscape, offering novel therapeutic strategies for agriculture (honeybee health) and medicine (tumor suppression). We propose that the invertebrate immune system utilizes IDR peptides to orchestrate a resilience-based defense strategy that complements resistance-based killing, a finding that necessitates a comprehensive re-evaluation of peptide screening methodologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 11","pages":"1277-1298"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70171","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149177687","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":"Seasonal Dynamics, Functional Traits, and Field Performance of Encarsia spp. in the Biological Control of Aleurodicus dispersus on Cassava and Eggplant","authors":"T. Boopathi,&nbsp;N. Anusha,&nbsp;K. Divya,&nbsp;A. Tejaswini,&nbsp;J. G. Prasuna","doi":"10.1111/eea.70160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70160","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The spiralling whitefly, <i>Aleurodicus dispersus</i>, is an important polyphagous pest causing significant damage to several crops in tropical regions. Understanding how parasitoid performance is influenced by seasonal dynamics and species-specific characteristics is essential for improving biological control strategies. This study evaluated the field performance of three parasitoids, <i>Encarsia guadeloupae</i>, <i>E. meritoria</i>, and <i>E. haitiensis</i>, against <i>A. dispersus</i> on cassava and eggplant, and linked these results with seasonal parasitism patterns and morphometric characterization of the dominant parasitoid species. Field experiments were conducted in a randomized block design with two releases, and pest populations were monitored at regular intervals. All parasitoids significantly reduced <i>A. dispersus</i> populations compared to the untreated control, with <i>E. guadeloupae</i> consistently recording the lowest pest density, highest percent reduction, and lowest area under pest population curve (AUPPC). The rate of population decline was steeper under <i>E. guadeloupae</i>, indicating rapid and sustained suppression. The second release resulted in greater suppression, reflecting the cumulative effect of repeated parasitoid introduction. Seasonal parasitism, assessed using a parasitism index based on mycetome displacement, varied significantly across months, peaking during March–April and declining during August–November. Seasonal parasitism and emergence analyses revealed significant temporal variation in parasitoid activity, indicating the influence of seasonal conditions on parasitoid performance. Emergence studies confirmed <i>E. guadeloupae</i> and <i>E. meritoria</i> as the predominant parasitoids. Morphometric analysis revealed distinct differences between species, with <i>E. guadeloupae</i> exhibiting larger body size and <i>E. meritoria</i> showing relatively longer forewings. These characteristics provided reliable diagnostic features for species identification. By integrating field observations with seasonal and trait-based analyses, this study provides a more mechanistic understanding of parasitoid performance and offers insights for optimizing biological control of <i>A. dispersus</i>.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1242-1249"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903795","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":"Oviposition Behavior of Helopeltis bakeri Poppius (Hemiptera: Miridae)","authors":"Leslie Ann Ormenita,&nbsp;Alberto Barrion,&nbsp;Jose Isagani Janairo,&nbsp;Dionisio Alvindia,&nbsp;Thaddeus Carvajal,&nbsp;Divina Amalin","doi":"10.1111/eea.70139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Diseases and pests lead to significant production losses in the global cocoa industry. In the Philippines, a key pest impacting this valuable crop is <i>Helopeltis bakeri</i> Poppius. Although considerable research has focused on its life history and mating behavior, the specifics of its oviposition (egg-laying) behavior remain inadequately understood. Gaining insight into the factors that influence a female's choice of egg-laying sites is essential for effective pest management and the development of rearing protocols for this pest. Analysis using a Negative Binomial generalized linear model revealed a 5% increase in egg production over time (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), consistent with heightened reproductive and oviposition frequency during twilight periods. The results further indicated that oviposition varies significantly among different plant parts (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with a clear preference for petioles and internodes based on their physical characteristics rather than nutrient availability. We investigated oviposition behavior using the Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS) and created adjacency matrices for each sex using the igraph package in R. Overall, the oviposition sequence of <i>H. bakeri</i> followed a stereotyped progression of substrate examination → ovipositor unsheathing → ovipositor insertion → abdominal contractions → ovipositor withdrawal, with high transitional probabilities between successive steps, indicating a structured and directed oviposition process. Our findings also underscore the significance of rostrum- and stylet-probing in evaluating suitable oviposition substrates, highlighting the chemosensory function of gustatory sensilla.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1180-1187"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903775","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":"Parthenogenesis and Sex Determination in the Order Hymenoptera (Insecta): Patterns and Mechanisms","authors":"Vladimir E. Gokhman,&nbsp;Yury Y. Ilinsky,&nbsp;Valentina G. Kuznetsova","doi":"10.1111/eea.70143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The order Hymenoptera, which has ~160 000 described species, is the largest within the class Insecta, in which all members are capable of parthenogenesis. This review represents a synthesis of the previously existing and new reports and hypotheses on different cases and mechanisms of parthenogenesis in Hymenoptera, including genetic and cytological aspects of sex determination as well as the role of specific bacterial symbionts. Arrhenotokous parthenogenesis and haplodiploidy are likely to represent two key ancestral genetic features of this order. Multiple independent transitions to diploid, and, occasionally, to triploid thelytoky took place across different hymenopteran clades. Arrhenotoky, that is, haploid males and diploid females respectively developing from unfertilized and fertilized eggs, is implemented in Hymenoptera either through single-locus (or sometimes multiple-locus) complementary sex determination (CSD) or, at least in some taxa with high levels of inbreeding, via genomic imprinting. Similarly to other insects, sex determination in this order is performed by specific gene cascades, with <i>transformer</i> and <i>doublesex</i> usually being the main master and actuator genes, respectively. In a few special cases, males are produced through paternal genome elimination. Thelytoky in Hymenoptera can be sporadic, facultative or obligate, and, in terms of the presence/absence of the reductional meiotic division, either automictic or apomictic. Different types of automixis in this order include gamete duplication as well as central or terminal fusion. Arrhenotoky and thelytoky can coexist within the same species, whereby thelytokous individuals sometimes become intraspecific social parasites. Thelytoky in Hymenoptera, usually in the form of gamete duplication, is often induced by endosymbiotic microorganisms, and this type of parthenogenesis is almost exclusively restricted to parasitoids. These endosymbionts must therefore possess specific genes which ensure both egg diploidization and feminization of the developing individual, either in the form of one-step or, more frequently, two-step thelytoky. Although recent data and hypotheses significantly contribute to our understanding of hymenopteran reproduction, a number of questions deserve further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1141-1160"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70143","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903798","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":"Sublethal Exposure to Insecticides Disrupts Pheromone Communication and Reduces Fertility in the Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis grandis)","authors":"Sharrine Omari D. Oliveira Marra,&nbsp;Raul A. Laumann,&nbsp;Maria Carolina Blassioli-Moraes,&nbsp;Raul Narciso C. Guedes,&nbsp;Miguel Borges,&nbsp;Wagner F. Barbosa,&nbsp;Paulo Sérgio Cardoso Batista,&nbsp;Anderson M. Zanine,&nbsp;Marinaldo Loures-Ferreira","doi":"10.1111/eea.70146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70146","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of sublethal exposure to the insecticides malathion and beta-cyfluthrin on the pheromone perception and emission by the cotton boll weevil [<i>Anthonomus grandis grandis</i> Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)]. The potential impact of sublethal exposure on this species' population growth was also determined using fertility table parameters. Males and females were exposed to malathion (100 g a.i./L) or beta-cyfluthrin (25 g a.i./L) for 1 min in a glass Petri dish. The response of pesticide-exposed and unexposed insects to their aggregation pheromone (grandlure) was evaluated in a Y-tube olfactometer, and pheromone production was assessed. In order to evaluate the possible reproductive effects, the couples remained isolated for 48 h, and the females were subsequently evaluated until their death. For reproductive assays, four mating-pair treatments were established: (1) both sexes unexposed; (2) exposed males paired with unexposed females; (3) exposed females paired with unexposed males; and (4) both sexes exposed. Insects exposed to both insecticides did not respond to their aggregation pheromone during the first 24 h after exposure, whereas unexposed weevils showed a clear behavioral response. However, insecticide-exposed males did not show reduced pheromone production compared to unexposed males. Sublethal insecticide exposure lowered the net reproductive rate (<i>R</i>₀) and the intrinsic rate of increase (<i>r</i>_m) for the cotton boll weevil. These findings suggest that sublethal insecticide exposure may suppress boll weevil population growth while potentially compromising the reliability of pheromone-based monitoring programs in intensively treated cotton fields.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1198-1207"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148904292","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":"Entomopathogenic Nematode-Mediated Modulation of Metabolism in Caterpillars: A Comprehensive Review and Future Perspectives","authors":"El-Sayed H. Shaurub","doi":"10.1111/eea.70150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70150","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Among the several factors that govern the success of entomopathogens as environmentally sustainable biological control agents against insect hosts is their ability to modulate certain metabolic activities of infected hosts. Despite the large-scale use of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in insect control, our knowledge of their ability to modulate metabolic aspects of infected lepidopteran larvae (caterpillars) is not comprehensive. This review aims to synthesize the current knowledge of the metabolic impacts of EPNs on lepidopteran larvae in an attempt to elucidate host-EPN/symbiotic bacteria complex interactions. The past and state-of-the-art research achievements that assess the modulation of the total contents of energy reserves (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) and the activities of various enzyme systems, including digestive, transaminase, detoxifying, antioxidant, immune, and cholinergic enzymes in EPN-infected lepidopteran larvae were screened for relevance. The present review revealed a broader metabolic modulation exerted by EPNs, including a decrease in energy reserves and transaminase enzymes while detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes were increased, with variable responses in other enzyme classes. The detoxification reactions and host antioxidative response played a central role in the defensive reaction to EPNs, and that this stress contributed to the death of hosts. The biochemical and molecular mechanisms governing the immune interactions between insect hosts and EPNs were discussed. The role of the insecticidal active substances secreted by the symbiotic bacteria of EPNs (<i>Xenorhabdus</i> and <i>Photorhabdus</i>) during reproduction as well as the role of effector proteins excreted/secreted by EPNs themselves independent of their symbiotic bacteria in modulating host metabolism and immunity was also discussed. The interaction between the EPNs and the insect hosts appears to be primarily nutritional. In light of this review, future perspectives and innovations that may aid in harnessing EPNs for sustainable pest management are highlighted.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1161-1179"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70150","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903975","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":"Synergism of Sex Pheromones and Host Plant Volatiles Promoting Mate Detection in an Oligophagous Moth, Phauda flammans (Lepidoptera: Phaudidae)","authors":"Jing Ling,&nbsp;Jian-Song Wei,&nbsp;Jing-Hui Su,&nbsp;Xiao-Yun Wang,&nbsp;Kai Lin,&nbsp;Xiong Zhao He,&nbsp;Jun Li,&nbsp;Xia-Lin Zheng","doi":"10.1111/eea.70151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70151","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Increasing evidence illustrates that insect sex pheromones and host plant volatiles synergistically guide mate localization in insects. The diurnal red moth, <i>Phauda flammans</i> (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Phaudidae), an oligophagous herbivore, exclusively feeds on the genus <i>Ficus</i> spp. (Rosales: Moraceae). We tested the hypothesis that host plant volatiles synergistically enhance male <i>P. flammans</i> responses to female sex pheromones. Behavioral assays in a Y-tube olfactometer showed that odors from either conspecific females or <i>F. concinna</i> branches alone attracted significantly more males than the blank control. When these odor sources were combined, they attracted significantly more males than either alone, with the strongest effect observed when plant volatiles were located upstream of the females, suggesting a potential role of host plant volatiles in modulating female pheromone release. Through electroantennographic and behavioral analyses, we identified the optimal blend, i.e., a mixture of the sex pheromones <i>cis</i>-9-hexadecenal and (<i>Z, Z, Z</i>)-9, 12, 15-octadecatrienal, combined with the plant volatiles (−)-<i>α</i>-pinene, <i>β</i>-myrcene, (<i>Z</i>)-<i>β</i>-ocimene, and <i>β</i>-caryophyllene at a ratio of 1:10:100:10:10:1, that elicited strong responses and attracted significantly more males. A field-cage trial revealed that this synergistic blend was significantly more effective than either the sex pheromone or plant volatile alone. Our results demonstrated the synergistic role of host-plant volatiles and sex pheromones in mate location and provided a foundation for developing attractant-based monitoring and management strategies for <i>P. flammans</i>.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1208-1218"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148904364","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":"A First Indication That Rainforest Vine Proliferation Does Not Enhance Predator–Prey Interactions on the Forest Floor","authors":"Charlotte E. Raven,&nbsp;Helen F. Nahrung,&nbsp;Emma J. Mackintosh,&nbsp;Andrew R. Marshall,&nbsp;Andy G. Howe","doi":"10.1111/eea.70159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70159","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tropical rainforests are globally threatened ecosystems where habitat disturbance and structural changes are often assumed to reduce ecosystem function, yet their impacts on ground-level predator–prey interactions remain poorly understood. Invertebrate predators, particularly ground-active taxa such as ants and beetles, play a key role in regulating herbivores and promoting plant productivity. This study examined ground predation rates and predator types using artificial caterpillars and a ratio of vines (primarily lianas and rattans) to trees as a proxy of disturbance in rainforests of north Queensland, Australia. Overall, predation rates were similar along the disturbance gradient; that is, vine-to-tree ratio was not related to predation. However, modelling predatory taxa separately revealed nuanced patterns: predation by small mammals decreased with increasing rattan stem density and ant abundance, but increased with coarse woody debris, while predation by arthropods declined with increasing litter depth. Our findings highlight the role of specific habitat features on the forest floor in influencing ground-level predation in a tropical rainforest, revealing that spatial scale and foraging strategies shape trophic interactions and ecosystem function.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1229-1241"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70159","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903794","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":"Geographic Classification of Social Bees Using Automated Wing Pattern Analysis","authors":"Emine Dilara Çavuş,&nbsp;Cansu Özge Tozkar","doi":"10.1111/eea.70163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70163","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Intraspecific population classification represents a fundamental challenge in biodiversity conservation, where traditional morphometric approaches face limitations in scalability, reproducibility, and dependence on specialized expertise. We present a deep learning approach for automated geographic classification of social bee populations based on wing morphology patterns. Our analysis encompassed 1040 wing images collected from seven geographical regions using four deep learning architectures: EfficientNetB0, ResNet34, DenseNet121, and MobileNetV3-Small. Images were standardized to 224 × 224 pixels and enhanced through data augmentation techniques. We employed stratified sampling for dataset division (70% training, 10% validation, 20% testing). Among the tested architectures, EfficientNetB0 achieved the strongest held-out test performance (accuracy = 0.95, macro F1-score = 0.93). Multi-seed evaluation across five seeds (42, 0, 1, 2, 3) further confirmed the robustness of the full training configuration (accuracy = 0.944 ± 0.028; macro F1-score = 0.902 ± 0.042). We utilized Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) to visualize model decision mechanisms, revealing region-specific anatomical structures including diagonal venation patterns, circular configurations, and oval shapes that distinguished populations. Five-fold cross-validation confirmed EfficientNetB0's robust generalization (88.40% average accuracy). Our results demonstrate that automated approaches can overcome fundamental constraints of manual classification systems, providing scalable solutions for biodiversity monitoring programs and enabling non-specialists to conduct accurate taxonomic assessments without extensive training in morphometric techniques.</p>","PeriodicalId":11741,"journal":{"name":"Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata","volume":"174 10","pages":"1250-1267"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/eea.70163","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148904203","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}