Insects最新文献

{"title":"A YOLO-Based Model for Detecting Stored-Grain Insects on Surface of Grain Bulks.","authors":"Xueyan Zhu, Dandan Li, Yancheng Zheng, Yiming Ma, Xiaoping Yan, Qing Zhou, Qin Wang, Yili Zheng","doi":"10.3390/insects16020210","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020210","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate, rapid, and intelligent stored-grain insect detection and counting are important for integrated pest management (IPM). Existing stored-grain insect pest detection models are often not suitable for detecting tiny insects on the surface of grain bulks and often require high computing resources and computational memory. Therefore, this study presents a YOLO-SGInsects model based on YOLOv8s for tiny stored-grain insect detection on the surface of grain bulk by adding a tiny object detection layer (TODL), adjusting the neck network with an asymptotic feature pyramid network (AFPN), and incorporating a hybrid attention transformer (HAT) module into the backbone network. The YOLO-SGInsects model was trained and tested using a GrainInsects dataset with images captured from granaries and laboratory. Experiments on the test set of the GrainInsects dataset showed that the YOLO-SGInsects achieved a stored-grain insect pest detection mean average precision (mAP) of 94.2%, with a counting root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.7913, representing 2.0% and 0.3067 improvement over the YOLOv8s, respectively. Compared to other mainstream approaches, the YOLO-SGInsects model achieves better detection and counting performance and is capable of effectively handling tiny stored-grain insect pest detection in grain bulk surfaces. This study provides a technical basis for detecting and counting common stored-grain insect pests on the surface of grain bulk.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Do Random Forest-Driven Climate Envelope Models Require Variable Selection? A Case Study on <i>Crustulina guttata</i> (Theridiidae: Araneae).","authors":"Tae-Sung Kwon, Won Il Choi, Min-Jung Kim","doi":"10.3390/insects16020209","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate Envelope Models (CEMs) commonly employ 19 bioclimatic variables to predict species distributions, yet selecting which variables to include remains a critical challenge. Although it seems logical to select ecologically relevant variables, the biological responses of many target species are poorly understood. Random Forest (RF), a popular method in CEMs, can effectively handle correlated and nonlinear variables. In light of these strengths, this study explores the full model hypothesis, which involves using all 19 bioclimatic variables in an RF model, using <i>Crustulina guttata</i> (Theridiidae: Araneae) as a test case. Four model variants-a simplified model with two variables, an ecologically selected model with seven variables, a statistically selected model with ten variables, and a full model with nineteen variables-were compared against a thousand randomly assembled models with matching variable counts. All models achieved high performance, though results varied based on the number of variables employed. Notably, the full model consistently produced stronger predictions than models with fewer variables. Moreover, specifying particular variables did not yield a significant advantage over random selections of equally sized sets, indicating that omitting variables may risk the loss of important information. Although the final model suggests that <i>C. guttata</i> may have dispersed beyond its native European range through artificial means, this study examined only a single species. Thus, caution is warranted in generalizing these findings, and additional research is needed to determine whether the full model hypothesis extends to other taxa and environmental contexts. In scenarios where ecological knowledge is limited, however, using all available variables in an RF model may preserve potentially significant predictors and enhance predictive accuracy.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11857067/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Ecologo-Geographic Distribution Patterns of the Italian Locust <i>Calliptamus italicus</i> (Linnaeus) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the Easternmost Part of Its Range.","authors":"Michael G Sergeev, Muratbek K Childebaev, Rong Ji, Vladimir V Molodtsov, Natalya S Baturina, Irina A Van'kova, Marya N Kim-Kashmenskaya, Kristina V Popova, Vasily D Zharkov, Oxana V Yefremova","doi":"10.3390/insects16020211","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Grasshoppers (Acridoidea) are one of the most essential components of grassland ecosystems. They are mainly primary consumers and some of them, e.g., the Italian locust, may be very important pests. The main goal of this article is to discuss possible shifts in the species distribution relative to global and local changes. General patterns of latitudinal, longitudinal, and altitudinal distribution of its populations are revealed for the eastern part of its range (mainly from 70° E eastward). Data on its historic and modern localities with geographic coordinates were collected and analyzed. The Maxent approach was used to model species distribution. The comparative analysis shows there are no significant changes in its range. The analysis of altitudinal distribution over mountains of the region demonstrates no significant changes as well. The expected distribution of <i>Calliptamus italicus</i> based on the location points displays significant changes in areas suitable for the species and their evident associations with outbreak occurrences. The models created for 2021-2040 and 2041-2060 unveil that, in the future, the local parts of the Italian locust range may shift northward and north-eastward, but the main areas with suitable conditions for this species will remain almost the same.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856713/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of Odorant-Binding Protein Genes in the Bean Flower Thrips <i>Megalurothrips usitatus</i> (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).","authors":"Gen Xia, Lang Yang, Boliao Li, Qinli Wang, Lifei Huang, Xiaoli Tian, Guohui Zhang","doi":"10.3390/insects16020212","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Megalurothrips usitatus</i> is an economically important vegetable pest. Because of the growing demand for reducing pesticide use on vegetables, new environmentally friendly strategies for controlling <i>M. usitatus</i> are urgently needed. Insect odorant-binding proteins are prospective targets for screening environmentally friendly odorant attractants for pest control. However, very little is known about OBP genes in <i>M. usitatus</i>. Here, we identified 14 <i>OBPs</i> in the <i>M. usitatus</i> genome using HMMER and BLAST. The chromosomal location showed that these <i>OBPs</i> were widely distributed across eight chromosomes. The analysis of the gene and protein structure characteristics of OBPs in <i>M. usitatus</i> revealed substantial diversity within the OBP gene family. The spatiotemporal expression profiles showed that ten out of 14 <i>MusiOBPs</i> displayed male biased expression, which were highly expressed in antennae, suggesting that they may play a crucial role in the recognition of host plant volatiles and thrips aggregation pheromones. Notably, only <i>MusiOBP8</i> was significantly higher expressed in female adults, indicating a potential involvement in reproduction. Moreover, <i>MusiOBP7</i> and <i>MusiOBP13</i> were highly expressed in the pupae, indicating their possible role in immune responses. These results provide an important foundation for further exploration of the functions of the OBPs in <i>M. usitatus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Molecular Detection of Hemoparasites in Hematophagous Insects Collected from Livestock Farms in Northeastern Thailand.","authors":"Pairpailin Jhaiaun, Apiraya Rudeekiatthamrong, Wissanuwat Chimnoi, Giang Thi Nguyen, Ruttayaporn Ngasaman, Jumnongjit Phasuk, Ketsarin Kamyingkird","doi":"10.3390/insects16020207","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs) are diseases that have a major impact on the health and productivity of livestock. VBPDs, including trypanosomosis, theileriosis, and anaplasmosis, are caused by blood parasites and Rickettsiales infections that can be transmitted by biting insects. The control and elimination of VBPDs is difficult and challenging. This study contributed to better understanding the impact of hematophagous insects on carrying pathogens to livestock by investigating the detection of <i>Trypanosoma evansi</i>, <i>Theileria</i> spp. and <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. in hematophagous insects collected from five livestock farms in Northeastern Thailand using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The <i>Stomoxys</i> and <i>Tabanus</i> samples were collected using Nzi and Vavoua traps. Morphological and molecular identifications of hematophagous insects were performed. The <i>Stomoxys</i> samples were dissected into head and abdomen parts, while the <i>Tabanus</i> samples were dissected into head, salivary glands, and abdomen parts before DNA extraction individually. The host blood meal in the DNA of each part of the hematophagous insects was identified using PCR targeting the prepronociceptin (<i>PNOC</i>) gene. PCR detection of <i>T. evansi</i>, <i>Theileria</i> spp., and <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. were performed by targeting the <i>ITS2</i>, <i>18s rRNA,</i> and <i>msp4</i> genes, respectively. In total, 131 insect samples were collected, with <i>Stomoxys calcitrans</i> being the most common species at 40 (30.53%), followed by <i>Tabanus</i> spp. at 14 (10.69%) and the other <i>Stomoxys</i> spp. at 7 (5.34%), respectively. The hemoparasite detection results identified <i>Theileria</i> spp. in the abdomen (21.43%; 3/14) of three <i>Tabanus</i> samples. Neither <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. nor <i>T. evansi</i> were detected in this study. Additionally, host blood meal DNA was found in the abdomen of <i>Stomoxys calcitrans</i> (4.17%; 1/24) and <i>Stomoxys</i> spp. (20%; 1/5). For the <i>Tabanus</i> spp., host blood meal DNA was detected in the head (7.14%; 1/14), salivary glands (7.14%; 1/14), and abdomen (14.29%; 2/14). These results highlighted that <i>Tabanus</i> spp. might play an important role in <i>Theileria</i> transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 Impact of Termiticides on Termite Corpse Management.","authors":"Jizhe Shi, Austin Merchant, Xuguo Zhou","doi":"10.3390/insects16020208","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020208","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil treatments and baits are two primary chemical control strategies for subterranean termites. Baiting is targeted and eco-friendly but requires ongoing maintenance, while soil treatments provide immediate, long-lasting protection with potential environmental concerns. Previously, we found that termites differentially manage deceased individuals based on their postmortem chemical signatures, potentially circumventing chemical controls. Given the distinct differences in the synthetic termiticides used for soil treatments (fast-acting) and baits (slow-releasing), we hypothesized that termites would respond differently to corpses treated with these two methods. To test this hypothesis, in <i>Reticulitermes flavipes</i>, we (1) profiled postmortem chemicals in termites exposed to different termiticides and (2) documented live termite responses to these corpses. Significant variations in postmortem chemical signatures, particularly 3-octanol and 3-octanone, were found among termites exposed to different termiticides, especially bifenthrin and fipronil. However, these variations did not lead to significantly different undertaking behaviors, indicating a complex relationship between death cues and termite behavior. Contrary to our hypothesis, except for bifenthrin, the fundamental undertaking behaviors were consistent despite differences in retrieval timing. This suggests that termiticides alone do not fully dictate termite undertaking behavior. Understanding termite corpse management is crucial for evaluating termiticide effectiveness, highlighting the need for an integrated pest management approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856413/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Correction: Lu et al. Host Volatiles Potentially Drive Two Evolutionarily Related Weevils to Select Different Grains. <i>Insects</i> 2024, <i>15</i>, 300.","authors":"Shaohua Lu, Lingfang Zhang, Yujie Lu, Mingshun Chen, Zhengyan Wang","doi":"10.3390/insects16020206","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the original publication [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Daily Prey Consumption and Functional Response of <i>Orius insidiosus</i>: Implications for Biological Control of <i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i> in Strawberries.","authors":"Lovely Adhikary, Hugh Adam Smith, Sriyanka Lahiri","doi":"10.3390/insects16020205","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020205","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Strawberry is an important specialty crop grown in Florida. Recently, chilli thrips, <i>Scirtothrips dorsalis</i> Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), have become a significant threat to Florida strawberry production. Pesticide applications are not always recommended because of the development of insecticidal resistance. Biological control can be a viable control option for this pest. However, the management of <i>S. dorsalis</i> using predatory bug <i>Orius insidiosus</i> Say (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has never been explored in strawberries. Therefore, this study's aim was to evaluate the predation efficacy of <i>O. insidiosus</i> through daily consumption rate and the functional response while preying on <i>S. dorsalis</i>. The results suggest that adult <i>O. insidiosus</i> has a significantly higher daily consumption rate than fifth-instar nymphs when feeding on both life stages of <i>S. dorsalis</i>. A Type II functional response was expressed by <i>O. insidiosus</i> when feeding on larval and adult <i>S. dorsalis,</i> indicating that the predation rate can increase with the prey density before it reaches a saturation point. The attack rates (a) and prey handling time (T_h) were also computed on second-instar larvae and adult <i>S. dorsalis</i>, respectively. The results indicate that <i>O. insidiosus</i> can be used as an augmentation biocontrol agent for <i>S. dorsalis</i> management in strawberries.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856537/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Widespread Distribution of <i>chs-1</i> Mutations Associated with Resistance to Diflubenzuron Larvicide in <i>Culex pipiens</i> Across Italy, Reaching Virtual Fixation in the Venetian Lagoon.","authors":"Martina Micocci, Verena Pichler, Paola Serini, Carola Giammarioli, Chiara Malandruccolo, Chiara Virgillito, Marco Ballardini, Riccardo Paolo Lia, Daniele Arnoldi, Stefano Vettore, Davide Bonetto, Simone Martini, Andrea Drago, Alessandra Della Torre, Beniamino Caputo","doi":"10.3390/insects16020204","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Control interventions against mosquito larvae are the primary measure to reduce the adult abundance and risk of arbovirus outbreaks in Europe. One of the most commonly used larvicides in Italy is diflubenzuron (DFB), which targets chitin synthase 1 (<i>chs-1</i>), interrupting the normal development of larvae into adults. Recent studies identified high levels of DFB resistance in <i>Culex pipiens</i> populations from Emilia-Romagna (Italy) associated with I1043L/M/F mutations at position 1043 of the <i>chs-1</i> gene. The aim of the present study was to assess the circulation of 1043 resistance alleles in <i>Cx. pipiens</i> populations across Italy, outside Emilia-Romagna, with a focus on the Veneto region. Overall, 1032 specimens were genotyped. The 1043L allele was found in all examined Italian regions (Trentino-Alto Adige 19-36%; Veneto 0-91%; Piemonte 11%; Liguria 28%; Lazio 0-8%; Puglia 5%). The highest frequencies (up to >90%) were observed in the Venetian lagoon, where 1043M was also detected (6-11%). Overall, the relatively low frequencies of 1043 mutations despite extensive and longstanding use of DFB in Italy suggest a high fitness cost worthy of further investigations, while their extremely high frequencies in coastal touristic sites point to these sites as the most relevant for resistance monitoring and larvicide rotation.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11856509/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Comparative Mitogenomic Analyses of Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae).","authors":"Xiu-Ru Xiao, Meng-Han Chen, Shu-Yi Li, Bing-Xin Guo, Yan Zhang, Zhi-Chao Zhang, Ya-Jun Qiao, Xiao-Long Lin","doi":"10.3390/insects16020203","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16020203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tanypodinae, a highly diverse subfamily within Chironomidae (Diptera), has been poorly represented in mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) databases, with only a limited number of complete or partial sequences available. To address this gap, we present the first complete mitogenome sequences of 16 Tanypodinae species and 1 Podonominae species. By integrating these novel data with previously published chironomid mitogenomes, we conducted a comprehensive comparative mitogenomic analysis of 21 Tanypodinae species. Our results reveal that Tanypodinae mitogenomes maintain a conserved structural organization, preserving the ancestral insect gene arrangement. The nucleotide composition exhibits significant bias, with the control region demonstrating the highest A + T content among all genomic regions. Evolutionary analysis indicates that all protein-coding genes (PCGs) are subject to purifying selection, with <i>ATP8</i> exhibiting the most rapid evolutionary rate. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on PCG amino acid sequences delineates seven well-supported clades within Tanypodinae, corresponding to the tribes Pentaneurini, Natarsiini, Procladiini, Tanypodini, Clinotanypodini, Macropelopiini, and Anatopyniini. These findings significantly advance our understanding of mitogenomic architecture and provide critical insights into the phylogenetic relationships within Tanypodinae.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11855973/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}