Insects最新文献

{"title":"Deep Learning-Based Detection of Honey Storage Areas in <i>Apis mellifera</i> Colonies for Predicting Physical Parameters of Honey via Linear Regression.","authors":"Watit Khokthong, Panpakorn Kritangkoon, Chainarong Sinpoo, Phuwasit Takioawong, Patcharin Phokasem, Terd Disayathanoowat","doi":"10.3390/insects16060575","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traditional methods for assessing honey storage in beehives predominantly rely on manual visual inspection, which often leads to inconsistencies and inefficiencies. This study presents an automated deep learning approach utilizing the YOLOv11 model to detect, classify, and quantify honey cells within <i>Apis mellifera</i> frames across monthly sampling periods. The model's performance varied depending on image resolution and dataset partitioning. Using the free version of YOLOv11 with high-resolution images (960 × 960 resolution) and a dataset split of 90:5:5 for training, validating, and testing, the model achieved a mean average precision at IoU threshold of 0.5 (mAP@0.5) of 83.4% for uncapped honey cells and 80.5% for capped honey cells. A strong correlation (r = 0.94) was observed between the 90:5:5 and 80:10:10 dataset splits, indicating that increasing the volume of training data enhances classification accuracy. In parallel, the study investigated the relationship between the physical properties of honey and image-based honey storage detection. Of the four tested properties, electrical conductivity (R² = 0.19) and color (R² = 0.21) showed weak predictive power for honey storage area estimation, with even weaker associations found for pH and moisture content. The honey storage areas via 90:5:5 and 80:10:10 datasets moderately correlated (r = 0.44-0.46) with increasing electrical conductivity and color. Especially, electrical conductivity exhibited statistically significant correlations with dataset performance across different dataset splits (<i>p</i> < 0.05), suggesting some potential influence of chemical composition on model accuracy. Our findings demonstrate the viability of image-based honey classification as a reliable technique for monitoring beehive productivity. Additionally, the research on image-based honey detection can be a non-invasive solution for improved honey production, beehive productivity, and optimized beekeeping practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New Insights into the Biology, Ecology, and Management of Mosquitoes.","authors":"Athanasios Giatropoulos","doi":"10.3390/insects16060577","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060577","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mosquitoes pose a great threat to human and animal health as vectors of many important diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever, filariasis, and encephalitis [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Habitat Suitability for <i>Phloeosinus aubei</i> Perris in China: A MaxEnt-Based Predictive Analysis.","authors":"Sabbir Ahmad, Danping Xu, Xinqi Deng, Zhipeng He, Habib Ali, Zhihang Zhuo","doi":"10.3390/insects16060576","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060576","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate change reshapes species distributions, necessitating proactive measures to mitigate ecological impacts. This study investigates the potential spread of <i>Phloeosinus aubei</i>, a bark beetle with significant ecological consequences, under future climate scenarios in China. Using the MaxEnt model, we integrated occurrence records and scientific literature with bioclimatic and terrain variables to predict habitat suitability. The results reveal that <i>P. aubei</i>'s distribution is highly influenced by precipitation and temperature, with key variables like annual precipitation (bio12, 30.4% contribution) and the minimum temperature of the coldest month (bio6, 29% contribution) driving habitat suitability. Notably, under high-emission scenarios (SSP5-8.5), high-suitability areas could expand by 82.29% by the 2050s due to warming-induced precipitation changes in southwestern China. Model validation confirms a high predictive accuracy, with an AUC value of 0.92, underscoring the reliability of these projections. These findings highlight the beetle's potential to colonize new regions, posing risks to forest ecosystems. The study underscores the need for adaptive management strategies, including early detection and climate-resilient forestry practices, to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems from invasive species under climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and Molecular Investigation of Non-<i>Simulium damnosum</i> Black Flies in Cameroon Using Nuclear ITS 2 and Mitochondrial Cox 1 Genes.","authors":"Pierre Kamtsap, Archile Paguem, Flore Nguemaïm Ngoufo, Alfons Renz","doi":"10.3390/insects16060572","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060572","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study enhances knowledge of black fly biodiversity in Cameroon by integrating morphological and molecular analyses. A total of 19 <i>Simulium</i> species were identified from 1184 pupae collected across 13 sites, using morphological examination of gills and DNA sequencing of Cox1 and ITS2 markers. Key findings include the first report of 2 not yet described (based on identification keys used) species in Cameroon and confirmation of <i>S. vorax</i> and <i>S. dentulosum</i> as known vectors of onchocerciasis. DNA sequences have been deposited in GenBank for reference.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Combining morphological and molecular approaches revealed more species diversity than previously described, showing the potential of molecular techniques in black fly study. Notably, the presence of species not typically associated with human-biting behavior (e.g., <i>S. cervicornutum</i>) raises the possibility that such flies could act as vectors under favorable conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study underscores the importance of identifying <i>Simulium</i> species for understanding their role in pathogen transmission. The results provide a foundation for further research on undescribed <i>Simulium</i> species and their potential vectorial capacities. Future studies should explore the ecological and behavioral factors influencing vector status, especially in the context of environmental changes. By bridging morphology and DNA analysis, this research advances the study of black flies and sets the stage for improved vector monitoring and disease control in Cameroon and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating Field-Collected Populations of <i>Cotesia flavipes</i> (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Enhancing Biological Traits and Flight Activity for Improved Laboratory Mass Rearing.","authors":"Eder de Oliveira Cabral, Josy Aparecida Dos Santos, Agda Braghini, Vinícius de Oliveira Lima, Enes Pereira Barbosa, Alessandra Marieli Vacari","doi":"10.3390/insects16060571","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060571","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Due to the biofactories' concern for the quality of the parasitoid <i>Cotesia flavipes</i> (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a common practice is to introduce a population collected from the field into the laboratory mass rearing, even without prior information about the introduced population's quality or potential positive outcomes. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether populations of the <i>C. flavipes</i> parasitoid collected from the field exhibit better biological characteristics and flight activity, with the aim of incorporating them into laboratory mass rearing to enhance the quality of the parasitoids. To achieve this, a population of <i>C. flavipes</i> collected from the field (Pradópolis, SP, Brazil) was studied for twenty generations and compared with a population maintained in the laboratory for 42 years. The egg-to-pupa period in the field population was shorter across generations, particularly in the twentieth generation (11.0 days). Although the field population exhibited a lower number of adults that emerged per host in the fifth and tenth generations, by the twentieth generation, it showed higher offspring production per parasitized host (56.5 parasitoids/host). The results of the flight activity test revealed that both the laboratory-maintained population and the field-collected population exhibited higher percentages of insects classified as walkers compared to flyers (25.7% to 32.3% flying). The field-collected population stabilized in the laboratory by the tenth generation. Moreover, the results of the biological characteristics, longevity, and flight activity of the parasitoids indicate similar quality between the two populations studied after stabilization of the field-collected population.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Future Range Shifts in Major Maize Insect Pests Suggest Their Increasing Impacts on Global Maize Production.","authors":"Qiance Wei, Xueyou Zhang, Fang Yang, Sixi Duan, Zejian Fan, Peixiao Nie, Zhihong Chen, Jianmeng Feng","doi":"10.3390/insects16060568","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060568","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maize is one of the three staple grains, and its global demand has risen sharply in recent decades. However, insect pests are causing significant production losses. Despite this, few studies have yet investigated future range shifts in major insect pests affecting maize. Here, we used a unified framework to build 24 multi-algorithm models to forecast their future range shifts under future climate change scenarios (SSP126 and SSP585, representing optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, respectively). Habitat suitability was projected to increase in most regions. Significant range expansions were identified for all of them, with future climate changes being the primary driver for most. High-range overlaps were predominantly observed in the USA, Mexico, and other regions. We also identified species showing the largest ranges and range shifts, suggesting the priority species in our strategies against their impacts on maize. The relative roles of climate and crop availability in the range dynamics of major insect pests affecting maize could be, to a certain extent, determined by whether they are monophagous on crop hosts or not. High-range overlap in key maize-producing regions highlights the substantial threat they pose to global maize production. Therefore, mitigating future climate changes could be a crucial strategy to reduce their impacts on future maize production.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Trap Color and Placement Height on the Capture of Ambrosia Beetles in Pecan Orchards.","authors":"Rajendra Acharya, Shivakumar Veerlapati, Madhav Koirala, Andrew Sawyer, Apurba K Barman","doi":"10.3390/insects16060569","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060569","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the tribe Xyleborini are economically important pests of woody ornamentals, tree nuts, and fruit orchards, including pecans in the United States. Among them, the granulate ambrosia beetle, <i>Xylosandrus crassiusculus</i> (Motschulsky), is the most common species in pecan orchards in Georgia. Various traps, including ethanol-mediated Lindgren multi-funnel traps, panel traps, bottle traps, sticky cards, and ethanol-infused wooden bolts, are used in ambrosia beetle monitoring programs. Trap color and placement height are important factors that increase trap effectiveness. To improve trap effectiveness for ambrosia beetles, we conducted a color and height preference experiment under field conditions using six different colored sticky cards, including black, blue, green, red, transparent, and yellow, placing them at three different heights (15, 60, and 120 cm from ground level). The results show that red and transparent sticky cards consistently captured a higher number of ambrosia beetles, whereas yellow-colored sticky cards consistently captured a lower number of ambrosia beetles compared to all other tested colors of sticky cards. A similar trend was observed with <i>X. crassiusculus</i> in field and laboratory settings. Among the evaluated trap heights, more ambrosia beetles, including <i>X. crassiusculus</i>, were consistently captured in the sticky cards placed at a height of 60 cm from the ground surface. Additionally, we monitored natural infestations of ambrosia beetles in commercial pecan orchards in Georgia and found more damage to pecan trees near the ground surface (45 cm) compared to the upper parts. We also recorded three ambrosia beetle species, <i>X. crassiusculus</i>, the black stem borer, <i>X. germanus</i> (Blandford), and the Southeast Asian ambrosia beetle, <i>Xylosandrus amputatus</i> (Blandford). Among them, <i>X. crassiusculus</i> (90.50%) was the most abundant species in the pecan orchards. Therefore, red and transparent sticky cards placed at a height of 45 to 60 cm could improve the trap efficacy and can be used for monitoring ambrosia beetles in pecan orchards.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intake of Pyriproxyfen Through Contaminated Food by the Predator <i>Ceraeochrysa claveri</i> Navás, 1911 (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae): Evaluation of Long-Term Effects on Testes via Transcriptome Analysis.","authors":"Jefferson Fogaça Tomacheski, Ana Silvia Gimenes Garcia, Rafael Takahiro Nakajima, Fábio Malta de Sá Patroni, Elton Luiz Scudeler, Rafael Henrique Nóbrega, Daniela Carvalho Dos Santos","doi":"10.3390/insects16060567","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060567","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the sublethal effects of insecticides on non-target insects is essential for integrated pest management (IPM). This study aimed to evaluate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the testes of <i>Ceraeochrysa claveri</i> adults exposed to pyriproxyfen during the larval stage. Larvae (0-12 h) were fed <i>Diatraea saccharalis</i> eggs treated with pyriproxyfen (50 and 100 mg a.i. L^-1) for 10 days. After this exposure, the larvae were fed untreated eggs until pupation. The testes from the adults were extracted for RNA extraction, library construction, and sequencing. The reads were de novo assembled, and the genes annotated based on their ORF homology. A total of 46 DEGs were identified for the 50 mg a.i. L^-1 vs. control, 47 DEGs for the 100 mg a.i. L^-1 vs. control, and 64 DEGs for 50 mg vs. 100 mg a.i. L^-1 treatments. To validate the DEGs through RT-qPCR, the genes BPHL, Large2, MLX, and Talin-1 were selected. The results indicate that the exposure of <i>C. claveri</i> larvae to pyriproxyfen could alter the gene expression and lead to delayed effects in adults. This study provided a novel approach for assessing the sublethal effects of pyriproxyfen <i>C. claveri</i> and contributed valuable information to enhance IPM strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chagas Disease in Latin America and the United States: Factors Influencing Differences in Transmission Rates Among Differing Populations and Vectors.","authors":"Stephen A Klotz","doi":"10.3390/insects16060570","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060570","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autochthonous Chagas disease remains a health risk for humans in Latin American countries but is rarely found among residents of the United States (US), despite the presence of competent insect vectors and small mammal reservoirs of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> in the lower two-thirds of the US. This report discusses the differences in the rates of autochthonous Chagas disease in Latin America and the US. The key to the differences may lie in the mode (or means) of transmission of parasites to humans. In both Latin America and the US, the so-called vectorial transmission of Chagas disease to humans is the mode of acquisition accepted by most authorities. This mode involves the improbable combination of an infected kissing bug defecating near the mouth or eyes or the site of the bite, followed by the bite victim rubbing infected feces into the wound site or mucous membranes. Outbreaks of Chagas disease due to fecal-oral contamination, known as oral Chagas, have been recorded in Latin America for decades, and at present, oral Chagas is the predominant mode of infection recognized in Brazil. It is perhaps time to consider fecal-oral transmission in its many manifestations as a risk factor for Chagas disease in the US rather than reflexively invoking vectorial transmission. Fecal-oral transmission includes contamination of food and drink by triatomine feces and infection via contaminated fomites and surfaces at home and at worksites, as well as transmission from infected small mammals and other routes discussed in this report.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biomass Sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i>) Agronomic Response to <i>Melanaphis sorghi</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Infestation and Silicon Application.","authors":"Douglas G Santos, Leonardo L C Dias, Guilherme S Avellar, Maria Lúcia F Simeone, Rafael A C Parrella, Nathan M Santos, Thaís F Silva, Antônio A Neto, Simone M Mendes","doi":"10.3390/insects16060566","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060566","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Silicon application shows potential for enhancing crop resistance to pests while improving productivity. This study evaluated silicon's effects on agronomic traits and chemical composition of biomass sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i>) under aphid infestation (<i>Melanaphis sorghi</i> (Theobald, 1904) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)). Greenhouse-grown sorghum (hybrid BRS716) was treated with silicic acid (0, 2, 4, or 6 metric tons per hectare), applied at sowing and the five-leaf stage. Aphid-infested plants were monitored weekly for damage, alongside growth measurements (height, stem diameter, leaf retention). Post-harvest, fresh, and dry biomass were analyzed via near-infrared spectroscopy and chemical assays. Data were assessed using ANOVA and regression models. Results demonstrated that silicon reduced aphid infestation and damage at 6 metric tons per hectare. Silicon also increased cellulose content and improved phosphorus and calcium uptake, though nitrogen and potassium levels decreased. These findings suggest that silicon supplementation can strengthen sorghum's natural defenses, enhance biomass production, and modify nutrient profiles. This approach offers a sustainable strategy to mitigate aphid damage while maintaining crop yield and quality, with potential applications in integrated pest management systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}