Journal of Applied Entomology最新文献

{"title":"A Joint Pest Management Model for the Bean Fly Complex, Ophiomyia spencerella and Ophiomyia phaseoli (Diptera: Agromyzidae)","authors":"Elizabeth A. Finch,&nbsp;Suzy V. Wood,&nbsp;Bryony Taylor,&nbsp;Stacey Odunga,&nbsp;Patrick Kalama,&nbsp;MaryLucy Oronje,&nbsp;Duncan Chacha,&nbsp;Norbert Maczey,&nbsp;Tim Beale,&nbsp;Alyssa Lowry,&nbsp;Sean T. Murphy","doi":"10.1111/jen.70089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70089","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The common bean is an important crop in Eastern Africa for smallholder farmers, yet yields are often reduced due to pests, particularly <i>Ophiomyia spencerella</i> and <i>Ophiomyia phaseoli</i>. These species are partially sympatric and commonly known as the bean fly. Here, based on the similarity of their life history and developmental biology, field data was collected over 2 years to develop a generic degree-day model for the population growth of bean fly larvae to optimise the timings for the application of management interventions. There was a good fit between the observed larval emergence in the field and that predicted by the model (average <i>R</i>² = 0.99, <i>r</i> = 0.96 and RMSE = 0.05). As early action is recommended for bean fly populations, the suggested ‘time to act’ occurs when the predicted bean fly larval population is still low yet when the predicted rate of larval population growth begins to maximise. This equated to approximately 218 degree-days from planting. The model shows good potential for practical application in bean growing areas to optimise timings for the control of bean fly populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"882-889"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70089","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373584","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":"Swine Manure-Derived Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens L.) Frass Enhances Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Vegetative Growth and Soil Epigeic Macro-Arthropod Abundance","authors":"Dwi Harya Yudistira,&nbsp;Isna Aprillia Chofifah,&nbsp;Bayu Anggita Wirabumi,&nbsp;Satoru Sato","doi":"10.1111/jen.70096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70096","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The rapid expansion of swine production has increased environmental concerns related to nutrient pollution and improper manure management. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae offer a promising bioconversion approach, producing frass that may serve as a sustainable organic fertiliser. This study evaluated the vegetative phase performance of BSF frass derived from swine manure (BSF swine manure frass) compared to BSF frass from food waste (BSF general frass), NPK fertiliser, commercial compost and an unfertilized control on chilli (<i>Capsicum annuum</i>) growth and soil epigeic macro-arthropod communities. Plant growth responded strongly to fertiliser treatments, with significant effects of treatment, time and their interaction on plant height (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and both treatment and time significantly influenced leaf number. By the final observation, NPK and BSF swine manure frass produced the greatest plant height (28.8 ± 2.11 cm and 27.13 ± 1.89 cm, respectively) and highest leaf counts, while the control remained the lowest for all growth parameters. Soil epigeic macro-arthropods representing detritivores, herbivores and predators occurred across all treatments, though temporal variation was more pronounced than treatment effects. GLM analyses indicated that detritivore abundance was driven primarily by temporal dynamics, with treatment effects emerging through time, while predator abundance differed significantly among fertiliser treatments (<i>p</i> = 0.022). Herbivore abundance increased significantly over time (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). NMDS ordination indicated substantial overlap among treatments (stress = 0.16), and although PERMANOVA detected significant effects of treatment and sampling week (<i>F</i> = 3.32, <i>R</i>² = 0.599, <i>p</i> = 0.001), ANOSIM showed no evidence of treatment-based community separation (<i>R</i> = −0.1046, <i>p</i> = 0.98). Overall, BSF swine manure frass demonstrated potential to enhance chilli plant growth comparable to NPK fertiliser, while short-term application resulted in only subtle changes in soil epigeic macro-arthropod communities, indicating minimal short-term ecological impacts.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"945-954"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70096","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373526","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":"Daily Rhythms of Sex Pheromone Emission and Courtship Behaviour in the Neotropical Brown Stink Bug Euschistus heros","authors":"Felipe Goulart Gonçalves,&nbsp;Kamila Emmanuella Xavier Azevedo,&nbsp;Diego Martins Magalhães,&nbsp;José Maurício Simões Bento","doi":"10.1111/jen.70088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70088","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding the chemical and behavioural ecology of the Neotropical brown stink bug, <i>Euschistus heros</i> (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is essential for developing effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies in South American soybean production. This study investigated the courtship behaviour and diel periodicity of sex pheromone emission. Courtship behaviour and pheromone emission over a 24-h cycle were characterised using laboratory-reared (LR) males and females. In addition, comparisons between LR and first-generation field-collected (FC) males were conducted during the peak emission window. Courtship was categorised into distinct sequential stages, and pheromone emissions were quantified using dynamic headspace collection and analysed using generalised linear mixed models. LR males exhibited a pronounced emission peak between 12:00 and 18:00 h, with a model-estimated mean total pheromone release of 520.39 ± 210.53 ng/ μL, significantly higher than at other time intervals. No significant differences in total emission or blend composition were detected between LR and FC males. Circadian analysis identified an acrophase at 16:44 h. Courtship followed a consistent sequence, including male antennal contact, female posterior orientation and inclination, male rotation (~180°) with aedeagus exposure, and copulation initiation. This study provides the first detailed characterisation of the diel pattern of sex pheromone emission and a comprehensive ethogram of <i>E. heros</i> short-range courtship. These findings advance our understanding of reproductive behaviour and pheromone-mediated communication, providing temporal guidance for optimising pheromone-based monitoring and behavioural manipulation strategies in IPM programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"914-922"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70088","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373512","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":"Effect of Exogenous Salicylic Acid on the Demographic Characteristics of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Potato Plants","authors":"Ke-Xin Zhang,&nbsp;Ze-Yuan Yang,&nbsp;Inzamam Ul Haq,&nbsp;Yu-Ping Gou,&nbsp;Chang-Zhong Liu,&nbsp;Yu-Lin Gao","doi":"10.1111/jen.70087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70087","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is an economically important pest of potatoes. Salicylic acid (SA), a key plant hormone, plays an important role in plant growth and stress resistance. However, the role of SA in inducing potato resistance to <i>M. persicae</i> remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effect of foliar application of SA at different concentrations (0.05, 0.5, and 5 mM) on the demographic characteristics of <i>M. persicae</i> using an age-stage, two-sex life table approach. The application of 5 mM SA significantly prolonged the pre-adult developmental duration and total pre-reproductive period (TPRP). Furthermore, life expectancy (<span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>e</mi>\u0000 <mi>xj</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </semantics></math>), reproduction days, net maternity function (<span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>l</mi>\u0000 <mi>x</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>m</mi>\u0000 <mi>x</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </semantics></math>), and mean fecundity were reduced in 5 mM SA-treated plants compared to the control. Consequently, this led to a lower net reproductive rate (<span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>R</mi>\u0000 <mn>0</mn>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </semantics></math> = 42.53 offspring/female), intrinsic rate of increase (<span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <mi>r</mi>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </semantics></math> = 0.2852 d⁻¹), and finite rate of increase (<span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <mrow>\u0000 <mi>λ</mi>\u0000 </mrow>\u0000 </semantics></math> = 1.3301 d⁻¹). Furthermore, the population projection showed an 18.8-fold reduction in population size in 5 mM SA-treated potato plants. The findings indicate that 5 mM SA treatment can effectively induce resistance (i.e., antibiosis) to <i>M. persicae</i> in potatoes by reducing its demographic performance. These findings highlight the potential application of SA as a natural resistance inducer in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies targeting potato aphids.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"849-858"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373457","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":"Phototactic Response of Conotrachelus psidii Marshall, 1922 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Light Spectra: Implications for Light Trap Development in Guava Orchards","authors":"João Gabriel Tardin de Moraes,&nbsp;Letícia Moamad de Sales Abreu,&nbsp;Nilson Rodrigues-Silva,&nbsp;Ludimila Simões Peçanha,&nbsp;Wanderson Rosa da Silva,&nbsp;Renata Cunha Pereira,&nbsp;Laís Viana Paes Mendonça,&nbsp;Richard Ian Samuels,&nbsp;Marcelo Coutinho Picanço,&nbsp;Gerson Adriano Silva","doi":"10.1111/jen.70094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70094","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Throughout their evolution, insect species have adapted in different ways to light stimuli, exhibiting phototactic behaviours that vary according to the wavelength, intensity and quality of light. In this study, the phototactic response of <i>Conotrachelus psidii</i> Marshall, 1922 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to different light spectra was evaluated. To perform the bioassays, adults of <i>C. psidii</i> were collected from guava orchards and placed in a phototactic arena consisting of three sections: two lateral sections containing light sources and a central section designated for insect release. Six LED light sources were used: red (612 nm), yellow (594 nm), green (520 nm), blue (455 nm), white (449 and 535 nm) and ultraviolet (365 and 405 nm). A total of 360 adults were evaluated in three experimental assays: (1) unsexed insects exposed to one light at a time; (2) sex-separated insects exposed to one light at a time; and (3) unsexed insects exposed to two lights simultaneously. The effect of light exposure on the duration of thanatosis behaviour was also evaluated, justified as an antipredator strategy that may influence the dispersal and survival of <i>C. psidii</i> adults under field conditions. The results indicated that red light elicited a significantly higher positive phototactic response (approximately 65% of males moved toward the red light) in males, whereas females did not show significant attraction to any spectrum. Both sexes showed significant aversion to ultraviolet (UV) and white light, with less than 20% of adults entering these sections. In the choice tests, red light attracted significantly more adults than yellow, green and ultraviolet lights. Exposure to different light spectra also affected the duration of thanatosis, with males exhibiting longer immobility under blue light and females under dark and blue-green conditions, suggesting sex-specific behavioural strategies. The results suggest that red light can be cautiously considered for developing selective light traps for monitoring <i>C. psidii</i> in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes, contributing to early detection and improved pest management in guava orchards.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"937-944"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373525","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":"Sex Pheromones From Linyphia triangularis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) and Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Are Promising Attractants for Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)","authors":"Shasha Yang,&nbsp;Xiaofei Yu,&nbsp;Keming Wang,&nbsp;Maofa Yang,&nbsp;Xuli Zhu,&nbsp;Huizi Wu,&nbsp;Hanjie Guan,&nbsp;Chunyang Huang,&nbsp;Xiang Yang","doi":"10.1111/jen.70086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70086","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although <i>Aphidoletes aphidimyza</i> (Rondani) is a predator of aphids, its biocontrol efficacy depends largely on oviposition behaviour. Previous studies have shown that spider webs can attract <i>A. aphidimyza</i> and enhance its oviposition. It has been hypothesized that sex pheromones from spider webs and <i>A. aphidimyza</i> itself may affect its mating and oviposition, but this remains unconfirmed. In our study, we selected (2<i>R</i>,7<i>S</i>)-diacetoxytridecane (sex pheromone of <i>A. aphidimyza</i>), (<i>R</i>)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (sex pheromone of <i>Linyphia triangularis</i> (Clerck)), and a mixture of these pheromones (at a 10:1 concentration ratio) to investigate their overall response on <i>A. aphidimyza</i> in terms of electroantennogram, behaviour, fecundity, attraction, and aphid control. Our results indicated that these pheromones elicited antennal responses in <i>A. aphidimyza</i>. Specifically, (2<i>R</i>,7<i>S</i>)-diacetoxytridecane significantly attracted males, while (<i>R</i>)-3-hydroxybutyric acid significantly attracted females; their mixture attracted both sexes. These compounds did not affect oviposition and lifespan of <i>A. aphidimyza</i>. The pheromone mixture attracted significantly more <i>A. aphidimyza</i> than the control group. The number of aphids in the mixture group began to decline 1 day earlier than that in the control group and ultimately achieved a 100% control effect against aphids in a greenhouse. Our findings provide evidence for further exploration of the relationship between <i>L. triangularis</i> and <i>A. aphidimyza</i>. The studied pheromone blend shows potential as an attractant for <i>A. aphidimyza</i>, which could enhance aphid biological control in greenhouses.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"859-870"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373118","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":"Diversity, Abundance and Pollen Affinity of Wild Bee Pollinators of Almond: Insights From a Moroccan Orchard","authors":"Ayyoub Skaou,&nbsp;Abdessamad Aglagane,&nbsp;Clément Tourbez,&nbsp;Omar Er-Rguibi,&nbsp;Houda Benkhalifa,&nbsp;Ahlam Sentil,&nbsp;Pol Vannechel,&nbsp;Patrick Lhomme,&nbsp;Denis Michez,&nbsp;El Hassan El Mouden","doi":"10.1111/jen.70090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70090","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Almond trees are economically important and widely cultivated across the Mediterranean. Their yield depends on cross-pollination by insects, yet their pollinators remain largely unknown, particularly in North Africa. This study investigated the diversity, abundance and pollen affinity of wild bee species in a Moroccan almond orchard. Using sweep netting and pan traps, a total of 813 specimens representing 104 species, 17 genera and 5 families were recorded in the studied orchard. Bee diversity and abundance peaked during the flowering phase, reflecting the key role of bloom phenology in shaping pollinator activity. The most species-rich and abundant genera were <i>Andrena</i>, <i>Eucera</i> and <i>Lasioglossum</i>. In total, 26 species were identified as almond floral visitors (AFV), with <i>Andrena flavipes</i> and <i>Andrena bimaculata</i> being the most abundant floral visitors. Among them, palynological data identified eight species as almond pollen victors (APV), with a total of 182 plant-bee interactions and confirmed strong almond pollen affinity for both <i>Andrena</i> species, particularly <i>A. flavipes</i>. While this study is limited to one orchard, it highlights the ecological importance of wild bees in Moroccan almond systems and underscores the potential of selecting native species to enhance pollination services, especially in light of reported pollination deficits. These findings support the development of conservation-oriented management strategies aimed at sustaining pollinator diversity and crop productivity.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"871-881"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373353","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":"Development of PCR, LAMP and HRM-Based Molecular Species Diagnostic Tools for Identifying Four Agricultural Pests in the Genus Helicoverpa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)","authors":"Minseop Noh,&nbsp;Murtaza Khan,&nbsp;Minyoung Choi,&nbsp;Andreas Zwick,&nbsp;Juil Kim","doi":"10.1111/jen.70092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70092","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Within the subfamily Heliothinae, the genus <i>Helicoverpa</i> comprises several highly destructive agricultural pests, including <i>H. armigera</i>, <i>H. assulta</i>, <i>H. punctigera</i> and <i>H. zea</i>. These species cause significant global crop losses due to their wide host range, long-distance migratory behaviour, and potential for interspecific hybridization. Their close morphological resemblance poses major challenges for accurate identification. Therefore, the development of rapid and reliable molecular diagnostic tools is crucial for effective monitoring and management. For primer design, complete mitochondrial genome sequences of the four <i>Helicoverpa</i> species were aligned to identify species-specific regions, primarily within the COX1–COX2 fragment. Species-specific PCR assays were optimised and successfully distinguished all four species. The same primer regions were adapted for LAMP by designing the outer primers (F3 and B3) and adding inner (FIP, BIP) and loop (LF, LB) primers. LAMP assays were highly effective for <i>H. armigera</i> and <i>H. assulta</i>, allowing field-ready detection within 20 and 25 min, respectively, at 62°C. While PCR and HRM distinguished all four species, LAMP assays were successfully optimised only for <i>H. armigera</i> and <i>H. assulta</i>. Additionally, an HRM assay was developed and validated, enabling efficient large-scale discrimination of <i>Helicoverpa</i> species based on distinct melting profiles. This study presents robust PCR, LAMP and HRM-based molecular diagnostic tools for the rapid and accurate identification of four major <i>Helicoverpa</i> pest species: <i>H. armigera</i>, <i>H. assulta</i>, <i>H. punctigera</i> and <i>H. zea</i>. These assays provide reliable, cost-effective and scalable solutions for species-specific detection and can be readily integrated into regional and international <i>Helicoverpa</i> pest monitoring and management programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 7","pages":"900-913"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70092","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148373369","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":"Characterisation of Sex Pheromone and Genetic Strain in Rachiplusia nu (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Populations Across Brazil","authors":"Leonardo Figueiredo,&nbsp;Diego B. Silva,&nbsp;Alan V. Saldanha,&nbsp;Alberto S. Corrêa,&nbsp;Aluska T. dos Santos,&nbsp;Paulo H. G. Zarbin","doi":"10.1111/jen.70078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Rachiplusia nu</i>, known as the sunflower looper (SFL) and belonging to the Plusiinae subfamily, is a major defoliator of soybeans, sunflowers and other horticultural crops across southern South America. This species has recently expanded to central and northern regions of Brazil, becoming a key soybean pest. Here, we aim to identify the sex pheromone of <i>R. nu</i> and characterise its genetic strains, followed by preliminary field bioassays to evaluate pheromone effectiveness in insect attraction. Genetic analysis revealed a single mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) strain of <i>R. nu</i> across Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, characterised by low nucleotide and haplotype diversity. A dominant mtDNA haplotype (frequency = 0.7) was found across all regions sampled. Gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses of female <i>R. nu</i> aeration extracts identified a female-specific compound, which was determined to be (<i>Z</i>)-7-dodecenyl acetate. This identification was confirmed through microderivatisation of natural extract, the mass spectrum comparisons and co-injections with authentic standards. Laboratory and field bioassays confirmed the biological role of this compound as a sex pheromone. The observed low genetic diversity in <i>R. nu</i> likely explains the minimal variation (or absence) of sex pheromone components across the three tested populations. The identified pheromone, previously recognised in other species, holds potential for use in pest monitoring and management strategies. <i>R. nu</i> exhibits a monocomponent sex pheromone, classified as a type 1 lepidopteran pheromone.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 6","pages":"791-802"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70078","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148146964","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":"Evaluating Syrphid Fly Predation on Aphids Under Controlled and Field Conditions in High Tunnels: A Comparative Study With Lacewings","authors":"Allison Zablah,&nbsp;Marlo Gunnar McCarter,&nbsp;Christian H. Krupke,&nbsp;Laura L. Ingwell","doi":"10.1111/jen.70070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70070","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biological control in high tunnel systems can be optimised by matching predator species to seasonal environmental conditions. We evaluated the predatory efficacy of syrphid flies (<i>Toxomerus marginatus</i> (Say), <i>Eupeodes americanus</i> (Fabricius)) and lacewings (<i>Chrysoperla carnea</i> (Stephens), <i>Chrysoperla rufilabris</i> (Burmeister)) across laboratory bioassays and seasonal high tunnel field trials in 2024–2025. Syrphids and lacewings performed similarly at 23°C, but lacewings showed higher feeding than syrphids at 30°C/25°C (day/night), indicating that lacewings are more effective under the warmest conditions while syrphids remain consistent across moderate and warm temperatures. Spring high tunnel observations showed that peaks in syrphid egg and larval abundance consistently preceded declines in aphid populations by 1–2 weeks, indicating a top-down regulatory effect. These findings underscore the value of syrphids as biological control agents in spring and fall crops, while lacewings may be better suited for summer releases under higher temperatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 6","pages":"693-705"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70070","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148147244","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}