Andrew Polaszek, Robert L Kresslein, Zachary Lahey
{"title":"Biology and Systematics of Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).","authors":"Andrew Polaszek, Robert L Kresslein, Zachary Lahey","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013643","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013643","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aphelinids are minute parasitoids belonging to the wasp superfamily Chalcidoidea. Typical hosts of Aphelinidae include soft-bodied Hemiptera, such as aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies, but some species are oophagous or hyperparasitic on other parasitoids. The family currently contains 37 genera and approximately 1,500 species, although the latter is a gross underrepresentation of their true diversity. The bionomics of Aphelinidae was last reviewed 40 years ago. Since then, phylogenomic analyses and high-quality taxonomic works have clarified relationships between and within different lineages of Aphelinidae, and knowledge of their interactions with their environment and hosts has increased considerably. In this review, we summarize this research, with an emphasis on the recognition, morphology, systematics, biology, genomics, and economic importance of aphelinids as biological control agents. Finally, we present future issues regarding this important family of parasitoids.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145470393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Insect Production and Secretion of Phytohormones and Impacts on Host Plants.","authors":"Edward F Connor","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-020425-073850","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-020425-073850","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Several phytohormones have been detected in whole-body analyses of insects and in their salivary glands, saliva, and frass. More comprehensive surveys are needed to develop a clear picture of their distribution and abundance in insects, but cytokinins, auxin (indole-3-acetic acid), and abscisic acid appear to be widespread in insects. Other phytohormones, such as salicylic acid, jasmonates, gibberellins, and brassinosteroids, have also been reported, but a full assessment of their distribution and abundance in insects requires further study. Exogenous phytohormones provided by herbivorous insects likely alter source-sink nutrient dynamics in their host plants, modulate host-plant defenses, lead to the induction of plant galls and the vascularization of galls connecting them to the host plant, lead to the development of green islands, and can alter anthocyanin biosynthesis, which in the sun may make galls red.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145457571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raul Narciso C Guedes, May R Berenbaum, Antonio Biondi, Nicolas Desneux
{"title":"The Side Effects of Pesticides on Nontarget Arthropods.","authors":"Raul Narciso C Guedes, May R Berenbaum, Antonio Biondi, Nicolas Desneux","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-032725-033103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-032725-033103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Millennia after the advent of pesticides and nearly eight decades into the widespread use of synthetic compounds, the role of such chemicals in modern society remains pivotal, despite persistent concerns over human and environmental safety. Rather than declining, pesticide use continues to expand, with shifting priorities regarding compound selection and application strategies. The growing prominence of biopesticides broadens pest management options but complicates the evaluation of their side effects. Additionally, evolving pesticide use patterns-including the increasing reliance on mixtures-introduce further complexities, as compound interactions and their effects on exposed organisms require closer scrutiny. Although pesticide risk assessment is a relatively young and evolving field, its progress remains hindered by misconceptions, biases, and oversimplifications. This review integrates ecotoxicology and stress biology into a conceptual framework to address these challenges, advocating for more precise and dynamic approaches to pesticide risk assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145399903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interspecific Interactions and Management of Three Important Invasive Leafminer Flies of <i>Liriomyza</i> Mik (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in China.","authors":"Yu-Zhou Du, Ya-Wen Chang, Stuart R Reitz","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013536","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013536","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The genus <i>Liriomyza</i> Mik (Diptera: Agromyzidae) comprises a diverse group of leaf-mining flies that feed internally on plant tissues, with species ranging from host plant specialists to highly polyphagous pests. In this genus, <i>Liriomyza trifolii</i>, <i>Liriomyza sativae</i>, and <i>Liriomyza huidobrensis</i> have emerged as the dominant invasive species in China over the past three decades, causing extensive damage and complicating pest management efforts<i>.</i> Owing to having overlapping host ranges, these species frequently co-occur, resulting in intense interspecific competition and, in many cases, competitive displacement. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding the invasion dynamics, species displacement processes, and ecological interactions of these three species. We highlight how interspecific competition, driven by variation in host preference, insecticide resistance, and climatic adaptability, has shaped species distributions and displacement outcomes. We also examine cryptic diversity within species, the importance of accurate diagnostics, and the limitations of current quarantine and management strategies. Finally, we discuss promising directions for integrated pest management, including the development of host plant resistance, the deployment of novel insecticides, and the application of molecular tools. By positioning <i>Liriomyza</i> as a model system, this review contributes to a broader understanding of invasive species ecology and offers guidance for the sustainable management of leafminers and other invasive agricultural pests.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145386141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nest Building in Leaf-Cutting Ants: Behavioral Mechanisms and Adaptive Value.","authors":"Flavio Roces, Martin Bollazzi","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013337","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leaf-cutting ants, which comprise more than 50 species distributed from Patagonia to North America, build the largest nests among ants. Workers forage plant fragments to cultivate a symbiotic fungus inside underground chambers, which serves as the primary food source for the colony. While digging the nest, workers respond to local cues such as soil temperature, moisture, and CO<sub>2</sub> levels, resulting in the emergence of a nest architecture that provides a proper environment for fungus growth. Leaf-cutting ants have species-specific nest architectures, which evolved from a basal design consisting of a vertical tunnel and a few interconnected chambers. Some species developed, in addition, architectural innovations aimed at the control of both hygiene and nest climate, including waste chambers, ventilatory turrets, and a nest thatch. A fine-tuned climate control is achieved by the relocation of fungus gardens within the nest following the workers' environmental preferences and by nesting plasticity.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145386087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pollinator Bees in China: Diversity, Function, and Conservation.","authors":"Arong Luo, Michael C Orr, Chao-Dong Zhu","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013520","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bees are generally agreed to be the most important pollinators. Their pollination functions and services not only closely link to crop production and food security, but also underlie ecosystem health and stability. Unfortunately, bees face a combination of stressors such as land-use intensification and pesticide overuse, leading to declines and potential risks to human welfare. These facts underscore the urgent need for global research and action to protect bees and their pollination services. In this review, we examine the current understanding of pollinator bee diversity, function, and conservation in China. We discuss existing knowledge gaps, summarize the stressors affecting bees in China, and highlight their uniqueness when compared to advances in better-studied regions. We also provide insights into promising areas for future research, while advocating for more investments in the conservation of bees and their pollination services in China and Asia more broadly.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145298093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Manoj K Nayak, Christos G Athanassiou, Vaclav Stejskal, Frank H Arthur
{"title":"Current Status and Future Prospects of Contact Insecticides in Stored-Product Protection.","authors":"Manoj K Nayak, Christos G Athanassiou, Vaclav Stejskal, Frank H Arthur","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013323","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Historically, contact insecticides have played a major role in managing pests in postharvest stored commodities. Despite the availability of significant literature published over the past three decades, the current status and potential future use of contact insecticides are not known. In this review we synthesize the literature to identify reasons for the ongoing decline in the use of contact insecticides in postharvest commodity protection, and outline the challenges and opportunities for their future use by the grain industry. Development of resistance in major stored-product insect pests to conventional pesticides and the stricter regulatory requirements driven by consumer sensitivity to pesticide residues on food are discussed in detail to explain the limitations to their current use. We also highlight the strategic integration of currently available contact insecticides into a fumigation-dominated pest management program. We conclude by proposing several research aspects that may prompt their continued use by the grain industry in the near future.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145285411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transient Microbes in Insects: Fleeting but Functional.","authors":"Alison Ravenscraft, Kerri L Coon","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013446","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013446","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many insects' gut microbiota derive partly or wholly from environmental sources. These microbes may be transient, passing through in a matter of hours, days, a developmental stage, or a host generation. There is increasing recognition of the presence of transient microbes in the insect gut, but it is often assumed that these microbes are commensal and serve no function for their hosts. Here, we explore different definitions of microbial transience and review results from diverse insect systems showing that transience does not always preclude, and in some cases enables, important contributions of environmentally acquired microbes to host fitness. Moving past the assumption that microbes must always be tightly associated with a host to serve beneficial functions will help us develop a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the functions of the gut microbiota in insects and other animals.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145285323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael R Strand, Kelsey A Coffman, Gaelen R Burke
{"title":"Large DNA Viruses That Parasitoid Wasps Transmit to Hosts.","authors":"Michael R Strand, Kelsey A Coffman, Gaelen R Burke","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many types of viruses have been identified in parasitoid wasps and other Hymenoptera. Parasitoid wasps also transmit several viruses to hosts through the piercing ovipositors that females use to lay eggs. Most viruses that are known to be transmitted by parasitoids have large double-stranded DNA genomes. We summarize the range of interactions that have evolved between parasitoid wasps and the viruses they transmit. Some viruses are mechanically transmitted to hosts, which can reduce the fitness of wasp offspring. Others have evolved into beneficial symbionts or reproductive parasites that replicate in wasps and hosts. Some large dsDNA viruses have also been co-opted into domesticated endogenized viruses that are vertically transmitted to offspring but still produce virions or virus-like particles that wasps use to parasitize hosts. We conclude by discussing future directions and why parasitoid wasps likely transmit many more viruses than are currently known.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145243551","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparative Evolution of Social and Ecological Traits in Bumble Bees.","authors":"Heather M Hines","doi":"10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013636","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ento-121423-013636","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bumble bees (<i>Bombus</i>) are prominent keystone pollinators globally and thus serve as model taxa for numerous facets of biology from social evolution to foraging economics. Many of the ∼265 species are in decline, motivating research that aims to better understand which traits make them susceptible. Despite a long history of taxonomic and natural history research, much of their biology is understood from just a few commercially available species. This review compiles the breadth of biotic trait diversity of bumble bees to provide a comparative perspective on their biology, evolution, and conservation. It features ecological traits most pertinent to their conservation, as well as traits of these primitively eusocial bees that inform our understanding of their social evolution. Many of these traits are interdependent, making a broadly comparative analysis valuable for interpreting evolution and declines. These data are organized in a phylogenetic context to show patterns of trait correlation and knowledge gaps, highlighting the depauperate natural history data in Asian and South American species. Limitations in comparative interpretation due to data standardization are emphasized.</p>","PeriodicalId":8001,"journal":{"name":"Annual review of entomology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}