Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae) (tree-of-heaven) is an invasive tree species first introduced to the United States in 1784. With high rates of sexual reproduction, rapid growth, and prolific vegetative sprouting, A. altissima is an aggressive competitor that reduces native plant diversity and is difficult to manage beyond small-scale infestations. In the United States, the issues associated with Ailanthus management were compounded by the 2014 arrival of Lycorma delicatula (spotted lanternfly). Lycorma delicatula coevolved with A. altissima, its primary host, in eastern Asia. Suppression of A. altissima is recommended as an important strategy to slow the spread of L. delicatula. Due to the inadequacy of traditional control methods to manage A. altissima, biological controls are desired. Several potential biological control agents have been proposed for A. altissima. This review discusses current research on several promising candidates, specifically a native fungus, Verticillium nonalfalfae Inderb. et al. (Hypocreales: Plectosphaerellaceae); a trunk-boring beetle, Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Harold) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cryptorrhynchinae); and an eriophyid mite, Aculops ailanthi (Lin-Fuping, Jin-Changle & Kuang-Haiya) (Arachnida: Eriphyidae). A list of other possible biological control agents is also provided. We discuss unanswered questions for each species, the limits of biological controls in this system, and call for further research on integrated pest management practices for managing A. altissima.

Puddling, a behavior in which butterflies and other insects aggregate on mineral-rich substrates such as mud, animal excrement, carrion, and even human perspiration, is a well-documented phenomenon in both temperate and tropical regions. This behavior is thought to compensate for the limited access to micronutrients in the adult diet that are important for fitness, primarily sodium and nitrogen, essential for nervous system function, growth, and reproductive processes. In this review, we consolidate existing knowledge on butterfly puddling and highlight key gaps in our understanding. The review is organized into 4 main themes: the benefits of puddling, social dynamics in puddling, sensory cues for site selection, and behavioral variation across species and regions. We explore how nutrient preferences are influenced by diet, environmental factors, and evolutionary history, with a particular focus on the role of sodium and nitrogen. We also discuss the potential reproductive benefits of puddling, including its impact on mating success and fecundity. In addition, we consider the sensory and social mechanisms butterflies use to locate suitable puddling sites. Lastly, we give a short overview on puddling in moths. This review identifies several areas for future research, particularly in understanding the adaptive significance of puddling across different taxa and environments.

The soybean tentiform leafminer, Macrosaccus morrisella (Fitch) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), is a new potential pest of soybean; however, little is known about its biology. This study determined the number of instars, how to distinguish those instars, and how to differentiate the sexes of M. morrisella. Soybean plants oviposited on by M. morrisella in the laboratory were sampled daily to assess the development of the insects by measuring larval head capsule width, body length, and leaf area mined. Cages containing a subset of plants were then checked daily until the first emergence of adults. In addition, 20 pupae and resulting adults were sexed. The frequency distribution of head capsule widths of M. morrisella larvae showed 4 nonoverlapping peaks. However, examination of individuals comprising the third peak showed 2 distinct mouthpart morphologies, which were a sap-feeding 3rd instar and a tissue-feeding 4th instar with overlapping distributions of head capsule widths. Inspection of tentiform mines containing individual larvae revealed the presence of up to 4 shed head capsules, confirming the existence of 5 instars. Leaf area mined ranged from 0.28 to 498.45 mm² per larva. Pupae of M. morrisella were sexually differentiated by observing the presence of the gonads through the cuticle in males and its absence in females, and this was confirmed by examination of the frenula of the resulting adults.This study fills an important gap in our understanding of M. morrisella biology, which is crucial for developing integrated management strategies for this potential pest of soybean in North America.

Silpha obscura Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Silphidae) is an omnivorous beetle species known for damaging agricultural crops, making it an important target for pest control strategies. Despite its impact, no studies have yet examined the anatomical and histological structures of the male digestive and reproductive tracts of S. obscura. Therefore, this study aimed to describe these structures in detail, which could provide insights into potential control methods. Twenty individuals were collected and histologically processed, with observations made using light microscopy. The digestive tract of S. obscura comprises 3 parts: a short foregut, a relatively long and wide midgut characterized by folds and numerous crypts of the blind intestine, and a narrow and elongated hindgut, which expands into the rectum. Malpighian tubules attach at the beginning of the hindgut, which continues with the ileum, colon, and rectum and ends at the anus. The male reproductive tract includes a pair of testes, a pair of efferent ducts (vas efferentia), a pair of deferent ducts (vas deferentia), a pair of seminal vesicles, 2 pairs of accessory glands, and the ductus ejaculatorius, which extends into the ejaculatorius bulbus. The reproductive tract terminates with the aedeagus. The testes consist of 2 lobes, each containing numerous follicles where spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis occur. This study provides detailed insights into the anatomy and histology of the digestive and male reproductive tracts of Silpha obscura. These findings may lead to new strategies for controlling this agricultural pest. Understanding these structures is crucial for further research.

Graphical Abstract

Microplitis manilae (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary endoparasitic wasp of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a significant agricultural pest. We compared the parasitism of M. manilae on the first-, second-, and third-instar larvae of S. frugiperda and found that M. manilae prefered the second instar. We investigated the effect of 5 temperatures (18, 22, 26, 30, and 34 °C) on the development period in the immature stage of M. manilae and found that moderately high temperatures shortened the development time. Considering the development period, cocooning rate, and emergence rate, 26 °C was the optimal temperature for the highest value of females' fecundity. We also examined the development of the immature stage of M. manilae by dissecting parasitized hosts and cocoons in the laboratory. Our results revealed that the eggs matured within 2 d, and the larvae progressed through 3 instars, culminating in a total developmental period of about 9 d. The prepupal stage retained the larval form, and the pupa pigment gradually precipitated after molting. All stages were documented in detailed micrographs. Our study lays a robust foundation for further studies on the physiological interactions between M. manilae and S. frugiperda.

Colored traps can attract or repel insect species, and effects vary among biological groups. Cerambycidae and Cetoniidae are diverse Coleoptera families of ecological and economic importance in forest and agroecosystems. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of different colors of aerial fruit-baited traps in capturing Cerambycidae and Cetoniidae beetles in the Amazon rainforest. We evaluated 4 trap colors: blue, yellow, red, and transparent (control). We sampled Cerambycidae and Cetoniidae beetles from February 2022 to January 2024 in 5 Amazon forests. We collected a total of 1588 individuals and 18 species of Cerambycidae, and 345 individuals and 11 species of Cetoniidae. Species richness and composition of Cerambycidae and Cetoniidae beetles did not differ across the different trap colors. Blue traps exhibited lower abundance of Cerambycidae than did other trap colors. Transparent traps captured more common species (Shannon diversity) than red traps. Moreover, transparent traps harbored more dominant species (Simpson diversity) of Cerambycidae compared to other trap colors. A combination of factors involving the insect with its innate or learned ability to perceive different colors and the characteristics of local vegetation can influence insect preference for certain colors. Our findings provide evidence of the high efficiency of transparent traps for sampling the diversity of Cerambycidae and Cetoniidae beetles in the Amazon rainforest.

Pseudacysta perseae (Heidemann 1908) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) is a foliar pest of avocados. The effects of 6 fluctuating temperature regimens, which averaged 15, 20, 25, 30, 32, and 35 °C over a 24-h period, on the developmental and reproductive biology of P. perseae were investigated. Selected temperature cycles are representative of avocado production regions in California (US). Fluctuating temperature regimens had significant effects on P. perseae development times, fecundity, fertility, longevity, and survivorship rates. One linear model (Ordinary Linear) and 7 nonlinear regression functions (Beta, Brière-2, Lactin-2, Lobry–Rosso–Flandrois, Performance-2, Ratkowsky, and Weibull) were utilized to investigate the correlation between fluctuating temperature profiles and P. perseae development times. The Beta and Weibull models failed to converge. Model parameters, T_min, T_opt, and T_max, were estimated as 1.72 to 9.78 °C, 31.04 to 31.57 °C, and 34.05 to 39.38 °C, respectively. The thermal requirement for development, K, was estimated as 476.19 degree-days. At 32 °C, P. perseae females exhibited 4 egg-laying peaks around days 11, 35, 54, and 63 of life. A maximum daily average of eggs laid (i.e., fecundity) was 6.07 on day 35 and the average daily egg-laying rate was 3.08 eggs over a 69-day span.The maximum proportion of eggs that hatched (i.e., fertility) was 0.49 on day 31, and the average daily proportion of hatched eggs was 0.10.This study confirmed that P. perseae passes through 4 nymphal instars, not 5 as previously reported. In addition, sexual dimorphism with respect to the coloration of the fourth antennal segment is documented and is substantially darker in adult males.

Graphical Abstract