Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) cause extensive tree mortality in conifer forests in the western United States. One method to protect conifers from bark beetles involves applications of liquid formulations of insecticides to the tree bole using high-pressure (e.g., ≥2,241 kPa) ground-based sprayers. Several active ingredients and products are effective when properly applied in accordance with the label. Researchers recently have developed more portable methods that inject small quantities of systemic insecticides directly into trees. The purpose of this review is to synthesize information on the efficacy, residual activity, and environmental safety of insecticides commonly used to protect conifers from bark beetles in the western United States so that informed, judicious decisions can be made about the use of these insecticides. This review serves as an update to “Advances in insecticide tools and tactics for protecting conifers from bark beetle attack in the western United States” (Fettig et al. 2013a) and focuses, where applicable, on relevant literature published since 2012.

Systena frontalis (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an insect pest of nursery production systems throughout the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast regions of the United States. The original scientific name was Galleruca frontalis F. before reclassification of the genus to Systena. There is minimal information in the scientific literature providing evidence that S. frontalis is native or an introduced species. In addition, the overwintering life stage is unknown. However, records indicate that S. frontalis is native to North America based on reports of this beetle being found in 5 provinces of Canada and 31 states in the United States. Records also indicate that the adult may be the overwintering life stage. Current management strategies implemented to reduce feeding damage caused by S. frontalis adults to container-grown nursery plants are associated with foliar spray applications of contact insecticides. However, applying contact insecticides to plant material in nursery production systems is labor intensive and not cost efficient. Application of systemic insecticides to the growing medium is a management strategy that nursery producers can use to reduce feeding damage caused by S. frontalis adults. Research demonstrates that the systemic insecticides dinotefuran and thiamethoxam protect container-grown nursery plants 45 d after application. Therefore, based on empirical, scientific-based research, applying systemic insecticides before S. frontalis adults are active provides practical and cost-effective plant protection from adult feeding damage during the growing season, thereby allowing nursery producers to grow, market, and sell container-grown nursery plants.

Bark beetles in the genus Tomicus (Latreille) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) are the most destructive pests of pine trees (Pinaceae) in the Yunnan region of China, causing significant damage to shoots and trunks, leading to extensive pine tree mortality. This has had a negative impact on the sustainabilityequally and healthy development of local forestry. Currently, the primary methods of managing Tomicus are through the removal of damaged wood and chemical control, which not only requires significant manpower, materials, and financial resources, but also poses a threat to the ecological stability of the environment and has led to the development of resistance to pesticides by the pests. This article introduces an overview of research in the field of chemical ecological management of Tomicus minor (Hartig), T. yunnanensis Kirkendall & Faccoli, and T. brevipilosus (Eggers) in Yunnan Province. This includes summaries of research on informational chemicals, artificial attractants, and volatiles from both host and nonhost plants. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of chemical ecological management methods for these beetles, thus assisting researchers and research institutions in their efforts to provide for sustainability of our environmental resources.

Thereuonema tuberculata (Wood) (Scutigeromorpha: Scutigeridae) is in exotic centipede found in the eastern and midwestern United States. I present new records for this centipede in Nebraska and the first report from Kansas. Bionomics observations on the food preferences, behavior, and endoparasites of centipedes are discussed and compared with those previously described from its native range in Asia.

In 2003–2004, a trapping study with multiple-funnel traps was conducted in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Louisiana to evaluate the effects of the bark beetle pheromones ipsenol, ipsdienol, and lanierone on catches of bark beetles and associated species. The results on bark and ambrosia beetles have been reported previously. Herein, we report on the responses of predators in the same study. Ipsenol and/or ipsdienol attracted several species of coleopteran predators: Enoclerus nigripes (Say) (Cleridae); Temnoscheila virescens (F.) (Trogossitidae); Lasconotus species (Zopheridae); Corticeus species (Tenebrionidae); and Platysoma attenuatum LeConte, Platysoma cylindricum (Paykull), and Platysoma parallelum (Say) (Histeridae). Lanierone was not attractive alone, nor did it enhance trap catches of any of these predator species. In Georgia, lanierone interrupted attraction of E. nigripes to traps baited with ipsenol. We highlight that the use of lanierone appears to be restricted to three Ips species in the subgenus Ips (Bonips). Further research on the general role of lanierone in the chemical ecology of bark beetles and predators should be conducted over a broad geographic range.

The present study focused on the molecular characterization and toxicity analysis of the Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) isolate T121 against Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Colonies of T121 growing on solid media were circular, with creamy white hues and raised centers. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of cuboidal and spherical crystals in liquid media. Polymerase chain reaction screening confirmed the presence of binary toxin vip1 and vip2 in addition to cry3Aa gene. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed four prominent bands at 74, 65, 48, and 31 kDa. In toxicity assays, T121 exhibited a median lethal concentration of 4.675 µg/ml against H. vigintioctopunctata. These findings demonstrate that the Bt isolate T121 offers promising prospects for development as a component of a sustainable pest management strategy against H. vigintioctopunctata and perhaps other coleopteran pests.

Light traps operated from May 2022 to August 2023 collected Oryctes beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) plantations in El Oued, Algeria. Morphological examination of 105 adult Oryctes specimens collected from the plantations revealed them to be Oryctes agamemnon arabicus (Fairmaire). Molecular identification, using the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) marker, confirmed those identifications. Notably, MASH analysis revealed differing degrees of genetic similarity, suggesting nuanced genetic diversity within the population. Utilizing Kraken2 software and the COI database from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, we also determined a high classification rate of approximately 99% of reads for all samples, reinforcing the identity of the specimens as O. agamemnon. These results help advance taxonomic knowledge of the insect fauna of the region as well as supporting environmental conservation initiatives.

The life history of the beet leafhopper, Neoaliturus (Circulifer) tenellus (Baker) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), was studied on weed hosts in southern New Mexico from January 2008 through December 2009. Weekly counts of leafhopper adults, nymphs, and eggs were taken from London rocket, Sisymbrium irio L., and kochia, Bassia scoparia (L.) A. J. Scott, at two field sites, and the relationship between leafhopper and phenology of the host plant was documented. The presence and abundance of the eggs, nymphs, and adults during the year suggest this species is univoltine in agricultural regions of southern New Mexico, with some evidence of a second generation. Changes in the timing of kochia emergence and the beet leafhopper flights were noted in 2016–2017 and again 2020–2023. Previous studies on voltinism are reviewed for this species, and the implications for management of the beet leafhopper are discussed.

Eggs of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected in a forested area near Tixkokob, Yucatan, Mexico. The time of juvenile development was monitored under semicontrolled conditions in a home environment in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. We also amplified and sequenced a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene from the field collected A. albopictus to evaluate its genetic similarities with populations from other regions. Over 7 mo, we monitored ovitraps and collected the eggs that were deposited. We transported and counted the eggs in the insectary then transported them to a home where we induced them to hatch and reared them to adulthood. We recorded the development of each immature stage and the daily temperature and relative humidity. We collected a total of 6,891 eggs; 25.67% of the larvae progressed to the pupal stage, and 17.44% reaching adulthood. Among the emerging adults, A. albopictus was the most abundant, accounting for 81.95%. The remaining adults were Aedes epactius Dyar & Knab, Aedes cozumelensis Diaz Nájera, Aedes scapularis (Rondani), and Aedes podographicus Ingår. The average development time from the first instar larval stage to adulthood of A. albopictus was 8.9 days at 29.67 ± 0.84°C and 71.66 ± 3% relative humidity. The A. albopictus specimens were most genetically similar to A. albopictus from the Republic of the Congo, India, Brazil, and China, indicating the wide global dispersion of this mosquito. These findings provide basic information on the effect of the temperature and humidity in a typical house in Merida on the A. albopictus life cycle.

Gamasellus onitiae sp. nov. (Ologamasidae: Mesostigmata) has been identified and described after being been collected from a dung beetle, Onitis philemon (Scarabaeidae, Coleoptera), in India. The specimen was found to be attached via a claw to the head region of the beetle. The mite–beetle association appeared to be phoretic. The distal setae, ventral setae, sternal shield length, and peritreme of G. onitiae sp. nov. differ from those of the closely related Gamasellus falciger (G. Canestrini & R. Canestrini), Gamasellus deepdelensis (Ryke), Gamasellus racovitzai (Jumeau and Usher), and Gamasellus bellavistae Emberson.

Utilizing essential oils extracted from specific herbal plants offers an intriguing alternative to synthetic insecticides, which are known for their harmful effects on both consumers and the environment, in preventing the devastation caused by the sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). This study aimed to explore the chemical composition and insecticidal activities of essential oil derived from Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill & L.M. Perry against adults of O. surinamensis. The research involved assessing the chemical compound of the essential oil from the flower buds of S. aromaticum, evaluating its fumigant toxicity and its repellent effect on O. surinamensis adults through vapor-phase testing conducted in laboratory conditions at 30°C ± 5°C and relative humidity of 70% ± 5%. The experimental design used a completely randomized design with four replications and six concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 µl/l of air). A total of nine chemical constituents was identified, with eugenol (90.15%) emerging as the primary compound in S. aromaticum essential oil. The fumigation toxicity (50% lethal concentration) assessments on adult O. surinamensis at 24, 48, and 72 h revealed values of 9.70, 6.58, and 4.37 µl/l of air, respectively. Over the 24- to 120-h test period, the application of S. aromaticum essential oil at 50 µl/l of air resulted in the highest adult mortality among O. surinamensis. Notably, at a concentration of 40 µl/l of air, the essential oil of S. aromaticum demonstrated a fumigation efficiency of 90–100% at both 24 and 72 h, showing no significant difference compared with a concentration 50 µl/l of air. These findings highlight the potential of S. aromaticum essential oil as an effective insecticide for controlling O. surinamensis populations in agricultural storage.