Abstract The small hive beetle ( Aethina tumida ) is an invasive pest of honeybee colonies and represents an increasing threat to apiculture outside its native sub-Saharan African range. Its establishment in Italy since 2014 has raised serious concerns for European beekeeping, particularly due to the limited availability of safe and effective chemical control options. RNA interference (RNAi) represents a promising species-specific alternative; however, oral delivery approaches in A. tumida have thus far produced inconsistent outcomes. In this study, we assessed lethal and sublethal effects of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting vacuolar ATPase subunit A (V-ATPase) in laboratory bioassays, using both ingestion and topical application as delivery routes. Ingestion of V-ATPase dsRNA significantly reduced larval growth and prolonged development, resulting in marked delays in adult emergence. Although overall mortality was low, both delivery methods consistently induced strong reductions in adult fecundity. Molecular analyses confirmed consistent knockdown of V-ATPase transcripts following dsRNA exposure. Importantly, bioinformatic analyses revealed no significant sequence homology between the dsRNA constructs and the Apis mellifera genome, and injection assays in honeybees showed no acute adverse effects on survival or feeding behavior. Collectively, these results provide the first consistent evidence of RNAi-induced molecular and phenotypic effects in A. tumida and underscore the potential of dsRNA-based bioinsecticides as a targeted and pollinator-safe strategy for managing this invasive pest.

Abstract In perennial agroecosystems, pest management outcomes are influenced by herbivore ecology and farming practices that shape arthropod activity. Yet, across many systems, information on taxonomic composition, spatiotemporal dynamics, and sensitivity of herbivore groups to crop management is sparse. In perennial tree crops, Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera) are abundant herbivores, notable for causing feeding damage and transmitting plant pathogens. Here, to strengthen the ecological understanding of Auchenorrhyncha activity in managed tree systems, we tracked the seasonal abundance and within-canopy distribution of Auchenorrhyncha in a mature pecan ( Carya illinoinensis ) orchard over two seasons and evaluated how these patterns interact with common canopy management interventions: hedge pruning and calendar-based pesticide applications of insecticide and fungicide. We collected 5882 Auchenorrhyncha, representing seven families. The assemblage was dominated by Cicadellidae, with over 95% of individuals belonging to the subfamily Typhlocybinae. Auchenorrhyncha abundance increased from June to September, and the lower canopy consistently harbored fewer insects. Calendar-based pesticide applications reduced community abundance, although effects varied across dates and canopy location, highlighting potential spatial constraints of pesticide use in tall trees. In contrast, hedge pruning significantly increased Auchenorrhyncha abundance, independently of pesticide use or canopy location. This study not only establishes a baseline for the taxa composition and spatiotemporal activity of Auchenorrhyncha in pecan systems but also advances our understanding of how common farming practices interact with herbivore community patterns. Together, these findings support the refinement of more ecologically grounded, spatially informed strategies for pest management in pecan and other tree-based systems.

Abstract Philaenus spumarius represents the primary vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa in Europe; hence, control measures are directed toward it, with a need for alternatives aligned with the agricultural sustainability criteria. Entomopathogenic ascomycetes (EA) show promise by infecting P. spumarius via endophytic colonization, though their sublethal effects on behavior remain understudied. This study assessed the effects of Metarhizium brunneum strain EAMa 01/58-Su on P. spumarius survival and feeding behavior, using the Electrical Penetration Graph technique. We provide the first evidence of endophytic colonization of olive plants by EA, occurring in both treated and distant untreated leaves. Foliar application enabled the dual establishment of M. brunneum as both epiphytic and endophytic, significantly disrupting vector feeding. Insects fed on M. brunneum sprayed leaves showed a more total and unsuccessful probing events, longer non-probing (np) periods, and reduced xylem contact (Xc) duration. Additionally, successful xylem probing (with xylem ingestion) was significantly delayed. Interestingly, a reduction in waveform N events and their duration in M. brunneum— non-sprayed leaves was detected, suggesting a systemic effect of the fungal colonization on the plant preference by the vector that could ultimately disrupt Xf retention mechanisms. In contrast, the drench application of M. brunneum in the olive saplings did not result in endophytic colonization or significant effects on the insect behavior compared with control plants. These findings provide the basis for future experiments on Xf transmission and support the potential of M. brunneum as a biocontrol agent beyond its conventional use against vector populations on cover crops.

Abstract Growing in popularity as the demand for sustainable food production increases is aquaponics, a symbiotic hybrid of hydroponics and aquaculture. Nonetheless, long-term viability depends on effective and environmentally conscious control of pests like weeds, illnesses, and insects. This review highlights new research on the production and application of biopesticides in aquaponics systems, which represents a significant breakthrough in comprehensive pest management. We highlight the limitations of biopesticide use by assessing production processes, providing a comprehensive analysis of the most effective types of biopesticides for a variety of pests, and recommending effective application methods. Our goal is to address significant issues and offer fresh perspectives in order to offer practical guidance to aquaponic practitioners. Eventually, this encourages the development of strong and environmentally conscious aquaponic systems, ensuring comprehensive and efficient pest control while maintaining ecological equilibrium.

Abstract Bark beetles are commonly associated with several fungal symbionts that play mutualistic, commensal or pathogenic ecological roles. In recent decades, reports of serious damage caused by both native and invasive bark beetle species, and the pathogenic fungi they vector, are rapidly increasing worldwide. In particular, new bark beetle–fungus associations are being reported in different contexts, e.g., forests, ornamental plant nurseries, urban areas and orchards. Due to heavy global trade and suitable environmental conditions for alien beetle establishment, the Mediterranean region has recently been invaded by bark beetle species originating from Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. Scolytus amygdali , S. rugulosus , S. mali , Cryphalus dilutus , Hylesinus vestitus , and Phloeotribus scaraboides are among the common bark beetles whose infestations are threatening cultivated trees in the Mediterranean area. However, their associations with symbiotic fungi and/or phytopathogenic fungi have been rarely investigated. This literature review aims to summarize knowledge on these species, focusing on the description of their fungal symbionts and also on their ecological roles. Understanding these associations of bark beetles with phytopathogenic fungi is the first step toward developing sustainable management strategies to reduce both beetle infestations and the spread of fungal infections.

Abstract The spatial proximity of urban settlements to agricultural lands has been linked to increased pest pressure in crop fields. However, it remains unclear which features of urban landscapes contribute most to pest persistence and spillover. We integrated nationwide pest monitoring data (2900 traps, 2017–2023) with high-resolution spatial layers of urban land cover to examine how settlement characteristics influence medfly ( Ceratitis capitata ) abundance in adjacent citrus orchards. Using an ecoinformatics approach, we combined geospatial analysis, remote sensing data, and spatiotemporal generalized additive models to assess the effects of proximity to settlements, seasonal variation, and urban landscape features, including vegetation and built-up cover, on pest abundance. Vegetation cover in settlements was positively linked to medfly abundance at close distances, supporting the hypothesis that untended urban greenery sustains pest populations, while low building cover and high impervious cover were also associated with elevated medfly levels. These findings highlight the importance of urban land cover structure in shaping pest dynamics at the urban-agricultural interface and underscore the value of high-resolution spatial data for informing area-wide pest management strategies.

Abstract Intentional introductions of the egg parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) have been carried out in Italy since 2020 for the control of the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), with releases conducted along ecological corridors of untreated vegetation. These introductions took place in an area where unintentionally introduced populations of Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were already present and adventive populations of T. japonicus were just beginning to establish. In this study, we investigated whether T. japonicus releases contributed to the impact of egg parasitism on H. halys populations, and what the total impact of egg parasitism on pest population growth was over four growing seasons (2020–2023) in ten kiwifruit orchards in Italy. Although higher parasitism by T. japonicus was observed in orchards adjacent to release sites, the total impact of egg parasitism on H. halys remained similar over the four years because an increasing prevalence of T. japonicus over the study period was strongly associated with a corresponding decrease in egg parasitism by T. mitsukurii . Using a parameterized stage-structured matrix model, we estimate that the joint action of T. mitsukurii and T. japonicus (average total egg parasitism: 33–39%) prevented an expected 18–29% increase in net reproductive rate ( R 0 ) of H. halys over the four years of the study. This analysis suggests that irrespective of year-to-year temperature variation favoring pest reproduction and the displacement of T. mitsukurii by T. japonicus (hastened by releases), egg parasitism has been playing an important and consistent role in the biological control of H. halys .

Abstract Tuta absoluta is an invasive insect pest and major threat to global tomato production, as current management approaches fail to lower its incidence below the targeted economic threshold. While microbe-induced resistance (microbe-IR) is widely documented under controlled conditions, its implementation in the field is challenging due to context-dependency and our limited knowledge on the underlying mechanisms. We recently showed that different fungal bioinoculants reduced the natural incidence of T. absoluta as part of Integrated Pest Management under real production conditions. Here we focus on the underlying mechanisms studying the ability of these fungi to boost tomato direct defenses against the pest and exploring the metabolic changes involved. Trichoderma afroharzianum , Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis consistently enhanced tomato resistance to T. absoluta across different experimental conditions. Untargeted metabolomics revealed a metabolic reprogramming in leaves of the inoculated plants and primed responses to the attacker associated to the microbe-IR phenotype. Upon herbivory, fungal-inoculated plants showed a limited activation of the carbohydrate and vitamin metabolism, both important for insect nutrition, and an increase of the phenylpropanoid metabolism related to defense. We identified metabolites whose concentrations negatively correlate with T. absoluta fitness and show a primed accumulation in resistant plants. Among them, azelaic acid and feruloylputrescine showed anti-herbivore activity, inhibiting the development of the leaf miner when exogenously applied to tomato plants. The results demonstrate that root-colonizing fungi prime the plant’s ability to activate its secondary metabolism in response to herbivory, triggering microbe-IR that can effectively contribute to control important pests as T. absoluta .