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Insects
Special Issues
Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management
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Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 2301

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Carmelo Rapisarda

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95131 Sicily, Italy
Interests: applied entomology; sap-sucking insects; agricultural and forest ecosystems; biological and integrated pest management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alessia Farina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: insect vectors; host plants; phytopathogenic microorganisms; natural enemies interactions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many of the phytosanitary problems afflicting agricultural crops worldwide, as well as forest environments and ornamental productions, derive from phytopathogenic agents transmitted by insects belonging to various groups, among which Hemiptera and Thysanoptera are the dominant ones. Their control on cultivated plants is often problematic, and the severity of damage is increased by environmental degradation, biodiversity disruption of arthropods, climate change, etc., factors which may cause a higher virulence of plant pathogens and lower resistance of plants. Surely, an improved biological knowledge of these vector insects, with particular reference not only to their reproductive and trophic behavior but also to their relationships with the environment, spreading capacity, and interactions with the host plants, will inspire the development of new and more effective control methods of both the insects and the diseases they spread.

This Special Issue aims to collect recent findings on the phenology, ecology, interactions with host plants and endosymbiotic microorganisms, trophic behavior, pathogens transmission, climate change adaptation, natural control factors, and integrated management possibilities of insect vectors, as well as data that may be useful in developing strategies for limiting the spread and controlling the infestations of these insects, thus reducing the damage caused by the phytopathogenic agents they transmit.

Prof. Dr. Carmelo Rapisarda
Dr. Alessia Farina
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • characterization
  • phenology
  • ecology and reproductive biology
  • trophic behavior
  • transmission mechanisms
  • multi-trophic interactions
  • climate change impact
  • integrated pest and disease management

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 1959 KiB  
Article
Aphidius colemani Behavior Changes Depending on Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Plants Infected with Viruses with Different Modes of Transmission
by Gemma Clemente-Orta, Ángel Cabello, Elisa Garzo, Aranzazu Moreno and Alberto Fereres
Insects 2024, 15(2), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020092 - 29 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1100
Abstract
Natural enemies are an additional component that may interact directly with the plant–virus–vector association, affecting viral dispersion. In our study, we conducted olfactometry assays to explore how single and mixed infections with CMV or/and CABYV modify the attractiveness of A. colemani to aphid-free [...] Read more.
Natural enemies are an additional component that may interact directly with the plant–virus–vector association, affecting viral dispersion. In our study, we conducted olfactometry assays to explore how single and mixed infections with CMV or/and CABYV modify the attractiveness of A. colemani to aphid-free and aphid-infested melon plants using two melon genotypes. Subsequently, we investigated the influence of CABYV-infected plants infested by A. gossypii on the parasitism rate and emergence of A. colemani in a dual-choice assay under greenhouse conditions. Our study demonstrates that males showed no preference for either infected or non-infected plants. Female parasitoids exhibit a preference for volatiles emitted by CMV and mixed-infected melon plants over clean air but not over mock-inoculated plants, suggesting a response influenced by plant genotype. Female parasitoid responses to CABYV and its interactions with aphids revealed a preference for mock-inoculated plants over CABYV-infected plants and a parasitism rate slightly higher (7.12%) on non-infected plants. Our study revealed that (1) parasitoids may reject olfactory cues from CABYV-infected plants, potentially interfering with the plant’s “cry for help” response; (2) in the case of CMV, whether in single or mixed infections, non-infected plants are as attractive as infected ones to parasitoids. Our findings suggest that persistent viruses manipulate aphid parasitoid behavior to their advantage, promoting virus disease in melon crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management)
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11 pages, 501 KiB  
Article
The African Psyllid Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (1918) Is Very Sensitive to Low Relative Humidity and High Temperatures
by Rosa Pérez-Otero, Raquel Pérez-Turco, Joana Neto and Alberto Fereres
Insects 2024, 15(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010062 - 16 Jan 2024
Viewed by 857
Abstract
The African citrus psyllid, Trioza erytreae, is one of the two vectors of Huanglongbing, the most serious citrus disease worldwide. The first detection of T. erytreae in the European mainland was on the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in 2014. Since then, the [...] Read more.
The African citrus psyllid, Trioza erytreae, is one of the two vectors of Huanglongbing, the most serious citrus disease worldwide. The first detection of T. erytreae in the European mainland was on the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in 2014. Since then, the pest has spread throughout northern Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, País Vasco) and along the western Atlantic coast of Portugal (from the Douro e Minho region to the Algarve). We conducted a series of laboratory experiments on lemon plants at different temperatures (from 8 to 34 °C) and humidity conditions (from 40 to 90%) to find out the influence of extreme temperatures and relative humidities (RHs) on the mortality, development and reproduction of T. erytreae. Our results show that temperatures above 30 °C and below 10 °C are very detrimental for nymphal development and nymphs were unable to reach the adult stage. Furthermore, eggs were unable to hatch under temperatures above 33 °C and below 8 °C. Adult mortality was highest at 34 °C and killed more than 50% of the population. We also found that relative humidity is crucial for the development and survival of T. erytreae. Nymphs were unable to reach the adult stage at an RH of 90% and 40%. Also, fecundity was significantly reduced at 90 and 40% RH, and fertility was lowest at 40% RH. Nymphal mortality was highest at an RH of 40%, which was the most detrimental humidity among all tested for the survival and development of T. erytreae. Our work concludes that T. erytreae establishment and spread will be maximum in regions with a temperate and humid climate, being rare in regions where dry and hot weather conditions predominate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insects Vectors of Phytopathogenic Agents: Biology, Host-Plant Interactions, and Management)
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