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Insects
Special Issues
Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control
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Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2018) | Viewed by 33753

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dean Ronald Paini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Risk Evaluation and Preparedness Program, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Canberra, Australia
Interests: invasive species modelling; transport networks; pest forecasting; species distribution modelling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive insects present significant challenges to researchers, industry, and government. They can have large impacts on agricultural, natural or human dominated environments. The challenges for researchers are many, but include being able to identify which insect species are most likely to invade a location or region, how will they get there, what will be their impact, what can we do to limit their likelihood of invading, if they invade, how can we limit their impact, and, if they are having an impact, how can we reduce it? In this special issue, we aim to include original research articles, opinions, and literature reviews in the areas of invasive insect modelling as well as the effective methods (both new and old) that can be used to limit their impact in either agricultural, urban, or natural systems.

Dr. Dean Ronald Paini
Guest Editor

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

  • invasive insect modelling
  • invasive insect control

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1573 KiB  
Article
Ability of Muscidifurax raptorellus and Other Parasitoids and Predators to Control Drosophila suzukii Populations in Raspberries in the Laboratory
by Phanie Bonneau, Justin Renkema, Valérie Fournier and Annabelle Firlej
Insects 2019, 10(3), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10030068 - 7 Mar 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5094
Abstract
Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest and economic threat to berry crops in Europe and the Americas. Current methods of control of this pest rely primarily on frequent applications of insecticides; therefore, there is a need for alternative control methods to reduce insecticide [...] Read more.
Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest and economic threat to berry crops in Europe and the Americas. Current methods of control of this pest rely primarily on frequent applications of insecticides; therefore, there is a need for alternative control methods to reduce insecticide reliance. In this study, we evaluated the biological control potential of three parasitoid wasps: Diglyphus isaea, Muscidifurax raptorellus and Pachycrepoideus vindemmiae, and four predators: Chrysoperla carnea, Dicyphus hesperus, Orius insidiosus and Podisus maculiventris. Experiments were conducted for 15 days under controlled conditions in experimental arenas with D. suzukii females and raspberries, allowing for all life stages of D. suzukii to be available to natural enemies. Results showed the first evidence of M. raptorellus’s ability to parasitize D. suzukii, resulting in a 40% reduction. Orius insidiosus, P. vindemmiae and C. carnea were also efficient, reducing D. suzukii numbers by 49%, 43% and 32%, respectively. Predator preferences for each D. suzukii life stage were assessed. The clutch size, sex ratio and adult size variability of D. suzukii pupal parasitoids were also evaluated. This study expands the list of species that can effectively parasitize D. suzukii and provides new insights into the biological responses of M. raptorellus to D. suzukii pupae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control)
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22 pages, 4385 KiB  
Article
Multi-Scenario Species Distribution Modeling
by Senait D. Senay and Susan P. Worner
Insects 2019, 10(3), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10030065 - 1 Mar 2019
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6599
Abstract
Correlative species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly being used to predict suitable insect habitats. There is also much criticism of prediction discrepancies among different SDMs for the same species and the lack of effective communication about SDM prediction uncertainty. In this paper, we [...] Read more.
Correlative species distribution models (SDMs) are increasingly being used to predict suitable insect habitats. There is also much criticism of prediction discrepancies among different SDMs for the same species and the lack of effective communication about SDM prediction uncertainty. In this paper, we undertook a factorial study to investigate the effects of various modeling components (species-training-datasets, predictor variables, dimension-reduction methods, and model types) on the accuracy of SDM predictions, with the aim of identifying sources of discrepancy and uncertainty. We found that model type was the major factor causing variation in species-distribution predictions among the various modeling components tested. We also found that different combinations of modeling components could significantly increase or decrease the performance of a model. This result indicated the importance of keeping modeling components constant for comparing a given SDM result. With all modeling components, constant, machine-learning models seem to outperform other model types. We also found that, on average, the Hierarchical Non-Linear Principal Components Analysis dimension-reduction method improved model performance more than other methods tested. We also found that the widely used confusion-matrix-based model-performance indices such as the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and Kappa do not necessarily help select the best model from a set of models if variation in performance is not large. To conclude, model result discrepancies do not necessarily suggest lack of robustness in correlative modeling as they can also occur due to inappropriate selection of modeling components. In addition, more research on model performance evaluation is required for developing robust and sensitive model evaluation methods. Undertaking multi-scenario species-distribution modeling, where possible, is likely to mitigate errors arising from inappropriate modeling components selection, and provide end users with better information on the resulting model prediction uncertainty. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control)
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16 pages, 2537 KiB  
Article
Invasion Dynamics of A Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, at Different Spatial Scales in France
by Elfie Perdereau, Guillaume Baudouin, Stéphanie Bankhead-Dronnet, Zoé Chevalier, Marie Zimmermann, Simon Dupont, Franck Dedeine and Anne-Geneviève Bagnères
Insects 2019, 10(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10010030 - 15 Jan 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4132
Abstract
Termites are social insects that can also be major pests. A well-known problem species is the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. It is invasive in France and is thought to have arrived from Louisiana during the 18th century. While the putative source of [...] Read more.
Termites are social insects that can also be major pests. A well-known problem species is the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes. It is invasive in France and is thought to have arrived from Louisiana during the 18th century. While the putative source of French populations has been identified, little is known about how the termite spread following its establishment. Here, we examined expansion patterns at different spatial scales in urban areas to clarify how R. flavipes spread in France. Based on our analyses of phylogeography and population genetics, results suggest a scenario of successive introductions into the Charente-Maritime region, on the Atlantic Coast. Two major expansion fronts formed: one that spread toward the northeast and the other toward the southeast. At the regional scale, different spatial and genetic distribution patterns were observed: there was heterogeneity in Île-de-France and aggregation in Centre-Val de Loire. At the local scale, we found that our three focal urban sites each formed a single large colony that contained several secondary reproductives. Our findings represent a second step in efforts to reconstruct termite’s invasion dynamics. They also highlight the role that may have been played by the French railway network in transporting termites over long distances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control)
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7 pages, 432 KiB  
Article
Distributions of Invasive Arthropods across Heterogeneous Urban Landscapes in Southern California: Aridity as a Key Component of Ecological Resistance
by Weston J. Staubus, Savanah Bird, Savannah Meadors and Wallace M. Meyer III
Insects 2019, 10(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10010029 - 15 Jan 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3635
Abstract
Urban systems often support large numbers of non-native species, but due to the heterogeneity of urban landscapes, species are not evenly distributed. Understanding the drivers of ecological resistance in urban landscapes may help to identify habitats that are most resistant to invasion, and [...] Read more.
Urban systems often support large numbers of non-native species, but due to the heterogeneity of urban landscapes, species are not evenly distributed. Understanding the drivers of ecological resistance in urban landscapes may help to identify habitats that are most resistant to invasion, and inform efforts to model and conserve native biodiversity. We used pitfall traps to survey non-native ground-dwelling arthropods in three adjacent, low-elevation habitat types in southern California: California sage scrub, non-native grassland, and suburban development. We found that non-native species were fewer and less widely distributed in the sage scrub and grassland habitats. Due to the proximity of our sites, differences in propagule pressure is an unlikely explanation. Instead, we suggest that the absence of water subsidies in the sage scrub and grassland habitats increases those habitats’ resistance to arthropod invasions. Comparisons to studies conducted at fragments closer to the coast provide further support for the relationship between aridity and invasibility in southern California. Our findings highlight that inland fragments are important for conserving native arthropod diversity, that models of non-native species distributions in arid and semi-arid urban systems should include aridity measures, and that reducing resource subsidies across the region is critical to mitigating spread of non-natives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control)
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9 pages, 543 KiB  
Article
Sublethal Effects of Imidacloprid on the Population Development of Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
by Yu Cao, Hong Yang, Jun Li, Chun Wang, Can Li and Yulin Gao
Insects 2019, 10(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10010003 - 1 Jan 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4128
Abstract
The Western flower thrips (WFT, Frankliniella occidentalis) is a global polyphagous pest that is often dependent on chemical control. Imidacloprid has been a commonly used chemical insecticide for effective control of WFT. Low concentrations of insecticides can have sublethal effects on individual [...] Read more.
The Western flower thrips (WFT, Frankliniella occidentalis) is a global polyphagous pest that is often dependent on chemical control. Imidacloprid has been a commonly used chemical insecticide for effective control of WFT. Low concentrations of insecticides can have sublethal effects on individual insects. However, no more information is known about the effects of exposure at low concentrations of imidacloprid on WFT. Here, we evaluated the effects of imidacloprid at sublethal concentrations on WFT population growth parameters. We first exposed the parental generation to LC10 (56.8 mg/L) and LC25 (79.2 mg/L) concentrations of imidacloprid. We then quantified various parameters related to the development, survival, and fecundity of the F1 generation also exposed to these same concentrations. The development time of the treatment groups exposed to imidacloprid was significantly shorter than the control group, and the net reproductive rate (R0) was significantly higher for treatment groups than for the control group. For both variables, there was no significant difference between LC10 and LC25 exposure. The generational survival rate was significantly higher for the control group, followed by the LC10 treatment group and then the LC25 treatment group. However, the opposite was true for fecundity and intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of WFT. In summary, exposure to low concentrations of imidacloprid was positive for the population development of WFT, which may contribute to the development of insecticide resistance and cause resurgence in WFT populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control)
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15 pages, 774 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of a Push-Pull System for the Management of Frankliniella Species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Tomato
by Kara Tyler-Julian, Joe Funderburk, Mrittunjai Srivastava, Steve Olson and Scott Adkins
Insects 2018, 9(4), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects9040187 - 7 Dec 2018
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3463
Abstract
A push-pull strategy for reducing populations of the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), F. bispinosa (Morgan) and F. tritici (Fitch) in tomato was evaluated. Push components consisted of ultraviolet (UV)-reflective mulch and foliar applications of kaolin and the pull component consisted of the companion [...] Read more.
A push-pull strategy for reducing populations of the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), F. bispinosa (Morgan) and F. tritici (Fitch) in tomato was evaluated. Push components consisted of ultraviolet (UV)-reflective mulch and foliar applications of kaolin and the pull component consisted of the companion plant Bidens alba (L.). Replicated field experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012. Adult and larval thrips were reduced by UV-reflective mulch during early and mid-flowering of tomato. Spray applications of kaolin were effective in reducing adult and larval thrips during early, mid- and late-flowering. The pull effects of the B. alba companion plants were additive and sometimes interactive with the push effects of UV-reflective mulch and kaolin in reducing the adult males of each thrips species and the females of F. bispinosa. The strategy was not effective in reducing the adult females of F. tritici and F. occidentalis. In addition to attracting the Frankliniella species adults, the companion plants were hosts for the thrips predator Orius insidiosus (Say). The companion plants combined with UV-reflective mulch and kaolin proved effective as a push-pull system for suppressing flower thrips, including F. occidentalis which is a serious pest of tomato worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control)
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Review

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14 pages, 1092 KiB  
Review
Reproductive Interference in an Introduced Bumblebee: Polyandry may Mitigate Negative Reproductive Impact
by Koji Tsuchida, Ayumi Yamaguchi, Yuya Kanbe and Koichi Goka
Insects 2019, 10(2), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects10020059 - 22 Feb 2019
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6049
Abstract
As a signature of reproductive interference (RI), we reviewed hybrid production in eusocial bumblebees in Japan, by comparing introduced Bombus terrestris with native B. ignitus in Honshu (main island of Japan) and with native B. hypocrita sapporoensis in Hokkaido (northern island of Japan). [...] Read more.
As a signature of reproductive interference (RI), we reviewed hybrid production in eusocial bumblebees in Japan, by comparing introduced Bombus terrestris with native B. ignitus in Honshu (main island of Japan) and with native B. hypocrita sapporoensis in Hokkaido (northern island of Japan). In this review, we present additional new data showing hybrid production between introduced B. terrestris and native B. ignitus in Honshu. Interspecific mating with introduced B. terrestris disrupts the reproduction of native B. h. sapporoensis and B. ignitus, which belong to the same subgenus of Bombus, through inviable egg production. This interference appears to facilitate species replacement on Hokkaido. Simultaneously, the mating frequencies for queens of B. terrestris have increased, suggesting that polyandry might evolve in response to the extent of RI between B. terrestris and B. h. sapporoensis. To suppress the population size of B. terrestris in Hokkaido, two methods have been proposed: the mass release of B. h. sapporoensis males to induce RI between the two species and the spraying of insecticides against foraging workers so that the workers will carry the insecticides back to their colonies, killing the immature bees within the colonies. A candidate insecticide type is insect growth regulator, which may disrupt larval development without any apparent effect on foraging workers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Insect Species Modelling and Control)
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