Insect farming offers a promising avenue for sustainable food systems, especially when integrated with waste management strategies. Spodoptera littoralis, a destructive agricultural pest known for its generalist nature, holds potential beyond its pest status. This study investigates its role within a circular bioeconomy model that utilizes underused local resources as substrates to transform agricultural waste into valuable nutritional outputs. Colonies of S. littoralis were maintained under laboratory conditions on two alternative diets, dandelion leaves and a beetroot–potato mix, alongside a standard artificial diet as a benchmark. Dandelion leaves were selected for their abundance, high nutritional value, and minimal environmental footprint. The beetroot–potato mix consisted of cosmetically imperfect, unspoiled vegetables discarded by local markets. This approach aimed to identify a waste stream that does not qualify as true waste but remains outside larger supply chains, ensuring minimal competition with other bioeconomies. While prior work has established the feasibility of these diets in supporting key life history traits, this study shows their preliminary nutritional adequacy through proximate analysis. Caterpillars fed with dandelion contained 46.69 g protein and 14.83 g fat per 100 g, while the beetroot–potato mix offered 31.87 g protein and 15.61 g fat per 100 g, which aligns with nutritional profiles typical for noctuid polyphagous species. Beyond protein production, the go-to focus in the edible insect sector, lepidopteran insects are valued for their bioactive compounds with potential applications in health and industry. Future research into the chemical composition of larvae reared on such substrates could reposition S. littoralis as a versatile bioconverter within circular bioeconomy frameworks.

Urban environments can provide essential resources for food, nesting and hibernation for insects. Green spaces in cities often exhibit higher flower diversity and lower pesticide levels compared to these properties in rural areas. Although gardens are typically designed for aesthetic purposes, growing interest in their benefits for wildlife has driven research on pollinators' attraction to plants, with the aim of enhancing urban biodiversity.

To our knowledge, no published studies have evaluated insects' attraction to garden plants in the Iberian Peninsula. This study aimed to identify the garden plants and shrubs most suitable for supporting insects in southeastern Spain. Weekly observations were conducted of flowering plants in four urban gardens in Murcia between mid-April and mid-May 2024. For each plant and shrub species, two patches of a similar size were monitored for two minutes each. Insect visitors were recorded and classified as “honey bees”, “wild bees”, “syrphids”, “non-syrphid flies”, or “others.”

A total of 31 plant and shrub species were sampled, of which only 8 were native to the Iberian Peninsula. No significant difference was found in the number of insects attracted to native versus non-native plants. Lavandula dentata, Salvia officinalis, Zygophyllum fabago, Phlomis purpurea and Pyracantha coccinea attracted the highest numbers of insects. These findings provide practical recommendations for promoting insect-friendly gardening in a semi-arid Mediterranean region, highlighting the potential of urban gardens to support insect biodiversity.

The lethal effects of Detech®, lemon peel, and their mixture were tested against the granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius L.) on wheat grains. For the single-dose test, 2000 ppm of Detech®, lemon peel, and a 50% (w/w) mixture of lemon peel and Detech® were applied to 10 g of wheat grains. Ten granary weevils were added to each sample under controlled conditions of 27±2°C and 60% relative humidity. The samples were then placed in complete darkness for a period of seven days, allowing the granary weevils to feed and breed without any external influences. At the end of the incubation period, the lemon peel + Detech® mixture demonstrated almost 100% mortality rate, which was comparable to that of the Detech® alone treatment. Additionally, a dose–response study was conducted using the lemon peel + Detech® mixture to determine lethal concentration values (LC₁₀, LC₃₀, LC₅₀, and LC₉₀). The calculated LC₁₀, LC₃₀, LC₅₀, and LC₉₀ were 200 ppm, 600 ppm, 1400 ppm, and 9100 ppm, respectively. These results revealed a very high mortality rate in both single-dose and dose–response tests, highlighting the notable toxicity of the lemon peel + Detech® mixture against Sitophilus granarius adults. Consequently, this study supports the development of environmentally sustainable pest control strategies in grain storage systems, providing alternative solutions for sustainable agriculture.

The ecological consequences of invasive plant species extend beyond the displacement of native flora, influencing interspecies interactions and reshaping community dynamics. Among these interactions, the associations between herbivorous insects and their host plants are understudied. This study focuses on Oecanthus indicus, a native tree cricket species, to examine how host plant associations are affected by the introduction of invasive plants. Using a combination of olfactory tube assays and performance trials, we investigated the behavioral preferences and physiological outcomes of Oecanthus when exposed to native and invasive plant species. Olfactory assays revealed a notable preference for the volatile emissions of invasive plants, suggesting that these plants may emit stronger or chemically distinct cues that attract the crickets. However, performance trials, which evaluated fitness outcomes such as survival, growth rates, and reproductive success, showed that this attraction does not consistently translate into enhanced fitness. This disconnect suggests that invasive plants could function as ecological traps, luring native herbivores without supporting their long-term viability. Our findings emphasize the complex interplay between behavioral attraction and physiological adaptation, highlighting how generalist herbivores like Oecanthus indicus navigate the altered host plant landscape introduced by biological invasions. While generalists are often presumed to have greater adaptive flexibility, our results reveal significant ecological trade-offs, underscoring the challenges these species face in balancing immediate preferences with long-term fitness. By exploring the mechanisms underpinning host plant shifts, this study contributes to a broader understanding of how invasive plants reshape insect–plant interactions. These insights are crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management, as they underscore the potential for invasive species to disrupt ecological networks and drive unintended consequences for native insect populations. Our work highlights integrative approaches that incorporate chemical ecology, behavioral biology, and conservation strategies to mitigate the cascading impacts of plant invasions on native insect herbivores.

The acorn moth, Blastobasis glandulella (Riley, 1871) (Lepidoptera: Blastobasidae) is native to the USA. It was recorded in Europe at the beginning of the 1980s and in western Ukraine in 2009 as Blastobasis huemeri. This insect was often found in acorns already infested by weevils or damaged by rodents and was not considered a serious pest. In 2021, a large population of the acorn moth was recorded in oak plantations in Poland. Considering this information, we asked the foresters and amateurs to send samples of acorns, chestnuts, walnuts, and other hard-shelled fruits from various regions to the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry & Forest Melioration to study the host range, prevalence, rate of infestation, phenology of acorn moth, and its associations with other fruit pests. The fruits collected on different dates and places were dissected. Part of the samples were reared in the laboratory to obtain pupae and adults. The presence of B. glandulella was confirmed in 14 regions of Ukraine. It infests the fruits of Quercus sp., Aesculus sp., and Juglans sp. The infestation rate depends on the region, fruit crop, weather, and forest structure and exceeds 60 % of fruits in some samples. The development of all stages is very extended: the moths swarm from April to mid-September. The early swarming moths can be the first invaders in developing fruits. After consuming the cotyledons, the larva crawls to another fruit in the crown or on the forest litter, sometimes doing it several times before pupation. In August, the larva of B. glandulella may be found in prematurely fallen fruits with other carpophagous insects, their excrements, or molting skins. The larva of the last instar overwinters. In spring depending on the instar, it crawls to another fruit or pupates inside or outside the fruit, or on the forest litter.

Insects have played an important role in an understanding of the fossil records of plants, revealing insights into their past ecological interactions (Labandeira et al., 2001; Hulcr et al., 2015). This case study presents the results of the examination of a unique conifer xylite specimen from the Baltic amber-bearing deposits, showing evidence of insect behaviour and its connection to resin production. The specimen contains a system of cylindrical borings, likely created by xylophagous beetles, characterised by longitudinal tunnels connected by cross tunnels and chambers. These structures, filled with a fossilised resin that preserves fungal hyphae and singular coprolites, indicate a complex interaction between plants, insects, and fungi (Franceschi et al., 2005; Nagy et al., 2022).

Specimen analysis included imaging using stereoscopic microscopy, UV light photography, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to confirm the resin as succinite, the most abundant fossil resin of Baltic amber deposits (Kosmowska-Ceranowicz, 2015). The results suggest that the borings represent insect habitation and feeding traces, which triggered a plant defense mechanism involving extensive resin production. This finding suggests that wood-boring insects could have had a significant impact on resin secretion and amber formation (Cognato & Grimaldi, 2009).

This study provides new insights into the ichnotaxonomy of trace fossils in xylic substrates and the paleoecology of amber-producing forests. The research further highlights lignite deposits as valuable data sources on fossil resin preservation and taphonomy.

Our study explores the diversity and ecological roles of arthropods and acariens in the nests of the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) at Lac Tonga, El Kala National Park, northeastern Algeria. The aim is to identify the insect and mite species associated with these nests, assess their abundance, and investigate their ecological interactions with the host species.

Methodology

This research was carried out over two years (2015-2016), involving the examination of 21 nests located within the Lac Tonga region. Nests were chosen based on their accessibility and proximity to water. Arthropod specimens were collected using hand collection, and Berlese funnels were used to extract mites. The specimens were sorted and identified to the species level using taxonomic keys, with the insects categorized into five orders, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Psocoptera, Hemiptera, and Diptera, and the mites classified into three orders, Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes, and Trombidiformes. The species abundance was recorded, and ecological interactions were analyzed based on trophic roles, including detritivores, predators, and ectoparasites. This study also considered factors such as nest location, the surrounding vegetation, and the presence of other bird species. A statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the relationship between these variables and arthropod diversity.

Results and Discussion

This study identified 11 insect species from five orders and 12 mite species from three orders across the 21 nests. Key species included Homalota serrata (Staphylinidae), the Myzus sp. (Aphididae), and Ceratophysella pratorum (Collembola), with the Galumna sp. being the most abundant mite species. The arthropod community was influenced by the nest location, the vegetation type, and the presence of other bird species. The arthropods performed various ecological roles, from detritivores and predators to ectoparasites, which could affect the nesting environment and the health of ducklings.

This research offers important insights into the ecological dynamics within bird nests and emphasizes the significance of arthropod communities in conservation efforts for bird species and their habitats.

Scorpionflies (Mecoptera) represent a small insect order, comprising three families in Europe: Bittacidae, Boreidae, and Panorpidae. Bittacidae contain only two rare species in Europe. The first one, Bittacus italicus (Müller, 1766), is considered extinct in Bulgaria, because it has not been recorded since 1980 according to the Bulgarian Red List, and only has three Balkan records after 1950 according to Devetak et al. (2022). Bittacus hageni Brauer, 1860, is quite rare in the territory of the Balkan peninsula, with only two recent records, both in the Northwest (Croatia and Bosnja and Herzegovina, respectively). Our record from Burgas district, Rezovo village (SE Bulgaria), is the first one from Bulgaria, the third one for the Balkans, and the southeasternmost one. This considerably expands its known range and highlights the need for surveying this rare genus in the periphery of its range.

From the family Panorpidae, there are eight species so far reported from Bulgaria (one of which has two subspecies), all in the genus Panorpa. Three of these species can be defined as common: P. germanica Linnaeus, 1758, P. hybrida MacLachlan, 1882, and P. vulgaris Imhoff & Labram, 1845. Panorpa alpina Rambur, 1842 is one of the rarest species, with only one report from Bulgaria with no exact location. The present report confirms the first exact locations for P. alpina in several closely situated localities in the Vitosha Mts ( subalpine zone and beech). It is a notoriously variable species which caused previous authors to describe multiple species, most of which have been synonymized since. The structure of the Balkan populations has been poorly studied, with Lauterbach (1972) describing one "species" under the name of P. plitvicensis. The Bulgarian individuals do not conform to this morphotype. This study is part of a project under grant contract number KP-06-N61/6 – 14.12.2022.

The yellow sugarcane aphid (YSA) (Sipha flava) has become a threat to sugarcane production worldwide because of its pre-harvest damage, which results in huge economic losses. A systematic literature search was conducted to understand the HPR of sugarcane to YSA usingGoogle Scholar (https://scholar.google.com), SCOPUS (https://www.scopus.com), Web of Science (https://www.webofknowledge.com), and Sciencedirect (https://sciencedirect.com), and we selected 992 papers from the year 1884 up to 2023. The hunt for studies commenced with1884, the year Forbes identified YSA, in order to fully capitalize on the necessity of this investigation. The search parameters included the following terms ("yellow sugarcane aphid” OR “Sipha flava”) AND (“Host plant resistance mechanism”) AND (“sugarcane” OR “Saccharum officinarum"). Book chapters, reviews, and meta-analyses were not included in the analyses. Other prerequisites for suitability for inclusion in the review were studies including sugarcane aphid (SCA) and YSA studies involving cereal grasses or sugarcane. Seventy-eight articles were included in this study. This study aimed to assemble research on S. flava to address the following four objectives: (i) leaf pubescence (trichomes) that mediates resistance to YSA in sugarcane varieties; (ii) biochemical properties affected by S. flava in sugarcane; (iii) physiological responses of sugarcane to S. flava herbivory; and (iv) phytochemical profiling of metabolites that confer resistance to S. flava in sugarcane. Most of the work was biased towards other aphid species, insect arthropods, and crops other than S. flava in sugarcane. Using YSA-resistant sugarcane varieties in combination with other management practices is a promising management strategy for S. flava control. The lack of adequate research on sugarcane HPR in response to YSA is a result of complex in screening for resistance, and farmers focus on other control methods. Therefore, there is need for policies that support the incorporation of HPR into existing Integrated YSA management strategies.

Dociostaurus brevicollis is associated with the dry grasslands of Eurasia. In Asia, it is distributed from the Ural Mts. to the eastern parts of Mongolia and from the southern edges of the forests up to the southern boundaries of the semi-deserts. The species is often extremely abundant and may be an important pest. The goal of this presentation is to discuss some possible shifts in D. brevicollis distribution relative to global warming and local ecosystem transformations.

Data on species distribution were collected in 1976-2024. Data from some publications and collections were used. Localities with the relevant geographic coordinates (229) were included in the database. The species distribution models were generated on the basis of two different approaches (maximum entropy and ellipsoid ecological niches). Actual and predicted bioclimatic variables were used for the contemporary period and the periods 2021-2040 and 2041-2060 (the CNRM-ESM2-1 global model and the 3-7.0 Shared Socioeconomic Pathway).

In the steppes of West Siberia, the species' abundance is usually high, sometimes extreme. The comparative analysis of species distribution until 1960 and from 1961 onwards shows no evident shifts with the exception of the right (eastern) side of the Ob River, where the species began to spread in the 1970s. The analysis of the models showed that the areas with optimal conditions may remain almost the same until the middle of the 21^st century, but the levels of suitability will slightly decrease and some new areas with applicable environments will appear in the southern parts of Central Siberia. The distribution patterns of D. brevicollis and their possible changes in the future look similar to those of some other abundant steppe grasshoppers.

This study was financially supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, 22-66-00031 (https://rscf.ru/en/project/22-66-00031).