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Microplastics (MPs) are becoming increasingly common in freshwater ecosystems. Rotifers may involuntarily ingest MPs through non-selective filtration, thus causing non-real satiety, leading to adverse effects on their demography. Here, we evaluated the acute and chronic effects of MPs (30 µm) on two successive generations of Brachionus calyciflorus s.s. at 20 and 25 °C. Demographic variables and ingestion rates were compared in the absence and presence of microplastics (550 spheres mL-1). For the life table experiments, cohorts of twenty neonates were introduced into 20 mL medium with four replicates per treatment. Ingestion rates of the rotifer were tested at both test temperatures in the absence and presence of the microplastics in 20 mL containers with 1 ind. mL-1 per container. The rotifer population growth rates ranged from 0.55 to 1.05 d-1 depending on the treatment. MPs decreased the fecundity by 20-24 %. The average lifespan of rotifers exposed to MPs in the F0 generation was lower than that in the F1 generation at both temperatures, indicating that pre-exposure of mothers may offer some protection to the offspring. The population growth rate was higher at 25 °C. The ingestion rates were significantly lower in the presence of the microplastics. Our observations indicated that this strain of B. calyciflorus was better adapted to 20 °C; microplastics and higher test temperature resulted in a pronounced changes in the demographic variables of the rotifer.

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Exploring the impact of low-temperature storage on the fitness of natural enemy insects is crucial for practical field applications because this parameter directly influences their potential for population growth and effective pest control. Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is widely used in biological pest control. This study aimed to identify optimal storage stages, temperatures, and durations for E. furcellata to produce high-quality individuals for practical use. The quality of E. furcellata after storage was evaluated by assessing parameters such as predatory capacity and fecundity, along with age-stage, two-sex life table. The findings revealed that the adult stage was the optimal storage form for E. furcellata, and the most favorable temperature for storage was 12 °C. Adult females had the highest predatory ability after 15 days of storage at 12 °C. Although survival rates declined with prolonged storage, they remained above 50% after 30 days, and longevity, fecundity, and predatory capacity of surviving individuals remained comparable to those of individuals in the control group (rearing at a constant temperature of 26 °C without low-temperature storage). The effects of low-temperature storage extended to the F1 generation of E. furcellata, which exhibited maximum mean longevity, fecundity, net reproductive rate, and mean generation time as well as fastest population growth after 30 days of storage at 12 °C. These results can be used to achieve optimal low-temperature storage conditions for E. furcellata production, particularly for extending its shelf life.

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To determine the optimal temperature range for the development and reproduction of three spider mites (Eotetranychus sexmaculatus, Eotetranychus orientalis, and Oligonychus biharensis), this study investigated their developmental period, survival rate, lifespan, and reproduction under five temperatures, 21, 24, 27, 30, and 33°C, to predict and control in the field. With the gathered data, a two-sex life table was constructed for each of them. The results revealed that as the temperature increased, both O. biharensis and E. orientalis displayed a gradual reduction in their generation period. Furthermore, an inverse relationship was observed between lifespan and temperature for all three spider mite species. When examining the survival rates at varying temperatures, E. sexmaculatus exhibited the highest rate (98%) at 33°C, while E. orientalis and O. biharensis demonstrated their highest survival rates at 24°C, reaching 90% and 100% respectively. Regarding reproduction, O. biharensis displayed the highest oviposition rates at 30°C with an average of 17.45 eggs per individual. Conversely, E. sexmaculatus and E. orientalis exhibited the highest oviposition rates at 33°C, averaging at 15.22 and 21.38 eggs per individual respectively. Significantly higher intrinsic growth rates were observed for O. biharensis and E. orientalis at 33°C, with rates of 0.22 and 0.26 respectively. In contrast, E. sexmaculatus demonstrated the highest intrinsic growth rate at 27°C. The temperature of 27°C was more suitable for the growth of the E. sexmaculatus, while 33°C was the optimal temperature for the E. orientalis and O. biharensis. The current findings provide valuable guidance for the control and prevention of these three spider mites.

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Environmental factors, such as photoperiod can play an important role in the development and performance of predatory mites. The influence of five photoperiod regimes (0: 24, 8: 16, 12: 12, 16: 8, and 24: 0 h; Light: Dark) on the population parameters of the predatory mites, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot and Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) was studied under the laboratory conditions at 25 °C and 25 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% RH. Regarding A. swirskii, the longest and shortest total pre-adult and total preoviposition periods (TPOP) were in the photoperiod of 12 L:12D and 16 L:8D, respectively. The oviposition days, adult longevity, total life span, fecundity, gross reproductive rate (GRR), and net reproductive rate (R0) of the predator had no significant difference in all photoperiods tested. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) in 16 L:8D photoperiod had no significant difference with the other photoperiods tested except 12 L:12D. Regarding N. cucumeris, the shortest total pre-adult and TPOP were in full darkness. The oviposition days and fecundity were significantly higher in 16 L:8D than the others. The value of R0 in 16 L:8D was significantly higher than 8 L:16D. The highest values of the parameters r and λ were observed in full darkness, which had no significant difference with 16 L:8D and 24 L:0D. According to the results, the photoperiod regime had a more significant influence in terms of development and reproduction on N. cucumeris than A. swirskii, and 16:8 (L: D) h photoperiod was recognized as the proper regime for their rearing.

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Wolbachia, a prevalent intracellular symbiotic bacterium in insects, plays a significant role in insect biology. Ectropis grisescens (Warren; Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is a devastating chewing pest distributed in tea plantations throughout China. However, it is unclear how Wolbachia titers affect the fitness and reproduction of E. grisescens. In this study, the impacts of 3 different infection lines, naturally Wolbachia-infected, Wolbachia-uninfected, and Wolbachia transinfected, regarding the life history traits of E. grisescens, were evaluated using the age-stage, 2-sex life table. Wolbachia infection significantly shortened preadult duration and preoviposition periods and notably increased the fecundity, net reproductive rate, and finite rate of increase. Meanwhile, population projection indicated that E. grisescens population size with Wolbachia infection can increase faster than without. These results indicate that Wolbachia plays a regulatory role in the fitness of E. grisescens. It is also noted that the life history parameters of E. grisescens may positively correlate with Wolbachia titers. These findings could aid in pest management in tea gardens.

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The stink bugs Acrosternum arabicum Wagner and Brachynema germari Kolenati (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) damage developing pistachio nuts in Iran. Ooencyrtus egeria Huang and Noyes (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizes eggs of both species, alternating between them seasonally. We compared the biological and life history attributes of O. egeria reared for 3 generations on each host species with those that had been transferred to the alternate host for 2 generations. We also tested female responses to host egg density. Eggs of B. germari were parasitized at higher rates and yielded faster wasp development, heavier female progeny with greater fecundity, and a more female-biased sex ratio, than eggs of A. arabicum. Rearing on A. arabicum did not diminish wasp fitness on B. germari, and the F1 progeny of wasps switched to A. arabicum inherited some beneficial parental effects from rearing on B. germari. Regardless of host species, females parasitized fewer eggs in 8 h as density increased from 10 to 30 eggs, but progeny sex ratio (% female) increased. The anomalous response to host density appears to arise from a combination of behavioral and egg load constraints. Females mature only 10-12 eggs per day. Carefully inspect egg clusters before selecting the most suitable eggs for oviposition, a more time-consuming process for large clusters. Our results indicate that rearing O. egeria on eggs of A. arabicum, which are more convenient and cost-effective to produce than those of B. germari, will not diminish its performance on B. germari following augmentative release, beyond a slight reduction in female fecundity.

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Calcium ions (Ca2+), essential as second messengers in all cells, play a pivotal role as micronutrients in insects. However, few studies have explored the effects of both insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intake on life history performance and population parameters. This study examines the impact of varying Ca2+ intake levels-insufficient (0 mg/kg), appropriate (100 mg/kg), and excessive (250 mg/kg)-on the life history performance and population parameters of Spodoptera litura using two-sex life tables. Insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intakes significantly extended the preadult development period and decreased the preadult survival rates of S. litura, compared to those on an appropriate Ca2+ intake. The population parameters (Intrinsic rate of increase (r), Finite rate of increase (λ), and Net reproductive rate (R0)) of S. litura on a 100 mg/kg diet (r = 0.1364, λ = 1.1462, R0 = 390) were significantly higher than those on a 0 mg/kg diet (r = 0.1091, λ = 1.1153, R0 = 130.52). Additionally, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that inappropriate Ca2+ levels (either insufficient or excessive) triggered significant up-regulation of 71.1 % and 92.8 % of the metabolites in the hemolymph, respectively, compared to the appropriate Ca2+ intake. Notably, disruptions in metabolite balance affected critical components such as melatonin and melanin within the tryptophan and tyrosine metabolism pathways. These findings underscore that both insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intakes adversely affect the life history performance and disrupt hemolymph metabolic balance in S. litura.

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The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a highly destructive polyphagous pest that primarily damages maize. Maize is considered a most versatile crop for growing intercrops due to the wide row it needs. Maize-pea intercropping is preferred by small and marginal farmers worldwide due to various advantages including higher yield and improved economic benefits. However, the success of this intercropping system may be hampered if pea could sustain the FAW population. Thus, to clarify the fitness and potential effect of S. frugiperda on pea, we analysed the survival and development of S. frugiperda fed on pea leaves in the laboratory and constructed age-stage and two-sex life tables. Results showed that FAW successfully completed its life cycle when fed on pea and produced fertile offspring. The pre-adult duration was significantly higher on pea than maize. The net reproductive rate, intrinsic and finite rate of population increase on pea (135.06 offspring per individual, 0.12 offspring per individual per day and 1.13 times per day) were all significantly different from those on maize (417.64 offspring per individual, 0.19 offspring per individual per day and 1.21 times per day). The probability of survival of S. frugiperda at each stage was lower when fed on pea leaves than that of maize-fed larvae. Due to the overlapping growth periods of the maize and pea, S. frugiperda can easily proliferate throughout the year by shifting between adjacent crops. Thus, this study revealed the adaptability of S. frugiperda for pea and provides the foundation for further assessment of FAW risk to other inter-crops.

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As a migratory invasive pest, Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm, FAW) has recently posed a serious threat to food security in newly invaded areas (especially in Africa and Asia). Understanding its migration (or dispersal) patterns in newly invaded areas is crucial for regional forecasting and management efforts. By screening an appropriate marking technique to conduct mark-release-recapture (MRR) experiments, the migration patterns of the FAW can be effectively studied. In this study, we added different concentrations of Calco Oil Red N-1700 (an oil-soluble marker) to a self-made artificial diet and assessed the rearing and marking efficacy. The results indicated that a concentration of 0.2% of Calco Oil Red N-1700 in the diet was optimal for marking adult FAWs. The biological indicators (e.g., developmental duration, reproductive parameters, and flight ability) of FAWs fed this diet were basically consistent with those of FAWs fed a normal diet, with a larval stage of 15.46 days, a pupal stage of 9.81 days, a pupal mass of 278.18 mg, an adult longevity of 15.41 days, and an egg deposition count of 1503.51. Meanwhile, the flight distance, duration, and velocity were 24.91 km, 7.16 h, and 3.40 km/h, respectively (12 h tethered-flight tests), without difference with the control. Females and males exhibited distinctive marking colors (red or pink) that persisted for at least 5 and 9 days, respectively. This study developed an economically effective internal marking method for the adult FAW, laying the foundation for conducting MRR experiments. This will help clarify the migration behavior and routes of the FAW, providing a scientific basis for formulating effective pest management strategies.

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Atractomorpha lata Motschoulsky (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) has recently emerged as an important agricultural pest in China. Understanding the impact of temperature on its developmental period is crucial for predicting its population dynamics. This study systematically observed the biological characteristics of A. lata at five temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 °C) using the age-stage, two-sex life table method. The effects of temperature on the developmental period, survival rate, and fecundity of A. lata were studied using fresh bean leaves as host. The results demonstrated that as temperature increased from 16 °C to 32 °C, the developmental period, preadult time, adult longevity, adult preoviposition period (APOP), and total preoviposition period (TPOP) significantly decreased. The developmental threshold temperatures for various stages were calculated, ranging from 10.47 °C to 13.01 °C, using the linear optimal method. As temperature increased, both the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) also increased, while the mean generation time (T) decreased. The optimal values of the net reproductive rate (R0 = 54.26 offspring), gross reproductive rate (GRR = 185.53 ± 16.94 offspring), and fecundity (169.56 ± 9.93 eggs) were observed at 24 °C. Similarly, the population trend index (I) for A. lata peaked at 24 °C (61.64). Our findings indicate that A. lata exhibits its highest population growth rate at 24 °C, providing a scientific basis for predicting its population dynamics in the field.

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Flonicamid is a novel systemic insecticide widely used against aphids. However, the intergenerational sublethal effects of flonicamid on cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, have not been fully studied. This study aimed to evaluate the sublethal effects of flonicamid on the biological parameters of adult A. gossypii (F0) and its subsequent intergenerational effects on the offspring (F1 generation) through age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. The results of the bioassays indicate that flonicamid exhibits significant toxicity toward adult A. gossypii, as evidenced by an LC50 value of 0.372 mg L-1 after a 48-h exposure period. The longevity, fecundity, and reproductive days of adult cotton aphids (F0) were significantly decreased when treated with the sublethal concentrations of flonicamid. The pre-adult stage exhibited an increase, whereas the adult longevity, total longevity, and fecundity experienced a notable decrease in F1 aphids after the exposure of F0 aphids to sublethal concentrations of flonicamid. Furthermore, the key demographic parameters, including r, λ, R0, and RPd, showed a significant decrease, while the total pre-reproductive period (TPRP) experienced a significant increase in the F1 generation. Collectively, our findings indicate that sublethal concentrations of flonicamid impact the demographic parameters of A. gossypii, resulting in suppression of population growth. This study presents comprehensive information on the overall impact of flonicamid on A. gossypii, which could potentially aid in managing this major pest.

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Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a highly dispersive, polyphagous insect pest that severely defoliates crops. Excessive reliance on synthetic insecticides leads to ecological pollution and resistance development, urging scientists to probe eco-friendly biopesticides. Here, we explore the virulence of an entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, against S. exigua, resulting in 88% larval mortality. Using an age-stage, two-sex life table, we evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of B. bassiana on the demographic parameters of S. exigua, including survival, development, and reproduction. Sublethal (LC20) and lethal concentrations (LC50) of B. bassiana impacted the parental generation (F0), with these effects further influencing the demographic parameters of the first filial generation (F1). The infected F1 offsprings showed a reduced intrinsic rate of increase (r), mean generation time (T), and net reproduction rate (R0). Larval developmental duration varied significantly between the control (10.98 d) and treated groups (LC20: 10.42; LC50: 9.37 d). Adults in the treated groups had significantly reduced lifespans (M: 8.22; F: 7.32 d) than the control (M: 10.00; F: 8.22 d). Reduced fecundity was observed in the B. bassiana-infected groups (LC20: 313.45; LC50: 223.92 eggs/female) compared to the control (359.55 eggs/female). A biochemical assay revealed elevated levels of detoxification enzymes (esterases, glutathione S-transferases, and acetylcholinesterase) in the F0 generation after B. bassiana infection. However, the enzymatic activity remained non-significant in the F1 generation likely due to the lack of direct fungal exposure. Our findings highlight the enduring effects of B. bassiana on the biological parameters and population dynamics of S. exigua, stressing its use in eco-friendly management programs.

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According to the Gompertz law, the age-dependent change in the logarithm of mortality (life-table aging rate, LAR) is equal to the population-averaged age-independent biological aging rate (γ), and LAR would be constant if aging were the only cause of mortality increase. However, LAR is influenced by population exposures to the external hazards. If they were constant, according to the Gompertz-Makeham law (GML), LAR would be below γ at lower ages and asymptotically and monotonically approach γ with increasing age. Actually, LAR trajectories derived from data on mortality in different countries and historical periods feature systematic undulations. In the present investigation, mortality-vs.-age trajectories were modeled based on a generalized GML (gGML). Unlike the canonical GML terms, which are population-specific constants, the respective terms of the gGML are represented with some population-specific functions of age. Invariant in gGML are the modes of translation of these functions into the dependency of mortality on age: linear for population exposure to the irresistible external hazards or exponential for population-averaged ability to withstand the resistible external and internal hazards. Modeling suggests that, at earlier ages, LAR undulations are attributable to changes in population exposures to the former hazards. However, only their unrealistically high levels can produce the transient increase in LAR at about 65 to 90 years. This pervasive undulation of LAR-vs.-age trajectory is rather caused by an increment in γ. Reasons to regard gGML as a genuine natural law, which defines relations between mortality, aging and environment, are discussed.

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Cadra cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a pest in barn, and its eggs are often utilized as an alternative prey or as hosts for mass production of insect predators and parasitoids. To aid in developing a mass-rearing system for C. castella, the suitability of using an artificial diet based on brown rice flour and whole brown rice was compared using the age-stage, 2-sex life table. Compared with those reared on brown rice, the insects reared on an artificial diet had a shorter preadult period (32.08 vs 37.38 d), higher fecundity (468.14 vs 356.20 eggs/female), greater intrinsic rate of increase (0.1509 vs 0.1145 d-1), and higher net reproductive rate (199.28 vs 103.52 offspring). Small populations were required to rear the moth on an artificial diet to achieve the same daily production of C. cautella. Still, the food expense was only 60.2% of that of C. cautella reared on brown rice. Approximately 99.44% of the eggs in each rearing procedure could be supplied as alternative prey for predators, with the remainder served to maintain the colonies for subsequent batches. Only eggs laid within 6 d would be utilized to ensure the high quality of alternative prey for the mass production of predacious bugs. Additionally, a multifunctional device was designed for moth rearing and egg collection, reducing labor input and minimizing health risks for workers coping with inhaled scales. To encourage the production of natural enemies, a cost-effective diet for maintaining a sustainable colony, and a system for daily egg-harvesting of alternative prey were proposed.

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The stink bug, Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae), is a highly destructive pest that significantly damages legume crops in East and South Asia. Neonicotinoid insecticides containing thiamethoxam are widely used to control R. pedestris in soybean fields. However, the current knowledge on the impact of different thiamethoxam concentrations on R. pedestris growth and reproduction is lacking and insufficient. The present study investigated the effects of thiamethoxam on the biological traits of R. pedestris after treatment with LC10 (19.8 mg/L), LC20 (31.6 mg/L), LC30 (44.2 mg/L), LC40 (58.9 mg/L), and LC50 (77.0 mg/L) concentrations. These five thiamethoxam concentrations (LC10~LC50) reduced adult longevity and fecundity in the F1 generation females. Thiamethoxam treatment also significantly decreased the population trend index, intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate, gross reproductive rate, and finite rate of increase and increased the mean generation time. These results show that thiamethoxam hinders and suppresses the development and growth of the F1 population of R. pedestris. Thiamethoxam is recommended for spray control during peak adult emergence, as it not only has a controlling effect on the parental generation but also a negative impact on the F1 generations.

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PURPOSE: We report the chances of 14-year-old males becoming victims of firearm injury or death before age 25 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. METHODS: Using life table methods, we followed 4,501 Black males aged 14 years, and a comparison group of 1,751 White males, over 11 years. RESULTS: Among 14-year-old Black males, the risk of a nonfatal firearm injury before age 25 was 10.1% (95% confidence interval, 9.2%-11.0%), the risk of death from firearms was 2.5% (1.7%-3.2%), and the combined risk was 12.5% (11.0%-14.1%). Among White males, the risk of nonfatal firearm injury was 0.8% (0.3%-1.2%), the risk of death was 0.3% (0.02%-0.5%), and the combined risk was 1.0% (0.5%-1.5%). DISCUSSION: Risk estimates reveal the dire likelihood of firearm injury or death among Black adolescent males in Philadelphia. Immediate interventions are needed to de-escalate conflicts, provide supports, and address the upstream causes of violence like poverty and structural racism.

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Keyfitz and Leser's life table entropy was proposed to serve as a relative inequality in mortality measure. Entropy considers the variation around the age at death relative to the length of lifespan in a population, allowing comparisons across time and populations. It is used widely in period and cohort applications. Here, we propose extending this measure and present an index that incorporates the history of survival of all cohorts present at a given time, namely the cross-sectional average length of life entropy, or CAL-entropy ( H CAL ). We decompose cross-population differences of CAL-entropy into the contribution of longevity and lifespan variation, and the change of those differences across time. Our illustrations show that populations are converging regarding lifespan inequality. Lifespan variation holds a noticeable share in the CAL-entropy gap among selected European populations. Longevity held once a pronounced share in CAL-entropy differences and their change, but its influence has receded over the years. The US demonstrates a unique trend where it performs worse across time compared to the selected European populations, and lifespan variation has played a major role in this process. This study signals the importance of lifespan variation in reducing inequality in mortality among developed and longevous populations.

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BACKGROUND: Egg parasitoids are important biological control agents of lepidopteran pests of agricultural crops. Trichogramma evanescens Westwood and T. pintoi Voegele (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are egg parasitoids with worldwide importance. The parasitoid selection necessitates comparative assessment of the life table traits and functional response analysis to provide insights into their effectiveness in pest control. In this study, we examined their life table traits including survivorship and reproductivity, and functional response and associated parameters i.e., attack coefficient and handling time. RESULTS: Life table parameters, using age-stage, two-sex theory, revealed similar survival and reproductive strategies for both species. For example, the female longevity, oviposition days and fecundity did not differ between both species. Exceptionally, the male longevity of T. evanescens was shorter than that of T. pintoi. The population growth parameters such as gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and mean generation time (T) did not differ between species. The polynomial logistic regression yielded a type III functional response and a non-linear least square analysis revealed different attack coefficient and similar handling time. However, their parasitism rate differed between the lowest (five eggs) and highest (80 eggs) initial host egg densities such that T. evanescens had a lower parasitism rate at the lowest density and higher parasitism rate at the highest density. CONCLUSION: The similarity in survival strategies and minor differences in host handling of both parasitoids are discussed in terms of relevance to applied biological control applications and evolutionary traits. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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Macrophytes and cladocerans represent the main antagonistic groups that regulate phytoplankton biomass; however, the mechanism behind this interaction is unclear. In laboratory conditions, we separately evaluated the effects of three submerged macrophytes (Ceratophyllum demersum, Myriophyllum aquaticum, and Stuckenia pectinata), as well as their exudates, and plant-associated microbiota (POM < 25 µm) + exudates on the population growth of Daphnia cf. pulex and Simocephalus cf. mixtus. Living Ceratophyllum, exudates, and POM < 25 µm + exudates exhibited the most robust positive effects on Simocephalus density and the rate of population increase (r). Subsequently, we examined the effects of Ceratophyllum on the filtration and feeding rates of Simocephalus and Daphnia, revealing significant (p < 0.001) promotion of filtration and feeding in Simocephalus but not in Daphnia. To elucidate the specific effects of this macrophyte on Simocephalus demography, we assessed selected life table variables across the same treatments. The treatments involving exudates and living Ceratophyllum resulted in approximately 40% longer survivorship and significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced fecundity. Our findings indicate that exudates from submerged macrophytes positively influence Simocephalus demography by increasing filtration rates, survivorship, and fecundity. This synergy suggests a substantial impact on phytoplankton abundance.

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The evolution of oviposition preference in insects is considered a key evolutionary strategy in the context of host-plant interaction. It is hypothesized that insects maximize the survival and fitness of the subsequent generations by preferring specific host plant(s), known as the "preference-performance hypothesis." In this study, we tested whether adult host preference reflects the immature performance in an oligophagous insect, Phthorimaea absoluta Meyrick, a rapidly emerging invasive pest in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Based on a preliminary survey of the potential host plants of P. absoluta, we selected 6 Solanaceae species, namely, tomato, potato, eggplant, black nightshade, sweet pepper, and tobacco, for the oviposition preference studies. The results indicated that the tomato was the most preferred host in no-, dual- and multiple-choice assays, followed by potato, eggplant, and black nightshade. Subsequently, the insect life-table parameters were found to be superior on tomato compared to other hosts. The order of oviposition preference on the host plants was strongly correlated with the life-table parameters of P. absoluta. Thus, we provide clear evidence for the preference-performance hypothesis in the host selection behavior of P. absoluta. We also emphasize the necessity of conducting oviposition behavior research at various geographic locations to develop tailor-made integrated pest management programs.

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