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Global declines in insects have sparked wide interest among scientists, politicians, and the general public. Loss of insect diversity and abundance is expected to provoke cascading effects on food webs and to jeopardize ecosystem services. Our understanding of the extent and underlying causes of this decline is based on the abundance of single species or taxonomic groups only, rather than changes in insect biomass which is more relevant for ecological functioning. Here, we used a standardized protocol to measure total insect biomass using Malaise traps, deployed over 27 years in 63 nature protection areas in Germany (96 unique location-year combinations) to infer on the status and trend of local entomofauna. Our analysis estimates a seasonal decline of 76%, and mid-summer decline of 82% in flying insect biomass over the 27 years of study. We show that this decline is apparent regardless of habitat type, while changes in weather, land use, and habitat characteristics cannot explain this overall decline. This yet unrecognized loss of insect biomass must be taken into account in evaluating declines in abundance of species depending on insects as a food source, and ecosystem functioning in the European landscape.

The present paper commemorates the 250th anniversary of G. Fischer von Waldheim, a German naturalist who was invited in 1803 to the Moscow University and contributed greatly to the progress of natural history education and research in Russia. The paper deals in brief with his life and works before his move to Moscow and primarily focuses on his activity in Russia as a professor of the Moscow University and Moscow Medical and Surgical Academy and the author of the first Russian textbooks in zoology and mineralogy; as a naturalist who above all was one of the founders of paleontological research in the country and the author of one of the first Russian entomofaunas; and as a scientific manager who founded the Moscow Society of Naturalists and for more than forty years defined its scientific policy.

A recent paper claiming evidence of global insect declines achieved huge media attention, including claims of “insectaggedon” and a “collapse of nature.” Here, we argue that while many insects are declining in many places around the world, the study has important limitations that should be highlighted. We emphasise the robust evidence of large and rapid insect declines present in the literature, while also highlighting the limitations of the original study.

Fruit fly control in Uruguay is based mainly on toxic baits which are insufficient to reduce the damage caused by these pests. Therefore, alternative management measures such as mass trapping gain relevance for control of flies. Attractants commercially available were designed mainly for Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). However, they also should be attractive to Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in our fruit orchards. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of food-based attractants for the capture of sexually immature females of C. capitata and A. fraterculus, as well as their selectivity on the populations of beneficial arthropods (pollinators, predators, and parasitoids). Seven attractants were evaluated in 3 commercial fruit crops during 2 seasons; 4 commercial attractants (hydrolyzed protein, liquid trimethylamine, trimethylamine diffuser card, and ammonium acetate + putrescine diffuser card), 20% natural Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) O. Berg (Myrtaceae) juice, 6% sugarcane molasses, and Torula yeast. The attractants were placed in McPhail traps, which were checked each wk and all captured arthropods were removed, counted, and classified. Captured female tephritids were dissected to determine the presence of eggs. All commercial attractants evaluated were effective at capturing sexually immature females of C. capitata in the 3 fruit crops evaluated during both seasons. Hydrolyzed protein, liquid trimethylamine, and trimethylamine diffuser card were effective at capturing young females of both species. Most of the captures are post-harvest, so we suggest not moving traps after commercial harvest. These attractants also were selective, capturing few beneficial arthropods. Sugarcane molasses and pineapple guava juice were not effective at capturing fruit fly females. El control de las moscas de la fruta en Uruguay se basa principalmente en el uso de cebos tóxicos, los cuales han mostrado ser insuficientes para reducir sus daños. Debido a esto, estrategias de control alternativas como el trampeo masivo han tomado mayor relevancia. Los atrayentes disponibles comercialmente fueron diseñados para Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Sin embargo, en nuestros cultivos frutales también deberían ser efectivos para Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la eficiencia de diferentes atrayentes alimenticios en la captura de hembras sexualmente inmaduras de C. capitata y A. fraterculus, y su selectividad respecto a las poblaciones de artrópodos benéficos. Siete atrayentes diferentes fueron evaluados en tres cultivos frutícolas comerciales en dos temporadas; cuatro atrayentes comerciales (proteína hidrolizada, trimethylamine líquido, trimethylamine tarjeta difusora, y acetato de amonio + putrescina), jugo natural de Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) O. Berg (Myrtaceae) al 20%, melaza de caña al 6% y levadura Torula. Los atrayentes se colocaron en trampas McPhail, las que se revisaron semanalmente y todos los artrópodos capturados fueron retirados, contados y clasificados. Las hembras de tefrítidos capturadas fueron disecadas para determinar la presencia de huevos. Los atrayentes comerciales evaluados fueron eficaces en la captura de hembras jóvenes de C. capitata en los tres cultivos frutales evaluados y ambas temporadas. La proteína hidrolizada, el trimethylamine líquido, y la trimethylamine tarjeta difusora fueron efectivos en la captura de hembras jóvenes de ambas especies. La mayoría de las capturas se dieron en el período poscosecha, por lo que sugerimos que las trampas de trampeo masivo no se muevan de los cuadros luego de la cosecha comercial. Estos atrayentes fueron además muy selectivos, capturando pocos artrópodos benéficos. La melaza de caña y el jugo de guayabo no fueron eficaces en la captura de hembras de tefrítidos.

Carrion insects inhabiting the soil play an important role in forensic investigations because they may help to solve both active and cold cases. The aim of this study was to examine the entomofauna of forensic importance in soil samples removed after 13 years from a pig carrion decomposition site. Soil samples were collected from an old carrion decomposition study site in Bâla, the Ankara Province. Four holes, approximately 40 cm deep and 35 cm width were excavated at the study site. The samples were collected and placed in ventilated cups. Each cup was labeled mentioning the excavation location, time, date, and name of the collector. Insects and their remains found in the soil were collected by sweeping the soil from the specimens using a brush. The insects were morphologically identified. A total of 635 specimens of Calliphoridae, Dermestidae, Cleridae, Staphylinidae, Histeridae, and Formicidae were identified. Flies such as Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedmann, 1819), and beetles such as Dermestes frischii (Kugelan, 1792), Necrobia rufipes (De Geer, 1775), and Creophilus maxillosus (Linnaeus, 1758), were identified as the species. Our results show that soil samples still harbor entomological specimens after 13 years. This study, to the best of our knowledge, was the first of its kind in Turkey. Forensically, important insects and their remains may be identified in the soil long time after the corpse is buried. Consequently, cold cases may be solved using insects.

Diptera are one of the four megadiverse insect orders, with great environmental, ecological, forensic and medical-sanitary relevance. The Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, located in an urban area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, constitutes an important refuge, supporting the conservation of several species. Through the knowledge of the diversity of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae in this location, it will be possible to identify the behavior of native species along with the invasive genus Chrysomya , and to evaluate the influence of abiotic factors (temperature, relative humidity and pluviosity) on insect capture. Eight traps containing sardines were set and a total of 36,035 Diptera specimens were collected, of which 35,890 were of the Calliphoridae family and 145 of the Mesembrinellidae family. The average abiotic variables recorded were: Temperature 25,6 ºC (± 3,17), humidity 68% (±9,33%) and rainfall 3.42 mm (± 7,99). The total abundance of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae peaked during January 2015, with the highest temperature. Among the variables and abundance and richness indices, significant results were only observed between temperature and abundance. None of the variables showed significant correlation with Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae richness. The presence of some species of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae indicates the area’s good conservation status as they only occur in highly preserved forest areas. Through the knowledge of their richness and abundance, new legislation can be developed to help conservation efforts in deeply modified environments.

Diseases contribute to the decline of pollinator populations, which may be aggravated by the interspecific transmission of honey bee pests and pathogens. Flowers increase the risk of transmission, as they expose the pollinators to infections during the foraging activity. In this study, both the prevalence and abundance of 21 honey bee pathogens (11 viruses, 4 bacteria, 3 fungi, and 3 trypanosomatids) were assessed in the flower-visiting entomofauna sampled from March to September 2021 in seven sites in the two North-Italian regions, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. A total of 1,028 specimens were collected, identified, and analysed. Of the twenty-one pathogens that were searched for, only thirteen were detected. Altogether, the prevalence of the positive individuals reached 63.9%, with Nosema ceranae , deformed wing virus (DWV), and chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) as the most prevalent pathogens. In general, the pathogen abundance averaged 5.15 * 10 6 copies, with CBPV, N. ceranae , and black queen cell virus (BQCV) as the most abundant pathogens, with 8.63, 1.58, and 0.48 * 10 7 copies, respectively. All the detected viruses were found to be replicative. The sequence analysis indicated that the same genetic variant was circulating in a specific site or region, suggesting that interspecific transmission events among honey bees and wild pollinators are possible. Frequently, N. ceranae and DWV were found to co-infect the same individual. The circulation of honey bee pathogens in wild pollinators was never investigated before in Italy. Our study resulted in the unprecedented detection of 72 wild pollinator species as potential hosts of honey bee pathogens. Those results encourage the implementation of monitoring actions aiming to improve our understanding of the environmental implications of such interspecific transmission events, which is pivotal to embracing a One Health approach to pollinators’ welfare.

Forensic entomology is a branch of science that uses insects as evidence in medicolegal investigations as they could provide valuable information regarding the cause and time since death specially in the case of buried bodies. The present study was the first attempt in India to compare the decomposition and associated insects on pig carcasses above the ground and those buried at two different depths (40 and 80 cm) during spring season over two consecutive years. Two pigs were buried at each depth and one pig carcass was placed above the ground. One of the buried carcasses was exhumed frequently and other one was kept undisturbed to investigate the decomposition rate and insect access to the carcass. The rate of decomposition was found to be faster above the ground as compared to the buried environment. Also, the carcass buried at 80 cm depth exhibited slower decomposition rates and had limited insect activity as compared to the one buried at 40 cm. Species within the Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae families were dominant on the surface-exposed carcass, whereas Phoridae were more prevalent on the buried carcasses even at a depth of 80 cm. The findings of the study highlights the significant influence of burial depth and exhumation on decomposition rate and insect arrival and colonization.

Hornets (genus Vespa ) are a conspicuous taxon of large eusocial wasps that are predators of other insects. Increasingly, hornets are gaining notoriety as damaging invaders after repeated introductions into novel habitats. Most hornets are highly effective predators, so they have the potential to greatly impact local entomofauna, including economically important pollinators. In 2016, Vespa tropica , a hornet with a broad natural range throughout subtropical and tropical Asia, was detected on Guam, although few details have been published since the initial alert. We provide the first comprehensive update on the status and impact of V. tropica hornets on Guam based on nine years of beekeeper and public reports, as well as field collections of nests, hornets, and videos of hunting behavior in managed apiaries. We show that the population of non-native V. tropica is established and thriving on Guam. Nests were found in a diversity of sites: below and above ground, sheltered and exposed, and in urban and greenspaces. V. tropica was a year-round predator in apiaries, with up to 12% of colony losses per year attributed to hornet attacks. Notably, hornets often attacked single honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) colonies in groups, similar to the hunting strategy of their close relatives, the giant hornets Vespa mandarinia and Vespa soror . Hornets killed defending workers, eventually weakening colonies and entering hives to consume bee brood. Bees mounted defenses that included alarm piping, bee ‘carpets’, and attempts to ball hornets. Hornets were active all year, but were significantly more active during the wet season (July‒December). Preliminary analysis of color forms suggested that the source of V. tropica on Guam is likely continental southeast Asia, although genetic analyses are required. Our study reveals that Guam is facing a fierce invader in V. tropica , which is placing strong predatory pressure on pre-established honey bees.

The most important pests of acacia black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) (Fabaceae) are: Appendiseta robiniae Gillette, Phyllonorycter robiniella Clemens, Parectopa robiniella Clemens, Nematus tibialis Newman and Obolodiplosis robiniae Haldemann, species from North America, where it also originates the acacia, which is the host plant. In Europe these species were introduced accidentally, being considered invasive species. In Europe, O. robiniae Haldemann was first reported in July 2003 in northeastern Italy, in Paese near Padua, from where it spread to almost the entire European continent, especially through trade in infested biological material from nurseries. The attack occurs in the species R. pseudoacacia L., R. viscosa L. and R. hispida L., mainly in urban areas, where it mainly affects their aesthetic value. The larvae develop characteristic leaf margin roll galls on the infested leaves. There are up to 6 galels on a leaflet, and on average there are up to 5-6 larvae. In Europe it develops two, three and, in optimal conditions, even four generations a year. Zoophagous entomofauna can cause population decline, especially parasitoid species. For Platygaster robiniae Buhl & Duso (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) the percentage of parasites reported was up to 40%. A low percentage of parasitism can be produced by other species, such as: Aprostocetus sp., Chrysocharis sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Eupelmus urozonus Dalman (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), Eurytoma verticillata F. (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), Mesopolobus mediterraneus Mayr. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Torymus sp (Hymenoptera: Torymidae).