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Untethered magnetic soft robots capable of performing adaptive locomotion and shape reconfiguration open up possibilities for various applications owing to their flexibility. However, magnetic soft robots are typically composed of soft materials with fixed modulus, making them unable to exert or withstand substantial forces, which limits the exploration of their new functionalities. Here, water‐induced, shape‐locking magnetic robots with magnetically controlled shape change and water‐induced shape‐locking are introduced. The water‐induced phase separation enables these robots to undergo a modulus transition from 1.78 MPa in the dry state to 410 MPa after hydration. Moreover, the body material's inherent self‐healing property enables the direct assembly of morphing structures and magnetic soft robots with complicated structures and magnetization profiles. These robots can be delivered through magnetic actuation and perform programmed tasks including supporting, blocking, and grasping by on‐demand deformation and subsequent water‐induced stiffening. Moreover, a water‐stiffening magnetic stent is developed, and its precise delivery and water‐induced shape‐locking are demonstrated in a vascular phantom. The combination of untethered delivery, on‐demand shape change, and water‐induced stiffening properties makes the proposed magnetic robots promising for biomedical applications. This work presents the design, fabrication, and application of magnetic soft robots capable of shape locking through water‐induced phase separation. The robots’ modulus transitions from 1.78 to 410 MPa upon hydration. The flexibility in the dry state and rigidity in the wet state enable the delivery, reconfiguration, and deployment of these robots for various applications.

Grapevine leafroll‐associated virus 3 (GLRaV‐3) is a significant plant virus affecting grapevines worldwide, causing considerable economic losses. Soft scale insects (Coccidae) serve as key vectors for GLRaV‐3 transmission. Understanding how climate change impacts the distribution of these vector species is crucial for improving grapevine disease management strategies. Despite previous studies focusing on other insect vectors, limited research has been conducted on soft scale species, especially in the context of climate change. This study addresses the research gap by predicting the future global distribution of soft scale species responsible for GLRaV‐3 transmission under various climate change scenarios. The potential distribution of seven soft scale species was analyzed using the MaxEnt model. Data on species occurrence were gathered from global biodiversity databases, and key environmental variables were identified using principal component analysis. Climate projections were incorporated using Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) under four future timeframes (2030s, 2050s, 2070s, 2090s). The model indicated that temperature plays a critical role in limiting soft scale distribution, with projections showing a northward shift in distribution for several species under climate change. Three species are expected to expand their range, while the remaining four may see a reduction in suitable habitat. These shifts suggest potential changes in GLRaV‐3 transmission risk in key grapevine‐growing regions. This research provides vital insights into the future distribution of GLRaV‐3 vectors, helping to guide targeted surveillance and management strategies. By predicting potential outbreak areas, this study contributes to the proactive management of grapevine diseases under changing climatic conditions. The distribution range of seven insect vectors of GLRaV‐3 were predicted by MaxEnt model. Thermal conditions were a vital factor constraining the potential distribution ranges of all vector insects. Centroid shifts suggested that the potential distribution range of soft scale will move northward under climate change. Our study provides implications for control the spread of GLRaV‐3.

Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera [L.] Small) (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) is one of the most invasive plants in the southeastern United States and is designated as a noxious weed in the state of Florida. Current management strategies for Chinese tallow are expensive and ineffective at the landscape scale, allowing for further spread. Here, we document the first records of four scale insect species, Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Rhizoecus floridanus Hambleton (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae), and Aonidiella orientalis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), feeding on a small population of cultivated Chinese tallow and discuss the implications of invasive species interactions. El sebo chino (Triadica sebifera [L.] Small) (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae) es una de las plantas más invasoras del sureste de Estados Unidos y está designado, en el estado de Florida, como una maleza nociva. Las estrategias actuales de gestión del sebo chino son costosas e ineficaces a escala de paisaje, lo que fomenta una mayor propagación. Aquí documentamos los primeros registros de cuatro especies de insectos escamosos, Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Rhizoecus floridanus Hambleton (Hemiptera: Rhizoecidae) y Aonidiella orientalis (Newstead) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), que se alimentan de una población pequeña de sebo chino cultivado y además discutimos las implicaciones de interacciones entre especies invasoras.

Developing small‐scale soft continuum robots with large‐angle steering capacity and high‐precision manipulation offers broad opportunities in various biomedical settings. However, existing continuum robots reach the bottleneck in actuation on account of the contradiction among small size, compliance actuation, large tender range, high precision, and small dynamic error. Herein, a 3D‐printed millimeter‐scale soft continuum robot with an ultrathin hollow skeleton wall (300 μm) and a large inner‐to‐outer ratio (0.8) is reported. After coating a thin ferromagnetic elastomer layer (≈100–150 μm), the proposed soft continuum robot equipped with hybrid actuation (tendon‐ and magnetic‐driven mode) achieves large‐angle (up to 100°) steering and high‐precision (low to 2 μm for static positioning) micromanipulation simultaneously. Specifically, the robot implements an ultralow dynamic tracking error of ≈10 μm, which is ≈30‐fold improved than the state of art. Combined with a microneedle/knife or nasopharyngeal swab, the robot reveals the potential for versatile biomedical applications, such as drug injection on the target tissue, diseased tissue ablation, and COVID‐19 nasopharyngeal sampling. The proposed millimeter‐scale soft continuum robot presents remarkable advances in large‐range and high‐precise actuation, which provides a new method for miniature continuum robot design and finds broad applications in biomedical engineering. Developing small‐scale soft continuum robots offers broad opportunities in various biomedical settings. Herein, a 3D‐printed millimeter‐scale soft continuum robot equipped with hybrid actuation (tendon and magnetic driven) that can achieve large‐angle (≈100°) steering and high‐precision (≈2/10 μm for static/dynamic positioning, respectively) micromanipulation simultaneously is proposed, which reveals versatile potentials, such as microinjection/ablation and nasopharyngeal sampling.

Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comstock is one of the most destructive invasive pests that have caused various negative impacts to agricultural, ornamental, and greenhouse plants. Since it is time- and labor-consuming to control C. cirripediformis, habitat evaluation of this pest may be the most cost-effective method for predicting its dispersal and avoiding its outbreaks. Here, we evaluated the effects of climatic variables on distribution patterns of C. cirripediformis and produced a global risk map for its outbreak under current and future climate scenarios using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model. Our results showed that mean temperature of driest quarter (Bio 9), precipitation of coldest quarter (Bio 19), precipitation of warmest quarter (Bio 18), and mean temperature of wettest quarter (Bio 8) were the main factors influencing the current modeled distribution of C. cirripediformis, respectively, contributing 41.9, 29.4, 18.8, and 7.9%. The models predicted that, globally, potential distribution of C. cirripediformis would be across most zoogeographical regions under both current and future climate scenarios. Moreover, in the future, both the total potential distribution region and its area of highly suitable habitat are expected to expand slightly in all representative concentration pathway scenarios. The information generated from this study will contribute to better identify the impacts of climate change upon C. cirripediformis's potential distribution while also providing a scientific basis for forecasting insect pest spread and outbreaks. Furthermore, this study serves an early warning for the regions of potential distribution, predicted as highly suitable habitats for this pest, which could promote its prevention and control.

The invasive sap-feeding pest Toumeyella parvicornis (pine tortoise scale) is rapidly spreading across Europe, threatening pine ecosystems, particularly in forest–urban areas of Italy. In this scenario, early detection and monitoring strategies are critical to prevent new outbreaks and mitigate impacts in infested regions. Current surveillance is challenged by the lack of rapid, sensitive tools for indirect detection of this cryptic, canopy-dwelling pest, despite advancements in molecular diagnostics and environmental DNA (eDNA). Here, we established a highly specific qPCR assay using LNA probe chemistry for detecting T. parvicornis DNA from both adult insects and their excreted honeydew. DNA was successfully isolated/quantified from all tested matrices. We recorded average Cq values of 20.9 for insect specimens and 30.3 for collected honeydew samples. Targeting the COI barcoding region, the assay demonstrated excellent specificity in both in silico and in vitro tests, showing no cross-reactivity to other pine-associated taxa. The limit of detection for DNA isolated from insect was 64 fg/µL. This is the first diagnostic protocol to use honeydew as a matrix for indirect detection of T. parvicornis. Optimized for routine application by Plant Health Services, this eDNA-based tool offers a valuable approach for future monitoring of sap-sucking hemipterans in multiple environments.

The soft scale Toumeyella martinezae infests the arborescent cactus Myrtillocactus geometrizans. This scale is, in turn, parasitized by the wasp Mexidalgus toumeyellus and forms a mutualistic relationship with the ant Liometopum apiculatum. This study assessed how ant and/or parasitoid presence influenced parasitism rates and the population growth of the scale insect. Experimental treatments included scale populations with ant access (control) or ant exclusion, and parasitoid exclusion with ant access. Scale population growth rates were estimated using Lefkovitch projection matrices, built based on the individual monitoring of approximately 5400 scales. The average parasitism rate was higher in the “with ants” treatment (18.66%) than under ant exclusion (5.42%). In the absence of parasitoids, the scale population growth rate (λ = 1.532) was 8% higher than in the control treatment (λ = 1.423). Population growth was negative (λ = 0.636) when ants were excluded. These results indicate that interaction with the mutualistic ant is the primary factor sustaining a positive scale population growth. In contrast, the impact of the parasitoid alone is insufficient for effectively controlling the soft scale pest.

Crematogaster scutellaris is a common tree-nesting ant in Mediterranean olive groves, where it acts as both predator and soft scale insect tender. We aimed to quantify the predatory action of this species and assess whether it influences the distribution of soft scale insects. Predation was investigated through experiments using live prey. The mutualistic relationship between ants and soft scales was assessed by supplementing sugar, amino acids or water to ant colonies, then monitoring for changes in scale tending activity. The probability of soft scale infestation on trees hosting or not hosting ant nests was also estimated. Predation rates on trees hosting a C. scutellaris nest were significantly higher than on trees without nests. Tending activity was affected by carbohydrate and, surprisingly, water availability. While the presence of C. scutellaris was significantly correlated to soft scale infestation, it also favoured predation towards other insects, suggesting a potential role in influencing different insect pests.

The cottony grape scale Pulvinaria vitis is a scale insect colonizing grapevine; however, its capacity as a vector of grapevine viruses is poorly known in comparison to other scale species that are vectors of viral species in the genera Ampelovirus and Vitivirus. The ability of P. vitis to transmit the ampeloviruses Grapevine leafroll-associated viruses [GLRaV]−1, −3, and −4, and the vitivirus Grapevine virus A (GVA), to healthy vine cuttings was assessed. The scale insects used originated from commercial vine plots located in Alsace, Eastern France. When nymphs sampled from leafroll-infected vineyard plants were transferred onto healthy cuttings, only one event of transmission was obtained. However, when laboratory-reared, non-viruliferous nymphs were allowed to acquire viruses under controlled conditions, both first and second instar nymphs derived from two vineyards were able to transmit GLRaV−1 and GVA. This is the first report of GLRaV−1 and GVA transmission from grapevine to grapevine by this species.