Geographic variation and plasticity in climate stress resistance among southern African populations of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Evidence for transient deleterious thermal acclimation in field recapture rates of an invasive tropical species, Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Knowing how environmental conditions affect performance traits in pest insects is important to improve pest management strategies. It can be informative for monitoring, but also for control programs where insects are mass-reared, and field-released. Here, we investigated how adult thermal acclimation in sterile Bactrocera dorsalis affects dispersal and recapture rates in the field using a mark-release-recapture method. We also considered how current abiotic factors may affect recapture rates and interact with thermal history. We found that acclimation at 20 or 30 °C for 4 d prior to release reduced the number of recaptures in comparison with the 25 °C control group, but with no differences between groups in the willingness to disperse upon release. However, the deleterious effects of acclimation were only detectable in the first week following release, whereafter only the recent abiotic conditions explained recapture rates. In addition, we found that recent field conditions contributed more than thermal history to explain patterns of recaptures. The two most important variables affecting the number of recaptures were the maximum temperature and the average relative humidity experienced in the 24 h preceding trapping. Our results add to the handful of studies that have considered the effect of thermal acclimation on insect field performance, but notably lend support to the deleterious acclimation hypothesis among the various hypotheses that have been proposed. Finally, this study shows that there are specific abiotic conditions (cold/hot and dry) in which recaptures will be reduced, which may therefore bias estimates of wild population size.

Behavioral and electrophysiological responses of the male medfly, Ceratitis capitata, to thymol and carvacrol ethers

BACKGROUND

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is one of the most economically important insect pests attacking fruits and vegetables in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Semiochemical-based pest management programs are being used to provide environmentally friendly control methods for medflies. The goals of the current study were to discover potential new, attractive, kairomones by designing, synthesizing, and testing simplified ethers of thymol and carvacrol along with their ether derivatives in short-range attraction assays and electroantennogram (EAG) assays with male C. capitata. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation of thymol and carvacrol, and their respective ethers for attractancy to C. capitata, a major agricultural pest worldwide.

RESULTS

In short-range attraction bioassays, parent compounds, thymol and carvacrol, along with their propyl, butyl, benzyl, and octyl ethers captured the most male C. capitata. The attraction patterns changed over time and captures were only significant if they were greater than the positive control tea tree oil (TTO) at 90 min. In EAG assays, thymol benzyl, octyl ethers, and carvacrol benzyl ether evoked significantly greater antennal responses than their parent compounds. The EAG responses did not correlate with short-range male attraction. The aliphatic side chains of thymol and carvacrol had a small effect on the activity. Future studies will investigate the long-range attraction of the ethers that elicited large EAG responses.

CONCLUSION

This report provides new information for discovering potential kairomones through synthesis and structure-activity studies for sterile male medflies. Thymol, carvacrol, and several of their ether derivatives displayed improved longevity of attraction compared with TTO (a strong medfly attractant), with significantly higher captures than TTO observed at 90 min in laboratory bioassays. Further chemical synthesis of thymol and carvacrol ethers within this series may lead to the development of ethers that are more attractive or persistent than their parent compounds, thymol and carvacrol. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Effects of Physiological Status and Environmental Factors on the Lure Responses of Three Pest Fruit Fly Species (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Biotic and abiotic factors influence how insects respond to stimuli. This can make it challenging to interpret captures in traps used to monitor pest abundance in management programmes. To address this, the lure response of three pest fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) was evaluated in a semi-field setting with respect to several physiological and environmental factors. Using standardised methods with known fly numbers in field cages, the response to Biolure (food-based lure) was evaluated for Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis cosyra and Bactrocera dorsalis. Response to the male lures was tested: E.G.O PheroLure for C. capitata and C. cosyra, Trimedlure for C. capitata, and methyl eugenol for B. dorsalis. The physiological variables evaluated were fly age, sex, weight, and total body nutritional composition. The environmental effects of temperature, relative humidity and light intensity were also assessed. Protein-deprived adults responded more strongly to Biolure. The response to Biolure was not sex-specific. Fly age influenced the response of all species to all tested lures. However, this effect was species and lure specific. Temperature was the most influential environmental factor, with response generally increasing with temperature. Lower thresholds for lure response, despite the proximity of responsive flies, range from 12.21 to 22.95 °C depending on the species and lure tested. These results indicate that trapping systems and management activity thresholds must take physiological and environmental variation into account to increase their accuracy.

Integrating water balance mechanisms into predictions of insect responses to climate change

Efficient water balance is key to insect success. However, the hygric environment is changing with climate change; although there are compelling models of thermal vulnerability, water balance is often neglected in predictions. Insects survive desiccating conditions by reducing water loss, increasing their total amount of water (and replenishing it) and increasing their tolerance of dehydration. The physiology underlying these traits is reasonably well understood, as are the sources of variation and phenotypic plasticity. However, water balance and thermal tolerance intersect at high temperatures, such that mortality is sometimes determined by dehydration, rather than heat (especially during long exposures in dry conditions). Furthermore, water balance and thermal tolerance sometimes interact to determine survival. In this Commentary, we propose identifying a threshold where the cause of mortality shifts between dehydration and temperature, and that it should be possible to predict this threshold from trait measurements (and perhaps eventually a priori from physiological or -omic markers).

Climate change impacts on temperate fruit and nut production: a systematic review

Temperate fruit and nut crops require distinctive cold and warm seasons to meet their physiological requirements and progress through their phenological stages. Consequently, they have been traditionally cultivated in warm temperate climate regions characterized by dry-summer and wet-winter seasons. However, fruit and nut production in these areas faces new challenging conditions due to increasingly severe and erratic weather patterns caused by climate change. This review represents an effort towards identifying the current state of knowledge, key challenges, and gaps that emerge from studies of climate change effects on fruit and nut crops produced in warm temperate climates. Following the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews, we analyzed 403 articles published between 2000 and 2023 that met the defined eligibility criteria. A 44-fold increase in the number of publications during the last two decades reflects a growing interest in research related to both a better understanding of the effects of climate anomalies on temperate fruit and nut production and the need to find strategies that allow this industry to adapt to current and future weather conditions while reducing its environmental impacts. In an extended analysis beyond the scope of the systematic review methodology, we classified the literature into six main areas of research, including responses to environmental conditions, water management, sustainable agriculture, breeding and genetics, prediction models, and production systems. Given the rapid expansion of climate change-related literature, our analysis provides valuable information for researchers, as it can help them identify aspects that are well understood, topics that remain unexplored, and urgent questions that need to be addressed in the future.

Mediterranean fruit fly population phenological patterns are strongly affected by elevation and host presence

The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) (Ceratitis capitata, Diptera: Tephritidae), is an extremely polyphagous pest that threatens the fruit production and trading industry worldwide. Monitoring C. capitata populations and analysing its dynamics and phenology is considered of outmost importance for designing and implementing sound management approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors regulating the population dynamics of the C. capitata in a coastal and semi-mountainous area. We focused on effects of topography (e.g. elevation), host presence and seasonal patterns of ripening on the phenological patterns considering data collected in 2008. The experimental area is characterized by mixed fruit orchards, and Mediterranean climate with mild winters. Two trap types were used for population monitoring. The female targeted McPhail type and the male targeted Jackson type. Traps were placed in farms located at different elevations and landscape morphology (coastal and semi-mountainous areas). The main crops included citrus, apples, peaches, plums, pears, figs, quinces and apricots. Adult captures were first recorded in May, peaked in mid-summer and mid-autumn and almost ceased at the end of the season (January 2008). Captures in the coastal areas preceded that of highlands by 15 days. Most of the adults detected during the fruit ripening of late stone fruit cultivars (first peak) and citrus (second peak). The probability of capturing the first adults preceded almost three weeks the peak of adult captures either considering the elevation or host focus analyses. The results provide valuable information on the seasonal population trend of C. capitata in mixed fruit Mediterranean orchards and can support the set-up of IPM systems in areas with various landscapes and different hosts throughout the fruit growing season.

Evidence that recent climatic changes have expanded the potential geographical range of the Mediterranean fruit fly

The species distributions migration poleward and into higher altitudes in a warming climate is especially concerning for economically important insect pest species, as their introduction can potentially occur in places previously considered unsuitable for year-round survival. We explore the expansion of the climatically suitable areas for a horticultural pest, the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata (Diptera, Tephritidae), with an emphasis on Europe and California. We reviewed and refined a published CLIMEX model for C. capitata, taking into consideration new records in marginal locations, with a particular focus on Europe. To assess the model fit and to aid in interpreting the meaning of the new European distribution records, we used a time series climate dataset to explore the temporal patterns of climate suitability for C. capitata from 1970 to 2019. At selected bellwether sites in Europe, we found statistically significant trends in increasing climate suitability, as well as a substantial northward expansion in the modelled potential range. In California, we also found a significant trend of northward and altitudinal expansion of areas suitable for C. capitata establishment. These results provide further evidence of climate change impacts on species distributions and the need for innovative responses to increased invasion threats.

The supercooling point depression is the leading cold tolerance strategy for the variegated ladybug, [Hippodamia variegata (Goezel)]

The variegated ladybug, Hippodamia variegata is one of the most effective predators of various pests that hibernate as adult beetles. During the overwintering period from April 2021 to March 2022, we examined the supercooling point (SCP), cold tolerance, and physiological adaptations of beetles in Kerman, Iran. The beetles exhibited their greatest cold tolerance (63.4% after 24 h at -5°C) when their SCP was lowest (-23.2°C). Conversely, from April to October 2021, the SCP reached its peak (approximately -13.0°C), while cold tolerance was at its lowest level (6.7% after 24 h at -5°C). Cryoprotectant content (trehalose, glycerol, and glucose) was at its highest level in September (11.15, 10.82, and 6.31 mg/g, respectively). The critical thermal minimum (CTmin) reached its lowest point of -2.2°C in January and February. The lowest point of the lower lethal temperature (LLT) coincided with the lowest level of the SCP and the highest level of cold tolerance (in February, LT50 = -5.3°C, SCP = -23.2°C, and survival = 77.78% at -4°C/24 h). Chill-coma recovery time (CCRT) was examined at five different temperatures and two different exposure durations. The CCRT increased with a decrease in exposure temperature and time (68.0 s at -2°C after 2 h and 102.0 s at -2°C after 4 h). As the majority of the overwintering beetle's mortality occurred at temperatures significantly higher than SCP, the adults of H. variegata are chill-susceptible insects that primarily rely on a depressed supercooling point to cope with unfavorable conditions during the overwintering period.

Larval nutritional-stress and tolerance to extreme temperatures in the peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Within the factors affecting insect tolerance to extreme environmental conditions, insect nutrition, particularly of immature stages, has received insufficient attention. In the present study, we address this gap by investigating the effects of larval nutrition on heat and cold tolerance of adult Bactrocera zonata - an invasive, polyphagous fruit fly pest. We manipulated the nutritional content in the larval diet by varying the amount of added yeast (2-10% by weight), while maintaining a constant sucrose content. Adults derived from the different larval diets were tested for their tolerance to extreme heat and cold stress. Restricting the amount of yeast reduced the efficacy of the larval diet (i.e. number of pupae produced per g of diet) as well as pupal and adult fresh weight, both being significantly lower for yeast-poor diets. Additionally, yeast restriction during the larval stage (2% yeast diet) significantly reduced the amount of protein but not lipid reserves of newly emerged males and females. Adults maintained after emergence on granulated sugar and water for 10 days were significantly more tolerant to extreme heat (i.e. knock-down time at 42 ^oC) when reared as larvae on yeast-rich diets (8% and 10% yeast) compared to counterparts developing on a diet containing 2% yeast. Nevertheless, the composition of the larval diet did not significantly affect adult survival following acute cold stress (exposure to -3°C for 2 hrs.). These results are corroborated by previous findings on Drosophilid flies. Possible mechanisms leading to nutrition-based heat-tolerance in flies are discussed.

Differential Cold Tolerance on Immature Stages of Geographically Divergent Ceratitis capitata Populations

Cold tolerance of adult medflies has been extensively studied but the effect of subfreezing temperatures on the immature stages remains poorly investigated, especially as far as different populations are regarded. In this study, we estimated the acute cold stress response of three geographically divergent Mediterranean fruit fly populations originating from Greece (Crete, Volos) and Croatia (Dubrovnik) by exposing immature stages (eggs, larvae, pupae) to subfreezing temperatures. We first determined the LT50 for each immature stage following one hour of exposure to different temperatures. Then eggs, larvae and pupae of the different populations were exposed to their respective LT50 for one hour (LT50 = -11 °C, LT50 = -4.4 °C, LT50 = -5 °C for eggs, larvae and pupae, respectively). Our results demonstrate that populations responded differently depending on their developmental stage. The population of Dubrovnik was the most cold-susceptible at the egg stage, whereas in that of Crete it was at the larval and pupal stage. The population of Volos was the most cold-tolerant at all developmental stages. The egg stage was the most cold-tolerant, followed by pupae and finally the 3rd instar wandering larvae. This study contributes towards understanding the cold stress response of this serious pest and provides data for important parameters that determine its successful establishment to unfavorable environments with an emphasis on range expansion to the northern, more temperate regions of Europe.

Effect of thermal acclimation on the tolerance of the peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata: Tephritidae) to heat and cold stress

Understanding the thermal biology of insects is of increasing importance for predicting their geographic distribution, particularly in light of current and future global temperature increases. Within the limits set by genetic makeup, thermal tolerance is affected by the physiological conditioning of individuals (e.g., through acclimation). Considering this phenotypic plasticity may add to accurately estimating changes to the distribution of insects under a changing climate. We studied the effect of thermal acclimation on cold and heat tolerance of the peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata) - an invasive, polyphagous pest that is currently expanding through Africa and the Middle East. Females and males were acclimated at 20, 25 and 30 °C for up to 19 days following adult emergence. The critical thermal minimum (CTmin) and maximum (CTmax) were subsequently recorded as well adult survival following acute exposure to chilling (0 or -3 °C for 2 h). Additionally, we determined the survival of pupae subjected for 2 h to temperatures ranging from -12 °C to 5 °C. We demonstrate that acclimation at 30 °C resulted in significantly higher CTmax and CTmin values (higher heat resistance and lower cold resistance, respectively). Additionally, adult recovery following exposure to -3 °C was significantly reduced following acclimation at 30 °C, and this effect was significantly higher for females. Pupal mortality increased with the decrease in temperature, reaching LT50 and LT95 values following exposure to -0.32 °C and -6.88 °C, respectively. Finally, we found that the survival of pupae subjected to 0 and 2 °C steadily increased with pupal age. Our findings substantiate a physiological foundation for understanding the current geographic range of B. zonata. We assume that acclimation at 30 °C affected the thermal tolerance of the flies partly through modulating feeding and metabolism. Tolerance to chilling during the pupal stage probably changed according to temperature-sensitive processes occurring during metamorphosis, rendering younger pupae more sensitive to chilling.

Upper thermal limits of Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae and pteromalid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) inside fly puparia

Determining upper thermal limits of tephritid fly pupae can have practical implications for disinfesting soils and for predicting differential impacts of global warming on flies and their parasites. Here, upper thermal limits of Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae and pteromalid wasps (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) inside puparia were determined. Puparia receiving sufficient chill to terminate pupal diapause were exposed to temperatures ramped linearly over 6 h from 21 °C to 47.8, 49.4, 51.1, 55.0, or 60.0 °C for a 0-h hold time. Flies eclosed when pupae were exposed to 47.8 °C but not to 49.4, 51.1, 55.0, or 60.0 °C nor in a separate test to 47.8 °C for 1-3 h hold times. All fly pupae in treatments where no eclosion occurred were dead based on puparial dissections. In contrast, adult wasps eclosed when puparia were exposed to 49.4 and 51.1 °C for 0 h and to 47.8 °C for 1- and 2-h hold times. Despite the greater upper thermal limits of wasps, heat delayed eclosion times of both adult flies and wasps, in 47.8 and 51.1 °C treatments, respectively. In separate tests, longevity of flies exposed as pupae to 47.3-48.6 °C was greater than of control flies, while longevity of control wasps and wasps exposed as immatures to 47.8-51.1 °C did not differ. Flies exposed as pupae to 47.2-48.6 °C produced as many eggs and puparia as control flies. Results suggest heat could be used to disinfest soils of puparia while sparing parasitoids. In addition, extreme heat waves due to global warming might be more detrimental to fly pupae than immature wasps.

Ontogenetic responses of physiological fitness in Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in response to repeated cold exposure

In this era of global climate change, intrinsic rapid and evolutionary responses of invasive agricultural pests to thermal variability are of concern given the potential implications on their biogeography and dire consequences on human food security. For insects, chill coma recovery time (CCRT) and critical thermal minima (CTmin), the point at which neuromuscular coordination is lost following cold exposure, remain good indices for cold tolerance. Using laboratory-reared Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), we explored cold tolerance repeated exposure across life stages of this invasive insect pest. Specifically, we measured their CTmin and CCRT across four consecutive assays, each 24 h apart. In addition, we assessed body water content (BWC) and body lipid content (BLC) of the life stages. Our results showed that CTmin improved with repeated exposure in 5th instar larvae, virgin males and females while CCRT improved in 4th, 5th and 6th instar larvae following repeated cold exposure. In addition, the results revealed evidence of cold hardening in this invasive insect pest. However, there was no correlation between cold tolerance and BWC as well as BLC. Our results show capacity for cold hardening and population persistence of S. frugiperda in cooler environments. This suggests potential of fall armyworm (FAW) to withstand considerable harsh winter environments typical of its recently invaded geographic range in sub-Saharan Africa.

Acute cold stress and supercooling capacity of Mediterranean fruit fly populations across the Northern Hemisphere (Middle East and Europe)

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), holds an impressive record of successful invasion events promoted by globalization in fruit trade and human mobility. In addition, C. capitata is gradually expanding its geographic distribution to cooler temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Cold tolerance of C. capitata seems to be a crucial feature that promotes population establishment and hence invasion success. To elucidate the interplay between the invasion process in the northern hemisphere and cold tolerance of geographically isolated populations of C. capitata, we determined (a) the response to acute cold stress survival of adults, and (b) the supercooling capacity (SCP) of immature stages and adults. To assess the phenotypic plasticity in these populations, the effect of acclimation to low temperatures on acute cold stress survival in adults was also examined. The results revealed that survival after acute cold stress was positively related to low temperature acclimation, except for females originating from Thessaloniki (northern Greece). Adults from the warmer environment of South Arava (Israel) were less tolerant after acute cold stress compared with those from Heraklion (Crete, Greece) and Thessaloniki. Plastic responses to cold acclimation were population specific, with the South Arava population being more plastic compared to the two Greek populations. For SCP, the results revealed that there is little to no correlation between SCP and climate variables of the areas where C. capitata populations originated. SCP was much lower than the lowest temperature individuals are likely to experience in their respective habitats. These results set the stage for asking questions regarding the evolutionary adaptive processes that facilitate range expansions of C. capitata into cooler temperate areas of Europe.

Jack, master or both? The invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis performs better than a native coccinellid despite divergent trait plasticity

The plasticity of performance traits can promote the success of biological invasions and therefore, precisely estimating trait reaction norms can help to predict the establishment and persistence of introduced species in novel habitats. Most studies focus only on a reduced set of traits and rarely include trait variability that may be vital to predicting establishment success. Here, using a split-brood full-sib design, we acclimated the globally invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis and a native co-occurring and competing species Cheilomenes lunata to cold, medium and warm temperature regimes, and measured critical thermal limits, life-history traits, and starvation resistance. We used the conceptual framework of “Jack, Master or both” to test predictions regarding performance differences of these two species. The native C. lunata had a higher thermal plasticity of starvation resistance and a higher upper thermal tolerance than H. axyridis. By contrast, H. axyridis had a higher performance than C. lunata for preoviposition period, fecundity and adult emergence from pupae. We combined trait responses, transport duration and propagule pressure to predict the size of the populations established in a novel site following cold, medium and warm scenarios. Although C. lunata initially had a higher performance than the invasive species during transport, more individuals of H. axyridis survived in all simulated environments due to the combined life-history responses, and in particular, higher fecundity. Despite an increased starvation mortality in the warm scenario, given a sufficient propagule size, H. axyridis successfully established. This study underscores how the combination and plasticity of multiple performance traits can strongly influence establishment potential of species introduced into novel environments.

Temperature Sensitivity of Wild-Type, Mutant and Genetic Sexing Strains of Ceratitis capitata

Area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programmes with a sterile insect technique component (SIT) are used to control populations of insect pests worldwide, including the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. SIT consists of the mass rearing, radiation-induced sterilization, handling, and release of sterile insects over the target area. Although SIT can be performed by using both sterile males and females, male-only releases significantly increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of SIT applications. Male-only releases can be achieved by using genetic sexing strains (GSS). The medfly VIENNA 8 GSS is based on two selectable markers, the white pupae (wp) gene, and the temperature-sensitive lethal (tsl) genes. The latter allows the elimination of females by exposing embryos to elevated temperatures. This study assessed the temperature sensitivity of twenty-seven medfly strains through a TSLT. Our results indicated significant differences among the strains regarding egg hatching as well as pupal and adult recovery rates due to the presence or absence of the tsl mutation and/or the genetic background of the strains. Our findings are discussed in the context of SIT applications, the importance of the tsl gene for developing genetic sexing strains, and climate change.

Interaction effects of desiccation and temperature stress resistance across Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) developmental stages

Insects encounter multiple overlapping physiologically challenging environmental stressors in their habitats. As such, the ability of insects to withstand these stressors singly or interactively is fundamental in population persistence. Following its invasion in Africa, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has successfully established and spread in most parts of the continent. However, the mechanisms behind its successful survival across arid and semi-arid African environments are relatively unknown. Here, we investigated the water balance of S. frugiperda across its developmental stages. Given the relationships between desiccation stress, temperature stress and other life history traits in arid ecosystems, we also measured interaction effects across metrics of these traits. Specifically, we measured basal body water content (BWC), water loss rates (WLRs) and the effects of desiccation pre-treatment on critical thermal minimum (CTmin), critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and fecundity. Body water content and WLR increased with age across larval instars. However, the effects of desiccation environments on WLRs were more dramatic for 5th and 6th larval instars. The 5th and 6th instars exhibited highest BWC and magnitude of WLRs plastic responses following desiccation treatment. The effects of desiccation pre-treatment on temperature tolerance were less apparent, only significantly improving CTmin in 2nd and 3rd larval instars and reducing CTmax in 5th instars. In addition, desiccation pre-treatment showed no significant effects on fecundity. These results show that water balance traits differ with developmental stage, while the effects of desiccation pre-treatment were more dramatic and inconclusive. The differential desiccation resistance, high proportional BWC and no desiccation pre-treatment effects on fecundity may help the species survive in arid and semi-arid environments. This information provides insights into understanding S. frugiperda survival under desiccating arid and semi-arid tropical environments and is significant in predicting pest outbreaks.

Geographic dispersion of invasive crop pests: the role of basal, plastic climate stress tolerance and other complementary traits in the tropics

Global pest invasions have significantly increased in recent years. These invasions together with climate warming directly impact agriculture. Tropical climates feature extreme weather events, including high temperatures and seasonal droughts. Thus, successful invasive pests in tropics have to adapt to these extreme climate features. The intrinsic factors relevant to tropical invasion of insects have been explored in many studies, but the knowledge is rather dispersed in contemporary literature. Here, we reviewed the potential biophysical characters of successful invasive pests' adaption to tropical environments including [1] inherent high basal stress tolerance and advanced life-history performances [2], phenotypic plasticity [3], rapid evolution to environmental stress, polyphagy, diverse reproductive strategies and high fecundity. We summarised how these traits and their interactive effects enhance pest invasions in the tropics. Comprehensive understanding of how these characters facilitate invasion improves models for predicting ecological consequences of climate change on invasive pest species for improved pest management.

Effect of climate on strategies of nest and body temperature regulation in paper wasps, Polistes biglumis and Polistes gallicus

Polistes paper wasps are a widespread taxon inhabiting various climates. They build nests in the open without a protective outer layer, which makes them vulnerable to changing temperatures. To better understand the options they have to react to environmental variation and climate change, we here compare the thermoregulatory behavior of Polistes biglumis from cool Alpine climate with Polistes gallicus from warm Mediterranean climate. Behavioral plasticity helps both of them to withstand environmental variation. P. biglumis builds the nests oriented toward east-south-east to gain solar heat of the morning sun. This increases the brood temperature considerably above the ambience, which speeds up brood development. P. gallicus, by contrast, mostly avoids nesting sites with direct insolation, which protects their brood from heat stress on hot days. To keep the brood temperature below 40–42 °C on warm days, the adults of the two species show differential use of their common cooling behaviors. While P. biglumis prefers fanning of cool ambient air onto the nest heated by the sun and additionally cools with water drops, P. gallicus prefers cooling with water drops because fanning of warm ambient air onto a warm nest would not cool it, and restricts fanning to nests heated by the sun.

Non-linear physiological responses to climate change: the case of Ceratitis capitata distribution and abundance in Europe

Understanding how climate change might influence the distribution and abundance of crop pests is fundamental for the development and the implementation of pest management strategies. Here we present and apply a modelling framework assessing the non-linear physiological responses of the life-history strategies of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata, Wiedemann) to temperature. The model is used to explore how climate change might influence the distribution and abundance of this pest in Europe. We estimated the change in the distribution, abundance and activity of this species under current (year 2020) and future (years 2030 and 2050) climatic scenarios. The effects of climate change on the distribution, abundance and activity of C. capitata are heterogeneous both in time and in space. A northward expansion of the species, an increase in the altitudinal limit marking the presence of the species, and an overall increase in population abundance is expected in areas that might become more suitable under a changing climate. On the contrary, stable or reduced population abundances can be expected in areas where climate change leads to equally suitable or less suitable conditions. This heterogeneity reflects the contribution of both spatial variability in the predicted climatic patterns and non-linearity in the responses of the species’ life-history strategies to temperature.

Effects of Thermal Acclimation on the Tolerance of Bactrocera zonata (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Hydric Stress

Insects, similarly to other small terrestrial invertebrates, are particularly susceptible to climatic stress. Physiological adjustments to cope with the environment (i.e., acclimation) together with genetic makeup eventually determine the tolerance of a species to climatic extremes, and constrain its distribution. Temperature and desiccation resistance in insects are both conditioned by acclimation and may be interconnected, particularly for species inhabiting xeric environments. We determined the effect of temperature acclimation on desiccation resistance of the peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata, Tephritidae) – an invasive, polyphagous pest, currently spreading through both xeric and mesic environments in Africa and the Eurasian continent. Following acclimation at three constant temperatures (20, 25, and 30°C), the survival of adult flies deprived of food and water was monitored in extreme dry and humid conditions (<10 and >90% relative humidity, respectively). We found that flies acclimated at higher temperatures were significantly heavier, and contained more lipids and protein. Acclimation temperature significantly and similarly affected the survival of males and females at both high and low humidity conditions. In both cases, flies maintained at 30°C survived longer compared to 20 and 25°C – habituated counterparts. Regardless of the effect of acclimation temperature on survival, overall life expectancy was significantly shortened when flies were assayed under desiccating conditions. Additionally, our experiments indicate no significant difference in survival patterns between males and females, and that acclimation temperature had similar effects after both short (5–10 days) and long (11–20 days) acclimation periods. We conclude that acclimation at 30°C prolongs the survival of B. zonata, regardless of ambient humidity levels. Temperature probably affected survival through modulating feeding and metabolism, allowing for accumulation of larger energetic reserves, which in turn, promoted a greater ability to resist starvation, and possibly desiccation as well. Our study set the grounds for understanding the phenotypic plasticity of B. zonata from the hydric perspective, and for further evaluating the invasion potential of this pest.

Limited plasticity in thermally tolerant ectotherm populations: evidence for a trade-off

Many species face extinction risks owing to climate change, and there is an urgent need to identify which species' populations will be most vulnerable. Plasticity in heat tolerance, which includes acclimation or hardening, occurs when prior exposure to a warmer temperature changes an organism's upper thermal limit. The capacity for thermal acclimation could provide protection against warming, but prior work has found few generalizable patterns to explain variation in this trait. Here, we report the results of, to our knowledge, the first meta-analysis to examine within-species variation in thermal plasticity, using results from 20 studies (19 species) that quantified thermal acclimation capacities across 78 populations. We used meta-regression to evaluate two leading hypotheses. The climate variability hypothesis predicts that populations from more thermally variable habitats will have greater plasticity, while the trade-off hypothesis predicts that populations with the lowest heat tolerance will have the greatest plasticity. Our analysis indicates strong support for the trade-off hypothesis because populations with greater thermal tolerance had reduced plasticity. These results advance our understanding of variation in populations' susceptibility to climate change and imply that populations with the highest thermal tolerance may have limited phenotypic plasticity to adjust to ongoing climate warming.

Water immersion tolerance by larval instars of stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, L1758 (Diptera: Muscidae) impairs the fitness performance of their subsequent stages

BACKGROUND

In holometabolous insects, environmental factors experienced in pre-imaginal life stages affect the life-history traits within that stage and can also influence subsequent life stages. Here, I assessed tolerance to water immersion by the larval instars of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and its impact on the life-history traits of their subsequent life stages.

RESULTS

After submerging the three larval instars of S. calcitrans in distilled water, I found that the first instar larvae remained active for longer as compared to the second and third instar larvae. Also, the first instar larvae took a longer period to recover from the stress-induced immobility when removed from the water and returned to ambient temperature. When I followed the development of individuals of each larval instar that survived from water immersion, I found that their developmental time, weight, pupation percentage, adult emergence percentage and adult weight were negatively affected by this stressor. However, the weight of S. calcitrans adults developed from immersed first larval instar individuals was not affected by water immersion whereas their counterparts developed from immersed second and third larval instars had lower body weight. This suggests that in S. calcitrans, water immersion stress at the earlier stage is less detrimental than that experienced at late stages.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a comparative overview of the fitness consequences associated with water immersion stress during S. calcitrans larval ontogeny. The results prove that the fitness shift induced by water immersion in S. calcitrans is stage-specific. My results illustrate the importance of considering each larval instar when assessing the impact of environmental factors on holometabolous insect performance as these may be decoupled by metamorphosis.

Offseason Medfly Trapping Using Makeshift Fruit-Based and Wine Vinegar Baits

Development of cost-effective traps and attractants is important for sustainable pest management. In the case of the Medfly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, a worldwide pest of fruit production, recent interest in development of mass trapping strategies and low-cost easy-to-get artisanal traps for resource poor grower use has prompted renewed interest in research on attractants and traps. Additionally, such interest is also rooted on the need for effective female attractants to monitor wild population dynamics under male-only sterile fly releases. Response of wild flies and sterile males to makeshift traps (modified polyethylene terephthalate (pet) bottles) baited with fruit juice and wine vinegar dilutions with and without the addition of sugar revealed that a 50% dilution of wine vinegar or sweetened orange juice were more attractive than the standard Torula baits during the offseason (after harvest) in a peach orchard in arid irrigated valleys of San Juan Argentina. Such results suggest that volatiles from orange peel and juice are good candidates for development of Medfly attractants, and that pet bottles baited with sweetened orange juice and wine vinegar may be used by small growers and homeowners as low-cost-effective traps for Medfly control. Our results also suggest that Medfly response to food-based and fruit-based volatiles may be seasonally dynamic, a finding with important pest management implications.

The Sterile Insect Technique: Success and Perspectives in the Neotropics

The sterile insect technique (SIT), an environmentally friendly means of control, is currently used against plant, animal, and human pests under the area-wide integrated pest management. It consists in the mass production, sterilization, and release of insects in an affected area where sterile males mate with wild females leading to no reproduction. Here, we review SIT in the Neotropics and focus on particular recent successful cases of eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), as well as effective programs used against the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew), the New World screwworm fly Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel)), and the Cactus moth Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). We examine when SIT does not work and innovations that have made SIT more efficient and also highlight complimentary techniques that can be used in conjunction. We address potential candidate species that could be controlled through SIT, for example Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken. Finally, we consider the impact of climate change in the context of the use of the SIT against these pests. Given the recent dramatic decline in insect biodiversity, investing in environmentally friendly means of pest control should be a priority. We conclude that SIT should be promoted in the region, and leadership and political will is needed for continued success of SIT in the Neotropics.

Time course of acclimation of critical thermal limits in two springtail species (Collembola)

Critical thermal limits are one of the most important sources of information on the possible impacts of climate change on soil microarthropods. The extent of plasticity of tolerance limits can provide valuable insights about the likely responses of ectotherms to environmental change. Although many studies have investigated various aspects of the acclimatory response of thermal limits to temperature changes in arthropods, the number of studies focusing on the temporal dynamics of this plastic response is relatively small. Collembola, one of the key microarthropods groups in almost all soil ecosystems around the world, have been the focus of several thermal acclimation studies. Yet the time course of acclimation and its reversal have not been widely studied in this group. Here we investigated the time course of acclimation of critical thermal maxima (CT_max) and minima (CT_min) of two springtail species. We exposed a Cryptopygus species from temperate southern Australia to high and low temperature conditions and Mucrosomia caeca from Sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island to high temperature conditions. Upper thermal limits in both species were found to be highly constrained, as CT_max did not show substantial response to high and low temperature acclimation both in the Cryptopygus species and M. caeca, whereas CT_min showed significant responses to high and low temperature conditions. The acclimation begins to stabilize in approximately seven days in all treatments except for the acclimation of CT_min under high temperature conditions, where the pattern of change suggests that this acclimation might take longer to be completed. Although reversal of this acclimation also begins to stabilize under 7 days, re-acclimation was relatively slow as we did not observe a very clear settling point in 2 of the 3 re-acclimation treatments. The observed limits on the plasticity of CT_max indicate that both of these species may be very limited in their ability to respond plastically to short-term rapid changes in temperature (i.e temperature extremes).

Climate stress resistance in male Queensland fruit fly varies among populations of diverse geographic origins and changes during domestication

Background

The highly polyphagous Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni Froggatt) expanded its range substantially during the twentieth century and is now the most economically important insect pest of Australian horticulture, prompting intensive efforts to develop a Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) control program. Using a “common garden” approach, we have screened for natural genetic variation in key environmental fitness traits among populations from across the geographic range of this species and monitored changes in those traits induced during domestication.

Results

Significant variation was detected between the populations for heat, desiccation and starvation resistance and wing length (as a measure of body size). Desiccation resistance was correlated with both starvation resistance and wing length. Bioassay data for three resampled populations indicate that much of the variation in desiccation resistance reflects persistent, inherited differences among the populations. No latitudinal cline was detected for any of the traits and only weak correlations were found with climatic variables for heat resistance and wing length. All three stress resistance phenotypes and wing length changed significantly in certain populations with ongoing domestication but there was also a strong population by domestication interaction effect for each trait.

Conclusions

Ecotypic variation in heat, starvation and desiccation resistance was detected in Australian Qfly populations, and these stress resistances diminished rapidly during domestication. Our results indicate a need to select source populations for SIT strains which have relatively high climatic stress resistance and to minimise loss of that resistance during domestication.

The Past and Current Potential Distribution of the Fruit Fly Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera: Tephritidae) in South America

Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) is an agricultural pest of wide geographic distribution infesting a vast list of host species in America. However, little is known about the past geographic distribution of this species. In this study, we investigated the potential past and current distribution of species in South America. In this sense, the MaxEnt algorithm was used to model the ecological niche of the species in the past (Last Interglcial Maximum; Last Glacial Maximum) and current periods. The results suggested that under the current climatic conditions, A. obliqua showed high environmental suitability to become established in most South American countries, especially in Brazil. The lowest suitability indices were observed in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. The past analysis for Last Glacial Maximum revealed that there was no significant change in the distribution potential of the species when compared to the current model; however, in the Last Interglacial Maximum period, there was a large reduction in the areas of suitability for the species when compared to the current and Last Glacial Maximum distribution models. The analysis also revealed vast areas of refuges for the species mainly on the coast of Brazil, as well as Venezuela, Bolivia, Guyana, and Surinam. The results presented here may be useful for future phylogeographical studies in order to test if the refuge areas concentrate greater genetic diversity for this species. In addition, our study provides important information for understanding the current dynamics of A. obliqua, which may be useful for control programs in places where this species can become a pest.

Exploring the role of host specialisation and oxidative stress in interspecific lifespan variation in subtropical tephritid flies

In herbivorous insects, the degree of host specialisation may be one ecological factor that shapes lifespan. Because host specialists can only exploit a limited number of plants, their lifecycle should be synchronised with host phenology to allow reproduction when suitable hosts are available. For species not undergoing diapause or dormancy, one strategy to achieve this could be evolving long lifespans. From a physiological perspective, oxidative stress could explain how lifespan is related to degree of host specialisation. Oxidative stress caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) might help underpin ageing (the Free Radical Theory of Aging (FRTA)) and mediate differences in lifespan. Here, we investigated how lifespan is shaped by the degree of host specialisation, phylogeny, oxidative damage accumulation and antioxidant protection in eight species of true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). We found that lifespan was not constrained by species relatedness or oxidative damage (arguing against the FRTA); nevertheless, average lifespan was positively associated with antioxidant protection. There was no lifespan difference between generalist and specialist species, but most of the tephritids studied had long lifespans in comparison with other dipterans. Long lifespan may be a trait under selection in fruit-feeding insects that do not use diapause.

Differential response to larval crowding of a long- and a short-lived medfly biotype

Response of endophytic fruit fly species (Tephritidae) to larval crowding is a form of scramble competition that may affect important life history traits of adults, such as survival and reproduction. Recent empirical evidence demonstrates large differences in adult life history traits, especially longevity, among Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata; "medfly") biotypes obtained from different regions of the world. However, whether the evolution of long lifespan is associated with response to stress induced by larval crowding has not been fully elucidated. We investigated, under constant laboratory conditions, the response of a short- and a long-lived medfly biotypes to stress induced by larval crowding. Survival and development of larvae and pupae and the size of resulting pupae were recorded. The lifespan and age-specific egg production patterns of the obtained adults were recorded. Our findings reveal that increased larval density reduced immature survival (larvae and pupae) in the short-lived biotype but had rather neutral effects on the longed-lived one. Only larvae of the long-lived biotype were capable of prolonging their developmental duration under the highest crowding regime to successfully pupate and emerge as adults. Response of emerging adults to larvae crowding conditions was similar in the two medfly biotypes. Those individuals emerging from high larval density regimes had reduced longevity and fecundity. Long-lived biotype individuals, however, appeared to suffer a higher cost in longevity compared with the short-lived one. The importance of our findings to understand the evolution of long lifespan is discussed.

Age, sex, adult and larval diet shape starvation resistance in the Mediterranean fruit fly: an ecological and gerontological perspective

The ability of an animal to withstand periods of food deprivation is a key driver of invasion success (biodiversity), adaptation to new conditions, and a crucial determinant of senescence in populations. Starvation resistance (SR) is a highly plastic trait and varies in relation to environmental and genetic variables. However, beyond Drosophila, SR has been studied poorly. Exploiting an interesting model species in invasion and ageing studies-the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata)- we investigated how age, food and gender, shape SR in this species. We measured SR in adults feeding in rich and poor dietary conditions, which had been reared either on natural hosts or artificial larval diet, for every single day across their lifespan. We defined which factor is the most significant determinant of SR and we explored potential links between SR and ageing. We found that SR declines with age, and that age-specific patterns are shaped in relation to adult and larval diet. Females exhibited higher SR than males. Age and adult diet were the most significant determinants of SR, followed by gender and the larval diet. Starvation resistance proved to be a weak predictor of functional ageing. Possible underlying mechanisms, ecological and gerontological significance and potential applied benefits are discussed.

A transcriptional and functional analysis of heat hardening in two invasive fruit fly species, Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera correcta

Many insects have the capacity to increase their resistance to high temperatures by undergoing heat hardening at nonlethal temperatures. Although this response is well established, its molecular underpinnings have only been investigated in a few species where it seems to relate at least partly to the expression of heat shock protein (Hsp) genes. Here, we studied the mechanism of hardening and associated transcription responses in larvae of two invasive fruit fly species in China, Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera correcta. Both species showed hardening which increased resistance to 45°C, although the more widespread B. dorsalis hardened better at higher temperatures compared to B. correcta which hardened better at lower temperatures. Transcriptional analyses highlighted expression changes in a number of genes representing different biochemical pathways, but these changes and pathways were inconsistent between the two species. Overall B. dorsalis showed expression changes in more genes than B. correcta. Hsp genes tended to be upregulated at a hardening temperature of 38°C in both species, while at 35°C many Hsp genes tended to be upregulated in B. correcta but not B. dorsalis. One candidate gene (the small heat shock protein gene, Hsp23) with a particularly high level of upregulation was investigated functionally using RNA interference (RNAi). We found that RNAi may be more efficient in B. dorsalis, in which suppression of the expression of this gene removed the hardening response, whereas in B. correcta RNAi did not decrease the hardening response. The different patterns of gene expression in these two species at the two hardening temperatures highlight the diverse mechanisms underlying hardening even in closely related species. These results may provide target genes for future control efforts against such pest species.

Adult diet does not compensate for impact of a poor larval diet on stress resistance in a tephritid fruit fly

Adult holometabolous insects may derive metabolic resources from either larval or adult feeding, but little is known of whether adult diets can compensate for deficiencies in the larval diet in terms of stress resistance. We investigated how stress resistance is affected and compensated for by diet across life stages in the marula fruit fly Ceratitis cosyra (Diptera: Tephritidae). Larvae were fed diets containing either 8% torula yeast, the standard diet used to rear this species, or 1% yeast (low protein content similar to known host fruit). At emergence, adults from each larval diet were tested for initial mass, water content, body composition, and desiccation and starvation resistance or they were allocated to one of two adult diet treatments: sucrose only, or sucrose and yeast hydrolysate. The same assays were then repeated after 10 days of adult feeding. Development on a low protein larval diet led to lower body mass and improved desiccation and starvation resistance in newly emerged adults, even though adults from the high protein larval diet had the highest water content. Adult feeding decreased desiccation or starvation resistance, regardless of the diet provided. Irrespective of larval diet history, newly emerged, unfed adults had significantly higher dehydration tolerance than those that were fed. Lipid reserves played a role in starvation resistance. There was no evidence for metabolic water from stored nutrients extending desiccation resistance. Our findings show the possibility of a nutrient-poor larval environment leading to correlated improvement in adult performance, at least in the short term.

Differential sensitivity of bees to urbanization-driven changes in body temperature and water content

Predicting how species will respond to climate change and land use modification is essential for conserving organisms and maintaining ecosystem services. Thermal tolerances have been shown to have strong predictive power, but the potential importance of desiccation tolerances have been less explored in some species. Here, we report measurements of thermal and desiccation tolerances and safety margins across a gradient of urbanization, for three bee species: silky striped sweat bees (Agapostemon sericeus), western honeybees (Apis mellifera), and common eastern bumblebees (Bombus impatiens). We found significant differences in thermal tolerances, measured as critical thermal maximum (CT_max), amongst species. Bumblebees were the least sensitive to warming, with a higher CT_max (53.1 °C) than sweat bees (50.3 °C) and honeybees (49.1 °C). We also found significant differences in desiccation tolerances, measured as critical water content (CWC), between all species. Sweat bees were the least sensitive to desiccation, with the lowest CWC (51.7%), followed by bumblebees (63.7%) and honeybees (74.2%). Moreover, bumblebees and sweat bees were closer to their CT_max in more urbanized locations, while honeybees were closer to their CWC. These results suggest that bees have differential sensitivities to environmental change and managing for diverse bee communities in the face of global change may require mitigating both changes in temperature and water.