Research Project: Biological Control and Integrated Management of Invasive Arthropod Pests from Europe, Asia, and Africa

Location: European Biological Control Laboratory

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Sterile but sexy: assessing the mating competitiveness of irradiated Bagrada hilaris males for the development of a Sterile Insect Technique - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mainardi, C.E., Peccerillo, C., Musmeci, S., Paolini, A., Sforza, R., Cemmi, A., Di Sarcina, I., Anfora, G., Porretta, D., Cristofaro, M. 2025. Sterile but sexy: assessing the mating competitiveness of irradiated Bagrada hilaris males for the development of a Sterile Insect Technique. Insects. 16: 391. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040391.

Fly in the ointment: Host specificity challenges for Botanophila turcica, a candidate agent for the biological control of saffron thistle in Australia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Lesieur, V., Thomann, T., Jourdan, M., Kashefi, J., Bon, M. 2025. Fly in the ointment: Host specificity challenges for Botanophila turcica, a candidate agent for the biological control of saffron thistle in Australia. Insects. 16(4): 357. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040357.

Revisiting the History and Biogeography of Bactrocera oleae and Other Olive-Feeding Fruit Flies in Africa and Asia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Teixeira Da Costa, L., Bon, M., Van Ash, B. 2024. Revisiting the History and Biogeography of Bactrocera oleae and Other Olive-Feeding Fruit Flies in Africa and Asia. Insects. 16(1):30. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16010030.

Mosquito management strategies in European rice fields: environmental and public health perspectives - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gonzalez, M.A., Chaskopoulou, A., Georgiou, L., Frontera, E., Caceres, F.J., Masia, M., Gutierrez-Clemente, R., L'Ambert, G., Osorio, H., Seixas, G., Delfilippo, F., Calsolari, M., Mosca, A., Figuerola, J. 2024. Mosquito management strategies in European rice fields: environmental and public health perspectives. Environmental Research. 370: 122534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122534.

Telenomus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitizing Pentatomidae (Hemiptera) in the Palearctic region - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tortorici, F., Orru, B., Timokhov, A.V., Bout, A., Bon, M., Tavella, L., Talamas, E.J. 2024. Telenomus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) parasitizing Pentatomidae (Hemiptera) in the Palearctic region. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 97: 591-620. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.127112.

Toward a push–pull strategy against invasive snails using chemical and visual stimuli - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kosciolek, C., Desurmont, G., Thomann, T., Zamprogna, A., Caron, V. 2024. Toward a push–pull strategy against invasive snails using chemical and visual stimuli. Scientific Reports. 14:11511. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62225-6.

Sand Fly larvae are capable of positive chemotaxis: A proof of concept study using Phlebotomus papatasi as a model species - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tsikolia, M., Tsafrakidou, P., Gkektsian, A., Miaoulis, M., Rowland, T., Chaskopoulou, A. 2024. Sand Fly larvae are capable of positive chemotaxis: A proof of concept study using Phlebotomus papatasi as a model species. Journal of Medical Entomology. 61(4)869-876. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjae072.

Mosquitoes harvested from rice-fields as alternative protein ingredient in broiler feed: Insights from the first pilot study - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tsafrakidou, P., Papoti, V., Giannakakis, E., Christaki, A., Miaoulis, M., Oppert, B.S., Cohnstaedt, L.W., Arsi, K., Donoghue, A.M., Vergos, E., Zinoviadou, K., Chaskopoulou, A. 2024. Mosquitoes harvested from rice-fields as alternative protein ingredient in broiler feed: Insights from the first pilot study. Journal of Economic Entomology. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae096.

Methods and guidelines for the cultivation of monoxenous trypanosomatids: a minireview - (Review Article)
Tannieres, M., Breugnot, D., Bon, M., Grodowitz, M.J. 2023. Methods and guidelines for the cultivation of monoxenous trypanosomatids: a minireview. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 108047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2023.108047.

Anticipating the arrival of a new stinkbug pest in continental Europe: what can we learn from preliminary host specificity tests for biocontrol? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Martel, G., Hogg, B.N., Sforza, R.F. 2024. Anticipating the arrival of a new stinkbug pest in continental Europe: what can we learn from preliminary host specificity tests for biocontrol?. Entomologia Generalis. 44:191-199. https://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2023/2233.

The Tabanidae (Diptera) of the Greek islands and Cyprus: An annotated checklist with remarks on ecology, zoogeography, and new records on the East Mediterranean fauna - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Muller, G., Prozorov, A.M., Traore, M.M., Regay, E., Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Kline, D.L., Chaskopoulou, A., Volkova, J., Diarra, R., Petrany, G., Schneider, T., Beck, R.H., Ignatev, N., Yakovlev, R.V., Cui, L., Schlein, Y. 2023. The Tabanidae (Diptera) of the Greek islands and Cyprus: An annotated checklist with remarks on ecology, zoogeography, and new records on the East Mediterranean fauna. Ecologica Montenegrina. 67:45-65. https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2023.67.7.

Using the irradiation technique to predict the sperm competition mechanism in Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): Insights for a future management strategy - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mainardi, C., Peccerillo, C., Paolini, A., Cemmi, A., Sforza, R.F., Musmeci, S., Cristofaro, M. 2023. Using the irradiation technique to predict the sperm competition mechanism in Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae): Insights for a future management strategy. Insects. 14,681. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14080681.

Florivory is an alternative but suboptimal diet for an invasive leaf-feeding beetle - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Desurmont, G., Blanchet, A. 2023. Florivory is an alternative but suboptimal diet for an invasive leaf-feeding beetle. Ecological Entomology. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13237.

Development, survivorship and reproduction of Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), under eight constant temperatures - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Martel, G., Sforza, R.F. 2023. Development, survivorship and reproduction of Gryon aetherium Talamas (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), an egg parasitoid of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), under eight constant temperatures. Biological Control. 180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105185.

The nutrient composition of three mosquito species, Aedes caspius, Anopheles hyrcanus and Culex pipiens, harvested from nature - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Christaki, A., Zinoviadou, K., Papoti, V., Miaoulis, M., Chaskopoulou, A. 2022. The nutrient composition of three mosquito species, Aedes caspius, Anopheles hyrcanus and Culex pipiens, harvested from nature. Sustainability. 14,13852. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113852.

Sterile Insect Technique Applied to a Pentatomid Pest Species: Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Fecundity, Fertility and Longevity of the bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cristofaro, M., Sforza, R., Roselli, G., Paolini, A., Cemmi, A., Musmeci, S., Anfora, G., Massoni, V., Grodowitz, M.J. 2022. Sterile Insect Technique Applied to a Pentatomid Pest Species: Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Fecundity, Fertility and Longevity of the bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Insects. 13(9), 787. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13090787.

Submission of DNA barcode of an important biological control agent of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys - (Database / Dataset)
Bon, M., Hoelmer, K.A., Guermache, F. 2022. Submission of DNA barcode of an important biological control agent of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys. Genbank. accn OP136000.

West Nile Virus occurrence and ecological niche modeling in wild bird species and mosquito vectors; an active surveillance program in the Peloponnese Region of Greece - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sofia, M., Giannakopoulos, A., Giantsis, I., Touloudi, A., Birtsas, P., Papageorgiou, K., Athanasakopoulou, Z., Chatzopoulos, D., Vrioni, G., Galamatis, D., Diamantopoulos, V., Mpellou, S., Petridou, E., Kritas, S., Palli, M., Georgakopoulos, G., Vassiliki, S., Athanassios, T., Chaskopoulou, A., Charalambos, B. 2022. West Nile Virus occurrence and ecological niche modeling in wild bird species and mosquito vectors; an active surveillance program in the Peloponnese Region of Greece. Microorganisms. 10(7),1328. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10071328.

Surveillance of invasive mosquito species in islands with focus on potential vectors of zoonotic diseases - (Book / Chapter)
Barcelo, C., Blanda, V., Del Castillo-Remiro, A., Chaskopoulou, A., Connely, C.R., Ferrero-Gomez, L., La Russa, F., Parker-Crockett, C., Serafin-Perez, I., Sousa, C.A., Torina, A., Vontas, J., Miranda, M.A. 2022. Surveillance of invasive mosquito species in islands with focus on potential vectors of zoonotic diseases. Book Chapter. In: Ecology of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes to wildlife. 7: 179-207. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-931-2_10.

Tracking Asian tiger mosquito introductions in the Netherlands using Nextstrain - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ibáñez-Justicia, A., Van De Vossenberg, B., Warbroek, T., Teekema, S., Jacobs, F., Zhao, T., Bueno-Mari, R., Aranda, C., Flacio, E., Chaskopoulou, A., Albieri, A., Stroo, A. 2022. Tracking Asian tiger mosquito introductions in the Netherlands using Nextstrain. Journal of the Mosquito Control Association. 40 (1):11-21. https://doi.org/10.52004/JEMCA2021.0006.

Integrative taxonomy of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
De Lillo, E., Marini, F., Cristofaro, M., Valenzano, D., Petanovic, R., Vidovic, B., Cvrkovic, T., Bon, M. 2022. Integrative taxonomy of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a potential biological control agent for tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). Insects. 13(5), 489. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050489.

Submission of nuclear and kinetoplast sequences of trypanosomatids associated to two quarantine populations of the invasive stinkbug Bagrada hilaris - (Database / Dataset)
Tannieres, M., Bon, M., Grodowitz, M.J. 2024. Submission of nuclear and kinetoplast sequences of trypanosomatids associated to two quarantine populations of the invasive stinkbug Bagrada hilaris. Genbank. OM938406 to OM938451.

Molecular detection of wasps parasitizing nymphal cattle fever ticks towards the study of temporal pattern of tick-parasitoid interactions - (Proceedings)
Bon, M., Kashefi, J., Guermache, F., Mediannikov, O. 2022. Molecular detection of wasps parasitizing nymphal cattle fever ticks towards the study of temporal pattern of tick-parasitoid interactions. International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods. 5.6-5.9. http://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.19349348.

Exploration in Vietnam for parasitoids of cattle fever tick - (Proceedings)
Nguyen, L.T., Do, T.T., Duong, N.N., Dao, T.H., Kashefi, J., Goolsby, J. 2022. Exploration in Vietnam for parasitoids of cattle fever tick. International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods. 5.10-5.12.

Can estivation preferences be used to develop novel management tools against invasive mediterranean snails? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hanache, P., Thomann, T., Caron, V., Desurmont, G. 2021. Can estivation preferences be used to develop novel management tools against invasive mediterranean snails?. Insects. 12:1118. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12121118.

VectorMap-GR: A local scale operational management tool for entomological monitoring, to support vector control activities in Greece and the Mediterranean Basin - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fotakis, E., Orfanos, M., Couleris, T., Stamatelopoulos, P., Tsiropoulos, Z., Kampouraki, A., Kioulos, I., Mavridis, K., Chaskopoulou, A., Koliopoulos, G., Vontas, J. 2021. VectorMap-GR: A local scale operational management tool for entomological monitoring, to support vector control activities in Greece and the Mediterranean Basin. Current Research in Parasitology and Vector Borne Diseases. 1, 100053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100053.

Evaluation of three cold storage methods of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the effects of host deprivation for an optimized rearing of the biocontrol candidate Gryon gonikopalense (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Martel, G., Sforza, R. 2021. Evaluation of three cold storage methods of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and the effects of host deprivation for an optimized rearing of the biocontrol candidate Gryon gonikopalense (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Biological Control. 163: 104759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104759.

The diversity of biological control agents - (Book / Chapter)

Molecular Identification of Trissolcus japonicus, Parasitoid of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, by Species-Specific PCR - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chen, M.N., Santander, R.D., Talamas, E.J., Jentsch, P.J., Bon, M., Acimovic, S.G. 2021. Molecular Identification of Trissolcus japonicus, Parasitoid of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, by Species-Specific PCR. Insects. 12,467-482. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12050467.

How an egg parasitoid responds to an unusual stinkbug oviposition behavior: the case of Gryon gonikopalense Sharma (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Bagrada hilaris(Burmeister) (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Martel, G., Scirpoli, F., Sforza, R. 2022. How an egg parasitoid responds to an unusual stinkbug oviposition behavior: the case of Gryon gonikopalense Sharma (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Bagrada hilaris(Burmeister) (Hemiptera:Pentatomidae). Entomologia Generalis. 42(3)457-470. http://doi.org/10.1127/entomologia/2021/1256.

Parasitoids' Ecology and Evolution Editorial - Population and Evolutionary Dynamics - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wanjiru Clarke, C., Calatayud, P., Sforza, R.F., Ngeh Ndemah, R., Nyamukondiwa, C. 2019. Parasitoids' Ecology and Evolution Editorial - Population and Evolutionary Dynamics. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 7:485. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00485.