Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L. 1753) is a plant of great cultural, economic and ecological importance globally. By its structure and function maintains a wide variety of animal species. In Latin America, their crops are being affected by the disease called ‘frosty pod rot of cocoa’ caused by the fungus Moniliophthora roreri (Cif & Par) Evans. 2007, considered as the most destructive disease that attacks cocoa and kills it. The increase of temperature or precipitation because of warming global climate change could favor the fungus expansion to areas previously unaffected. We modeled the potential distribution for M. roreri and T. cocoa using MaxEnt and circulation model general HADCM3, A2a scenario with climatic variables for the present and the future (5, 35 and 65 years), in order to find sites suitable for monitoring to prevent the fungus spread, and to identify which variables determine the presence of M. roreri. The suitable areas for both species overlap from present to 2050, while they are different in 2080. M. roreri could extend from southern Ecuador to Venezuela, spread to westernmost Amazon, southwest Peruvian Amazon, and to the Peruvian-Bolivian border and the adjacent areas of Brazil. In both taxa the most influential variable seems to be precipitation of the wettest month. The Brazilian Amazon is the areas of South America with the largest plantations of T. cocoa, and therefore the most sensitive to the presence and proliferation of the fungus. For this reason we recommend to set up a monitoring system allowing early warning and control of incipient outbreaks that could eventually destroy Bolivian and Brazilian cocoa plantations.

Blowflies are vectors of microorganisms and human pathogens, and their maggots cause myiasis in vertebrates and infest and spoil meat and fish products. Essential oils (EOs) from spices were proven to be a safer and more sustainable alternative to synthetic insecticides for the control of blowflies and are suitable for protecting food from such pests. However, some EOs are not acceptable for environmental or topical applications due to their strong, unpleasant odour. In this study, we measured the acute toxicity and the repellence of two EOs extracted from the Andean plants Aloysia citrodora Palau and Bursera graveolens (Kunth) Triana and Planch., both known for their pleasant odour, against the blue blowfly Calliphora vomitoria (L.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). We also compared their bioactivity with that of the Allium sativum L. EO, which is very effective but bad-smelling. The A. citrodora EO was mainly rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, the most abundant of which were geranial (26.8%) and neral (21.0%). The B. graveolens EO was chiefly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons, mostly represented by limonene (46.2%). According to the sensory description, the best odour profile was associated with the A. citrodora EO, while the olfactory expression of the EO from B. graveolens was negatively affected by a strong odour of “mouldy lemon”. The behavioural test showed that the A. citrodora EO was more repellent than that of A. sativum and, on the contrary, that the B. graveolens EO was attractive. The toxicity tests showed that the EOs of both Andean plants have a clear toxic effect on the C. vomitoria eggs and adults. In terms of ovicidal activity, there were no significant differences among the effects of the three tested EOs. On the adult flies, the toxicity of the two EOs of the Andean plants was much lower than that of A. sativum (LC₅₀ fumigation = 1.86 μL EO L⁻¹ air; LC₅₀ ingestion = 8.10 μL EO mL⁻¹ gel) both by fumigation (LC₅₀ = 23.66 and 25.30 μL EO L⁻¹ air for A. citrodora and B. graveolens, respectively) and ingestion (LC₅₀ = 36.65 and 44.97 μL EO mL⁻¹ gel for A. citrodora and B. graveolens, respectively), while, by contact, the A. citrodora EO (LD₅₀ = 0.27 μL EO insect⁻¹) was more toxic than the A. sativum EO (LD₅₀ = 0.46 μL EO insect⁻¹).

The integration of essential oils (EOs) with biological control agents offers a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides, though compatibility remains unclear. This study evaluated nutmeg (Myristica fragrans, NM), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, CIN), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum, CL) specifically on S. oryzae and L. distinguendus. Olfactory and behavioral responses to whole EOs and major constituents (myristicin, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol) were analyzed using the area preference method (APM) and two-choice behavioral bioassay (TCB), with confirmation by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In S. oryzae, APM showed attraction to all three EOs (PI = 0.14 to 0.56). A paradox emerged, however, as single constituents were mostly repellent (eugenol: PI = −0.58 to −0.70; cinnamaldehyde: PI shifted from 0.16 to −0.20), underscoring the complexity of EO mixtures where multiple compounds act jointly rather than individually. In contrast, L. distinguendus strongly avoided CL and CIN in TCB, with fewer than 30% of parasitoids choosing the EO-treated side (χ² test, p < 0.05). CIN therefore demonstrated selective potential, simultaneously attracting S. oryzae while repelling L. distinguendus. These findings highlight the dual role of EOs as botanical pest control tools, while stressing the need to consider non-target effects before practical application.

La cuenca hidrográfica del río Mira en Ecuador posee una alta biodiversidad, sin embargo, el uso intensivo del suelo ha ocasionado cambios en el paisaje y ha generado alteraciones en la distribución de especies. El presente estudio evalúa los patrones espaciales del paisaje boscoso y sus impactos en la distribución de Dipsas elegans (Boulenger, 1986) mediante mapas temáticos de uso y cobertura de suelo derivados de imágenes satelitales Landsat de los años 1991, 2000 y 2017, y la generación de métricas para la evaluación del paisaje boscoso. Adicionalmente, se analizó la distribución potencial de D. elegans usando el modelo de máxima entropía (MaxEnt). Los resultados obtenidos evidenciaron que existió una pérdida del bosque de 235.726,96 ha (10,28%) con una tasa de deforestación anual del 0,44%. Además, se registró un incremento del número de parches (1.249-1.741) y su densidad (0,23-0,33), lo que demuestra fragmentación del bosque nativo debido al avance del uso de suelo agrícola y la deforestación. D. elegans se distribuye principalmente en la cuenca media del río Mira, la cual registra la presencia de bosque nativo y otras coberturas con un área de 104.747 ha (19,6%). La pérdida de hábitat de D. elegans, respecto al modelo de distribución fue de 33.859,33 ha (32,32%), lo que demuestra que la especie es susceptible a la reducción del tamaño de parche, efectos borde y aislamiento de hábitat.

Stored grain pests like Sitophilus oryzae pose significant challenges to food security and quality, necessitating eco-friendly pest management strategies. This study investigates the combined efficacy of reduced doses of diatomaceous earth (DE) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) essential oil (EO) as an alternative to conventional pesticides. Laboratory trials evaluated the effectiveness of the treatments—DE, EO, and a mixture of both (at halved doses)—against S. oryzae in wheat, alongside their impact on bread quality and sensory attributes. Results showed that DE and the DE + EO at halved doses combination achieved over 82% pest mortality, comparable to standard DE doses but with reduced mechanical and environmental drawbacks. EO alone demonstrated limited insecticidal activity. Bread made from treated wheat retained high sensory acceptability, with DE enhancing elasticity and crumb aroma. EO-enriched bread exhibited a complex aromatic profile due to methyl chavicol, though with reduced crumb elasticity and a slightly bitter aftertaste. Shelf-life assessments indicated that DE and DE + EO at halved doses extended mold-free storage by one day compared to untreated bread. These findings highlight the potential of combining DE and EO at reduced doses to manage stored grain pests sustainably, aligning with integrated pest management (IPM) and organic farming principles, while preserving the technological and sensory qualities of derived food products.