The spongy moth (formerly known as a gypsy moth), Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a polyphagous pest that defoliates various species of trees in the genera Populus, Salix, Quercus, Acer and Pinus. Egg masses of Asian spongy moths (Lymantria dispar asiatica) were obtained from five geographically distinct locations in China (Chengdu, Xifeng, Heilongjiang, Kuduer and Longhua regions) and were carried to the lab for incubation and rearing larvae up to adult emergence. The aim was to see how locality, age and mating status influenced the flying activity of female Asian spongy moths. The findings demonstrate that age significantly affects L. dispar asiatica flying activity, with flight period and distance decreasing dramatically as age increases. Locality also significantly impacts flight ability, and mating status does not affect the L. dispar asiatica female flight ability (p > 0.05). The maximum speed was observed for females from Xifeng (7.19 ± 0.34 km/h). The females from Heilongjiang were recorded as having the maximum average speed (2.35 ± 0.08 km/h). Females from Xifeng exhibited the maximum flight duration and distance (0.94 ± 0.04 h and 1.87 ± 0.18 km). Morphological features, i.e., thorax width (cm) and wing loading, significantly influenced the L. dispar asiatica flight ability (R² = 0.93 and R² = −0.98). The overall pattern observed for female L. dispar asiatica flight duration was Xifeng > Kuder > Chengdu > Heilongjiang > Longhua, and for flight distance, it was Xifeng > Longhua > Heilongjiang > Kuder > Chengdu. This research offers detailed information on the dispersion rate of Spongy moths in a known or newly introduced habitat, which can help us limit the spread of this polyphagous pest.

Variation in the potential distribution of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) globally and in Pakistan under current and future climatic conditions | Umer Hayat, Haiwen Qin, Jiaqiang Zhao, Muhammad Akram, Juan Shi, Zou Ya | Agricultural Journals

A precise evaluation of the risk of establishing insect pests is essential for national plant protection organizations. This accuracy is crucial in negotiating international trade agreements for forestry-related commodities, which have the potential to carry pests and lead to unintended introductions in the importing countries. In our study, we employed both mechanistic and correlative niche models to assess and map the global patterns of potential establishment for Aeolesthes sarta under current and future climates. This insect is a significant pest affecting tree species of the genus Populus, Salix, Acer, Malus, Juglans, and other hardwood trees. Notably, it is also categorized as a quarantine pest in countries where it is not currently present. The mechanistic model, CLIMEX, was calibrated using species-specific physiological tolerance thresholds, providing a detailed understanding of the environmental factors influencing the species. In contrast, the correlative model, maximum entropy (MaxEnt), utilized species occurrences and spatial climatic data, offering insights into the species’ distribution based on observed data and environmental conditions. The projected potential distribution from CLIMEX and MaxEnt models aligns well with the currently known distribution of A. sarta. CLIMEX predicts a broader global distribution than MaxEnt, indicating that most central and southern hemispheres are suitable for its distribution, excluding the extreme northern hemisphere, central African countries, and the northern part of Australia. Both models accurately predict the known distribution of A. sarta in the Asian continent, and their projections suggest a slight overall increase in the global distribution range of A. sarta with future changes in climate temperature, majorly concentrating in the central and northern hemispheres. Furthermore, the models anticipate suitable conditions in Europe and North America, where A. sarta currently does not occur but where its preferred host species, Populus alba, is present. The main environmental variables associated with the distribution of A. sarta at a global level were the average annual temperature and precipitation rate. The predictive models developed in this study offer insights into the global risk of A. sarta establishment and can be valuable for monitoring potential pest introductions in different countries. Additionally, policymakers and trade negotiators can utilize these models to make science-based decisions regarding pest management and international trade agreements.

Human-caused environmental change has profoundly impacted resource management and land use patterns in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts. This study used multi-temporal Landsat images from 1998, 2008, and 2018 to analyze land use and land cover changes, particularly those associated with forest cover changes, in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts. Using object-based image classification, Landsat images from 1998, 2008, and 2018 were separated into four categories based on their dominant land use and land cover features: forest, grassland, water bodies, and bare land. Post-classification comparison was used to assess the degree and frequency of change, and this method was further developed to evaluate the balance, fluctuation, and adaptation of forests. In addition, the spatial structure of land cover and temporal trajectories related to changes in forest cover were studied. The CA–Markov chain model was also used to anticipate the 2048 LULC map. The image classification of the years 1998, 2008, and 2018 showed that the overall accuracy was 89.65%, 84.44%, and 86.26%; producer accuracy was 90.00%, 68.75%, and 72.22%; and the Kappa coefficient was 85.68, 82.84, and 76.36, respectively. The results showed that between 1998 and 2018, forest cover increased by 58.03%, transforming grassland to forest; grassland increased by 29.50%, converting bare land to grassland; and forest conversion to grassland was 13.34%. In addition, the result of the landscape metric revealed that during the whole study period, class level indicated a fragmentation of forest, bare land, grassland, and water in the CHT, and landscape level indicated by Shannon’s Diversity Index and Shannon’s Evenness Index showed a slight decrease in the land. Based on the CA–Markov model, forest area is predicted to expand to 9129 Km² in 2048; however, other land uses (bare land and grassland) continue to decrease. This substantial increase in forest cover results from effective forest management based on community forestry practices and the successful execution of Bangladesh’s national forest strategy. However, as Bangladesh’s population rises, so does the country’s need for lumber/timber. Bangladesh’s government should revise its forest policy to meet the local community’s needs without endangering the forest, and policymakers must take climate change seriously. Our strategy for evaluating the critical indicators of changes in forest cover and pathways of change will aid in connecting these patterns to the dynamics of change, such as deforestation and reforestation. It would therefore serve as a framework for developing effective conservation and management plans for the Chittagong Hill regions in Bangladesh.

City longhorn beetle (Aeolesthes sarta): A review of the species, its distribution, ecology, damage, prevention and control | Umer Hayat | Agricultural Journals

Understanding the complex interplay among altitudinal gradients, tree species diversity, structural attributes, and soil carbon (C) is critical for effective coniferous forest management and climate change mitigation. This study addresses a knowledge gap by investigating the effects of altitudinal gradient on coniferous tree diversity, biomass, carbon stock, regeneration, and soil organic carbon storage (SOCs) in the understudied temperate forests of the Hindu-Kush Kalam Valley. Using 120 sample plots 20 × 20 m (400 m²) each via a field inventory approach across five altitudinal gradients [E1 (2000–2200 m)–E5 (2801–3000 m)], we comprehensively analyzed tree structure, composition, and SOCs. A total of four coniferous tree species and 2172 individuals were investigated for this study. Our findings reveal that elevation indirectly influences species diversity, SOCs, and forest regeneration. Notably, tree height has a positive relationship with altitudinal gradients, while tree carbon stock exhibits an inverse relationship. Forest disturbance was high in the middle elevation gradients E2–E4, with high deforestation rate at E1 and E2. Cedrus deodara, the dominant species, showed the highest deforestation rate at lower elevations (R² = 0.72; p < 0.05) and regeneration ability (R² = 0.77; p < 0.05), which declined with increasing elevation. Middle elevations had the highest litter carbon stock and SOCs values emphasizing the critical role of elevation gradients in carbon sink and species distribution. The regeneration status and number of trees per ha in Kalam Valley forests showed a significant decline with increasing elevation (p < 0.05), with Cedrus deodara recording the highest regeneration rate at E1 and Abies pindrow the lowest at E5. The PCA revealed that altitudinal gradients factor dominate variability via PCA1, while the Shannon and Simpson Indices drives PCA2, highlighting ecological diversity’s independent role in shaping distinct yet complementary vegetative and ecological perspectives. This study reveals how altitudinal gradients shape forest structure and carbon sequestration, offering critical insights for biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient forest management.