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Open research questions in Insect and Pesticide Research

85 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 692 Insect and Pesticide Research papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • the need for sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) that leverages biological control and precision delivery - the limitations of chemical insecticides in controlling the Asian corn borer - the potential of egg parasitoids as a valuable tool for targeted pest suppression

    Combining parasitoid-mediated nanopesticide delivery and semiochemicals for targeted suppression of Ostrinia furnacalis · 2026 · DOI

  • The study faces challenges due to uneven sample sizes, particularly for A. dorsata and A. florea. It also highlights the limitation of not being able to characterize seasonal variation due to limited sampling dates. The study notes the challenge of not being able to evaluate clinical or mite-associated patterns due to unavailable data.

    Baseline Detection of Honey Bee Viruses and Nosema ceranae in Apis Species from Cambodia and Laos · 2026 · DOI

  • Host sample sizes were uneven, particularly for A. dorsata and A. florea, - Sampling covered a limited number of dates and was not designed to characterize seasonal variation, - Standardized colony-health, colony-strength, management, and V. destructor infestation data were unavailable, - The targeted panel cannot represent the full pathogen community, - Conventional RT-PCR generated qualitative presence-absence data

    Baseline Detection of Honey Bee Viruses and Nosema ceranae in Apis Species from Cambodia and Laos · 2026 · DOI

  • The complexity of the gut microbiome and its interaction with the host. The need for effective strategies to target the pest microbiome. The challenge of developing next-generation green pesticides that take into account the role of the gut microbiome.

    The gut microbiome of Haemaphysalis longicornis mediates detoxification of the plant-derived insecticide Cinnamaldehyde · 2026 · DOI

  • Developing pest control strategies based on the microbiota, - Utilizing symbiotic microorganisms as vectors of RNA interference (RNAi) for pest control

    The gut microbiome of Haemaphysalis longicornis mediates detoxification of the plant-derived insecticide Cinnamaldehyde · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited human biomonitoring data on neonicotinoid exposures when applying these products. Limited exposure data related to sources, especially domestic use. Need for more detailed studies on people regularly applying neonicotinoid-containing formulations.

    Human biomonitoring of neonicotinoid exposures: case studies after the use of a spray-agent to ornamental plants and a topical medication to pets · 2024 · DOI

  • Abstract BACKGROUND Neonicotinoid insecticides are widely used for pest control, but their impacts on non‐target natural enemies remain insufficiently characterized, particularly at sublethal concentrations.

    Acute toxicity and sublethal effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on the predatory ladybird Propylea japonica · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the occurrence and potential risks of NEOs and their transformation products (TPs) in urban aquatic ecosystems remain poorly understood.

    LC–HRMS Screening, Risk Assessment, and Source Tracing of Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Their Transformation Products in China’s Coastal Urban Rivers · 2026 · DOI

  • Machine learning, with iterative testing and modeling, therefore provides a powerful approach for rational discovery of aversive volatiles for control of insects for which limited data is available.

    Machine learning of honey bee olfactory behavior identifies repellent odorants in free-flying bees in the field · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the drivers and dynamics of healthy microbiome in solitary bees are still poorly understood, especially regarding the direct and indirect effects of land use on the diversity and composition of these microbial communities.

    Direct and indirect effects of land use on microbiomes of trap-nesting solitary bee larvae and nests · 2025 · DOI

  • Given the evidence presented, a heightened emphasis is warranted on t-NEOs within the framework of the "One-Health" perspective.

    Transformation Products of Neonicotinoids: A Review of Human Exposure, Toxicity, and Health Risks · 2025 · DOI

  • To date, a systematic review focusing on t-NEOs─particularly their human health risks─remains lacking compared with p-NEOs.

    Transformation Products of Neonicotinoids: A Review of Human Exposure, Toxicity, and Health Risks · 2025 · DOI

  • However, ecologically realistic field experiments investigating these multiple stressor effects on emerging aquatic insects are scarce.

    Multiple Stressor Effects of a Neonicotinoid, Heatwaves, and Elevated Temperatures on Aquatic Insect Emergence · 2025 · DOI

  • Plant viruses are known to indirectly manipulate insect vector behavior by altering host-plant phenotypes, yet the mechanisms by which they directly regulate vector behavior to enhance transmission remain poorly understood.

    Manipulation of host-plant preference by virus-induced changes to its insect vector’s olfactory system · 2025 · DOI

  • The bioaccumulation of pesticides in honeybee products (HBPs) should be studied for a number of reasons.

    Pesticides in Honeybee Products—Determination of Pesticides in Bee Pollen, Propolis, and Royal Jelly from Polish Apiary · 2025 · DOI

  • These findings highlight the persistence and potential risks of FIP and IMID, stressing the need for stricter regulations and further research on chronic environmental exposure to safeguard ecosystems and public health.

    Environmental Risks and Toxicity of Fipronil and Imidacloprid Used in Pets Ectoparasiticides · 2025 · DOI

  • Introduction Currently, although there have been a few reports on the endocrine-disrupting effects of neonicotinoids, the effect on Chironomidae during long-term exposure remains unknown.

    Long-term exposure to environmental concentration of dinotefuran disrupts ecdysis and sex ratio by dysregulating related gene expressions in Chironomus kiinensis · 2024 · DOI

  • The viromes of US commercial apiaries and their ectoparasitic mites are poorly characterized at a strain level and there is a need to integrate genomics into pathogen surveillance.

    Dominance of recombinant DWV genomes with changing viral landscapes as revealed in national US honey bee and varroa mite survey · 2024 · DOI

  • However, little is known about the occurrence and fate of PM-borne pesticides in greenhouses.

    Pesticides in Greenhouse Airborne Particulate Matter: Occurrence, Distribution, Transformation Products, and Potential Human Exposure Risks · 2024 · DOI

  • However, residue concentrations can vary significantly between analyzed matrices, and potential accumulation or dilution steps have not been widely investigated.

    Nurse honey bees filter fungicide residues to maintain larval health · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the potential resistance mechanism underlying the cross-link between aphid OBPs and chlorpyrifos remains unclear.

    Overexpression of Two Odorant Binding Proteins Confers Chlorpyrifos Resistance in the Green Peach Aphid Myzus persicae · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the enantioselective toxicity and potential endocrine-disrupting effects of these insecticides on aquatic organisms remain unclear.

    Enantioselective Toxicity and Potential Endocrine-Disruptive Effects of the Insecticides Flufiprole and Ethiprole on Danio rerio · 2024 · DOI

  • There are few reports on the influence of different hosts on the structure of midgut microflora in H.

    Composition of the Midgut Microbiota Structure of Haemaphysalis longicornis Tick Parasitizing Tiger and Deer · 2024 · DOI

  • Further study of the movement and ecology of Apis dorsata swarms. Investigation of the impacts of Tropilaelaps mercedesae on Apis mellifera colonies in the US.

    Interception of an Apis dorsata swarm with Tropilaelaps mercedesae and Kuzinia morsei mites on a cargo vessel inbound to the United States · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of knowledge about the origin and movement of Apis dorsata swarms. The need for increased surveillance and monitoring of invasive species introductions.

    Interception of an Apis dorsata swarm with Tropilaelaps mercedesae and Kuzinia morsei mites on a cargo vessel inbound to the United States · 2026 · DOI

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85 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 692 Insect and Pesticide Research papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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