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Open research questions in Insect and Pesticide Research

27 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 616 Insect and Pesticide Research papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • In order to guide future dengue vector control interventions in Benin, it is useful to report frequently the the pyrethroid susceptibility status resistance level in Aedes aegypti populations. to pyrethroid or This will properly inform control programs of the most suitable insecticides to use and facilitate the design of appropriate resistance management strategies.

    Importance of Rabbit’s Blood Meal in the Assessment of Factors which Influence Vector Susceptibility to Insecticides · 2026 · DOI

  • Jujube flower disease (JFD) is a recurrent disorder affecting honeybees during the flowering period of Ziziphus jujuba, but its molecular basis remains unclear.

    Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analyses Identify Elevated Tryptophan Metabolism and Altered Sugar Homeostasis Associated with Honeybee Jujube Flower Disease · 2026 · DOI

  • The egg parasitoid Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae Nagaraja, 1979 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), widely released in South Africa for tortricid moth management, remains understudied regarding its responses to pesticides used in orchards.

    Non‐Target Effects of Some Common Agrochemicals on Various Life Stages and Parasitism Behaviour of <i>Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae</i> Nagaraja, 1979 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) · 2026 · DOI

  • levetiracetam therapy and attend outpatient follow-up. to continue DISCUSSION (6). Hymenoptera Generalized tonic–clonic seizures secondary to anaphylaxis are uncommon and are not considered a classical clinical manifestation of anaphylaxis stings predominantly cause local and systemic allergic reactions, while neurological complications are reported only rarely (5,6). Among the few documented are neurotoxic stroke, encephalopathy, encephalitis, and grand mal seizures (7,8).

    Bee Sting–Induced Anaphylaxis Presenting With Seizure: A Rare Neurological Complication · 2026 · DOI

  • in central Europe for use and under temperate climate conditions. Bee World, DOI:10.1080/000577 2X.2002.11099541 51-60. 83(2), Chinkangsadarn, S., Mendez, C. N., Clerger, F., Kafle, L. (2024). An assessment of the effectiveness of the thymol-based acaricide (Apiguard) gel against the Varroa mites on European honeybees in Pingtung, Taiwan. Journal of Entomological Research, 48(4), 436-442. DOI: 10.5958/0974- 4576.2024.00087.9 Dainat, B., Dietemann, V., Imdorf, A., Charrière, J.-D. (2020). A scientific note on the ‘Liebefeld Method’ to estimate honey bee colony strength: its history, use, and translation. Apidologie, 51(3), 422-427. DOI: 10.1007/s13592-019-00728-2 Donders, J., & Cornelissen, B. (2005). Residue determination in honey after a spring treatment with thymovar and formic acid. Apiacta, 40(2005), 1-4. Elzen, P., & Westervelt, D. (2002). Detection of in in Varroa destructor coumaphos resistance Florida. American Bee Journal, 142(4), 291-292. 11 J. APIC. SCI. Vol. 70 No. 1 2026J. APIC. SCI. Vol. 70 No. 1 2026 J., Rodríguez-Vargas, S., González-Cabrera, Davies, T. E., Field, L. M., Schmehl, D., Ellis, J. D., … Williamson, M. S. (2016). Novel mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel of pyrethroidresistant Varroa destructor populations from the Southeastern USA. PLoS ONE, 11(5), 1-10. https:// doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155332 Gregorc, A., & Planinc, I. (2001). Acaricidal effect of oxalic acid in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies. Apidologie, 32(4), 333-340. https://doi.org/10.1051/ apido:2001133 Gregorc, A., & Planinc, I. (2002). The control of Varroa destructor using oxalic acid. The Veterinary Journal, 163(3), 306-310. DOI: 10.1053/ tvjl.2001.0675 Gregorc, A., & Planinc, I. (2004). Using oxalic acid for Varroa mite control in honeybee colonies during the beekeeping season. Slovenian Veterinary Research, 41(1), 35-39. Gregorc, A., & Poklukar, J. (2003). Rotenone and oxalic acid as alternative acaricidal treatments for Varroa destructor in honeybee colonies. Veterinary Parasitology, 111(4), 351-360. DOI: 10.1016/s0304- 4017(02)00408-9 Haber, A. I., Steinhauer, N. A., vanEngelsdorp, D. (2019). Use of chemical and nonchemical methods for the control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae) and associated winter colony losses in US beekeeping operations. Journal of Economic Entomology, 112(4), 1509-1525. DOI: 10.1093/jee/ toz088 Hristov, P., Shumkova, R., Palova, N., Neov, B. (2020). Factors associated with honey bee colony losses: A mini-review. Veterinary Sciences, 7(4), 166. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7040166 Hung, K.-L. J., Kingston, J. M., Albrecht, M., Holway, D. A., Kohn, J. R. (2018). The worldwide importance of honey bees as pollinators in natural habitats.

    Field Evaluation of Oxalic Acid Vaporisation for Varroa Mite ( <i>Varroa destructor</i> ) Control in European Honey Bees ( <i>Apis mellifera</i> ) Colonies · 2026 · DOI

  • However, in the ‘Efe Bee’ (Efe Arısı) ecotype—registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye in 2019 and known for its notable potential in pine honey production—hygienic behavior remains a relatively underexplored trait.

    Comparison of Hygienic Behavior and Resistance to Varroa Destructor in Efe F1 Bees and Their Effects on Colony Performance · 2025 · DOI

  • Recent trends in bee disease—including the still poorly understood colony collapse disorder, or CCD—can usefully be viewed in the context of how markets respond to environmental change.

    Colony Collapse and the Consequences of Bee Disease: Market Adaptation to Environmental Change · 2019 · DOI

  • Beyond its suitability for further studies on honeybees, this targeted approach may be, due to its precision, capacity, and flexibility, a viable alternative to more expensive, sequencing‐based approaches in nonmodel systems.

    Seasonal dynamics and co‐occurrence patterns of honey bee pathogens revealed by high‐throughput RT‐qPCR analysis · 2019 · DOI

  • Both QMP and eβ have been shown to affect worker physiology and behavior, but it has not yet been determined if these two key pheromones have interactive effects on hypopharyngeal gland (HPG) development, actively used in caring of larvae, and ovary activation, a component of worker reproductive physiology.

    Queen and young larval pheromones impact nursing and reproductive physiology of honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers · 2014 · DOI

  • The pathogenesis of depression remains complex and not fully understood, and a stable animal model is a prerequisite for investigating its mechanisms and screening antidepressants.

    Establishment and Validation of a CUMS Model for Depression-like Behavior in Honeybees: A Tool for Pollinator Stress Research · 2026 · DOI

  • Although the roles of host-associated microbiomes in animal health are increasingly recognised, the factors influencing their variation remain understudied.

    Temporal, spatial, and parasitic drivers of microbial variation in European honey bees · 2026 · DOI

  • However, very few studies have been conducted to verify the effect of biopesticides on the behavior and cognition of non-target insects especially crucial pollinators such as honey bees and bumble bees.

    The Buzz Around Biopesticides: The Effects Of Bt Formulation DOR Bt-1 On Honey Bee Cognition · 2026 · DOI

  • including periods of elevated temperatures, rainfall and Despite these encouraging results, the current implementation should be regarded as a proof- of-concept prototype, and several aspects warrant further investigation.

    A Hall-Effect Sensor-Based Queen Bee Detection System -- a Proof of Concept · 2026 · DOI

  • Future work should focus on optimizing delivery systems, testing exposure routes under realistic colony conditions, and validating gene-level responses in field applications to strengthen the role of plant-derived essential oils in integrated pest management programs.

    Molecular Responses of Varroa destructor to Thyme Essential Oil Exposure · 2026 · DOI

  • These results provide preliminary evidence that molybdenum supplementation may influence queen developmental outcomes under field conditions and support further investigation of trace-element supplementation in honey bee queen rearing.

    Dietary supplementation with a molybdenum-based complex is associated with higher emergence weight in Apis mellifera queens under field conditions · 2026 · DOI

  • This highlights a previously under-recognised pathway linking companion animal treatments to wildlife exposure and underscores the need to assess the ecological risks and trade-offs associated with widespread veterinary insecticide use.

    Veterinary insecticides in wild bird nests: emerging contaminants in urban and protected forest habitats · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should investigate the physiological roles of gut microbiota and their contributions to environmental resilience, paving the way for microbiome-based strategies to promote honey bee health.

    Characterization of Gut Microbiota of Honey Bees in Korea · 2025 · DOI

  • The nectar and pollen of flowers on the territory of Romania constitute a valuable natural resource that would be wasted in the absence of bees, as until now the processing methods are insufficiently used.

    RESEARCH ON CULTURES OF HONEY PLANTS AT THE LEVEL OF CORNETU COMMUNE, IN ILFOV COUNTY - MINIREVIEW · 2022 · DOI

  • Our knowledge of Diptera being responsible for parasitizing (even facultative) the honey bee ( Apis mellifera ) is still incomplete and needs to be investigated further in more details.

    The First Record of Facultative Parasitism of <i>Megaselia</i> Spp. (Diptera: <i>Phoridae</i> ) in a Honeybee Colony in Slovakia · 2020 · DOI

  • This problem is often deal with through the mass killing of the birds, even though the quantitative evidence on the impact of bee-eaters on honey bee colonies is scarce.

    Mist-Netting of Migrating Bee-Eaters Positively Influences Honey Bee Colony Performance · 2018 · DOI

  • Abstract Honeybee larva homogenate appears to be underrated and insufficiently explored but this homogenate is an exceptionally valuable honeybee product.

    GC-MS investigation of the chemical composition of honeybee drone and queen larvae homogenate · 2016 · DOI

  • The problem of mosquito control is not only limited to adult insects, it is also much more a complex issue due to the use of insecticides in the environment that we would rather like to keep unchanged, with a diversity of co-existing species of plants and animals.

    Mosquito Control in Poland: Pro- and Anti-Environmental Activities · 2014 · DOI

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27 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 616 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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