Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging

@nev.nl

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Officiële account van de Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging (NEV). Beheer @jittebug.nl en/of @erikvanderspek.bsky.social Skeets will be mostly in Dutch - apologies to international followers

(foto hertenluisvlieg: Roy Kleukers)
(foto grote rietsigaargalvlieg: Stijn Schreven)
(foto zandoorworm: Roy Kleukers)
(foto boerenwormkruidbladrandluis: Jochem Kühnen)
(foto vuurzwamveervleugelkever: Tim Faasen)
Call for Papers Dipterans for Biological Control and Pollination Submission deadline: Saturday, 28 February 2026 Many flies (order Diptera) are beneficial to humans and provide valuable ecosystem services. In particular, various dipterans act as biological control agents of pest insects and/or as pollinators of crops, and their role in ecosystems is increasingly recognized. Traditionally, the focus of biological control and pollination has been on a restricted number of species, mainly hymenopterans, such as parasitic wasps and bumblebees. However, there exists an enormous natural diversity of insect species, in particular dipterans, that may be used for such services as well. The main entomophagous flies that prey on or parasitize agricultural pests are hoverflies (Syrphidae) and tachinid flies (Tachinidae). Other examples of predatory or parasitoid groups are robber flies (Asilidae), phorid flies (Phoridae), bee flies (Bombyliidae), flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) and elephant mosquitoes (Culicidae). In addition to hoverflies, the main dipterans that pollinate plants are bee flies, flesh flies and blow flies (Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae), midges (Ceratopogonidae), tangle-veined flies (Nemestrinidae) and tachinid flies. Few efforts are being directed towards developing these alternative species for exploitation and application in pest control and crop pollination. With this Special Issue, we aim to contribute to filling the knowledge gaps about the biology, production, exploitation and application of dipterans that are useful for biological control and pollination, often playing both ecosystem services. We aim to cover both fundamental studies on the biology and ecosystem role of these flies as well as applied research into their rearing and application. We welcome mini-reviews and original research articles that advance our understanding of dipterans in biological control and pollination.
Call for Papers Insect Adaptations to Plant Mechanical Protection Submission deadline: Saturday, 31 January 2026 Insects and plants have co-evolved in fascinating ways, and one major aspect of this is how insects adapt to mechanical plant defenses—physical structures designed to deter herbivory. While feeding, the herbivorous insects need to overcome such plant protective structures. These defenses can physically prevent insects from feeding or make it difficult for them to move on the plant's surface. Some key mechanical defenses include thorns and spines, trichomes (hair-like structures, sometimes sticky), adaptations in shape and thickness of cuticles, and various secretions, such as silica, resin and latex. Conversely, many insect species exhibit specific adaptations to these structures that may configure specific plant-insect relationships. From an applied perspective, there is enormous scope to exploit these protective structures to reduce or prevent plant damage in greenhouses and horticulture. At the same time, the insect responses to any newly developed crops need to be monitored, both for the pest species and any applied biocontrol agent. This is particularly relevant for developing integrated management programmes (IPM) and reducing the use of harmful insecticides. With this Special Issue, we aim to contribute to expanding the knowledge on the role of plant mechanical protection in insect-plant interactions, and the concomitant insect adaptations, with both experimental and applied studies. We are looking for mini-reviews and original articles on insect adaptations to plant protective structures. These include both the plant-feeding insects themselves as well as their predators and parasitoids that need to cope with these plant structures while foraging.
Call for Papers Insect Olfaction and Taste Submission deadline: Saturday, 31 January 2026 The field of insect olfaction and taste focuses on how insects detect and respond to chemical cues in their environment through smell (olfaction) and taste (gustation). These senses are crucial for behaviors such as finding food, selecting mates, avoiding predators, and choosing egg-laying sites. Insects detect airborne chemical signals using antennae equipped with specialized sensory structures called olfactory sensilla. These contain olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) that respond to odor molecules like pheromones or plant volatiles. Insect taste involves gustatory receptors located on the mouthparts, legs, and sometimes antennae, wings, and the ovipositor. They detect non-volatile chemicals by direct contact, helping insects evaluate food quality, toxins, or suitable egg-laying substrates. The study of insect olfaction and taste is important from both a fundamental and applied perspective. Basic knowledge is still limited on how insects use olfactory and gustatory information in their development and for behavioral choices. Such knowledge can also be exploited for developing integrated pest management (IPM) programmes and reduce the use of harmful insecticides. With this Special Issue, we aim to contribute to expanding the fundamental and applied knowledge on insect olfaction and taste. We are looking for mini-reviews and original articles. Studies that focus only on diversity and evolution of chemosensory genes in the insect class fall beyond the scope of this issue unless they provide substantial novel knowledge on insect biology that is of interest to a broad entomological readership. We will present our plans for this Special Issue at the 19th European Symposium for Insect taste and Olfaction (ESITO XIX) that will be held at Villasimius (Sardinia) from 19-24 September 2025.