Read the latest Virtual Special Issues from The Royal Entomological Society Journals Click on the buttons below to view the Virtual Special Issues
Agricultural and Forest Pests Introduction This virtual issue is selected to demonstrate the diversity of papers published recently in Agricultural and Forest Entomology. It includes research on major agricultural and forest pests with topics such as genetic diversity, spatial and temporal population dynamics, the response of pests and their natural enemies to plant volatiles, and the implications of competition between predators. The studies in these papers also include invasive pest species and the implications of climate change for the risk of pests. Also included in the selection of papers is research on the effects of agricultural and silvicultural practices on pests and their natural enemies.
Articles FREE
Current Topics in Ecological Entomology Articles FREE Nutritional Ecology Invasion Ecology Read More
Articles continued FREE Mutualism and Symbioses Ecological Immunology Read More
Responses of wood and litter arthropods to anthropogenic disturbance Introduction Arthropod responses to anthropogenic disturbance are complex and varied. One might even be tempted to suggest that arthropod responses appear almost as diverse as arthropods themselves, such is the difficulty in attempting to implement conservation measures based on patterns emerging from single-taxon analyses. One of us (R.D.) advocated some time ago, to use functional groups for analyzing arthropod responses to forest fragmentation. However, despite such multitaxic arthropod studies being indeed on the rise in Conservation Biology, there is every reason to expect that single-taxon studies will remain attractive for a number of reasons, one being the highly cost-effective protocols available for specific target taxa. This virtual issue of Insect Conservation and Diversity reflects this trend. Wood and litter-inhabiting arthropod assemblages are often dominated by beetles from diverse functional groups, and therefore represent prime candidates for multi-taxic studies. On the other hand, cost-effective protocols (pitfall traps, dung baits, artificial wood baits, etc.) nevertheless allow the convenient study of specific taxa within these assemblages. Wood-associated arthropods must, however, cope with often more discrete habitats than litter-inhabiting arthropods, so the similarity stops here. This virtual issue emphasizes the need to study additional taxa within these two assemblages (especially non-beetles), but also that progress may result from comparing the responses of (a) different taxa within similar habitats, and (b) multitaxic assemblages in different habitats. Yves Basset, Raphael Didham & Simon Leather
Articles FREE
Insect Hormones Introduction The growing availability of genomic data is enabling the synthesis, release and detection of, as well as responses to hormones during all life stages of insects to be studied in great detail. Unique opportunities are emerging for understanding the function of insect hormones using gene expression profiling methods, allowing the study of insect endocrinology using integrated approaches that have not previously been possible. Transgenic technologies combined with gene-silencing techniques are expected to provide new opportunities for understanding the function of insect hormones, particularly neuropeptides. Insect Molecular Biology is committed to serving as a node of researchreporting in this significant field of insect biology. In the last 4 years Insect Molecular Biology has published over 20 manuscripts in the field of insect endocrinology and this virtual issue contains a representative sample.
Articles FREE
Insects in Medicine and Veterinary Science 2010 Introduction We are pleased to present a selection of recent articles from Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Medical and Veterinary Entomology publishes articles on the biology and control of insects, ticks, mites and other arthropods of medical and veterinary importance. The principal interests are in experimental applied entomology, genetics, epidemiology, vector transmission, biosystematics, ecology and biological and chemical control methods. Manuscripts must prevent novel findings that are of more than local interest. We also welcome review articles in topical areas that will have wide appeal to our readership. Recent developments at Medical and Veterinary Entomology, including the move to online manuscript management, the appointment of a third Editor and reorganisation of our Editorial Board, have all contributed to the continued success of the journal that is evidenced by our increased impact factor. We are confident that 2011 will see further strengthening in the standing of the journal as the impact of these changes are fully realised.
Articles FREE
Insect Physiology and Behaviour Introduction Physiological Entomology publishes original high-quality research in the broad area of insect physiology. The editors believe behaviour and physiology are different approaches to a single subject that ranges from molecular to whole organism studies. Thus the journal serves the interests of experimentalists who work on the behaviour of insects and other arthropods, but retains the Royal Entomological Society s traditional interest in the general physiology of arthropods. Although it has not been possible to cover every aspect of the subject area in this virtual issue, we have selected papers published previously in Physiological Entomology that we hope are illustrative of these ideals.
Articles FREE
Insect morphological studies Introduction As editors of Systematic Entomology sometimes we must reassure prospective authors that it is not mandatory to have a molecular component for insect systematics and phylogenetic papers to be considered for publication. Approximately one third of the published papers of the past two years have been exclusively morphological studies (but excluding fossil material, covered in another virtual issue). These range from descriptive taxonomy of agriculturally important taxa, through revisions involving new morphological features of phylogenetic importance, to morphology-based phylogenetic studies. In this virtual issue we direct readers to twelve papers that span this spectrum of content, starting with an Opinion from Seth Bybee and colleagues in which they make the case that molecular data are not supplanting morphological phylogenetic studies. We concur, and hope the examples presented will encourage continued high quality descriptive morphology to be submitted and published in Systematic Entomology.
Articles FREE
Read the previous Virtual Special Issues from The Royal Entomological Society Journals