The European earwig F. auricularia L. is an omnivore that has only recently been identified as a direct, fruit-feeding pest of citrus. Here, we start to build the basic tools needed for integrated pest management for this species. We introduce a time-efficient sampling method based on small wooden boards placed on the ground, and we use them in a 2-yr survey of 93 commercial citrus blocks in California's San Joaquin Valley. Insecticides were not applied targeting F. auricularia in any of these citrus blocks. We find that F. auricularia populations are very low or undetectable in most blocks, with higher densities occurring only sporadically. To know when control measures should be implemented, we used video-monitoring of citrus tree trunks to characterize the timing of F. auricularia movement from their soil nests into the tree canopy. Movement of earwigs along the tree trunks was observed throughout our sampling period (22 March to 18 June), suggesting that control measures (sticky bands placed on trunks, or insecticides applied to trunks and surrounding soil surface) should be applied early, well before petal fall when fruit are susceptible to F. auricularia herbivory. Sticky barriers effectively reduced the vertical movement of 2 crawling arthropods, F. auricularia and the Fuller rose beetle Napactus godmanni, along citrus trunks. We failed to find any relationship between estimated F. auricularia densities and damage to maturing or harvested fruit. This highlights a set of important and still unresolved questions about the biology of this species, underscoring the need for additional research.

Myochrous armatus Baly, 1865 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) has expanded its occurrence significantly into soybean-growing areas of Brazilian Cerrado and became an important early-season soil pest. Experiments were performed under field conditions from 2020 to 2023 to assess several aspects: (1) population behaviour over crop season and offseason; (2) day/night behaviour during the early stages of soybean plants and (3) injury to plants and potential damage to soybean yield to establish the Economic Injury Level (EIL). Adults of the M. armatus population presented a season-long abundance during the specific period from late October to January, with major captures in November and December (end of Spring), either inside or on the edge of soybean fields. Weeds and volunteer plants of corn and cotton hosts adults and eggs. These findings suggest an univoltine life cycle. Behavioural assessments revealed that M. armatus does not exhibit a specific day, night or crepuscular behaviour, performing deeds at any time. The majority of insects (40% to 70%) were found in the soil throughout the day and night. Adults feed on soybean plants by scraping or cutting the stem, cotyledon, petiole and apical sprouting. Their preference is initially for the stem and cotyledon (up to 14 days after emergence), and later for the petiole (after 21 days of emergence). After 7 days of coexistence at V1-V3 soybean stages, we observed a potential yield reduction of 35% for each insect per plant. Dynamic EIL estimations are between 0.4 and 1.9 adults per row metre, depending on the grower productivity expectation, control costs and soybean market value. Our results are fundamental for establishing Integrated Pest Management for M. armatus in soybean and other crop systems.