Topics and Trends in Most Cited Forest Insect Ecology and Management Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Forest Insect Ecology and Management research in the Class of 2026?

Forest insect ecology in the Class of 2026 is driven by predictive species distribution modeling and climate scenario forecasting for major pests like Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Ips typographus. MaxEnt modeling and range expansion analysis saw the largest growth, while empirical canopy monitoring methods like UAV imagery and green attack detection experienced relative declines.

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Updated July 31, 2026

At a glance

Field
Forest Insect Ecology and Management
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
3,722
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Species distribution modeling, MaxEnt, future climate scenarios, Ips typographus, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
14–30
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jul 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 3,722
3018m citations

Drought increases Norway spruce susceptibility to the Eurasian spruce bark beetle and its associated fungi

Sigrid Netherer et al.New Phytologist202410.1111/nph.19635

Sigrid NethererUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria

Picea abiesIps typographusEndoconidiophora polonicaGrosmannia penicillatadroughtbark beetle infestationresin flowpredawn twig water potentialterpene defensesmonoterpenesditerpenesphenolic compoundscarbohydrate reservesfungal lesion lengthhost selectioncarbon fixationtree-insect-fungus interactionsbioassaychemical defensesmass attack colonization
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#2 of 3,722
2918m citations

Can ecological niche models be used to accurately predict the distribution of invasive insects? A case study of <i>Hyphantria cunea</i> in China

Xuanye Wen et al.Ecology and Evolution202410.1002/ece3.11159

Shouhui Sun, Guanghua Zhao, Xiao LinNational Forestry and Grassland Administration, China

species distribution modelingMaxEntBiomod2ensemble modelingHyphantria cuneainvasive insectsprediction accuracyglobal datainvasive area dataFuture climate scenarioshabitat suitabilitymodel validationspecies occurrence recordsChina distributionshort-term predictionlong-term prediction
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#3 of 3,722
2618m citations

The Value of Forests to Pollinating Insects Varies with Forest Structure, Composition, and Age

Michael D. Ulyshen et al.Current Forestry Reports202410.1007/s40725-024-00224-6

Michael D. UlyshenUSDA Forest Service, United States

pollinating insectsforest structureforest compositionforest agepollinator habitat valueforest managementinsect-forest relationshipsstand age effectscanopy structurepollinator conservationecosystem heterogeneityhabitat quality assessment
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#4 of 3,722
2518m citations

YOLOv8-RD: High-Robust Pine Wilt Disease Detection Method Based on Residual Fuzzy YOLOv8

Junchao Yuan et al.IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing202410.1109/jstars.2024.3494838

Junchao YuanZhejiang A&F University, China

pine wilt diseaseYOLOv8-RDResFuzzyfuzzy deep neural networksresidual learningremote sensing image detectiondetail processing moduledynamic upsampling operatornoise robustnessimage noise filteringlow-frequency detail featuresPWD pathogen detectionforest health monitoringobject detection under interferencecloud cover interferenceillumination variationfeature map upsamplingbackground feature refinement
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#5 of 3,722
2018m citations

Spatial Distribution Pattern of <i>Aromia bungii</i> Within China and Its Potential Distribution Under Climate Change and Human Activity

Liang Zhang et al.Ecology and Evolution202410.1002/ece3.70520

Ping Wang, Wenkai WangYangtze University, China

Aromia bungiispatial distribution patternMoran's IGetis-Ord General G indexGetis-Ord Gi*hot spot analysisMaxEntShared Socioeconomic PathwaysFuture climate scenarioshuman activity impactsminimum temperature of coldest monthPrecipitation of wettest monthhabitat suitabilityMigClim modeldispersal simulationspecies distribution modelingforest pest distributionunoccupied suitable habitat
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#6 of 3,722
1918m citations

Predicting the global potential distribution of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus using an ecological niche model: expansion trend and the main driving factors

Yang Xiao et al.BMC Ecology and Evolution202410.1186/s12862-024-02234-1

Qiqiang GuoGuizhou University, China

Bursaphelenchus xylophilusMaxEntspecies distribution modelingArcGISShared Socioeconomic Pathwaysprecipitation of warmest quartertemperature seasonalityPrecipitation of wettest monthmaximum temperature of warmest monthFuture climate scenariospine forest pestrange expansionquarantine pestsenvironmental variablesrange shiftEast Asia epidemic region
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#8 of 3,722
1918m citations

Patterns of early post-disturbance reorganization in Central European forests

Rupert Seidl, Mária Potterf et al.Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences202410.1098/rspb.2024.0625

Rupert Seidl, Mária PotterfTechnical University of Munich, Germany

post-disturbance reorganizationCentral European forestsbark beetle outbreaksScolytinaedroughttree regenerationadvance regenerationsalvage loggingPicea abiesreassemblyspecies composition changedisturbance patch sizeForest resiliencedeadwood retentionpost-disturbance managementclimate-driven disturbance
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#9 of 3,722
1818m citations

Occurrence and potential diffusion of pine wilt disease mediated by insect vectors in China under climate change

Ruihe Gao et al.Pest Management Science202410.1002/ps.8335

Lijuan Zhao, Juan ShiCollege of Forestry Shanxi Agricultural University Jinzhong China, China

pine wilt diseaseBursaphelenchus xylophilusMonochamus alternatusMonochamus saltuariusinsect vectorsMaxEntspecies distribution modelingclimate changegeographical distributiondisease dispersallatitudinal gradientPinus speciesforest pestnortheasterly spreadnorthwesterly spreadrange expansiontransmission routes
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#10 of 3,722
1718m citations

In Situ Antimicrobial Properties of Sabinene Hydrate, a Secondary Plant Metabolite

Asta Judžentienė et al.Molecules202410.3390/molecules29174252

Asta JudžentienėVilnius University, Lithuania

sabinene hydratemonoterpenestrans-isomerblue-stain fungiEndoconidiophora polonicaOphiostoma bicolorIps typographusPicea abiesVerticillium fungicolaBacillus subtilisStaphylococcus aureusPseudomonas aeruginosadisc diffusion testvapor diffusionmacro-broth dilution methodminimum inhibition concentrationspore germinationbark beetle galleriesGram-positive bacteria susceptibilitySecondary metabolites
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#11 of 3,722
1718m citations

Vulnerability of Global Pine Forestry's Carbon Sink to an Invasive Pathogen–Vector System

Jiao Zhou et al.Global Change Biology202410.1111/gcb.17614

Lilin ZhaoChinese Academy of Sciences, China

Pine wood nematodeBursaphelenchus xylophilusMonochamus alternatusMonochamus spp.PinusNorthern Hemisphere pine forestsboreal forestsforest carbon stockcarbon sink deficitinvasive pathogen-vector systemforest disturbancewildfire comparisonprecipitation pattern shiftsrange expansionEurasiaprotected forestscarbon dynamicscarbon neutrality goalspest-related carbon losses
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#12 of 3,722
1618m citations

Evaluating the Impact of Climate Change and Human Activities on the Potential Distribution of Pine Wood Nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) in China

Liang Zhang et al.Forests202410.3390/f15071253

Ping WangYangtze University, China

Bursaphelenchus xylophilusPine wood nematodeMaxEntspecies distribution modelingShared Socioeconomic PathwaysFuture climate scenarioshuman activitiesprecipitation in driest monthannual precipitationelevationecological nicheniche overlap analysisforest pest managementChina distribution2050s and 2070s timeframeshabitat shift to northeast China
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#13 of 3,722
1618m citations

Ecosystem heterogeneity is key to limiting the increasing climate-driven risks to European forests

Giovanni Forzieri et al.One Earth202410.1016/j.oneear.2024.10.005

Giovanni ForzieriUniversity of Florence, Italy

forest mortalityforest disturbanceforest firesstormspestsclimate changeecosystem heterogeneitytree species diversitytree size diversityforest resistancebiomass lossEuropean forestsIPCC climate risk assessment methoddisturbance recordssatellite dataforest servicesclimate-driven risks
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#14 of 3,722
1618m citations

Detection of green attack and bark beetle susceptibility in Norway Spruce: Utilizing PlanetScope Multispectral Imagery for Tri-Stage spectral separability analysis

Aleksei Trubin et al.Forest Ecology and Management202410.1016/j.foreco.2024.121838

Aleksei TrubinCzech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Czech Republic

green attack detectionbark beetle susceptibilityPicea abiesPlanetScopemultispectral imageryspectral separabilityRemote sensingforest health monitoringbark beetle infestation detection
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#15 of 3,722
1518m citations

Modeling the distribution of pine wilt disease in China using the ensemble models <scp>MaxEnt</scp> and <scp>CLIMEX</scp>

Lin Chen et al.Ecology and Evolution202410.1002/ece3.70277

Zhaogui YanHuazhong Agricultural University, China

pine wilt diseasePine wood nematodeBursaphelenchus xylophilusMonochamusMaxEntCLIMEXensemble modelingspecies distribution modelingFuture climate scenarioshabitat suitabilityPinus massonianaPinus taiwanensisPinus shurbergiarange shiftdisease prevention strategyhost-pathogen overlapbeetle vector transmissionChina distributiontemperature and humidity effects
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#17 of 3,722
1418m citations

Higher tree species richness and diversity in urban areas than in forests: Implications for host availability for invasive tree pests and pathogens

Benno A. Augustinus et al.Landscape and Urban Planning202410.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105144

Benno A. AugustinusSwiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland

urban tree inventoriesSwiss national forest inventorytree species richnessinvasive insectsinvasive pathogensquarantine pestshost availabilityhost suitabilityforest compositionnon-native tree-feeding insectsSpecies establishmentinvasibilityurban-forest comparisonecosystem servicesmultivariate analyses
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#18 of 3,722
1418m citations

Bark beetle pre-emergence detection using multi-temporal hyperspectral drone images: Green shoulder indices can indicate subtle tree vitality decline

Langning Huo et al.ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing202410.1016/j.isprsjprs.2024.07.027

Langning HuoSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden

bark beetle pre-emergence detectionIps typographusUAV imagerygreen shoulder regionfirst derivative reflectancesecond derivative reflectancemulti-temporal monitoringtree vitality declinebrood emergence timingfilial generation (F1 and F2)spectral separabilityPhotochemical Reflectance IndexRed Edge Inflection PositionPicea abiesforest health monitoringphotochemical functioningbi-weekly image acquisitiondetection rate quantificationsimplified multispectral indices
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#19 of 3,722
1418m citations

Why so many Hemiptera invasions?

Andrew M. Liebhold et al.Diversity and Distributions202410.1111/ddi.13911

Andrew M. LiebholdCzech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic

HemipteraInvasive speciespropagule pressurespecies invasivenessBorder interceptionsAphidoideaCoccoideaAleyrodoideaCimicoideaPhylloxeroidaSternorrhynchaasexual reproductionSpecies establishmenttaxonomic over-representationbiosecurity exclusionhemipteran superfamiliesinvasion success drivers
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#20 of 3,722
1418m citations

Catching invasives with curiosity: the importance of passive biosecurity surveillance systems for invasive forest pest detection

Amanda D Roe et al.Environmental Entomology202410.1093/ee/nvae082

Amanda D RoeNatural Resources Canada, Canada

passive biosecurity surveillanceinvasive insectsgreen attack detectionAsian longhorned beetleJorō spiderLycorma delicatulapublic observationscommunity engagementiNaturalistcitizen scienceautomated observation assessmentpest alertsregulatory assessmentcommunity science platformsnon-native insectscuriosity-driven detectionnovelty recognitionsurveillance frameworksproactive invasive species management
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Forest Insect Ecology and Management

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

In the Class of 2026, research in forest insect ecology and management is strongly centered on species distribution modeling and climate impact forecasting. The most prominent analytical frameworks include Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling and ensemble modeling, widely applied to project habitat suitability under future climate scenarios. Research heavily targets major forest pests and vectors, notably the European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) attacking Norway spruce (Picea abies), as well as the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) causing pine wilt disease. Geographic distribution studies, particularly focusing on range expansion and potential distribution across vulnerable forest ecosystems in China and Europe, represent a core thematic cluster. Environmental stressors such as drought and changing precipitation patterns are increasingly integrated into niche models to anticipate pest outbreaks and range shifts. Together, these patterns reflect a discipline-wide shift toward predictive, macro-ecological modeling tools designed to inform proactive forest protection and biosecurity management under accelerating global climate change.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026 reveals a distinct transition from localized, remote sensing-based canopy monitoring toward high-resolution predictive species distribution modeling. Methodologies such as MaxEnt and species distribution modeling experienced the sharpest growth, propelled by expanding research into range expansion and climate suitability for invasive pests like Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Regional biogeographic studies focusing on distribution shifts in China and ensemble climate modeling also recorded marked increases. Conversely, empirical monitoring topics such as green attack detection and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery saw noticeable declines in relative frequency. While Ips typographus remains a core focal insect, its relative representation moderated compared to the previous cohort as attention expanded to emerging pine wilt vectors and broader invasive species risks. Overall, the field is evolving from reactive airborne surveillance of active forest damage toward proactive, model-driven forecasting of climate-driven insect range expansions.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Forest Insect Ecology and Management Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/forest-insect-ecology-and-management/2026. Accessed 2026-07-31.

Methodology
Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459