Laboratory for insect systematics and biological control

Biology

Laboratory for insect systematics and biological control

Entomology; Applied entomology; Biological control; Taxonomy and systematics; evolutionary biology of insects; Natural product-based pest control
Aphid and lepidopteran parasitoids; Taxonomic identification and systematics; Insect biodiversity and evolution; Biological control and integrated pest management

Identification and taxonomy of parasitic wasps (family Braconidae); Geometric morphometric and DNA-based analyses; Essential oils application aphids

Field sampling of insects and host plants; Geometric morphometrics and traditional morphometric analyses; DNA analysis and molecular marker techniques; Species identification and population differentiation; Application and testing of essential oils and pesticides for insect control

• Leica M165 stereomicroscope with Leica Flexicam C3 (Leica Microsystems, Weltzar, Germany)
• ABI Geneamp 9700 PCR - Thermal Cycler
• Cleaver Scientific Standard UV transilluminator SLUVTSDUO
• Electrophoresis system Enduro™ 300V Power Supply
• Biosan Thermo–Shaker TS-100C Smart
• Biosan centrifuge Microspin 12

• https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.116378
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.10.007
• https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-017-0338-2
• https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14050430
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2016.10.001

• Tomanović, Ž., Žikić V., Petrović, A. 2021. Fauna parazitnoidnih osa (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) Srbije [In English: Fauna of parasitoids wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) of Serbia]. Srpska akademija nauke i umetnosti. 1-262.
• Žikić, V., Fernández-Triana, J. L., Trajković, A., Lazarević, M. 2024. Advancing Sustainable Agriculture: Potential of Life Story Strategies of Solitary and Gregarious Microgastrinae Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Enhance Biological Control. Sustainability, 16(22): 10004. (IF=3.3) https://doi.org/10.3390/su162210004
• Lazarević, M., Stanković, S.S., van Achterberg, C., Marczak, D., Modic, Š., Ilić Milošević, M., Trajković, A., Žikić, V. Morphological and genetic variability of Cotesia tibialis species complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae). Zoologischer Anzeiger – A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 302: 58-66. 2023. (IF=1.2) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.10.007
• Lazarević, M.J., Žikić, V.A., Milenković, D.N., Tomanović, Ž.M. Tritrophic associations and identification key for European species of the genus Binodoxys (Mackauer)(Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). Archives of Biological Sciences, 76(3): 281-301. 2024. (IF=0.7) https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS240510020L
• Žikić V., Lazarević, M., Tomanović, Ž., Ilić Milošević M., Stanković, S.S., Milenković, D., Petrović-Obradović, O. Mutualistic associations between aphids and aphid-attending ants registred in Serbia. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 81 (1): 52-63. 2022. https://doi.org/10.25085/rsea.810105
• Lazarević, M., Stanković, S.S., Petrović, A., Ilić Milošević, M., Tomanović, Ž., Ivanović, A., Žikić, V. Comparative morphometric analysis of petioles and forewings of the European Binodoxys Mackauer species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 284:7-15. 2020. (IF=1.601) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2019.10.003
• Žikić, V., Lazarević, M., Milošević, Đ. Host range pattering of parasitoid wasps Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 268: 75-83. 2017. (IF=1.345) http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2016.10.001
• Ilić Milošević, M., Petrović-Obradović, O., Stanković, S.S., Lazarević, M., Trajković, A., Tomanović, Ž., Žikić, V. Estimation of the competitiveness of Ephedrus plagiator in relation to other parasitoids from the subfamily Aphidiinae. Archives of Biological Sciences, 72: 53-61. 2020. (IF=0.956) https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS190923066I
• Stanković, S. S., Petrović, A., Ilić Milošević, M., Starý, P., Kavallieratos, N. G., Žikić, V., Tomanović, Ž. 2015. Morphological and molecular characterization of the genus Adialytus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) based on the mtCOI barcoding gene and geometric morphometrics of forewings. European Journal of Entomology, 112(1): 165-174. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2015.007

1. 2024 China Exchange Program (CEP) at Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
During the visit, Maja Lazarević attended academic workshops, visits to the University’s laboratories, and agricultural Institutes. She also presented her research.
2. 2024 – 2028: COST Action CA23127 „Group on Insect Nutrition: To Open Nutritional Innovative Challenges (GIN-TONIC).
This COST Action focuses on consolidating and advancing knowledge on insect nutritional physiology to optimise insect production systems, reduce environmental and financial costs, and promote sustainable protein production through the valorisation of waste and by-products.
3. 2023-2027: “Improved Knowledge Transfer for Sustainable Insect Breeding” (Insect-IMP) (COST 050/23: CA22140)
This COST Action aims to advance sustainable insect farming by fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange in insect breeding and genetics, connecting researchers and stakeholders to improve genetic understanding and breeding programs across farmed insect species.
4. 2023 – 2027: Restoration of wetland complexes as life supporting systems in the Danube Basin. Restore4Life, HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEAN-01, Grant No. 101112736.
Restore4Life highlights the socio-economic benefits of restoring freshwater and coastal wetlands in the Danube basin through an integrated, interdisciplinary approach.
5. 2020 – 2022: Development of master curricula in ecological monitoring and aquatic bioassessment for Western Balkans HEIs (ECOBIAS), The Earsmus+project database of the Foundation Tempus.
ECOBIAS aims to strengthen ecological monitoring and freshwater bioassessment in the Western Balkans by developing advanced master curricula, lifelong learning courses, laboratory infrastructure, and a regional academic network.
6. 2013 – 2017: “Biological control manufacturers in Europe develop novel biological control products to support the implementation of Integrated Pest Management in agriculture and forestry“, BIOCOMES, (FP7-KBBE-2013-7).
BIOCOMES aims to develop 11 innovative biological control agents as sustainable alternatives to pesticides in European agriculture and forestry, targeting key pests and pathogens while ensuring economic and environmental viability through industry collaboration and advanced research.