Evidence of active oviposition avoidance to systemically applied imidacloprid in the Colorado potato beetle
A strain ofL. decemlineata avoided imidacloprid-treated plants for feeding and oviposition in choice assays while another strain chose plants randomly. First feeding is random in both strains. The oviposition avoidance behavior might be an active response due to learning from feeding on both choices of plants. AbstractAgricultural pests can develop behavioral resistance to insecticides by choosing to feed or oviposit on insecticide-free hosts. As young larvae have relatively low mobility, oviposition preferences from female adults may play a critical role in shaping the evolutionary trajectory of pest populations. While ov...
Source: Insect Science - January 29, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Alitha Edison, Anja Michelbach, Dominique Sowade, Hanna Kertzel, Luise Schmidt, Martin Sch äfer, Maximillian Lysander, Ralf Nauen, Pablo Duchen, Shuqing Xu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

RpUGT344J7 is involved in the reproduction switch of Rhopalosiphum padi with holocyclic life cycle
RpUGT344J7 displayed differential expression between the Rhopalosiphum padi lineages with cyclical parthenogenesis (CP) and obligate parthenogenesis (OP) life histories. Knockdown ofRpUGT344J7 affected the critical time points CP lineages to produce virginopara, gynopara and males, resulting in a significant decrease in the total number of virginopara, gynopara, and males in the offspring under inducing conditions. AbstractMany aphid species exhibit both cyclical parthenogenesis (CP) and the obligate parthenogenesis (OP) life history, which are genetically determined. In CP aphid lineages, the parthenogenetic individuals c...
Source: Insect Science - January 29, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Suji Wang, Wenjie Huang, Mengtian Li, Ni Wang, Xi Liu, Maohua Chen, Xiong Peng Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

A self ‐locking mechanism of the frog‐legged beetle Sagra femorata
The frog-legged leaf beetleSagra femorata possesses remarkably enlarged hind legs, which are considered to be a critical adaptation that enables the species to withstand external pressures. When confronted with external threats,S. femorata initiates a stress response by rapidly rotating its hind legs backward and upward to a specific angle, thereby potentially intimidating potential assailants. Based on video analysis, we identified 4 distinct phases of the hind leg rotation process inS. femorata, which was determined by the range of rotation angles (0 °–168.77°). Utilizing micro-computed tomography technology, we perf...
Source: Insect Science - January 29, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Le Zong, Zonghui Sun, Jieliang Zhao, Zhengzhong Huang, Xiaokun Liu, Lei Jiang, Congqiao Li, Jacob Mulwa Muinde, Jianing Wu, Xiaolong Wang, Hongbin Liang, Haoyu Liu, Yuxia Yang, Siqin Ge Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Dietary experience alters predatory behavior of two ladybird species on tomato potato psyllid
In this study, one nonnative resident ladybird,Hippodamia variegata, and one native ladybird,Coccinella transversalis, were investigated. Dietary experience withB. cockerelli as a prey species significantly increased preference for the psyllid in a short term (6 h) Petri dish study where a choice of prey was given. Greater suppression ofB. cockerelli populations by experienced ladybirds was also observed on glasshouse grown tomato plants. This was presumably due to altered prey recognition by experience. The result of this study suggest the potential to improve the impact of biological control agents on invasive pests by p...
Source: Insect Science - January 25, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Shovon Chandra Sarkar, Stephen Paul Milroy, Wei Xu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Wing buzzing as a mechanism for generating vibrational signals in psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)
We describe for the first time the basic characteristics of the signals and signal emission of this species. Based on observations and analysis of the video recordings using a point-tracking algorithm, and their comparison with laser vibrometer recordings, we argue that males ofC. pyrisuga produce the vibrations primarily by wing buzzing, that is, tremulation that does not involve friction between the wings and thorax. Comparing observed signal properties with previously published data, we predict that wing buzzing is the main mechanism of signal production in all vibrating psyllids. (Source: Insect Science)
Source: Insect Science - January 25, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Jernej Polajnar, Elizaveta Kvinikadze, Adam W. Harley, Igor Malenovsk ý Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Bmo ‐miR‐3351 modulates glutathione content and inhibits BmNPV proliferation by targeting BmGSTe6 in Bombyx mori
We revealed that miR-3351 is an antiviral microRNA (miRNA) which is highly expressed in theBombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV)-resistant strain A35, and verified that miR-3351 modulates glutathione content by downregulatingB. mori glutathione S-transferase epsilon 6 (BmGSTe6) to inhibit BmNPV proliferation inB. mori. AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play pivotal roles in the host response to invading pathogens. Among these pathogens,Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is one of the main causes of substantial economic losses in sericulture, and there are relatively few studies on the speci...
Source: Insect Science - January 23, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Hui ‐Hua Cao, Wei‐Wei Kong, Bing Ling, Zhi‐Yi Wang, Ying Zhang, Zhe‐Xiao Guo, Shi‐Huo Liu, Jia‐Ping Xu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Inhibition of vertebrate complement system by hematophagous arthropods: inhibitory molecules, mechanisms, physiological roles, and applications
While feeding, hematophagous arthropods produce several actives molecules in their salivary glands and gut that will block different steps of the complement system of the hosts in order to help them achieve a successful meal. AbstractIn arthropods, hematophagy has arisen several times throughout evolution. This specialized feeding behavior offered a highly nutritious diet obtained during blood feeds. On the other hand, blood-sucking arthropods must overcome problems brought on by blood intake and digestion. Host blood complement acts on the bite site and is still active after ingestion, so complement activation is a potent...
Source: Insect Science - January 22, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Mauricio Roberto Vianna Sant'Anna, Adalberto Alves Pereira ‐Filho, Antonio Ferreira Mendes‐Sousa, Naylene Carvalho Sales Silva, Nelder Figueiredo Gontijo, Marcos Horácio Pereira, Leonardo Barbosa Koerich, Grasielle Caldas D'Avila Pessoa, John Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research

Neuropeptide ACP is required for fat body lipid metabolism homeostasis in locusts
Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9-mediated knockout of AKH/corazonin-related peptide (ACP) resulted in significantly expression changes of genes involved in triacylglycerol (TG) and phospholipid synthesis and degradation in the fat body of locusts, leading to reduced fat body TG content but enhanced phospholipid abundance, including phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The disrupted fat body lipid homeostasis may further contribute to enhanced fecundity in female ACP mutants. These findings highlight the significance of neuropeptide ACP in fine...
Source: Insect Science - January 17, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Li Hou, Siyuan Guo, Yuanyuan Wang, Shaoye Liu, Xianhui Wang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

The clip cage conundrum: Assessing the interplay of confinement method and aphid genotype in fitness studies
Confinement method has an important effect on aphid fitness, with clip cages negatively impacting the parameters. Aphid genotype also modulates the extent of the confinement method's impact on aphid fitness. The results herein presented suggest that the results obtained with (the widely used method of) clip cages should be interpreted with caution. AbstractBehavior and fitness are important ecological traits frequently measured in insect bioassays. A common method to measure them in soft-bodied herbivorous insects involves confining individuals to plant leaves using clip cages. Although studies have previously highlighted ...
Source: Insect Science - January 16, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Laura Marcela Martinez ‐Chavez, Joe M. Roberts, Alison J. Karley, Bethan Shaw, Tom W. Pope Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Evaluation of the inheritance and dominance of behavioral resistance to imidacloprid in the house fly (Musca domestica L.) (Diptera: Muscidae)
Behavioral resistance to imidacloprid in the house fly is a genetically inherited trait that is expressed as a contact-dependent avoidance behavior, which results in reduced contact with and consumption of imidacloprid-containing baits. In the current study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the inheritance and dominance of behavioral resistance to imidacloprid in a lab-selected behaviorally resistant house fly strain. Our results confirmed that behavioral resistance to imidacloprid is inherited as a polygenic trait, though it is inherited differently between male and female flies. AbstractThe house fly,Musca domest...
Source: Insect Science - January 16, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Caleb B. Hubbard, Amy C. Murillo Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Knickkopf (LmKnk) is required for chitin organization in the foregut of Locusta migratoria
In this study, we found thatLmKnk was stably expressed in the foregut, and highly expressed before molting inLocusta migratoria. To ascertain the biological function ofLmKnk in the foregut, we synthesized specific double-strandedLmKnk (dsLmKnk) and injected it into locusts. Our findings showed a significant decrease in the foregut size, along with reduced food intake and accumulation of residues in the foregut after dsLmKnk injection. Morphological observations revealed that newly formed intima became thinner and lacked chitin lamella. Furthermore, fluorescence immunohistochemistry revealed that LmKnk was located in the ap...
Source: Insect Science - January 13, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Rong ‐Rong Yu, Jia‐Qi Duan, Xiao‐Ming Zhao, Mureed Abbas, Yu‐Ping Zhang, Xue‐Kai Shi, Nan Chen, Jian‐Zhen Zhang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Gregariousness in lepidopteran larvae
This review focuses on physiological, ecological, and behavioral characteristics of aggregation behaviors of lepidopteran larvae, which have been reported in 23 Lepidoptera families. This figure provides examples of gregarious lepidopteran larvae, includingHeortia vitessoides (Lepidoptera: Crambidae),Pieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae),Cricula variabilis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), andHyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). AbstractThe gregarious lifestyle of lepidopteran larvae is diverse and shaped by a complex interplay of ecological and evolutionary factors. Our review showed that the larval-aggregation behavior...
Source: Insect Science - January 12, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Chenyu Qian, Chao Wen, Xiaoli Guo, Xinya Yang, Xiujun Wen, Tao Ma, Cai Wang Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research

Assessing genome ‐wide adaptations associated with range expansion in the pink rice borer, Sesamia inferens
We found 3 highly differentiated subpopulations using high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphism and structural variant datasets across China, corresponding to northern, southern China regions, and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The 3 genetic subpopulations showed significant patterns of isolation by geographic and environmental distances. Our estimates of evolutionary history indicate asymmetric migration with varying population sizes across the 3 subpopulations. Selective sweep analyses estimated strong selection at insect cuticleGRP genes which are associated with enhanced desiccation adaptability in the northern group. A...
Source: Insect Science - January 11, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Hongran Li, Yan Peng, Chao Wu, Zhimin Li, Luming Zou, Kaikai Mao, Junfen Ping, Ryan Buck, Scott Monahan, Arun Sethuraman, Yutao Xiao Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

The endosymbiont Serratia symbiotica improves aphid fitness by disrupting the predation strategy of ladybeetle larvae
Harboring the facultative symbiontSerratia symbiotica contributes to: (i) enhanced growth and fecundity of aphids, albeit at the cost of a shorter lifespan; (ii) hindered development of their predators; (iii) inhibited predation capacity of predators; and (iv) altered foraging behavior of predators. AbstractAphids, the important global agricultural pests, harbor abundant resources of symbionts that can improve the host adaptability to environmental conditions, also control the interactions between host aphid and natural enemy, resulting in a significant decrease in efficiency of biological control. The facultative symbiont...
Source: Insect Science - January 10, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Zheng ‐Wu Wang, Jin Zhao, Guang‐Yun Li, Die Hu, Zi‐Guo Wang, Chao Ye, Jin‐Jun Wang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Identification and functional verification of Y ‐chromosome‐specific gene typo‐gyf in Bactrocera dorsalis
In this study, 1  011 Y-chromosome-specific candidate sequences were screened from 2 to 4 hBactrocera dorsalis embryo datasets with the chromosome quotient method, 6 of which were identified as Y-chromosome-specific sequences by polymerase chain reaction, includingtypo-gyf, a 19  126-bp DNA sequence containing a 575-amino acid open reading frame. Testicular deformation and a significant reduction in sperm number were observed aftertypo-gyf knockdown with RNA interference in embryos. Aftertypo-gyf knockout with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9 in the embryonic sta...
Source: Insect Science - January 9, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Peipei Liu, Shuning Yu, Wenping Zheng, Qiuyuan Zhang, Jiao Qiao, Ziniu Li, Zhurong Deng, Hongyu Zhang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research