Gustatory responsiveness in Vespula germanica workers: exploring the interplay between sensory perception and task specialization
This study investigates the responsiveness to carbohydrates or proteins inVespula germanica workers and the interplay with task specialization. The research aims to describe the behavior of wasps and explore the underlying mechanisms behind the labor division strategy adopted by workers. The study establishes a protocol for measuring gustatory sensitivity in harnessed wasps and examines the perception and discrimination of sucrose and amino acids. The results reveal differences in responsiveness thresholds between preforaging and foraging workers, providing insights into the task specialization ofV. germanica. However, fur...
Source: Insect Science - August 4, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Anal ía Mattiacci, Carolina Mengoni Goñalons, Maité Masciocchi, Juan C. Corley Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Cover Caption
Researchers and producers are exploring ways to repurpose organic waste. Larvae of the black soldier fly (BSF),Hermetia illucens, offer a solution for converting organic waste into high-quality protein and organic fertilizers. These saprophagous insects can fully utilize abandoned organic resources, promoting waste reduction. In order to make the BSF more efficiently use organic waste, scientific and technological workers have carried out a series of studies to solve various basic and transformational problems that BSF may face in its application (see pages 888-1021). Due to limited space, this issue only covers part of th...
Source: Insect Science - August 1, 2023 Category: Biology Tags: CONTENTS Source Type: research

Issue Information
(Source: Insect Science)
Source: Insect Science - August 1, 2023 Category: Biology Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research

BSFbase: The comprehensive genomic resource for a natural recycler, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.)
(Source: Insect Science)
Source: Insect Science - August 1, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Zhi Dong, Guiyun Li, Kaixiang Zhang, Zongqing Kou, Yixiang Zhang, Shuai Zhan, Yongping Huang, Gangqi Fang Tags: LETTER TO THE EDITOR Source Type: research

Mitogenome ‐based phylogeny of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)
In this study, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of 149 Culicidae species using mitochondrial genomes and estimated their divergence times. Our findings provide a basis for further research into the evolutionary biology of Culicidae. AbstractMosquitoes are of great medical significance as vectors of many deadly diseases. Mitogenomes have been widely used in phylogenetic studies, but mitogenome knowledge within the family Culicidae is limited, and Culicidae phylogeny is far from resolved. In this study, we surveyed the mitogenomes of 149 Culicidae species, including 7 newly sequenced species. Comparative analy...
Source: Insect Science - July 26, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: De ‐Hong Chen, Shu‐Lin He, Wen‐Bo Fu, Zhen‐Tian Yan, Yun‐Jian Hu, Huan Yuan, Ming‐Bin Wang, Bin Chen Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Alternative relay regulates the adenosine triphosphatase activity of Locusta migratoria striated muscle myosin
The motor domain of locust striated muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) contains 4 regions (N-SH3, ATP-lip, relay, and converter), which are encoded by alternative-splicing exons. FL1 and AB4, the 2 isoforms of MHC, have different motor activities, which are majorly regulated by the alternative relay encoded by exon-14a/c. AbstractLocust (Locusta migratoria) has a single striated muscle myosin heavy chain (Mhc) gene, which contains 5 clusters of alternative exclusive exons and 1 differently included penultimate exon. The alternative exons ofMhc gene encode 4 distinct regions in the myosin motor domain, that is, the N-terminal ...
Source: Insect Science - July 25, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Jie Hao, Chang Liu, Ning Zhang, Jing Li, Tong Ni, Mingbo Qu, Xiang ‐Dong Li Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Acetyl coenzyme  A carboxylase modulates lipogenesis and sugar homeostasis in Blattella germanica
This study benefits our understanding of the crosstalk between lipid and sugar metabolism. (Source: Insect Science)
Source: Insect Science - July 24, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Xiaojin Pei, Tiantian Bai, Yuan Luo, Zhanfeng Zhang, Sheng Li, Yongliang Fan, Tong ‐Xian Liu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Comprehensive DNA barcode reference library and optimization of genetic divergence threshold facilitate the exploration of species diversity of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)
Apochrysa matsumura,Nothochrysa sinica,Italochrysa psaroala,Chrysoperla nipponensis, DNA barcoding reference library of the Chinese green lacewings, with 73.53% provincial regions of China, 1  119 barcodes of 25 genera and 197 species. The optimal threshold of interspecific genetic divergence is 1.87%. AbstractChrysopidae are a family of Neuroptera of significant importance in biocontrol against agricultural pests because of their predatory larvae. Currently, the taxonomy of Chrysopidae lacks a comprehensive revision, which impedes the exploration of species diversity as well as the selection and the conservation of green...
Source: Insect Science - July 22, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Yan Lai, Kaiyu Li, Xingyue Liu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Intraspecific scaling and early life history determine the cost of free ‐flight in a large beetle (Batocera rufomaculata)
Methodological restrictions limit our understanding of the scaling of flight energetics with body mass in free-flying insects particularly at the intraspecific level where variation in body mass is low. The tree-boring beetle,Batocera rufomaculata (i), exhibits a large intraspecific variation in adult size resulting from the condition of the host tree during larval growth (ii). We applied the13C stable isotope method to investigate the scaling of energetics with body mass during free-flight in an open environment of adults ranging in body mass from 1 to 7 g (iii). We show that flight metabolic rate scales with body mass to...
Source: Insect Science - July 20, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Tomer Urca, Eran Levin, Eran Gefen, Gal Ribak Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Both host and diet shape bacterial communities of predatory mites
Our research revealed that both host species and dietary variation modify the microbial composition of predatory mites. Although predatory mites had stable core microbiota, microbiome fluctuation indicated that predatory mites had weak dependence on their microbial communities which were greatly influenced by diet. The association is closely related to predatory mite species. AbstractMicrobial communities, derived from food, ambient, and inner, can affect host ecological adaption and evolution. Comparing with most phytophagous arthropods, predators may have more opportunities to develop specific microbiota depending on the...
Source: Insect Science - July 20, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Hong Yan, Endong Wang, Guo ‐Shu Wei, Bo Zhang, Xuenong Xu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Effect of short neuropeptide F signaling on larval feeding in Mythimna separata
RNA interference ofsNPF and its receptors inhibited food intake of larvae and further affected feeding-related developmental growth, which provided a potential target for pest control ofMythimna separata. AbstractMythimna separata is a notorious phytophagous pest which poses serious threats to cereal crops owing to the gluttony of the larvae. Because short neuropeptide F (sNPF) and its receptor sNPFR are involved in a diversity of physiological functions, especially in functions related to feeding in insects, it is a molecular target for pest control. Herein, ansNPF and 2sNPFRs were identified and cloned fromM. separata. B...
Source: Insect Science - July 19, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Mei ‐Mei Li, Qi Yang, Li‐Hui Chen, Yan‐Ying Li, Jun‐Xiang Wu, Xiang‐Li Xu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Masculinizer gene controls sexual differentiation in Hyphantria cunea
Disruption of common region ofHcMasc gene by CRISPR/Cas9 system resulted in abnormalities in both sexual differentiation and development, such as pupal gonopore and imaginal external genitalia. AbstractTheMasculinizer gene,Masc, encodes a lepidopteran-specific novel CCCH-type zinc finger protein, which controls sex determination and dosage compensation inBombyx mori. Considering the potential application of it in pest control, it is necessary to investigate the function ofMasc gene inHyphantria cunea, a globally invasive forest pest. In the present study, we identified and functionally characterized theMasc gene,HcMasc, in...
Source: Insect Science - July 19, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Xiaowei Li, Huihui Liu, Honglun Bi, Yaohui Wang, Jun Xu, Sufang Zhang, Zhen Zhang, Ze Zhang, Yongping Huang Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Identification and functional analysis of CG3526 in spermatogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster
In this study, we identified a testis-specific geneCG3526 inDrosophila melanogaster. Bioinformatics analysis showed that CG3526 contains a zinc binding domain and 2 C2H2 type zinc fingers, and it is clustered to the vertebrate really interesting new gene (RING) family E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases. WhenCG3526 was knocked down by RNA interference (RNAi), the testis became much smaller in size, and the apical tip exhibited a sharp and thin end instead of the blunt and round shape in the control testis. More importantly, compared to the control flies, only a few mature sperm were present in the seminal vesicle ofC587-Gal4  &g...
Source: Insect Science - July 19, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Qihao Hu, Yanhong Xiao, Runnan Wei, Ting Tang, Liang Wen, Yuzhen Lu, Xiao ‐Qiang Yu Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Identification and functional characterization of female antennae ‐biased odorant receptor 23 involved in acetophenone detection of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella
In this study, 130 chemosensory genes were identified from the transcriptomes of 7P. interpunctella tissues, and the quantitative expression levels of all 56P. interpunctella odorant receptor genes (PintORs) were validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The functional characteristics of 5 PintORs with female antennae-biased expression were investigated using 2-electrode voltage clamp recordings inXenopus laevis oocytes. PintOR23 was found to be specifically tuned to acetophenone. Acetophenone could elicit a significant electrophysiological response and only attracted mated females when compared wit...
Source: Insect Science - July 19, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Qi Chen, Xiaoyan Zhu, Guoqing Kang, Qiling Yu, Qingxin Liu, Lin Du, Yi Yang, Xinyu He, Ying Zhao, Junjie Zhang, Ying Hu, Bingzhong Ren Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Targeted DNA N6 ‐methyladenine editing by dCas9 fused to METTL4 in the lepidopteran model insect Bombyx mori
We have established a novel CRISPR –dCas9–METTL4 epigenome editing tool that can methylate target regions to achieve site-specific DNA 6mA methylation in both hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes. Targeted methylation on genes by dCas9–METTL4 results in misexpression, allowing for the functional investigation of target gene s of interest in silkworm. (Source: Insect Science)
Source: Insect Science - July 18, 2023 Category: Biology Authors: Feng Chen, Hao Guo, Weiqun Lan, Mingyi Zhou, Wenjing Geng, Guanwang Shen, Ping Lin, Qingyou Xia, Ping Zhao, Zhiqing Li Tags: LETTER TO THE EDITOR Source Type: research