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Insects, Volume 16, Issue 11 (November 2025) – 6 articles

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16 pages, 702 KB

Open AccessArticle

Toxicity of Hypaconitine from Aconitum coreanum (H. Lév.) Rapaics Against the Oriental Armyworm, Mythimna separata (Walker)

by Xiuwei Li, Jiaqi Xing, Meng Yang, Naiwei Chen and Yaping Liang

Insects 2025, 16(11), 1080; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111080 (registering DOI) - 22 Oct 2025

Abstract

Mythimna separata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major migratory pest causing severe damage to cereal crops such as maize, wheat, and rice across Asia, and is also found in many parts of Oceania. With increasing insecticide resistance, botanical alternatives are urgently needed. This study evaluated the insecticidal potential of hypaconitine, a C19-diterpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum coreanum, against M. separata larvae. Hypaconitine exhibited significant stomach toxicity and strong antifeedant activity. It also caused pronounced growth inhibition, prolonged larval and pupal development, reduced pupation and adult emergence, induced morphological deformities, and significantly shortened adult longevity. Crucially, biochemical assays revealed sustained, time- and concentration-dependent upregulation of key detoxification enzymes—carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and cytochrome P450 (CYP450)—over 72 h, indicating that hypaconitine imposes severe metabolic fitness costs rather than being readily detoxified. These effects collectively demonstrate that hypaconitine’s insecticidal efficacy arises not only from direct toxicity but also from exploiting the physiological trade-offs inherent in xenobiotic defense. Its multi-modal action—combining larvicidal, antifeedant, growth-regulatory, and metabolism-disrupting effects—presents a novel strategy for bioinsecticide development with a lower risk of resistance evolution. These findings highlight hypaconitine as a promising candidate for sustainable, integrated management of M. separata and other resistant lepidopteran pests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Insect Pest and Vector Management)

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28 pages, 2109 KB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Contaminants in Cerumen Samples from Ecuadorian Stingless Bees: Reporting Glyphosate, Aminomethylphosphonic Acid, and the Presence of Metals and Metalloids

by Joseline Sofía Ocaña-Cabrera, Jorge Ron-Román, Sarah Martin-Solano and Claude Saegerman

Insects 2025, 16(11), 1079; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111079 (registering DOI) - 22 Oct 2025

Abstract

Stingless bee cerumen is a mixture of wax and plant resins. Foragers of stingless bees are exposed to various chemical contaminants during their plant visits and collection activities. These contaminants have the potential to be transferred into the nest. This study aimed to elucidate the existence of chemical contaminants in Ecuadorian cerumen. To this end, the following aims were established: (i) to determine and quantify glyphosate (GLY), aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), some other pesticides, metals and metalloids in cerumen and (ii) to establish possible risks associated with the presence of these chemical contaminants to the health of stingless bees and humans. The quantification of chemical contaminants was conducted using gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC), and ion chromatography (IC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). Glyphosate (0.02–0.2 mg/kg) and AMPA (0.028 mg/kg) were detected in four of the pooled samples (n = 14) from the northern and southern highland regions. Other pesticide traces were not detected in any cerumen samples. Metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Sn) and metalloids (As, Sb, Se) were found in all samples, including highlands and the lower Amazon. The potential risks of exposure to glyphosate and AMPA for stingless bees and humans appear to be minimal (except for the specific conditions given for Tetragonisca angustula) and safe, respectively. It seems that cerumen may serve as an effective biomonitoring matrix for assessing the environmental health of stingless bee nests. Establishing guidelines and regulations for the safe use and handling of products derived from the stingless bee consumption is therefore imperative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Insects and Apiculture)

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26 pages, 8383 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comprehensive Analysis of Cathepsin Genes in Hemiptera: Functional Characterization of the Venomous Cathepsin B from Sycanus bifidus

by Wenkai Liang, Sha Liu, Yuqin Wang, Chaoyan Wu, Wenxiu Wang and Jiaying Zhu

Insects 2025, 16(11), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111078 (registering DOI) - 22 Oct 2025

Abstract

Cathepsins represent a crucial group of protein enzymes involved in insect metabolism. Within the Hemiptera order, comprising a diverse array of predatory, blood-feeding, and herbivorous species, the understanding of cathepsin types and their roles as venom components in predatory bugs remains limited. This investigation systematically identified cathepsin genes present in Hemiptera genomes, highlighting a prevalence of cathepsin B and L, with cathepsin D exhibiting a higher gene count in the Heteroptera suborder. Examining the predatory assassin bug Sycanus bifidus, eight cathepsin genes were notably expressed in its venom glands, with the SbCAB2 gene from the cathepsin B subfamily demonstrating the highest expression in the posterior main gland, indicating its significance as a venom component. Subsequent expression and purification of the recombinant SbCAB2 protein revealed heightened hydrolytic activity (0.91 U/mg protein) compared to extracts from the anterior main gland, accessory gland, and gut. Functional assays demonstrated that SbCAB2, at lower doses (0.625–2.5 μg), can impede phenoloxidase activity in Tenebrio molitor pupal hemolymph, with a 2.5 μg dose inhibiting 86.5% of this activity, thereby preventing hemolymph melanization. Conversely, a higher dose of 10 μg led to effects akin to human placental cathepsin B, promoting melanization in T. molitor pupal hemolymph. These findings lay the foundation for further exploration of the adaptive evolution of cathepsin genes in Hemiptera and offer crucial insights into the functional role of venomous cathepsins in predatory bugs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Insect Molecular Biology and Genomics)

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13 pages, 1333 KB

Open AccessArticle

Prey Preference of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) When Offered Two Strawberry Pests, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

by Allan Busuulwa, Abigail Campos Gutiérrez and Sriyanka Lahiri

Insects 2025, 16(11), 1077; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111077 (registering DOI) - 22 Oct 2025

Abstract

Mites and thrips often infest strawberry crops across the globe, with devastating outcomes for growers. In fact, Tetranychus urticae Koch and Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood are major pests of strawberries in Florida, USA, often infesting plants at the same time. Chemical control is ineffective because both pests have developed resistance to many pesticides; therefore, many growers are presently utilizing predatory mites. Currently, Amblyseius swirskii Anthis-Henriot is released for S. dorsalis and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot for T. urticae, but this dual-release strategy is costly and can reduce effectiveness since A. swirskii can prey on P. persimilis. This study evaluated whether Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) could provide a single practical alternative for managing both pests. We assessed its feeding preference in laboratory using no-choice and choice tests where an adult predator was offered different life stages of T. urticae and larvae of S. dorsalis. Results showed that in no-choice tests, N. californicus consumed more T. urticae eggs compared to T. urticae adults. Also, S. dorsalis larvae and T. urticae deutonymphs were consumed in similar proportions. In choice tests, feeding shifted toward mobile prey with higher consumption of S. dorsalis larvae and T. urticae deutonymphs and adults. These results demonstrate that N. californicus is a flexible predator with potential to control both pests and should be investigated further for its potential as a cost-effective tool in strawberry pest management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Bio-Ecology and Control of Plant-Damaging Acari)

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11 pages, 2664 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Solvents on the Structure of the Gut Microbiota of Honeybees (Apis mellifera)

by Kang Wang, Jinmeng Ma, Ting Ji, Haibo Zhang and Ling Yin

Insects 2025, 16(11), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111076 (registering DOI) - 22 Oct 2025

Abstract

The gut microbiota of social bees is vital for host health, yet pesticide exposure can disrupt these communities. Because most active ingredients are poorly soluble, toxicological tests often use cosolvents, but their effects remain unclear. We assessed four common cosolvents (DMSO, DMF, acetone, and Tween 80) at laboratory-relevant concentrations on honeybee survival, pollen consumption, body weight, and gut microbiota. In parallel, in vitro assays tested their impact on five dominant gut symbionts. The results showed no significant changes in survival, feeding, body weight, bacterial load, community composition, or core taxa abundance. Similarly, cosolvents did not inhibit bacterial growth in vitro. These findings demonstrate that commonly used cosolvents exert no detectable influence on honeybee physiology or gut microbiota. Although negative, this evidence is critical: it rules out cosolvents as hidden confounders, improving confidence in pesticide toxicology studies and providing essential reference data for pollinator risk assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology and Conservation of Honey Bees)

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16 pages, 3196 KB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptional Response of ABCH Transporter Genes to Host Allelochemicals in Dendroctonus armandi and Their Functional Analysis

by Bin Liu, Jinrui Zhu and Xiaoman Ning

Insects 2025, 16(11), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111075 (registering DOI) - 22 Oct 2025

Abstract

Bark beetles depend on detoxifying enzymes to counteract the defensive terpenoids produced by host trees. Insect ABC transporters play a critical role in the detoxification of insecticides and plant secondary metabolites. However, the specific functions of ABC genes in the metabolism of host allelochemicals remain unclear in D. armandi. In this study, we observed that verapamil significantly enhanced the mortality of host allelochemicals in beetles, indicating that ABC transporter genes are involved in the metabolism of monoterpenes by D. armandi. We then sequenced and characterized the full-length cDNAs of three ABCH subfamily genes (DaABCH1–DaABCH3) from D. armandi. Spatiotemporal expression profiling revealed that all three genes were upregulated during developmental transitions (egg to larva and pupa to adult) and tissue-specific enrichment in detoxification-related organs (Malpighian tubules, fat body, and midgut). Additionally, DaABCH3 expression was detected in the hindgut and brain. Furthermore, DaABCH1 and DaABCH2 were significantly induced by treatment with α-pinene and limonene, whereas DaABCH3 was induced by β-pinene and limonene. Importantly, silencing DaABCH1 significantly increased mortality in adults fumigated with α-pinene and limonene. These results strongly suggest that DaABCH1 acts as a key regulator modulating D. armandi’s sensitivity to host plant allelochemicals. This finding provides a conceptual basis for developing novel control strategies against this economically significant forest pest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bark and Wood-Boring Insects: Past and Present Research and Essential Future Knowledge—2nd Edition)

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