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Insects
Special Issues
Effects of Environment and Food Stress on Insect Population
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Effects of Environment and Food Stress on Insect Population

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 5754

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shihao Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Germplasm Resources Biology of Tropical Special Ornamental Plants of Hainan Province, College of Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
Interests: insect biology and physiology; insect ecology
Dr. Junyu Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
Interests: insect biology; insect ecology; evaluation and utilization of natural enemies
Prof. Dr. Erjun Ling

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, The Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200032, China
Interests: insect innate immunity; insect physiology
Dr. Zhenxing Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: circadian rhythm; sleep; DNA damage repair; insect genetics; insect behavior; environmental stress

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

In recent years, global warming, desiccation, increased ultraviolet light intensity, food stress and geomagnetic changes have brought great challenges to the survival of organisms. Specifically, changes in those environmental factors directly affect the behavioral pattern, dynamic distribution, population and even survival of insects. It is increasingly important to study the adaptation of organisms to those environmental stresses. In this Special Issue, we are addressing the impacts of extreme environment on insect behavior, biology, physiology, evolution and genetics, especially circadian rhythm, sleep, DNA damage repair, oxidative stress response, plant–pest–natural enemy interactions and food webs. For example, through interdisciplinary research, we can figure out why honeybee colonies continue to decline due to environmental changes. We can also illustrate the outbreak of invasive pests due to heat stress.

In addition, there is a long-term co-evolutionary history between host and microorganism. A lot of studies have shown that microbial communities can influence organisms’ environmental adaption. We are also trying to figure out how microbial communities involve the host's adaptation to heat, ultraviolet light and food stress. For instance, we aim to answer the key questions regarding how environmental stress affects the distribution and enrichment of gut microbes in insects. In the opposite direction, we also aim to unmask which types of gut microbes and their metabolites can regulate their host’s environmental adaptation.

This Special Issue aims to collect papers from researchers who concentrate on topics such as circadian rhythms, sleep, heat and ultraviolet light tolerance, DNA damage/repair, interaction between different species and effects of climate changes on insect populations.

Dr. Shihao Zhou
Dr. Junyu Chen
Prof. Dr. Erjun Ling
Dr. Zhenxing Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circadian rhythm
  • sleep
  • DNA damage repair
  • food webs
  • interspecific competition
  • plant–pest–natural enemy interactions
  • reproduction
  • life span
  • suitable areas
  • extreme temperature
  • insect population

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3347 KiB  
Article
Ontogenetic Analysis of Chelonus formosanus and Diversity of Its Internal Microbiota
by Jingjing Jia, Qing Feng, Weikang Huang, Zhufeng Lin and Xuncong Ji
Insects 2025, 16(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16020180 - 8 Feb 2025
Viewed by 688
Abstract
Chelonus formosanus is a parasitic wasp capable of parasitizing various Noctuidae pests, including the highly invasive Spodoptera frugiperda, and it demonstrates strong pest control potential. Both egg and larval stages primarily occur within the host organism, and the total developmental time from [...] Read more.
Chelonus formosanus is a parasitic wasp capable of parasitizing various Noctuidae pests, including the highly invasive Spodoptera frugiperda, and it demonstrates strong pest control potential. Both egg and larval stages primarily occur within the host organism, and the total developmental time from egg to adult is approximately 19.62 days. To investigate the microbial communities at different stages, we performed 16S rDNA sequencing (V1–V9 region) using PacBio sequencing and identified 404 bacterial species belonging to 61 classes, 116 orders, 182 families, and 308 genera across larval, pupal, female, and male adult stages. Bacterial diversity and richness varied across the stages, with Enterobacter and Enterococcus dominating in larvae and pupae and Pseudomonas emerging as dominant in female adults. In contrast, male adults predominantly resided with Ralstonia and Achromobacter. The predicted functions of bacteria within C. formosanus at different developmental stages are predominantly marked by the high abundance of metabolic pathways. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the morphology of C. formosanus and contributes to the practical control of host pests. Additionally, our findings preliminarily characterized the microbial community of various developmental stages, laying the groundwork for its functional study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environment and Food Stress on Insect Population)
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20 pages, 4474 KiB  
Article
Bacteria Derived from Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), Gut Regurgitant Negatively Regulate Glucose Oxidase-Mediated Anti-Defense Against Host Plant
by Qingxuan Qiao, Huiting Feng, Lu Jiao, Uroosa Zaheer, Chanqin Zheng, Li Zhou, Guifang Lin, Xiujuan Xiang, Huang Liao, Shanyu Li, Haiyan Lu, Anyuan Yin, Yussuf Mohamed Salum, Hui Wei, Wei Chen, Weiyi He and Feiying Yang
Insects 2024, 15(12), 1001; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15121001 - 17 Dec 2024
Viewed by 944
Abstract
The ongoing interplay among plants, insects, and bacteria underscores the intricate balance of defense mechanisms in ecosystems. Regurgitant bacteria directly/indirectly impact plant immune responses, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we focus on the interaction between regurgitant bacteria, diamondback moth (DBM), and [...] Read more.
The ongoing interplay among plants, insects, and bacteria underscores the intricate balance of defense mechanisms in ecosystems. Regurgitant bacteria directly/indirectly impact plant immune responses, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we focus on the interaction between regurgitant bacteria, diamondback moth (DBM), and plant. Six culturable bacteria were isolated from DBM gut regurgitant, including three Enterobacter strains (RB1-3), Micrococcus sp. (RB4), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (RB5), and Bacillus cereus (RB6). These RB strains suppressed genes related to jasmonic acid and glucosinolate signaling pathways but had little effect on salicylic acid signaling pathway genes in Arabidopsis thaliana wounds. RB1 and RB5 inhibited DBM development on A. thaliana but not on an artificial diet. RB1 and RB5 significantly suppressed GOX genes and proteins in DBMs. However, the Pxgox2 insect mutant strain inoculated with RB1 or RB5 did not significantly affect DBM feeding on A. thaliana compared to the wild type. Six RB have been functionally identified, with RB1 and RB5 negatively regulating GOX-mediated host adaptability. The deliberate addition of RB1 and RB5 can negatively affect DBM herbivory and fitness. Our study provides a molecular basis for the further application of RB for insect pest management by modulating insect–plant interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environment and Food Stress on Insect Population)
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Graphical abstract

14 pages, 1176 KiB  
Article
The Stress Response of Aphids to the Accumulation of Heavy Metals Along Vicia faba L. Under Cadmium Treatment
by Yexin Xie, Shasha Wang, Sijing Wan, Liya Chen, Qintian Shen, Keting Zhao, Shiyu Tao, Wenjing Zhou, Xinyi Zhang, Xiaoling Tan, Binghua Xie and Bin Tang
Insects 2024, 15(12), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15120999 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 821
Abstract
Due to the intensification of human activities, the ecosystems are being polluted by heavy metals. The pollution of heavy metals in agricultural systems has become a serious issue of global concern. This study detected the bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd) in broad beans and [...] Read more.
Due to the intensification of human activities, the ecosystems are being polluted by heavy metals. The pollution of heavy metals in agricultural systems has become a serious issue of global concern. This study detected the bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd) in broad beans and aphids through continuous exposure to varying concentrations of Cd pollution (0, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 mg/L) and subsequently examined its effects on aphid energy metabolism and reproductive ability. The results showed that Cd can be transmitted and accumulated between Vicia faba L. and aphids along the food chain, and the amount of accumulation was related to the Cd treatment concentration. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the expression levels of trehalase (TRE) and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) in F1 were significantly upregulated, and those of vitellogenin (Vg) were varied across the five generations of aphids after Cd treatment, which were up-regulated, and others down-regulated. Compared with the control group, the glycogen content and two types of trehalase activities of the first-generation Cd-treatment aphids were decreased, while trehalose content increased; there was no significant change in the carbohydrate content and trehalase activity of the fourth and fifth generations of aphids. In addition, the reproduction of female aphids was inhibited. This research is helpful for studying the toxic effects of heavy metals on insects and the adaptation mechanisms of insects to extreme environments. It also provides a theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular mechanisms of Cd homeostasis in plants and insects under Cd stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environment and Food Stress on Insect Population)
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12 pages, 5757 KiB  
Article
Toxicity of Flonicamid to Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) and Its Identification and Expression of Kir Channel Genes
by Jiangyue Zhu, Xinjing Wang, Yunfei Mo, Beibei Wu, Tuyong Yi and Zhongxia Yang
Insects 2024, 15(11), 900; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15110900 - 18 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 915
Abstract
Flonicamid is a selective insecticide effective against piercing–sucking insects. Although its molecular target has been identified in other species, the specific effects and detailed mechanism of action in Diaphorina citri Kuwayama remain poorly understood. In this study, we determined that the LC50 [...] Read more.
Flonicamid is a selective insecticide effective against piercing–sucking insects. Although its molecular target has been identified in other species, the specific effects and detailed mechanism of action in Diaphorina citri Kuwayama remain poorly understood. In this study, we determined that the LC50 of flonicamid for D. citri adults was 16.6 mg AI L−1 after 4 days of exposure. To explore the relevant mechanisms, the treatments with acetone and with 20 mg AI L−1 flonicamid for 96 h were collected as samples for RNA-Seq. The analysis of the transcriptomes revealed 345 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in D. citri adults subjected to different treatments. Among these DEGs, we focused on the inward-rectifying potassium (Kir) channel genes, which have been extensively studied as potential targets of flonicamid. Three Kir subunit genes (Dckir1, Dckir2, Dckir3) in D. citri were successfully cloned and identified. Furthermore, the expression profiles of these DcKirs were investigated using RT-qPCR and showed that their expression significantly increased after D. citri eclosion to adulthood, particularly for DcKir3. The DcKirs were predominantly expressed in gut tissues, with DcKir1 and DcKir2 exhibiting high expression levels in the hindgut and midgut, respectively, while DcKir3 showing high expression in the midgut and Malpighian tubules. This study provides insights into the potential roles of Kir subunits in D. citri and enhances our understanding of the physiological effects of flonicamid in this pest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environment and Food Stress on Insect Population)
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15 pages, 2815 KiB  
Article
Elevation and Human Disturbance Interactively Influence the Patterns of Insect Diversity on the Southeastern Periphery of the Tibetan Plateau
by Zhouyang Liao, Jinlu Zhang, Xuemei Shen, Mi Zhu, Xinlin Lan, Junming Cui, Yunfang Guan, Ying Zhang, Zhongjian Deng, Tiantian Tang, Fang Liu, Darong Yang and Yuan Zhang
Insects 2024, 15(9), 669; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090669 - 4 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1644
Abstract
The maintenance of biodiversity and ecological balance heavily relies on the diversity of insects. In order to investigate the impacts of elevation and human disturbance, as well as their interactions on insect diversity, we conducted an intensive survey of insects in the Hengduan [...] Read more.
The maintenance of biodiversity and ecological balance heavily relies on the diversity of insects. In order to investigate the impacts of elevation and human disturbance, as well as their interactions on insect diversity, we conducted an intensive survey of insects in the Hengduan Mountain Range, which is situated on the southeastern periphery of the Tibetan Plateau in China. A total of 50 line transects were established in this study to investigate the impact of elevation and human disturbance on insect diversity and distribution patterns. Designed insect surveys were conducted at various elevations and levels of human disturbance, and statistical methods such as generalized linear modeling and redundancy analysis were employed for data analysis. The results of this study indicated a negative correlation between insect diversity and elevation. Additionally, moderate disturbance was found to have a positive impact on insect diversity to some extent. The explanatory power of the model for the distribution of insect diversity could be improved if elevation and human disturbance were included as an interaction effect into the model, and there were differences in the effects of human disturbances on insect diversity at different elevation levels. The highest insect diversity was observed under low disturbance conditions below elevation of ~2200 m, whereas above this threshold, insect diversity was the highest under moderate disturbance compared to low disturbance. The response of different insect taxa to the interactions of elevation and human disturbance varied. The findings imply that when formulating strategies for managing insect diversity, it is crucial to thoroughly consider the interaction of environmental factors and disturbance response of individual insect taxa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Environment and Food Stress on Insect Population)
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