Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070736

Authors: Xiangyan Zhang Jiayi Wang Sile Chen Hai Wu Xiaojiang Huang Hongxiang Mao Haiwen Xie Chengxin Ye Ming Liu Yihong Qu Yanjie Shang

Accurate postmortem interval estimation is an important issue in forensic investigations. Entomological evidence is widely used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin), primarily based on insect development and succession on decomposing remains. However, once adult emergence has occurred and only empty puparia remain, the applicability of conventional development-based methods becomes limited. Empty puparia, which can persist at crime scenes for extended periods, may provide time-related information based on their weathering after adult emergence. Nevertheless, for Aldrichina grahami (Aldrich, 1930) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a forensically important necrophagous species, systematic models for empty puparia weathering remain limited. In this study, a 13-month indoor exposure experiment was conducted to characterize weathering-associated changes in empty puparia of A. grahami using metabolomic and bacterial community analyses. The results showed that lipid metabolites, particularly long-chain fatty acids such as stearic and palmitic acids, decreased consistently with weathering time. In contrast, bacterial communities showed variation over time but exhibited weaker associations with weathering time. In internal cross-validation, the metabolomics model showed lower prediction error than the bacterial community model, while decision-level integration yielded the lowest error within this dataset. These results suggest that empty puparia undergo measurable molecular changes during indoor weathering, which may assist in estimating the post-eclosion interval (PEI) and thereby provide supplementary information for PMImin assessment in long-interval cases.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070735

Authors: Shuai Xu Zhihang Chen Mohao Xiong Jiangwen Huang Huixin Wang Bin Wan Guangxu Wang Bin Xia

The proliferation of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in urban and agricultural settings has intensified artificial light at night (ALAN), yet the molecular mechanisms underlying its spectrally specific perturbation of insect physiology remain elusive. We used high-throughput RNA sequencing to dissect the transcriptomic responses of Diaphorina citri—a principal vector of citrus Huanglongbing—to nocturnal exposure to monochromatic LED emissions at 460 nm (blue), 520 nm (green), 570 nm (yellow), and 620 nm (red). Blue light triggered metabolic reprogramming coupled with stress responses. Red light predominantly engaged lysosomal–autophagic pathways and lipid metabolism. Yellow and green light produced only modest transcriptional alterations with no significant pathway enrichment. These results demonstrate that D. citri exhibits a markedly wavelength-dependent transcriptomic response to nocturnal monochromatic illumination, with short-wavelength blue and long-wavelength red light eliciting pronounced physiological effects through distinct molecular routes, thereby providing mechanistic insight into wavelength-specific ALAN impacts and a rationale for targeted optical pest management strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070734

Authors: Xu Chen Jie Wang Yong-Ming Chen Lian-Sheng Zang Su Wang

Insect natural enemies are central agents in biological-control programs. Their pest-suppression performance depends not only on release strategy, but also on traits shaped by long-term laboratory rearing and selection. Conventional mass-rearing systems usually evaluate insect natural enemies using production-oriented indicators, such as survival, fecundity, emergence rate, sex ratio and production cost. However, continuous mass rearing can drive laboratory adaptation, genetic drift, inbreeding, shifts in host or prey use, and reduced field performance. In this review, we summarize key target traits for insect natural enemy improvement, including production efficiency, host or prey use, parasitism, predation, nonreproductive host killing, stress tolerance, pesticide compatibility, dispersal, retention and field efficacy. We further discuss how recurrent artificial selection, hybridization, population genetics, and genomics approaches can be integrated to improve insect natural enemies while maintaining genetic quality. Finally, we discuss the links among trait screening, selection design, quality control, storage and transport, and field-performance validation in the development and application of selected lines or improved strains. Overall, this review highlights practical directions for developing stable and field-proven natural enemy lines. Beyond agriculture, this perspective may also support ecological design in urban landscapes through natural enemy conservation and reduced pesticide use.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070733

Authors: Joko Pilianto Amr Abou El-Ela Jinxing Li Tianxiang Du Mochammad Syamsul Hadi Asim Munawar Kamila Muyasarah Naved A. Ansari Wenwu Zhou Zengrong Zhu Dun Wang

Biogeographic barriers are well known to structure animal and plant diversity, but whether they are associated with variation in host-associated microbiomes, especially in tropical pollinators, remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated gut bacterial community variation in the stingless bee Tetragonula laeviceps (Apidae: Meliponini) collected from Bali and Lombok, two Indonesian islands situated on opposite sides of the Wallace Line. Using 16S rRNA gene V3–V4 amplicon sequencing, we analyzed 12 colony-level samples collected from forest and agroforestry habitats on both islands. Alpha-diversity analysis revealed variation in bacterial richness and diversity among colonies and sampling groups, with the highest richness observed in the Lombok agroforestry group. The gut microbiota was dominated by Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota and Bacteroidota, with several bee-associated genera, including Lactobacillus, Bombilactobacillus, Apilactobacillus, Bombella, Commensalibacter, Snodgrassella, Bifidobacterium and Bartonella, varying in relative abundance among island and habitat groups. Beta-diversity analyses showed significant group-associated differentiation in bacterial community composition (ANOSIM R = 0.444, p = 0.001), indicating that gut microbiome structure differed across the sampled island–habitat groups. Differential-abundance analyses identified candidate bacterial taxa associated with specific groups, suggesting that microbiome divergence was driven mainly by shifts in the relative abundance of shared bacterial lineages rather than complete replacement of dominant taxa. Predicted functional profiling further indicated that the taxonomic variation was accompanied by differences in putative functional potential. These findings suggest that the gut microbiota of T. laeviceps carries a detectable island and habitat-associated signal and highlight host-associated microbial communities as an underexplored dimension of tropical island biogeography. Because island identity and position relative to the Wallace Line are not independent in this design, these results should be interpreted as island associated microbiome variation within a Wallace Line context, not as direct evidence of a causal Wallace Line effect.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070732

Authors: Wei Lu Jianhao Dong Yuhui Xu GenLin Mao

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of toosendanin (TSN) on the growth and development of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius, 1775), especially in terms of feeding preference, larval growth and development, nutritional indices, and enzyme activities. The feeding preference of S. litura, larval growth and development, and nutritional indices were evaluated using the diet incorporation method. The activities of three detoxification, three digestive, and three antioxidant enzymes were determined using spectrophotometric, micro-assay, and microplate methods. The feeding preference of S. litura exposed to TSN indicated that the larvae had a significant preference for the untreated (control) feed compared with the TSN-supplemented feed. The growth and development results showed a prolongation of the larval developmental period by approximately one instar in S. litura larvae fed TSN-supplemented feed. At the highest concentration (100 μg/g), larval weight was 0.76 times that of the control group, with a 27.34% reduction in the pupation rate and a 23.58% reduction in the emergence rate. All differences were statistically significant compared with the control group. In addition, the pupal and adult deformity rates were significantly higher than those in the control group, being 14.68 and 5.67 times higher, respectively, at this concentration. Growth inhibition increased with increasing TSN concentration. In terms of nutritional efficiency, TSN treatment reduced food intake and decreased food conversion rate, thereby inhibiting the relative growth rate of the 4th instar larvae. Further, TSN treatment significantly increased the activities of trypsin, α-amylase, glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, and had no significant effect on lipase activity, and significantly reduced cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. TSN can significantly inhibit the digestion and absorption of nutrients in S. litura larvae, slow down their growth and development, and increase the pupal and adult deformity rates, thereby protecting plants against infestation by S. litura.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070731

Authors: Jiaying Wang Junxia Cui Li Liu Xianfeng Chen Guozhou Cao

Global trade faces increasing biosecurity threats from pests like mealybugs and plant viruses, yet conventional detection methods are usually time-consuming and lab-dependent, creating an urgent need for an efficient portable platform. This study developed a microfluidic chip-based assay to simultaneously identify two mealybug species (Planococcus minor and Dysmicoccus neobrevipes) and Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae (tomato spot wilt virus, TSWV). Species-specific primers targeting conserved genetic regions (28S rRNA, internal transcribed spacer ITS, and nucleocapsid protein gene) were designed. The assay achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 103 copies/µL (based on plasmids) and 2.30 × 10−3 ng/µL (based on real samples) for P. minor, 104 copies/µL and 1.16 × 10−2 ng/µL for D. neobrevipes, and 103 copies/µL and 2.07 × 10−2 ng/µL for TSWV, with no cross-reactivity against non-target species and good producibility both intrassay and interassay. Parallel detection was also successful with complex nucleic acid mixtures. The clinical specificity and sensitivity was 100% and 92.31%. Integrated with isothermal amplification and microfluidic pattern, the quadruple-sector chip enables on-site screening of a maximum of eight samples within 30–60 min. This rapid, sensitive, and portable tool overcomes limitations of conventional phytosanitary methods, supporting real-time customs monitoring and risk-based biosecurity measures.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070730

Authors: Juan Fuentes-Vielma Daniela A. Sepúlveda Sebastián I. Martel Lucía M. Briones Luis E. Castañeda Christian C. Figueroa

The intensification of extreme thermal events increases the risk of pest outbreaks and disruptions in agroecosystems, making it crucial to understand how heat waves affect pest performance. This study examined the impact of thermal stress on two dominant aphid genotypes of Sitobion avenae, focusing on their symbionts Regiella insecticola and Hamiltonella defensa. R. insecticola is associated with neutrality in performance, while H. defensa shows no thermal tolerance. We evaluated symbiont-infected and cured lineages during a heat wave, measuring life-history traits. Key findings include: the H. defensa strain incurred increased costs under heat, reducing survival, fecundity, and growth; the effects of R. insecticola strain were predominantly neutral and specific to clones; and Buchnera aphidicola titers correlated with host performance, with H. defensa lineages having higher titers regardless of heat exposure. This suggests that the R. insecticola strain present in Chilean genotypes does not contribute to the resilience of certain clones to thermal stress in Chile, whereas the H. defensa strain imposes performance costs during heat waves. The results of this research pertain to specific strains of endosymbionts, rather than to all endosymbionts within these taxa. These findings emphasize the need to consider symbiotic relationships and thermal physiology in aphid pest management strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070729

Authors: Jiaqiang Zhao Dongrui Sun Huiru Wang Te Liang Keke Lan Juan Shi

Phoracantha recurva Newman (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a wood-boring beetle native to Australia, threatens Eucalyptus L’Hér plantations worldwide. Despite established populations across North America, South America, Europe, and Africa, its global colonization potential and niche dynamics under climate change have received limited attention. Here, we used the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model, integrating 844 occurrence records and eight bioclimatic variables, to predict the potential geographical distribution of P. recurva under current conditions and three future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) for 2041–2070 and 2071–2100. We quantified niche dynamics using the COUE framework through calculations of niche stability, expansion, unfilling, and Schoener’s D, complemented by niche equivalency and similarity tests. The model exhibited excellent predictive performance (AUC = 0.954 ± 0.004; Boyce index = 0.999). Suitable habitats for P. recurva occurred primarily between 60° N and 55° S. Under all three future scenarios, total suitable area displayed a gradual decline while the potential distribution shifted toward higher latitudes, particularly across Europe and China. Niche analysis confirmed substantial niche conservatism during global invasion, yet revealed considerable niche unfilling during colonization of the Eurasian continent—indicating persistent potential for further range expansion. Niche comparisons between native and invaded ranges under model-projected distributions yielded expanded overlap across all regions except Africa, where invasive populations may undergo niche differentiation under changing climatic conditions. Our findings emphasize the ongoing invasion risk that P. recurva poses to major Eucalyptus-planting countries and call for strengthened inspection and quarantine measures to protect global forestry plantations.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070728

Authors: Michelle Noboa Ana Barreiro Jorge Merino Jorge Espinoza William Viera Emely Mora Wilson Vásquez

Stenoma catenifer (Lepidoptera: Depressariidae), the avocado seed borer, represents a major phytosanitary threat in Andean avocado production systems. Egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma constitute promising biological control agents for this pest; however, their field-level compatibility with agrochemicals commonly used in avocado orchards remains largely uncharacterized. This study evaluated the side effects of 13 commercial pesticide formulations on Trichogramma exiguum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) under two complementary exposure scenarios: (1) residual contact toxicity on adults and (2) susceptibility of parasitized Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs, following International Organisation for Biological Control IOBC/WPRS standardized methodology. Corrected adult mortality was assessed at 1 h and 24 h post-exposure, while parasitism expression at the pupal stage, adult emergence rate, and developmental time were recorded for preimaginal stages. At 24 h, abamectin, acephate, lambda-cyhalothrin, and metalaxyl caused 100% adult mortality (harmful), whereas potassium soap and hexythiazox were classified as moderately harmful. In Bioassay 2, potassium soap completely suppressed parasitism expression and adult emergence (0%), while neem extract showed no significant reduction relative to the water control. Developmental time to adult emergence ranged from 9.7 to 12.0 days across treatments, with no statistically significant differences among them. These results indicate that neem extract and the adjuvant dispersant are broadly compatible with T. exiguum, whereas neurotoxic insecticides and potassium soap are incompatible under both exposure scenarios. These findings provide an evidence-based compatibility hierarchy to guide the strategic integration of chemical inputs and augmentative biological control in avocado integrated pest management programs.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070727

Authors: Sara Remelli Cristina Menta

Soil arthropods play a crucial role in soil functioning, contributing to organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, soil structure formation, and microbial regulation. The Soil Biological Quality index based on arthropods (QBS-ar) is widely used to assess soil quality through the eco-morphological adaptation of soil microarthropods. However, Eco-Morphological Index (EMI) attribution often relies on qualitative criteria and operator experience, highlighting the need for more standardized and transparent scoring procedures. Similar limitations affect Collembola-based approaches, where trait interpretation and score assignment may vary among users. Here, we present two web-based tools designed to support a more standardized and transparent attribution of EMI scores in QBS-ar and QBS-c. The first is an interactive identification key for major soil arthropod groups linked to explicit EMI scoring rules and automatic QBS-ar calculation. The second is a trait-based framework for Collembola (QBS-c) that translates the original rationale of Parisi’s approach into a quantitative procedure based on seven morphological traits. The QBS-c framework can also support EMI assignment for Collembola within QBS-ar when direct attribution is uncertain. The tools transform expert-based qualitative criteria into structured decision pathways, standardized trait classes, and reproducible outputs, with built-in consistency checks to improve traceability. Together, they provide a standardized and openly accessible framework for EMI assignment in soil arthropod bioindication, supporting methodological transparency, training, and future inter-operator validation of QBS-based methods.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070726

Authors: Shiying He Huixia Liu Xudong Zha Rong Ji Zhong Liang Roman Jashenko Yongjun Zhang Lan He

Dociostaurus maroccanus is a major migratory pest first recorded in Xinjiang, China, in 2025 in the Ili River Valley and Tacheng City. This event represents a new situation of concern in the field of biological security along China’s northwestern border that warrants attention. This study investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of four populations from the China–Kazakhstan border region using combined mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome B (Cytb) gene markers. A total of 41 haplotypes were identified from 74 individuals, with the shared haplotypes H3 and H6 being the most frequent. Haplotype network analysis revealed no clear geographic population structuring. Haplotype diversity was high (Hd = 0.957), whereas nucleotide diversity was low (π = 0.00212), indicating low overall genetic diversity. Frequent gene flow (Nm = 12.31–43.08) and minimal genetic differentiation (Fst = −0.0255 to 0.0199) were detected among populations. AMOVA indicated that genetic variation mainly occurred within populations (100.12%), with no significant differentiation among populations (−0.59%). Neutrality tests (Tajima’s D = −2.45136, p < 0.05; Fu’s Fs = −44.037, p < 0.001), the unimodal mismatch distribution, and goodness-of-fit test results for KZ1 population (SSD = 0.0028, p = 0.91; raggedness = 0.0225, p = 0.86), KZ2 population (SSD = 0.00846, p = 0.25; raggedness = 0.0650, p = 0.13) and YN population further support the expansion phenomenon. Mantel test (r = −0.5948, p = 0.9583) preliminarily indicated that population distribution was not correlated with geographic distance. Therefore, in the region covered by this study, the overall characteristics show recent population expansion features. The preliminary results of this study provide basic materials for understanding the genetic background of this species in China’s border regions and can serve as a reference for subsequent population dynamic monitoring and control work.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070725

Authors: Aning Fan Nipapan Kanjana Xiaotong Xu Yuanfei Li Hanqi Li Yuyan Li Jianjun Mao Junjie Zhang Lisheng Zhang

Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) is a major agricultural pest, and the establishment of efficient mass-rearing systems is critical for advancing biological control and integrated pest management strategies. In our previous work, evaluation of 17 artificial diets identified an optimised corn-based formulation (F15) that significantly improved larval performance relative to a standard control (CK) diet. However, the metabolic mechanisms underlying these performance differences remain largely unresolved. Here, we employed untargeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to elucidate the biochemical pathways associated with enhanced development in S. litura larvae reared on F15 compared with CK. Larvae fed the F15 diet exhibited a prolonged developmental period (21.49 ± 0.86 vs. 20.13 ± 0.53 days), higher emergence rates (1.20 ± 0.27% vs. 0.85 ± 0.10%), and increased body mass during both early (3.28 ± 0.12 vs. 2.93 ± 0.08 mg) and later instars (77.55 ± 2.30 vs. 73.51 ± 1.17 mg) relative to those reared on the control diet. Metabolomic profiling revealed that the CK diet, characterised by lower levels of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid (LA), was associated with reduced metabolite abundance and weaker enrichment of energy-related metabolic pathways. In contrast, the F15 diet contained substantially higher levels of linoleic acid, which is known to contribute to membrane stability and mitochondrial function. Notably, linoleic acid was consistently enriched in the gut of F15-fed larvae, suggesting a correlative central role in promoting metabolic efficiency, growth, and developmental performance. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic insight into how dietary composition modulates insect metabolism and highlight the nutritional and physiological advantages of corn-based formulations for large-scale rearing. This study offers a foundational theoretical foundation for optimising artificial diets and supports their application in sustainable pest-management programs.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070724

Authors: Victor V. Aleksanov Sergey K. Alekseev Alexander B. Ruchin Mikhail N. Esin Sergei V. Lukiyanov Evgeniy A. Lobachev

The nemoral biome encompasses some of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in Europe, yet it has been extensively transformed by human activity. The capacity of secondary forests that have developed on sites of clear-cut broadleaved forests to sustain ground beetle diversity remains insufficiently studied. Ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps during May–July in 21 post-logging forest stands across six administrative regions of Central Russia. A total of 90 ground beetle species were recorded. The superdominant species in most habitats were Carabus cancellatus Ill. and Pterostichus melanarius Ill. The median species richness per sampling plot was 17, and the median activity density was 33.6 individuals per 100 trap-days. The similarity of ground beetle assemblages, in terms of both species composition and community structure, is determined primarily by habitat characteristics rather than by the spatial proximity of sampling sites. The most robust predictor of both species composition and community structure was the percentage cover of Corylus avellana. A large proportion of exposed soil within forest stands is associated with a higher activity density of mixophytophagous stratohortobionts, predominantly Harpalus rufipes L. As the distance from large forest tracts increased, the activity density of large walking epigeobiont zoophages declined. Overall, the species structure of ground beetle assemblages was only weakly predictable.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070723

Authors: Hongyan Li Kexin Zhang Tingwei Zhang Xiujuan Qian

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are among the most promising biocontrol agents; however, their short shelf life constrains commercial application. This study evaluated the effects of storage temperature (6 °C and 25 °C) and sponge substrate moisture content (42%, 48%, and 55%) on the 18-week survival and post-storage virulence of two indigenous EPN species from Gansu Province, China: Heterorhabditis megidis 0627M and Steinernema feltiae 0619HT. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) revealed that storage duration, temperature, moisture content, and species all significantly affected survival of H. megidis 0627M and S. feltiae 0619HT (all p < 0.001). Low-temperature storage (6 °C) reduced mortality odds by 82.4% compared with room temperature (OR = 0.176, 95% CI: 0.117–0.263, p < 0.001). High moisture content (55%) increased mortality odds by 10.1-fold relative to moderate moisture (48%; OR = 10.114, 95% CI: 6.155–16.618, p < 0.001), whereas low moisture (42%) showed no significant difference from 48% (OR = 0.942, p = 0.810). The two species exhibited distinct adaptation strategies: S. feltiae 0619HT achieved the highest survival under low-temperature storage at 48% moisture content (56.48% at week 18), whereas H. megidis 0627M demonstrated a delayed competitive advantage under room-temperature, low-moisture conditions. Virulence assays revealed that low-temperature storage better preserved infectivity under most conditions. Notably, survival and virulence were not always concordant, necessitating their evaluation as complementary metrics. Species-specific storage protocols are proposed, providing a scientific basis for the future development of regionally targeted and cost-effective native EPN formulations, as well as for regionally targeted biocontrol applications.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070722

Authors: Meilan Tuo Wenchao Hu Dongyang Wu Weifu Liu Shuting Wang Xingren Long Yajun Jin

Agricultural intensification degrades farmland biodiversity, prompting the use of wildflower strips to restore natural enemy populations. However, their spatio-temporal effects on predators in arid agroecosystems remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated ground-dwelling spiders in sown wildflower strips versus natural margins across four cropping systems in arid northwestern China using pitfall traps along a spatial gradient throughout the growing season. While the overall diversity did not differ significantly between treatments, three key patterns emerged: First, spider abundance remained stable across the spatial gradient, whereas taxonomic diversity increased significantly toward the crop interior. Second, while communities in natural margins peaked early and declined during the hot, dry mid-summer, wildflower strips maintained large populations, acting as crucial temporal refuges. Third, wildflower strips reorganized species co-occurrence networks, fostering more resilient community structures. We conclude that in water-limited environments, wildflower strips stabilize predator populations during harsh weather and enhance community resilience. These findings highlight the value of incorporating these strips when designing sustainable ecological pest management strategies for arid agroecosystems.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070721

Authors: Pamela Mancini David Brandtner Giulia Cordeschi Marcello Iaconelli Valentina Mastrantonio Daniele Porretta Giuseppina La Rosa

Characterizing the mosquito virome is essential for understanding host–microbiota interactions and vector competence, but it can be influenced by sample scale, sequencing strategy, and host depletion. This study evaluated the effect of sampling scale on mosquito virome characterization using a third-generation sequencing (TGS) metagenomics approach based on PacBio HiFi long reads, applied to L4 larvae and adults of Aedes mariae, analyzing single individuals and pools of increasing size before and after host genome removal. The results showed that sequencing yield did not increase with pool size, indicating that the total number of reads is not proportional to the number of individuals. Host genome removal reduced the overall number of reads but altered their composition, increasing the relative proportion of assigned viral reads and reducing unclassified sequences. Despite a similar total read output, virome diversity increased with pool size, with larger pools showing greater taxonomic richness driven by the contribution of each individual. However, the high proportion of unassigned reads suggests the presence of uncharacterized viruses. This methodological workflow was technically feasible for both single-individual and pooled samples. Single-individual analyses may provide complementary information on individual-level virome composition and on low-abundance viral taxa that could be less apparent in pooled samples, whereas pooled samples may facilitate the detection of a broader range of viral taxa and may better capture the shared component of viral diversity within the analyzed population.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070720

Authors: Yijia Liu Yuan Liu Hongyu Gong Zhaoxia Feng Rongchan Li Wei Di Junhong Qiu Baoli Qiu Da Ou

The ecological adaptations of insect pests, such as multi-niche colonization and physiological resistance to conventional chemicals, pose severe challenges to the sustainable production of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). The tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Brentidae), form a highly destructive, spatially separated pest complex. In this study, we evaluated the dual-niche pathogenicity of a Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) isolate, BbCF-2, generated via spaceflight mutagenesis, against C. formicarius and B. tabaci under controlled laboratory conditions. The mutated strain exhibited enhanced colony expansion and a high sporulation capacity (2.72 × 108 conidia/mL). Bioassays revealed that BbCF-2 possesses significantly increased virulence compared to the wild-type strain, capable of overcoming the distinct physiological and physical barriers of both targeted pests. Against the highly sclerotized subterranean C. formicarius adults, BbCF-2 achieved 92.68% mortality at 15 days post-inoculation at 1 × 108 conidia/mL, with an LC50 of 8.452 × 103 conidia/mL and an LT50 of 6.305 days. Concurrently, against the canopy-dwelling B. tabaci, the isolate demonstrated rapid lethal mycosis with an LT50 of 6.718 days, effectively reducing the adult vector population prior to their typical dispersal timeframe. These results demonstrate that the spaceflight-mutated BbCF-2 strain exhibits broad pathogenicity. By simultaneously targeting both foliar and soil-dwelling pests, this single-agent biological control strategy shows potential for integrated pest management, pending greenhouse and field evaluation.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070719

Authors: Haiyan Chen Jianying Zhang Long Jia Shenghu Su Peiwen Gu Xiaoyu Zhang

Apolygus lucorum is a major piercing–sucking pest in viticulture, yet its seasonal dynamics and outbreak risk in semi-arid wine-grape regions remain insufficiently understood. This study was conducted in a semi-arid wine-grape region of northwestern China during the 2024–2025 growing seasons. Adult density was monitored at 150 fixed sampling points across five landscape units. LOWESS-based phenological staging, stage-specific spatial interpolation, and an XGBoost-SHAP framework integrating meteorological, topographic, and grape phenological predictors were used to characterize spatiotemporal patterns and key predictors. A. lucorum density remained low in May, increased from June to July, peaked during August-September, and remained relatively high in October, with higher overall abundance in 2025 than in 2024. Spatial analyses revealed marked heterogeneity among landscape units, with high-density patches shifting across years and phenological phases. The XGBoost model showed good predictive performance, with an R2 of 0.878 on the independent test set and a mean GroupKFold cross-validation R2 of 0.869 ± 0.014. SHAP analysis identified grape phenology, elevation, relative humidity, sunshine duration, and temperature as the leading predictors of model-predicted density. PDP and ICE analyses showed higher predicted counts during later phenological periods, at lower elevations, and under higher relative humidity, particularly around 55%. Two-dimensional PDPs further indicated that high predicted densities mainly occurred under combinations of higher relative humidity, later phenological timing, moderate-to-high temperature, longer sunshine duration, and lower elevation. These findings provide a scientific basis for implementing precision-integrated pest management strategies in semi-arid viticultural regions, where monitoring relative humidity during critical phenological windows can serve as an early warning indicator for impending outbreaks.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070718

Authors: Chen-Xiao Hu Ting Yang Hui-Yuan Wu Yi-Jie Lin Yi-Xin Gao Ya-Jie Gao Dan-Na Yu Jia-Yong Zhang

Siphlonuroidea is a superfamily within Ephemeroptera, yet the phylogenetic relationships among its constituent families and their placement relative to other mayfly lineages remain unresolved. To address these questions, we generated and analyzed 16 newly assembled mitochondrial genomes from 14 species across Ephemeroptera, including three species of Ameletidae, four of Siphlonuridae, and nine mitochondrial genomes from seven species of Isonychiidae. Comparative mitogenomic analysis revealed two distinct tRNA gene rearrangement patterns within Siphlonuridae, including trnI-trnQ-trnM-trnQ-trnM-trnQ-trnM-trnQ-trnM and trnI-trnM-trnQ-trnM. In contrast, all Ameletidae mitogenomes share an identical rearrangement of trnI-trnQ-trnM-trnM, which constitutes a potential synapomorphy supporting the monophyly of this family. Compositional analysis further showed that Siphlonuridae and Ameletidae exhibit significantly higher and highly similar A+T contents, clustering together in hierarchical analyses. This characteristic contrasts sharply with Isonychiidae, which displays markedly lower A+T content. Phylogenomic inference based on the PCG12 dataset supports a sister-group relationship between Siphlonuridae and Ameletidae, with this clade itself forming the sister group to a well-supported clade of Isonychiidae and Heptageniidae. Divergence time estimation places the origin of the Ameletidae and Siphlonuridae lineage in the Late Jurassic (174.71 Mya), while Isonychiidae diverged in the Early Cretaceous (136.81 Mya). In conclusion, Siphlonuridae and Ameletidae show a closer affinity and belong to Siphlonuroidea. Isonychiidae shares a closer relationship with Heptageniidae and remains outside Siphlonuroidea. Siphluriscidae is recovered as the sister lineage to all other extant Ephemeroptera, confirming its status as the earliest-diverging extant mayfly lineage.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070717

Authors: Chencheng Zheng Dujuan Zhan Yaqi Fang Hao Li Zhichao Huang Xiaoli Fan

Climate change is reshaping species distributions worldwide, while landscape patterns can further influence habitat suitability and species persistence. Fireflies are important environmental indicators, given their high sensitivity to environmental disturbances. However, the effects of climate change and landscape structure on their future survival remain unclear. Here, we used the MaxEnt model to examine the current and predict the future potentially suitable habitats of Aquatica leii, an endemic aquatic firefly in China, under the SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 climate scenarios. We also examined the spatial associations between potentially suitable habitats and landscape patterns using bivariate spatial autocorrelation analyses. The results showed that soil clay content, soil pH, annual mean temperature, slope, and distance to roads were the main factors influencing habitat suitability. Potentially suitable habitats were concentrated in western Zhejiang Province and are projected to expand under future climate scenarios. Potentially suitable habitats showed significant positive spatial associations with the number of patches, landscape shape index, Shannon’s diversity index, and Shannon’s evenness index. Associations with the largest patch index varied among scenarios, and were generally strengthened under future climate change. Overall, heterogeneous landscapes with diverse and complex habitat structures play an important role in supporting A. leii and should be considered in future conservation planning.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070716

Authors: Suzanna Chiang Sook-Cheng Pang Sin-Ying Koou Mohd Zulkefli Abdol Rahman Lee-Ching Ng Cheong-Huat Tan

In Singapore, indoor space spraying, such as ultra-low-volume (ULV) treatment, is used to control adult mosquitoes during vector-borne disease outbreaks. This study assessed the efficacy of Mirakn® GX, a pyrethroid-based insecticide formulation combining d,d-trans-cyphenothrin with desiccated carbon dioxide as a propellant. The implications of these findings for operational use will be discussed. Mirakn® GX was evaluated against confined field and laboratory strains of Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus under semi-field conditions, following World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. This study was conducted within an occupied residential apartment unit. An additional evaluation focusing on Ae. aegypti, designed to mimic operational practice, was performed using a reduced exposure duration of 10 min. At an application rate of 1 g/m3 with 60 min exposure, 100% knockdown and 99.79–100% mortality were observed across all three mosquito species. A shortened 10 min exposure also resulted in complete knockdown and mortality in both laboratory and field strains of Ae. aegypti, supporting operational feasibility. Under semi-field conditions, the insecticide formulation showed good penetration into enclosed spaces, indicating its potential use for scenarios where timely management of indoor adult mosquitoes is required, including during outbreaks to kill infected mosquitoes.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070715

Authors: Xiang Li Mingqiang Chen Lei Qian Chenrui Kang Kang Liu Lin Jiao

The outbreak of pests seriously affects the yield and quality of wheat crops. The accurate recognition and detection play an essential role in the early warning of crop pests. While some limitations, like insufficient dataset, imbalanced samples of pests with dense distribution, and dense distribution and tinyof crop pests, pose significant challenges to the precise detection. Thus, in this work, we first spent two years collecting real-world wheat pest images with four types of pests, including three grain aphids, and one mite species, to obtain a high-quality crop pest dataset for network optimization. Secondly, to alleviate insufficiency of samples of pests with dense distribution, we have developed a cut-up data augmentation strategy that separates dense pest targets from complex backgrounds. Furthermore, to address the challenge of pest detection with tiny body size and dense distribution, we introduce the Multiple Kernel Attention Network (MKA-Net), which further integrates the multi-scale features of pests to improve detection accuracy. Our method achieved the best detection precision, with AP50 reaching its peak at 67.1%, which is a significant improvement of nearly 6.9 points in wheat pest detection compared with the baseline. In summary, our proposed method can assist in the prevention and control of wheat pests and promote the progress of intelligent agriculture.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070714

Authors: Zhenhao Song Yiqu Chen Zhaoxu Sun Qin Li Xiaoqin Tang Xueping Lei Yuan Zhao Dawei Hong Jiangcheng Zang

Plant-derived attractants for sawfly pests are rarely available. This study evaluated field trapping of Nematus hequensis Xiao adults using 15 volatile compounds from Salix alba L. leaves, testing four concentrations, three trap types, two lure cores, two hanging heights, and two trap spacings in a randomized block design (three replicates) during the adult emergence peak in Lhasa, Tibet (2024). Optimal combinations were sex-specific: for females, large boat-shaped traps suspended at 1 m with slow-release bottle lures containing 10 μg/μL o-Xylene captured 62 individuals; for males, the same configuration but with 10 μg/μL (E)-2-Hexenal captured 265 individuals. Trap spacing (10 m vs. 15 m) did not significantly affect daily capture. These results provide a practical, environmentally friendly monitoring tool for N. hequensis. To our knowledge, within the genus Nematus, this study is the first to develop a plant-volatile attractant based on host leaf volatiles.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070713

Authors: Karen S. Oberhauser John Pleasants

Davis critiqued a recent review, “Eastern North American Monarch Butterfly Conservation Needs and Opportunities: What the Science Tells Us”. He argued that Eastern North American monarch numbers in the summer have not declined, despite dramatic declines in the area covered by this population in Mexico during the winter. These declines in winter numbers, he said, can be explained by increasing mortality during the fall migration and subsequent density-dependent increases the following spring. A strong impetus for these arguments appears to be Davis’s concern that recommendations by “certain circles” of the monarch research community could steer conservation funding toward a species that does not need our help. Here, we address these concerns, and note that there is no evidence that conservation funding focused on providing breeding habitat for monarchs detracts from conservation for other species in need of help, or from efforts to support migrating monarchs.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070712

Authors: Andrew K. Davis

Conservation actions should always be based on sound scientific research around the species in question, but more importantly, on the proper interpretation of said research findings [...]

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070711

Authors: Jing Li Jiahui Song Li Yang Zhuting Zhang Guy Smagghe Wenjia Yang

Tuta absoluta is a globally significant invasive pest that has rapidly developed resistance to multiple classes of insecticides, highlighting the critical need for RNA interference (RNAi) targets for sustainable pest management. The insulin signaling pathway is a key regulator of insect reproduction; however, the role of PIK3AP, an adaptor protein that links receptor tyrosine kinases to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, remains poorly understood in Lepidopteran pests. In this study, TaPIK3AP was identified in T. absoluta, exhibiting elevated expression levels in the heads of female adults and during the early reproductive period. RNAi-mediated knockdown of TaPIK3AP reduced fecundity by 76%, decreased egg hatching rate by 43%, shortened the oviposition period by two days, and caused pronounced ovarian atrophy accompanied by impaired yolk deposition. Mechanistically, knockdown of TaPIK3AP led to the suppression of Vg and VgR expression, a reduction in juvenile hormone (JH) titer, downregulation of JH signaling genes, and a significant decrease in the transcript levels of key components of the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway, including mTOR, Rheb, and S6K. These findings demonstrate that TaPIK3AP integrates Vg, JH, and TOR signaling pathways to regulate female reproduction in T. absoluta, thereby identifying it as a potential molecular target for RNAi-based sustainable pest management strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070710

Authors: Manfei Bai Jianghua Zheng Jun Lin Zhong Liang Feifei Zhang Junteng Luo Xiaoyu Guo Xuan Li Ke Zhang Jianguo Wu Qi Qige

The Italian locust (Calliptamus italicus) is a major agricultural pest causing significant damage to crops and grasslands in arid and semi-arid regions. To investigate its response to climate change, we applied ensemble species distribution modeling combined with niche analysis to predict its current and future potential distributions, and assess climatic niche dynamics and potential transboundary spread risks. We found that key environmental drivers included altitude, temperature variables (bio10, bio9), precipitation variables (bio18, bio17), and human footprint. Suitable habitat of Calliptamus italicus currently accounts for approximately 9.65% of the study area; under various future climate scenarios, this proportion is projected to rise to between 10.12% and 11.93%. Niche dynamics analysis revealed strong climatic niche conservatism and consistently high niche overlap across scenarios, suggesting that future range expansion is more likely to occur through tracking climatically analogous habitats rather than niche shifts. These findings provide spatially explicit support for risk zoning, monitoring prioritization, and the development of early-warning and adaptive management strategies, particularly within a China–Kazakhstan transboundary monitoring and biosecurity framework.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070709

Authors: Wutao Jiang Qingxin Meng Rui Tao Junjie Zhang Xueyang Gong Ruigang Wang Yakai Tian Kun Dong

Heavy metal pollution has emerged as a major challenge in global environmental science in the 21st century because of its extensive distribution, long-term environmental persistence, and non-degradability. As indispensable pollinators in ecosystems, honey bees have undergone marked population declines, a trend closely associated with multiple environmental stressors, including heavy metal contamination. Notably, lead (Pb), a widespread legacy toxic metal pollutant, is released into the environment through industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and other anthropogenic sources, contributing to long-term environmental contamination. Moreover, Pb can be transferred to honey bees through contaminated pollen and nectar. This exposure route may pose a risk to honey bee health, particularly under chronic or repeated exposure. This review synthesizes current evidence on Pb exposure routes, bioaccumulation, sublethal toxicity, and physiological responses in honey bees, while highlighting major uncertainties in colony-level risk assessment. Pb-associated physiological effects may impair individual bee health, but their long-term implications for colony health require further study.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070708

Authors: Yan-Lu Zhou Zi-Xian Wang Xian-Wen Wang Bu-Guo Wang Qing Li Lan Wang Min Liao Hai-Qun Cao Quan Gao

2,3-dimethyl-6-(1-hydroxy)-pyrazine showed significant repellent activity to diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), the PxylPBP2 was considered as the potential molecular target, though this has not been validated. In this study, the repellent rate was significantly decreased by about 20% when the PxylPBP2 was silenced using RNAi. There was obvious interaction between 2,3-dimethyl-6-(1-hydroxy)-pyrazine and PxylPBP2, with a Kd (Dissociation constant) value of 7.78 μmol/L via microscale thermophoresis, while the value was changed to 4.45 μmol/L when the PxylOR31 (Pxyl, Plutella xylostella; OR31, Odorant receptor 31) was introduced to this compound and ligand system. Moreover, the RMSD (Root mean square deviation) value of pyrazine + PxylPBP2 + PxylOR31 treatment ranged between 0.030 and 0.125 nm; the average number of hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals interaction value can be used to summarize that there was a stronger interaction between pyrazine and PxylPBP2. Furthermore, the ILE122 (L-Isoleucine at 122 site) was an important target site during the binding process between PxylBPB2 and ligands, which was validated by performing a fluorescence competitive binding experiment. Finally, the PxylPBP2 showed a strong ability to bind to α-pinene and β-ionone with the Ki values of 10.54 μmol/L and 11.74 μmol/L, respectively. These data provide a creative strategy for developing novel insecticides, which is also important for achieving the green control of P. xylostella and delaying the development of resistance.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070707

Authors: Dian Zhou Fang Fang Shaozhi Wang Huating Lu Qiong Kong Shengyong Yuan Chun Xiao

The male annihilation technique for Bactrocera dorsalis relies primarily on methyl eugenol (ME), which exclusively targets mature males and consequently misses the critical window for managing sexually immature males (SIM). To address this operational gap, we cross-validated male testicular development with ME responsiveness across a 1–12-day age gradient, improved a conventional sugar–vinegar–alcohol lure (SL), and evaluated the combinations of the optimized sugar–vinegar–alcohol lure (OSL) and ME using a 2 × 2 factorial field design. Laboratory assays revealed that ME capture rates and off-white-to-yellow testicular transitions were highly synchronized and strongly correlated; notably, males aged 1–4 days exhibited entirely off-white testes and negligible ME responsiveness, establishing testicular coloration as a robust physiological hallmark of immaturity. In field trials, OSL demonstrated stable attractancy across diurnal intervals, outperforming water controls but yielding captures statistically comparable to the conventional SL. Furthermore, incorporating ME into OSL significantly enhanced SIM captures; however, factorial analysis confirmed that their interaction was not statistically significant. Ultimately, these findings indicate that OSL and ME exert a significant, independent additive effect rather than a synergistic interaction on SIM attraction. This study provides a reliable physiological–behavioral diagnostic framework and a practical, low-cost direct-mixing strategy to extend the operational window of B. dorsalis management.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070706

Authors: Bo Feng Chuanhong Feng Zhigang Yang Genyun Liang Liping Xiong Xi Yang Jiatao Huang Tao Hu Lingzhi Huang Yong Yin Kaidi Zheng

Low temperature critically pressures insect pest distributions and population dynamics; however, integrated understanding of cold stress responses in invasive pests, particularly at the adult stage, remains limited. Here, we investigated the integrated physiological, biochemical, metabolomic and transcriptomic responses of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) exposed to control (CT: 25 °C), moderate cold stress (MCS: 15 °C) and severe cold stress (SCS: 5 °C) conditions. Our results revealed that low-temperature stress impaired T. absoluta emergence, survival, fecundity and egg hatching in a stress intensity-dependent manner. Also, low temperature reduced the olfactory-mediated host-seeking behaviors of T. absoluta females. The biochemical analyses revealed depletion of triglycerides, glycogen and Na+/K+-ATPase activity alongside compensatory trehalose accumulations, while antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT) were differentially modulated indicating progressive oxidative defense impairment under low temperature. Untargeted metabolomic profiling identified extensive differential metabolite accumulations, revealing systematic dysregulation of alkaloid biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism and central carbon metabolic pathways. Transcriptomic analysis identified several differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in thermogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, MAPK signaling and neurodegeneration-associated pathways. Furthermore, integrative transcriptome–metabolome analysis revealed coordinated gene–metabolite regulatory networks scaling systematically with cold stress intensity. These findings advance our mechanistic understanding of thermal stress adaptations in T. absoluta and may contribute to the development of climate-informed pest management strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070705

Authors: Souvic Sarker Jin-Jia Yu Qingli Wu James E. Simon Changlu Wang

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) is an obligate blood-feeding insect that spreads easily through human activity. Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) oil has emerged as a promising natural repellent for bed bugs, but previous studies have been limited to laboratory conditions. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of a catnip-based formulation (20% catnip CCC oil: 10% catnip oil cultivar CR9, 5% carvacrol, 5% citronellol) applied to fabric against bed bugs using simulated field tests, a human finger stimulus test, and field trials. N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) was included as a benchmark in the simulated field test. In these tests, both 20% catnip CCC oil and 20% DEET achieved >94% repellency within 24 h, with comparable performance after 2–3 d of aging. After 5 d, 20% catnip CCC oil showed significantly reduced repellency compared to DEET. In the human finger stimulus test, 20% catnip CCC oil remained effective for up to 6 d, whereas in infested apartments, significant repellency lasted only one day. These findings suggest that 20% catnip CCC oil applied to fabric can provide short-term protection against bed bug introductions under natural conditions. Future work should explore optimized barrier dimensions and slow-release formulations to extend efficacy.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070704

Authors: Moshe Coll Maor Elron Eric Wajnberg

Domestication of wild plants to obtain agricultural cultivars is characterized by phenotypic changes that often affect herbivorous arthropods and their natural enemies. Selection for agronomically desirable traits often comes at the expense of plant defense, thus enhancing herbivore performance while hampering the activity of natural enemies. In the present study, we contrasted tri-trophic interactions on a wild and a cultivated wheat genotype, for the first time at the center of wheat domestication. Contrary to our hypothesis, a greenhouse experiment indicated that, at low aphid densities, the locally collected wild wheat genotype was more suitable for the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, than a domesticated wheat genotype. However, this was reversed at higher aphid densities; larger populations developed on the domesticated than on the wild plants in spite of a higher rate of parasitism by Aphidius colemani on the domesticated than the wild plants. Taken together, higher levels of biological control provided by the parasitoid may partially counteract high infestation of domesticated crops by the pestiferous aphids.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070703

Authors: Jiayang Zhang Xinyue Huang Xiaolei Wu Yihan Lin Wenmei Wu

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a pivotal post-transcriptional regulator of diverse biological processes. Despite the growing interest in insect epitranscriptomics, a systematic evaluation of research trends and hotspots remains lacking. Here, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to map the global landscape of METTL3 and m6A research in entomology over the past decade. Our results reveal a steady increase in publications, signaling a phase of rapid expansion in this field. Notably, the number of studies on METTL3 is significantly lower than that of general m6A research, suggesting that current efforts prioritize phenotypic over the mechanistic roles of core regulatory components. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identifies Bombyx mori, Locusta migratoria, and Drosophila melanogaster as the primary model systems. Research hotspots predominantly center on METTL3-mediated regulation of development, behavioral plasticity, immunity, and host–pathogen interactions. These findings highlight insect METTL3 as a burgeoning research frontier. Future studies should emphasize cross-species comparisons and the systematic dissection of regulatory networks to provide novel theoretical frameworks and molecular targets for sustainable pest management and resource insect utilization.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070702

Authors: Haifeng Zhou Yu Liang Qing Zhang Kang Lou

Scythris sinensis (Felder & Rogenhofer) is a diurnal moth characterized by its distinct spring and autumn forms. In our study, we analyzed the compound eye morphology of both forms utilizing scanning electron microscopy. The eyes are ellipsoidal and symmetrical, consisting of hexagonal ommatidia characterized by convoluted folds but lacking corneal nipples. We found that female moths have slightly larger compound eyes than males. Our counts of ommatidia indicate that males emerging in autumn (589–675) typically possess a higher number than males emerging in spring (492–698). This finding suggests an adaptation specific to the autumn period, potentially enhancing visual search efficiency in response to seasonal light variations and a constrained reproductive schedule. This research provides a foundational understanding of the visual behavior of S. sinensis concerning photoreception and phototaxis.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070701

Authors: Francesco Sirotti Maurizio Muzzi Alessia Sanna Marco Rossi Andrea Di Giulio

Among myrmecophilous insects, beetles represent the most specialised and diverse group. Myrmecophily is a complex evolutionary strategy encompassing a wide spectrum of interactions with ants, ranging from occasional to obligate relationships, and from mutualistic associations (e.g., trophobionts) to fully parasitic symbioses (social parasites). One of the most remarkable examples of an obligate ant parasite is Paussus favieri Fairmaire,1851 (Carabidae, Paussinae, Paussini), a West-Mediterranean ant-nest beetle. This species spends most of its life inside the nests of Pheidole pallidula (Nylander, 1849) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), where it exploits the colony’s most valuable resources (ant larvae, pupae, and tenerals) through a suite of sophisticated chemical and structural adaptations that allow it to evade detection and integrate seamlessly into the host colony. For these reasons, P. favieri has recently emerged as a key model organism for studying host–parasite interactions in eusocial systems. In this study, we investigated possible correlations between the nervous system of P. favieri and its remarkable morphological and behavioural adaptations, shedding light on how an extreme environment such as the ant nest may have shaped the beetle’s brain. Our results, although requiring more in-depth analysis, reveal an exceptional development of the central body and the antennal lobes, which rank among the largest recorded across all insect species studied to date. We also report two previously undescribed morphological asymmetries affecting the optic lobes and mushroom bodies. Together, these findings provide new insights into the neuroanatomy of carabid beetles and, more broadly, into the biology of a unique model of ant parasitism, advancing our understanding of the evolutionary adaptations that characterise the highly specialised Paussinae subfamily, laying down the basis for further analysis.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070700

Authors: Jia Qi Kang Chang Jianhui Wang Miao Li Lulin Li Xiaoxiao Chen Suqin Shang Youssef Dewer

Background: The Gansu Heihe Provincial Nature Reserve harbors rich plant and animal resources, yet its coleopteran fauna has remained taxonomically and ecologically uncharacterized. To address this gap, we conducted the first systematic survey of beetle diversity across four representative transects—Youcaigou (I), Zhugou (II), Loufangya (III), and Sigou (IV)—and assessed variation in community structure using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index, Margalef richness index, Berger–Parker dominance index, Pielou evenness index, and Jaccard similarity coefficient. Results: A total of 131 species belonging to 108 genera and 22 families were identified, establishing a comprehensive baseline of beetle diversity for the reserve. Cerambycidae was the most species-rich family (27 species), while Lampyridae, Staphylinidae, and Anobiidae were each represented by only a single species, reflecting marked unevenness in family-level composition. Diversity and community structure differed substantially among transects: Transect II showed the highest Shannon–Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness, Transect III the lowest diversity, and Transect IV the greatest dominance by a few species, while species richness declined in the order I > II > III > IV. Zoogeographic analysis revealed that widely distributed (Cosmopolitan) species predominated (83 species; 63.36%), with Palaearctic (21 species; 16.03%) and Oriental (27 species; 20.61%) elements also well represented, underscoring the reserve’s position at a key biogeographic transition zone. Within China, North China faunal elements were most prevalent (75.94%), with the North China–Northeast China distribution group alone accounting for 54.20% of species, whereas nationally widespread species comprised only 9.16%. Conclusions: This study provides the first systematic record of coleopteran diversity in the Gansu Heihe Provincial Nature Reserve, enriching the region’s biodiversity inventory and offering reference data for future insect monitoring and forest conservation. Further multi-seasonal, method-diversified surveys are needed to achieve a complete faunal inventory.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070699

Authors: Yao Lu Yiyi Yu Liefeng Li Haojie Li Shuyin Hu Xingbang Qiu Xiang Meng Junjie Hu

The aquafeed industry is seeking sustainable alternatives to fishmeal, and insect meals are promising candidates. However, quantitative syntheses of their effects on non-fish aquatic animals like shrimp, crabs, turtles, and frogs are limited. This meta-analysis evaluated five insect meals—black soldier fly, Coleoptera, housefly, silkworm, and Orthoptera—on specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain rate (WGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). A total of 69 studies (2004–2025) were included. Hedges’ g was pooled using random-effects models, and meta-regressions examined dose–response relationships. Among all categories, only silkworm meal improved or maintained growth, showing no significant negative dose–response relationship. In contrast, black soldier fly and Coleoptera meals impaired growth, with a negative linear dose–response. Subgroup analyses revealed species-specific responses; shrimp, particularly Litopenaeus vannamei, exhibited growth depression, whereas some crab species, including Scylla paramamosain and Eriocheir sinensis, showed tolerance or improved performance. Housefly and Orthoptera meals were evaluated in fewer studies, precluding firm conclusions. Thus, the efficacy of insect meal substitution is jointly determined by insect type and host physiology. Silkworm pupae meal is a favourable fishmeal alternative, while black soldier fly and Coleoptera meals require conservative inclusion limits, especially for shrimp.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070698

Authors: Victor Hideki Nagatani Tiago Henrique Nascimento Dativa Vieira Kelly Carina Braga Bernardo Samira Daniele Gardziulis Maia Reis Nathália Sampaio da Silva Gabriela Procópio Camacho Otávio Guilherme Morais Silva Dietrich Gotzek Maria Santina de Castro Morini

Fire ants are known for their aggressive behavior, omnivorous diet, and construction of mounds on the soil surface. Their dispersal is facilitated by trade and habitat fragmentation, which have led to negative impacts on biodiversity, public health, and agriculture in many countries. In Brazil, information about their impacts is scarce and mostly limited to reports from the North Region. In the Atlantic Forest, a biome where most of Brazil’s population resides, there are no records of impacts associated with fire ants. This study examined farmers’ perceptions of the impacts of fire ants in the Atlantic Forest. A questionnaire was administered to collect information on respondents’ profiles, property characteristics, perceived impacts of fire ants, management practices, and health-related issues. Most respondents reported the regular presence of fire ants on their properties, although the perceived impacts on agricultural productivity were generally low to moderate, and control costs were typically less than $17. Widespread use of pesticides for fire ant control is reported by most farmers. Regarding stings, 85.1% of farmers reported having been stung, but only 0.6% required hospitalization. The most common reaction was itching. This pioneering study revealed that, although fire ants are present on many properties within the Atlantic Forest, the reported economic and health impacts are lower than expected, with most farmers experiencing minimal losses. Overall, the results for our sample suggest that the presence of fire ants does not result in significant economic losses for farmers. Nevertheless, fire ants are not overlooked, as non-conservationist control methods are employed. Such practices may lead to colony fragmentation, increasing their abundance and potentially negatively affecting local biodiversity.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070697

Authors: Assel A. Karabayeva Bakyt K. Kopzhassarov Gulzhan B. Sarseyeva Gulnar K. Ziyayeva Assem D. Nogerbek Aizhan K. Baubekova

Climate change is increasingly altering the ecological dynamics of apple orchard ecosystems, creating new challenges for sustainable management of phytophagous mites. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought periods, and increasing climatic variability influence mite population dynamics, destabilize predator–prey interactions, and reduce the effectiveness of traditional pest management approaches. This review examines sustainable mite management in apple orchards through the interconnected perspectives of ecological stability, climatic stress, and resilience-oriented agroecosystem management. Particular attention is given to the ecological mechanisms underlying mite outbreaks, including climate-driven acceleration of reproduction, trophic destabilization, biodiversity loss, and disruption of biological regulation processes. The ecological limitations of both conventional chemical control and biological control strategies are critically analyzed, highlighting issues related to pesticide-induced ecological disturbance, resistance development, climatic sensitivity of natural enemies, and operational constraints. The review further explores resilience-oriented management frameworks based on ecological intensification, habitat diversification, conservation biological control, adaptive management, and system-oriented regulation. Current research gaps are identified, including the lack of long-term ecological studies, insufficient integration of climatic and ecological datasets, limited development of resilience indicators, and underrepresentation of continental and semi-arid orchard systems. The findings suggest that future sustainable mite management should move beyond reactive pest suppression toward ecosystem-based approaches that strengthen ecological resilience and adaptive capacity under increasing climatic uncertainty.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070696

Authors: Rym Bouledroua Amira Nebbak Nicolas Gomez Zakaria Abdellahoum Mustapha Mounir Bouhenna Slimane Boukraa Khaldoun Bachari Philippe Parola Sébastien Briolant Lionel Almeras

Since its first detection in 2010, Aedes albopictus has spread across northern Algeria, where vector control relies on the use of chemical insecticides. This study aimed to evaluate the susceptibility of Ae. albopictus populations from Algiers to commonly used larvicides and adulticides, as well as to characterize the underlying resistance mechanisms. Eggs were collected from three sites in Algiers. The susceptibility of larvae to temephos and Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), as well as that of adults to permethrin, deltamethrin, malathion, and bendiocarb was evaluated using WHO bioassays. Genotyping of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations was performed via PCR and sequencing. Metabolic resistance mechanisms were investigated using CDC bottle bioassays. The larvae were found to be susceptible to temephos and Bti. Bioassays on adults demonstrated susceptibility to deltamethrin, suspected resistance to permethrin, and resistance to malathion and bendiocarb. Genotyping revealed low frequencies of heterozygous kdr mutations (V1016G, I1532T, F1534C/S). Synergist assays highlighted the key role of esterases in malathion resistance, a minimal involvement of glutathione S-transferases and an unexpected antagonistic effect of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Although larvicides remain effective, resistance to organophosphates, carbamates, as well as suspected resistance to permethrin, has been detected. Esterase-mediated metabolic resistance and kdr mutations may contribute to this profile. These findings highlight the need for resistance monitoring and integrated vector control to ensure sustainable control of Ae. albopictus.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070695

Authors: Marija Vasović Sofija Vranić Marina Todosijević Danica Pavlović Nikola Vesović Stefan Ivanović Nina Ćurčić Milan Radovanović Ljubodrag Vujisić Srećko Ćurčić

The relationship between the morphology of pygidial glands and the chemical nature of their secretions in the tribe Chlaeniini (family Carabidae) has long been recognised. We analysed the morphological features of the pygidial glands and the chemical composition of their secretions in three taxa: Chlaenius (Chlaeniellus) tristis (Schaller, 1783), C. (Chlaenites) spoliatus spoliatus (Rossi, 1792), and C. (Chlaenius) festivus festivus (Panzer, 1796). We examined the morphology of the pygidial glands in all three taxa using bright-field microscopy (BFM) and nonlinear microscopy (NLM). We used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to analyse the chemical composition of the secretions. We measured and photographed the glands and conducted comparative morphological analyses. We detected a total of 21 chemicals in the pygidial gland secretions of the studied Chlaeniini. We found the highest number of compounds in C. tristis (17), slightly fewer in C. festivus festivus (13), and the lowest number in C. spoliatus spoliatus (seven). Thirteen compounds were new to the tribe Chlaeniini, eight of which were also new to the entire family Carabidae. The most dominant compound in the secretions of all three taxa was 3-methylphenol. We also discussed the taxonomic value of the chemical composition of the pygidial gland secretions.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070694

Authors: Jie He Xinyu Li Hongli Ji Xi Chen Yunjia Xiang

Insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are classically viewed as terminal effectors of innate immunity, but emerging evidence suggests that some can also shape defined neural states. In this Review, we argue that insect systems provide a powerful framework for resolving immune–brain communication at the level of individual peptide effectors, because genetically tractable innate-immune pathways allow pathway activation to be distinguished from peptide-specific effector function. Rather than surveying AMP families exhaustively, we focus on representative cases in which peptide identity, source, and timing can be linked to sleep, memory-related plasticity, and responses to acute injury. These studies show that the neural consequences of AMP induction cannot be inferred from pathway activation alone, but require peptide-level analysis of effector identity, cellular context, and exposure logic. This perspective also raises the question of translational potential. At present, direct biomedical development of endogenous insect AMPs in neural contexts remains limited, whereas more tangible applied interest has centered on insect venom peptides that share AMP-like physicochemical features. We therefore discuss insect venoms separately from endogenous AMP physiology. Venom peptides are not physiological equivalents of endogenous insect AMPs, but represent evolutionarily diversified AMP-like templates for scaffold discovery, mechanistic probing, and therapeutic engineering. Together, this review develops a peptide-level perspective on insect neuroimmune biology while highlighting insect venoms as a valuable, but highly constrained, source of templates for biomedical discovery.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070693

Authors: Macarena M. Galdames Tania Zaviezo

Successful conservation biological control programs require a good understanding the nutritional ecology of natural enemies to maximize their field efficacy. This study evaluated the effects of non-floral sugar sources on fitness parameters of Mastrus ridens, a specialized parasitoid of the codling moth. In the laboratory, we compared the longevity, parasitism, and reproduction of adult parasitoids exposed to different sugar sources, including Vicia faba extrafloral nectar, honeydew from several hemipteran species, diluted honey (positive control), and no-sugar controls. We also tested the effects of exposing parasitoids to honey for only 24 h. The results showed that sugar availability and source type significantly affected parasitoid performance. Extrafloral nectar was better than mealybug honeydew, with female offspring numbers similar to those exposed to honey, and increased the number of parasitized host larvae by up to 3.5-fold compared to no-sugar conditions. The effects of honeydew effects on male longevity were variable, possibly explained by its composition, and the mode of presentation. Parasitoids with a short exposure to high-quality sugar performed poorly. Our findings indicate that successful conservation and augmentative biological control programs using this species require field provision of high-quality, accessible sugar resources.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070692

Authors: Jingtao Liu Chenyang Li Peng Wang Hongyue Wang Chuxuan Nie Rongrong Zhao Jiaoxin Xie

Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae can convert low-value organic residues into insect biomass, but their performance depends on substrate composition and feeding strategy. We evaluated vegetable wastes, okara–wheat–bran diets and kitchen waste–wheat–bran mixtures under a dynamic feeding regime. Ingredient and proximate compositions were determined, and larval growth, fresh-weight-based waste reduction (WR), bioconversion rate (BCR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE), pupal output, nutritional composition and heavy metal contents were assessed. Among vegetable wastes, potato showed the highest numerical WR (95.18 ± 0.73%) and relatively high BCR and FCE, whereas pumpkin produced the most pupae (109.00 ± 8.62 per replicate). Cabbage showed reduced biomass conversion and pupal output. In the okara trial, 40% okara showed the highest numerical WR (75.88 ± 0.39%), 10% okara maximized FCE (15.83 ± 0.38%) and 20% okara produced the greatest pupal output. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated treatment-specific conversion and developmental patterns, but was interpreted as an exploratory association analysis rather than a causal model. Kitchen waste mixtures increased the relative fat proportion and reduced the relative protein proportion of larvae; the 3:2 mixture increased crude fat to 37.90 ± 0.22% while retaining 57.39 ± 0.40% crude protein. Higher kitchen waste inclusion was associated with greater larval arsenic (As) content, reaching 0.803 ± 0.001 mg/kg in the 5:2 treatment. Substrate composition should therefore be optimized together with conversion efficiency, product quality and safety screening.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070691

Authors: Heyu Lü Runzhi Zhang

Five new species of Orthosinus Motschulsky, 1863 from China are described: O. borisi sp. nov. (♂♀) and O. urceolatus sp. nov. (♂♀) from Xizang Autonomous Region, O. diaoluoshanensis sp. nov. (♂) from Hainan Province, O. sulcatus sp. nov. (♂♀) from Sichuan Province and O. tengchongensis sp. nov. (♂) from Yunnan Province. Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnostic illustrations, and habitus photographs are provided for each species. An identification key and a distribution map for all known Chinese species of Orthosinus are also provided. With these additions, the number of known Chinese species of Orthosinus is increased from two to seven. Molecular phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses of the COI gene were additionally performed for two of the newly described species, O. urceolatus sp. nov. and O. sulcatus sp. nov., along with other congeneric and outgroup specimens.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070690

Authors: Liying Dai Pengxuan Guo Xiao Zhang

The crane fly subgenus Sivalimnobia has been taxonomically stagnant for over half a century, with its apparent absence from mainland China representing a major biogeographic anomaly. We address this by integrating detailed morphology and COI DNA barcoding of specimens collected across 14 Chinese provinces. Our study conclusively establishes the presence of Sivalimnobia in mainland China, resolving three species: the newly recorded and continentally widespread Dicranomyia (Sivalimnobia) alticola Edwards, 1916, and two new endemic species—D. (S.) bispinosa sp. nov. (restricted to Yunnan) and D. (S.) inflata sp. nov. (a cryptic lineage within the D. (S.) alticola complex distributed across Chongqing, Sichuan and Yunnan). The discovery of D. (S.) inflata sp. nov. was validated by a discrete male genitalic autapomorphy and a pronounced COI barcode gap (8.7–9.6% divergence). These findings update the global biogeography of the subgenus, identifying India as the primary diversity center and southwestern China as a significant secondary center. The overall pattern suggests a “stepping-stone dispersal and multi-center diversification” model. This work transforms Sivalimnobia from a taxonomic relic into a model for studying Eurasian insect biogeography and highlights the conservation importance of East Asian montane stream habitats.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070689

Authors: Emma Bossuyt Ellen Danneels Dirk C. de Graaf

Selective breeding is widely used to improve honey bee health and colony performance, commonly applying selection based on colony traits. Since 2017, a mass selection program in Flanders, Belgium, has ranked queens according to resilience, productivity and behavior traits. Using longitudinal data (2017–2024), we evaluated the effectiveness of this strategy by assessing colony performance across years and generations. Behavioral traits showed the clearest improvement over time, whereas progress in productivity and especially resilience-related traits remained limited. Offspring of top-ranking queens frequently failed to achieve overall ranking values comparable to those of their mothers; rather, they scored lower. For the traits Varroa index and spring development, offspring from lower-scoring queens often performed better, while offspring from higher-scoring queens tended to perform worse. These findings indicate that the current mass selection approach did not consistently result in cumulative genetic improvement. Factors such as open participation, limited breeding standardization, and insufficient paternal genetic control may have reduced selection efficiency. These results highlight the opportunities and challenges of implementing an accessible honey bee breeding program. Refinement of the current selection framework and evaluation of alternative strategies, such as selection by exclusion, may therefore be necessary to achieve more robust and resilient honey bee populations.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070688

Authors: Hala Hazam Al-Otaibi Samar Refat Alabdulmohsen

Saudi Arabia relies heavily on food imports, making sustainable protein integration a national priority under Vision 2030. However, large-scale adoption of edible insects remains limited by psychological, cultural, and religious barriers that vary across consumer groups. This study develops a behavioral segmentation framework using a cross-sectional survey of 2208 Saudi adults, representing one of the largest behavioral studies of edible insect adoption in the Saudi context. Three distinct segments emerged from hierarchical cluster analysis: Resistant Rejectors (43.1%), Conditional Adopters (33.0%), and Early Adopters (23.9%). Gender-stratified ordinal logistic regression revealed distinct adoption pathways: among men, willingness was primarily associated with interest in entomophagy (OR = 3.46) and social influence (OR = 2.51); among women, prior consumption experience was the strongest facilitator (OR = 3.07), while religious concern represented the most substantial barrier (OR = 0.15). Acceptance of insects as animal feed was consistently higher than direct consumption across all segments, supporting a three-stage integration model (feed → processed foods → direct consumption) as a culturally pragmatic transition pathway. These findings provide actionable, segment-specific insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and food system innovators.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070687

Authors: Zhengbing Wang Xin Miao Zhen Li Jiahui Zhang Manman Zheng Wenkai Bu Lei Yang Kedong Xu Xiaoyue Sang Keshi Ma Mingsheng Yang

The JAK/STAT pathway is a conserved signaling pathway involved in insect immune regulation. Although its antibacterial role has been investigated in some aphids, evidence is lacking for Aphis glycines. In this study, we identified JAK/STAT pathway-related genes in A. glycines and examined their roles in antibacterial defense. Candidate genes were identified and characterized through sequence, domain, and phylogenetic analyses. Developmental expression and transcriptional responses to bacterial infection were determined by qRT-PCR, and gene function was evaluated by RNA interference followed by bacterial challenge. Six putative JAK/STAT pathway-related genes were identified, including AglyJak, AglyDome-1, AglyDome-2, AglyDome-3, AglyStat92E-1, and AglyStat92E-2. Conserved domain architecture and phylogenetic analysis confirmed these genes as A. glycines JAK/STAT orthologs. Expression profiling showed that, except for AglyJak and AglyDome-2, most genes were most highly expressed in early nymphal stages, particularly in first-instar nymphs. After injection with Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus, the transcript levels of AglyJak, AglyDome, and AglyStat genes increased significantly. Gene silencing significantly reduced aphid survival following bacterial infection. These results indicate that JAK/STAT pathway-related genes participate in the antibacterial defense of A. glycines and provide candidate targets for further studies on immune regulation and biologically based management of this pest.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070686

Authors: Youning Wang Jiaxu Li Wang Han

Global climate warming has intensified in recent years, with extreme weather events occurring more frequently and severely impacting ecosystems and social production. According to the “China Climate Change Blue Book (2023),” China’s temperature rise rate exceeds the global average, with increasingly significant impacts on ecosystems. Hyphantria cunea, an invasive forest pest first discovered in China in 1979, has spread widely, causing serious damage to forestry and agriculture and posing a significant threat to China’s ecological security. To address this threat, this study employed seven modeling algorithms (GLM, GBM, CTA, ANN, SRE, FDA, MARS, RF, and MaxEnt) from the R Biomod2 package to develop an ensemble model. The core research objective of this work is to quantify climate-driven range shifts of H. cunea under ongoing global climate change. Previous nationwide SDM studies on invasive forest pests have consistently demonstrated that climatic variables dominate broad-scale nationwide suitable habitat patterns at the macro-regional level. Supplementary topographic, vegetation cover, and human land-use disturbance layers were incorporated to capture fine-scale habitat filtering effects and long-distance pest dispersal facilitated by human activities, which together fully characterize the suitable regional environments of this pest. By integrating climate, topography, vegetation, and human disturbance data, we predicted the potential geographical distribution of H. cunea in China under four future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5). The ensemble model achieved excellent performance with TSS and ROC values of 0.901 and 0.984, respectively. Currently, highly suitable areas for H. cunea are concentrated in 12 provinces, including Shandong, Jiangsu, Hebei, Henan, and Anhui, covering 56.33 × 104 km2, with Shandong showing the highest proportion (25.48%). The suitable habitat range is projected to expand northeastward, with significant increases under high emission scenarios (SSP5-8.5). Analysis of environmental variables reveals that nighttime light brightness, precipitation in the warmest season, the seasonal temperature variation coefficient, and average temperature in the driest season are key factors influencing H. cunea distribution. Nighttime light brightness shows the highest contribution (27.7%), indicating significant human impact on species spread. Response curves suggest that H. cunea favors warm, humid areas with pronounced seasonal changes. This study demonstrates that climate change will increase H. cunea expansion risk, necessitating strengthened cross-regional monitoring and biological control techniques. These findings provide a scientific foundation for understanding H. cunea spatiotemporal distribution patterns under future climate scenarios and for developing effective prevention and control strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070685

Authors: Lin Tian Guangtao Xu Jianyu Li Yixuan Zhang Wei Shang Junhua Xie Yucheng Gu Yanna Huang Xueming Tang

RNA interference (RNAi) represents a promising alternative to chemical insecticides, but its efficacy depends on efficient double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) uptake, a process poorly characterized in thrips. To enable sufficient dsRNA production for functional studies, we first optimized an E. coli expression system by constructing a vector containing three tandem terminators, which substantially enhanced dsRNA yield by approximately 11-fold. Using this optimized production system, this study identified a conserved muscle actin fragment for dsRNA synthesis and evaluated RNAi responses in Megalurothrips usitatus and Frankliniella occidentalis. Insect mortality, target-gene suppression, and transcriptomic responses were evaluated via RT-qPCR and RNA-seq analyses using artificial diets supplemented with muscle actin dsRNA. The designed dsactin shared > 97% sequence identity between the two species. Oral ingestion of 1500 ng µL−1 dsRNA caused concentration-dependent mortality (72% in M. usitatus, 48% in F. occidentalis) and significant down-regulation of muscle actin mRNA within 72 h. Transcriptomic analysis in M. usitatus revealed upregulation of genes associated with clathrin-mediated endocytosis and SID-1-like transmembrane transport, suggesting a potential dual-pathway model for dsRNA uptake. These findings provide correlative insights into RNAi efficiency in thrips.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070684

Authors: Jing Yu Hongfang Wang Zhenguo Liu Ying Wang Baohua Xu

Forkhead box O (FoxO) transcription factors act downstream of insulin signaling and play conserved roles in development and metabolic homeostasis in insects. However, whether FoxO participates in 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E)-mediated pupation and fat body remodeling in honeybee larvae remains unclear. Here, we show that FoxO is highly expressed during the prepupal and pupal stages of honeybee development. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of FoxO delayed pupation, inhibited ecdysteroid biosynthesis and 20E signaling, and ultimately led to pupal lethality. Knockdown of FoxO also suppressed the expression of lipolytic genes, reduced lipase activity, and increased triglyceride (TG) accumulation in the fat body. Furthermore, FoxO deficiency impaired autophagy, as evidenced by reduced LysoTracker staining, decreased autophagosome formation, and downregulation of Atg genes. These findings demonstrate that FoxO participates in 20E-induced pupation of honeybee by regulating the expression of key genes involved in 20E biosynthesis and the 20E signaling pathway. FoxO coordinates autophagy and lipid mobilization in the fat body to provide energy for pupal development. Collectively, our results establish FoxO as a central regulator linking endocrine signaling, energy metabolism, and tissue remodeling during honeybee metamorphosis.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070683

Authors: Ehsan Rahimi Chuleui Jung

This study presents a nuanced understanding of how butterflies may respond to climate change, suggesting that although many species could experience noticeable contractions in their climatic niches, a substantial number may still have the potential to considerably expand their geographic ranges. We modeled the distributions of 200 butterfly species across Asia using the MaxEnt algorithm. Habitat suitability maps were produced for both current conditions and future scenarios under moderate (SSP245) and high (SSP585) greenhouse gas emissions. To analyze niche dynamics, we projected the realized niches of species onto principal component environmental spaces, which allowed us to quantify key processes including niche stability, expansion, unfilling, abandonment, and pioneering. These indices were then mapped spatially to identify potential changes in climatic niche configurations and geographic distributions in response to climate change. Our findings indicate that by 2070, under the moderate-emissions scenario (SSP245), 185 species are projected to show expansion in suitable habitat by an average of 38%, while 15 species may face an average decline of 11%. Under the high-emissions scenario (SSP585), 184 species are projected to show increases in suitable habitat by 55% on average, with 16 species showing an average decrease of 13%. Additionally, species are predicted to maintain approximately 63% of their current climatic niche stability under SSP585. Niche expansion averages 12%, reflecting potential range growth, whereas unfilling accounts for around 16%, indicating possible loss of some currently suitable areas. Niche abandonment or niche contraction, representing climatic spaces no longer projected to be occupied, comprises about 8%, and pioneering into entirely new climatic conditions remains limited at roughly 1%. The modeled presence of niche unfilling and abandonment suggests that butterflies may retain considerable ecological flexibility, potentially allowing them to shift into new environments under changing climate conditions. This projected adaptability may enhance their resilience by facilitating potential movement into novel or previously unoccupied habitats, though actual range shifts will depend on factors beyond climatic suitability alone.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070682

Authors: Haiying Zhong Fang Li Kaili Yu Juefeng Zhang

The striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is one of the most serious pests of water bamboo Zizania latifolia. Microbiota dynamics across the life cycle of C. suppressalis are a prerequisite for comprehending the symbiotic relationship between C. suppressalis and its microbiota. In this study, we characterized the structural features of the gut and ovary, as well as the associated microbiota of C. suppressalis. The gut is anatomically divided into the foregut, midgut and hindgut. Notable structural and ultrastructural differences were observed between adults and larvae, the details of which have not been previously documented. Microbial sequencing of gut, ovary, and egg samples revealed variations in relative sequence abundances among these tissues. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the predominant groups. At the family level, Bacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, Halomonadaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Streptococcaceae were detected in the gut, ovary, and egg, albeit with different relative sequence abundances. The larval midgut exhibited the highest bacteria diversity among all samples examined. The compositional distribution of bacterial genera varied considerably across developmental stages, diet, and gut compartment, and some genera were identified as core microbial taxa. These findings provide a descriptive account of the microbial community structure associated with different tissues and life stages of C. suppressalis. They also provided important insights into the investigation of insect–bacteria symbioses, thereby facilitating effective biocontrol of this species.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070681

Authors: Yansong Zhang Yao Wang Yizhi Li Alan Jian Zhu Min Liu

Drosophila melanogaster, widely known as the fruit fly, has emerged as a pivotal model organism for studying development and signaling transduction. Its fully sequenced genome, short generation time, and powerful genetic toolkit—including the Gal4/UAS system, RNA interference, and CRISPR-Cas9—enable precise, tissue-specific manipulation and high-throughput functional analyses. Despite differences in anatomy, the internal organ systems of Drosophila melanogaster, including the nervous system, heart, fat body, oenocytes, and nephrocytes, exhibit conserved molecular pathways and physiological functions comparable to those of humans. The morphological differences between invertebrates and vertebrates have long led researchers to undervalue the studies of insects in underlying the pathogenesis of human diseases. Over the past decades, the fruit fly has been widely validated for modeling the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, and muscular disorders. In this review, we systematically summarize the conserved molecular pathways and organ functions between the fruit fly and human, and provide examples of recent studies that use the fruit fly as a model system to answer questions associated with human diseases. We also discuss how Drosophila help researchers to fulfill the gap from mechanistic study toward translational research, and provide methodological considerations regarding the utility of Drosophila models in drug screening.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070680

Authors: Magali Jiménez-Jiménez Héctor Cabrera-Mireles Alejandra Soto-Estrada Lorena Jacqueline Gómez-Godínez Felipe Gallardo-López Jorge Jiménez-Zilli

The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is a significant pest of chili crops, and the continuous use of insecticides to control it has led to insecticide resistance. This study aimed to characterize and evaluate the pathogenicity and virulence of native entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) strains from the Sotavento region against whiteflies in the laboratory. Fungi were isolated from whiteflies collected from chili plants in different habitats and identified through morphological and molecular characterization. The pathogenicity of nine EPF strains was assessed at 1 × 109 spores mL−1, while the virulence of the most pathogenic strains was evaluated from 1 × 104 to 1 × 109 spores mL−1. The lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal time (LT50) were also determined. Two native genera of EPF were identified: Beauveria and Cordyceps. The strains JV01 and PV02 (Cordyceps javanica), SV01 (Cordyceps fumosorosea), and MV03 (Beauveria bassiana) demonstrated high pathogenicity, causing mortality rates ranging from 94% to 100% at a concentration of 1 × 106 spores mL−1, five days after application. The strains JV01 and SV01 showed LC50 values of 1.65 × 105 and 5.53 × 105 spores mL−1, respectively, with an LT50 of 2 days for both. In conclusion, highly pathogenic and virulent native EPF strains were identified against adult whiteflies on serrano chili.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070679

Authors: Huan Liu Zhan-Zi Yu Qin-Zhe Sun Lei Liu Xing Xiang Li-Wen Song Sen-Shan Wang Wan-Bin Chen

The pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) is a destructive phloem-feeding pest of alfalfa. Its overreliance on chemical insecticides necessitates the development of sustainable, plant-based resistance strategies. Plant flavonoids are important in induced defense, but their dynamic responses to aphid feeding and subsequent insecticidal effects remain unclear. Using the highly resistant alfalfa variety ‘Gannong No. 5’ (GN5), this study integrated behavioral assays, performance bioassays, untargeted and targeted metabolomics, and exogenous flavonoid feeding assays to investigate how pea aphid infestation alters flavonoid metabolism and thereby affects aphid performance. Bioassays confirmed strong antibiosis of GN5 against A. pisum. Behavioral choice assays showed that, at 2 h post-release, aphids significantly avoided plants pre-infested for 12 h and 48 h, but not those pre-infested for 24 h; by 8 h post-release, they significantly avoided all pre-infested plants regardless of infestation duration. Prolonged pre-infestation (48 h) also reduced average fecundity per female. Non-targeted metabolomics revealed substantial metabolic reprogramming after 48 h of aphid feeding, with most flavonoids and isoflavonoids significantly upregulated. Targeted metabolomics identified 28 flavonoids, among which only sakuranetin and chrysin were significantly upregulated after 48 h, indicating their specific induction. Finally, performance bioassays confirmed insecticidal effects in a concentration-dependent manner: sakuranetin at 0.1 μg/μL reduced reproduction, and at 10.0 μg/μL reduced survival; chrysin at 0.1 μg/μL reduced both survival and reproduction. Collectively, these results demonstrate that pea aphid feeding triggers the induction of specific defensive flavonoids in GN5, which may contribute to antibiosis. This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring flavonoid-based approaches in sustainable aphid management.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070678

Authors: Chengxin Ye Xiangyan Zhang Yang Bai Fengqin Yang Lei Zhao Yadong Guo Yanjie Shang

Estimating the post-feeding developmental time of necrophagous larvae remains challenging because body size and behavior provide limited resolution after larvae cease feeding. This study integrated behavioral observation, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), chemometric regression modeling, transcriptomic analysis, and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) validation to characterize post-feeding development in Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy) under 25 °C. The post-feeding stage began at 84.83 ± 1.34 h after larviposition and lasted 38.21 ± 2.29 h. ATR-FTIR spectra from 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 h post-feeding larvae showed temporal changes in the 1800–900 cm−1 fingerprint region, mainly involving bands associated with proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, and chitin. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and variable importance in projection (VIP) analyses identified discriminative spectral regions, while regression models further evaluated time-estimation performance. Among the models, partial least squares regression (PLS-R) showed the most balanced predictive ability, with the coefficient of determination in prediction (R2P) = 0.920 and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 4.00 h in the prediction set. Transcriptomic analysis identified 4641 differentially expressed genes, and RT-qPCR confirmed temporal expression patterns of selected candidate genes. These molecular changes were mainly associated with cuticle/chitin remodeling, protein metabolism, and energy metabolism. Overall, ATR-FTIR combined with chemometric modeling provides a complementary biochemical approach for estimating post-feeding developmental time in S. peregrina under controlled 25 °C conditions, although validation at other temperatures is required before broader application.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070677

Authors: Seongwon Yun Sle-gee Lee Dong-Pyeo Lyu Kyeong-Sik Cheon Yoon Young Lee Tae Kyung Yoon

Myrmecochory is a form of seed dispersal mediated by ants. Although this mechanism of dispersal has received less research attention than other dispersal processes, the wide distribution and high biomass of ants mean that it can strongly influence plant dispersal patterns. In particular, the underlying mechanisms and key agents of myrmecochory remain poorly understood in the context of anthropogenic perturbations; furthermore, such research is especially scarce in East Asia. This review aims to elucidate the ecological mechanisms underlying myrmecochory, to explore how this interaction may be affected by urbanization and climate change, and to determine its potential ecological role in disturbed ecosystems. We first review past research on the three major hypotheses proposed for the emergence of ant-mediated seed dispersal—directed dispersal, distance dispersal, and predator avoidance. We then compile taxonomic information on myrmecochorous plants and ants from global databases and regional literature, expanding the checklist of Korean myrmecochorous plants to 130 species and reclassifying them as endangered, rare, or endemic. Our synthesis suggests that invasive ants could threaten myrmecochory by displacing native myrmecochorous ants, increasing seed predation, and facilitating the dispersal of invasive plants. Moreover, the urban heat island effect and habitat fragmentation could disturb the dispersal, germination, and growth of myrmecochorous plants, threats that may be further intensified by climate-driven phenological mismatches. Consequently, in temperate East Asian countries experiencing anthropogenically generated environmental changes, myrmecochory emerges as a pivotal ecological process that underscores ecosystem vulnerability and resilience. Ultimately, incorporating these plant–ant interactions into biodiversity monitoring is essential for predicting ecosystem shifts and designing robust, proactive conservation strategies in changing environments.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070676

Authors: Yavonne E. Williams Tennyson Bilinkhinyu Nkhoma Felipe N. Soto-Adames Laura V. Bautista-Romero Germán V. Sandoya De-Fen Mou

Frankliniella occidentalis is a major threat to lettuce production due to its role in transmitting Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV). To better understand the potential risk of INSV outbreaks in Florida lettuce production areas, this study aimed to assess thrips population abundance and species composition. Five methods, whole plant sampling, yellow sticky traps, blue sticky traps, yellow pan traps, and blue pan traps, were evaluated for thrips collection. Traps were placed in one research and two commercial lettuce farms for two growth cycles, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. Sticky traps collected the highest number of thrips followed by pan traps, and whole plant sampling. Although sticky traps collected the highest number of thrips, specimens were in poor condition and not easily identifiable to species, which is an important step in determining the risk of INSV outbreaks. In contrast, pan traps collected the second highest number of thrips, and preserved specimens well for later identification. Overall, at least eleven species were identified using these sampling methods, the abundant species were Frankliniella bispinosa, Microcephalothrips abdominalis, and Leucothrips piercei. Vectors of orthotospoviruses, F. occidentalis, F. fusca, and F. schultzei, were also detected, underscoring the importance of continued thrips surveillance to safeguard Florida lettuce from thrips and thrips-transmitted viruses.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070675

Authors: Xingbao Feng Ying Cui Song Liu Qianru Mo Jingyi Hu Xinyu Duan Jiaxuan Jian Ling Tian Huiyu Yi Zhijun Huang

The impacts of various feed substrates and processing treatments (boiling and extrusion) designed to reduce plant-derived antinutritional factors on the growth and development, nutritional composition, and intestinal microbiota of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) were evaluated. The research revealed that, except for the soybean flour group, the cottonseed meal group and the treatment group with antinutritional factors removed showed better growth trends compared to the Gainesville House Fly Diet group. The heat-processed groups had higher maximum larval weights, survival rates, and feed conversion rates than the untreated groups. Additionally, BSFL fed with high-protein and high-fat experimental diets generally exhibited higher fat and protein contents. Plant-derived antinutritional factors in the test substrates significantly affected the intestinal microbiota and their metabolic pathways in BSFL. Gut microbiota—including phyla such as Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, along with various lactic acid—and short-chain fatty acid-producing genera—and metabolic pathways related to carbohydrates, amino acids, cofactors, and vitamins, play crucial roles in helping BSFL resist plant antinutritional factors.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070674

Authors: Macarena González-Dossi Fermín M. Alfaro Elizabeth V. Villalobos Jaime Pizarro-Araya

The family Scoliidae is composed of parasitoid wasps of notable ecological and agronomic importance, particularly for their role in the natural control of soil-dwelling beetle larvae within agroecosystems. This study provides the first record of Campsomeriella whitelyi (Kirby, 1889) in Chile, a species originally described from the Tambo Valley, Arequipa, Peru. The specimens analyzed, previously identified as Campsomeris servillei (Guérin-Méneville, 1831), were found to correspond to Campsomeriella whitelyi, whose known distribution in Chile was restricted to the extreme north. Their identity was confirmed through morphological analysis, which revealed the presence of a distinct yellow band on the fourth abdominal tergite and an elongated posterior tibial spur—diagnostic characters consistent with the original description of the species. This record from the Coquimbo Region represents the southernmost known expansion of the species. Specimens were collected between 2017 and 2025 in horticultural and rainfed agroecosystems associated with the Elqui River Basin (Coquimbo Region, Chile), using entomological nets in targeted sampling efforts. The edaphoclimatic conditions of the area—characterized by light-textured soils, winter humidity, and a high availability of hosts—appear to have favored the establishment of this wasp in a previously unreported environment. Through MaxEnt modeling, areas of high environmental suitability were identified in Chile’s Norte Chico region. From an agronomic perspective, this finding opens opportunities to incorporate Campsomeriella whitelyi as a functional component in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, particularly in the biological control of Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) larvae that affect root, bulb, and minor fruit crops. Its adaptation to semi-arid agricultural environments suggests potential resilience under climate change scenarios, as well as a low impact on non-target species. This study contributes to applied entomology and functional conservation, promoting the integration of beneficial Hymenoptera into sustainable agricultural systems of north-central Chile.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070673

Authors: Yongpeng Chen Zhijun Zhao Shemei Zhang

Managed honeybee colonies contribute to agriculture through multiple ecosystem services. However, the contribution of honeybees is often assessed through bee products rather than through the crop pollination services they provide. This study quantified the economic value, relative vulnerability and supply–demand imbalance of honeybee pollination in Chinese agriculture from 2010 to 2024. Using crop production, gross production value, harvested area and managed colony data, combined with crop-specific pollination-dependence coefficients, we estimated pollination function quantity, service value, relative vulnerability, theoretical colony demand and supply gaps. Benchmark pollination service value increased from US$114.27 billion in 2010 to US$247.02 billion in 2024, while pollination-attributable output increased from 203.92 million tonnes to 274.73 million tonnes. In 2024, 36.94% of selected crop value was exposed to pollination dependence, with vegetables and fruits contributing more than 93% of total benchmark value. Effective honeybee supply was estimated at 5.73 million colonies in 2024, resulting in a substantial supply deficit of 68.00 million colonies and a demand-to-effective-supply ratio of 12.88 under the benchmark scenario. Despite sensitivity to colony-use assumptions, the demand–supply gap remained persistent across alternative specifications. These results show that China’s high-value agriculture increasingly depends on pollination services while managed pollination capacity remains far below theoretical demand.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070672

Authors: Xiaobei Liu Qian Wang Yong Liu Yong Zhang Frédéric Francis Julian Chen

Wheat aphids are among the most destructive pests of wheat, posing a serious threat to wheat production and global food security. The development of aphid-resistant wheat varieties is widely regarded as one of the most economical and sustainable strategies for aphid management. A comprehensive understanding of the plant defense mechanisms is fundamental to the breeding of resistant wheat germplasm. Recent studies have revealed that aphid salivary proteins play critical roles in manipulating host defenses, whereas wheat has evolved multiple layers of defense to perceive and respond to aphid attack. In this review, we summarize current advances in wheat–aphid interactions, focusing on the roles of aphid salivary effectors, aphid-induced immune signaling, physical and chemical defense barriers, herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs), resistance genes, and non-host resistance mechanisms. By integrating aphid effector biology with host immunity and resistance mechanisms, this review provides a conceptual framework for understanding wheat–aphid interactions and for developing durable and environmentally sustainable resistance strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070671

Authors: Rasheed Akbar Gul Makai Rehan Kausar Ambreen Ijaz Brekhna Faheem Naseem Rafiq Shehreyar Javed Imtiaz Ali Khan Jibiao Fan Jianfan Sun

Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) is a major postharvest pest of stored legumes, causing significant quantitative and qualitative losses. This study evaluated host preference, biochemical determinants of susceptibility, and the insecticidal efficacy of plant powders and aqueous and ethanolic extracts against C. maculatus among selected pulse species. In free-choice assays, oviposition preference did not correspond with developmental success, as Phaseolus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1753, received the highest number of eggs but supported minimal adult emergence, whereas Vigna radiata (Linnaeus) A. Jussieu, 1954, exhibited the highest level of infestation and seed damage. Biochemical analysis revealed correlational patterns: higher carbohydrate and lipid contents were positively associated with infestation and seed weight loss, whereas fiber content showed a negative association with pest performance. Protein content was correlated with oviposition, while moisture and fiber were associated with reduced developmental success. Plant-derived treatments significantly affected all biological parameters of C. maculatus in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, with the exception of sex ratio. Among the tested botanicals, Azadirachta indica A. Jussieu (1830) consistently showed the highest toxicity, with the lowest LC50 values across exposure periods. Ethanolic extracts showed greater insecticidal activity than aqueous extracts, indicating solvent-dependent extraction of bioactive compounds. Mortality increased progressively with exposure duration, accompanied by decreasing LC50 values, suggesting cumulative toxic and developmental effects. Overall, the results demonstrate that host suitability is governed by the interaction between nutritional composition and structural seed traits, while botanical extracts, particularly those from A. indica, offer effective, eco-friendly alternatives for managing C. maculatus in stored legumes.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070670

Authors: Makrina Tsinoglou Konrad Fiedler Jacqueline Degen

In protected areas, fragmentation and artificial light at night are usually present alongside changes in land type, from natural to agricultural or urban. We explored the intensity of edge effects on light trap responses of nocturnal insects at the margin of the floodplain forest in the Donau-Auen National Park in Central Europe, Austria. Specifically, we examined the abundance and biomass of nocturnal insects and characterized the community composition and diversity of moths with respect to the local habitat. In this study, 58 species were observed, with 21 unique records on the forest edge and nine in the interior. Traps in the forest interior harbored significantly higher nocturnal insect biomass. However, moth assemblages were more diverse at edge sites due to many singletons, attributed to individuals attracted from areas with open vegetation. Nine species (15.5% of total) were recorded later than expected given their summer flight periods, potentially reflecting the effects of ongoing climate change associated with warmer autumns. Overall, we observed higher moth species diversity at the forest edge, and insect biomass and moth abundance were higher within the forest. These findings underscore the urgent need to incorporate local anthropogenic landscape and climate change as synergically evolutionary drivers in future population and community-focused research.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070669

Authors: Luca Alfarano Sara Bellezza Oddon Riccardo Cecire Laura Gasco Massimo Pugliese

Interest in the rearing of Hermetia illucens L. by-products has increased in recent years. This study evaluated the effects of H. illucens frass, obtained from larvae reared on a Gainesville diet, for the control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Sacc.) W.C. Snyder & H.N. Hansen (FOL). Greenhouse trials were conducted comparing thermally treated (70 °C for 60 min) and untreated frass applied at different concentrations (1–20% v/v). Disease severity, disease incidence, area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), and plant fresh weight were assessed. Frass application significantly reduced disease severity and incidence, compared with the inoculated untreated control, with the greatest reductions observed in the 20% thermally untreated treatment and in the 5% and 10% thermally treated treatments under the greenhouse conditions of this study. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) analysis suggested a reduction in disease progression over time. No significant differences were observed between thermally treated and untreated frass. Fresh weight was mainly influenced by frass dose, and the highest values were obtained with treatments at 10% and 20%. H. illucens frass showed preliminary potential as a sustainable starter for the suppression of Fusarium wilt of tomato under greenhouse conditions.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070668

Authors: Pengfei Zhao Mingshan Chang Xuejian Jiang Ji Luo Qingdong Xiang Zhixing Lu Youqing Chen

Bacterial communities may affect insect nutrition and development, but their variation across complete metamorphosis remains poorly understood in many forest lepidopteran pests. Heortia vitessoides is an important defoliator of Aquilaria trees, which produce agarwood. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize bacteria associated with whole eggs and gut tissues from larvae, pupae, and adults of H. vitessoides. Whole egg and larval gut samples generally showed higher bacterial richness and diversity than pupal and adult gut samples. Bacterial community composition differed among the six groups examined, including whole eggs, larval guts, male pupal guts, female pupal guts, male adult guts, and female adult guts; a separate analysis of gut samples also indicated differences among larval, pupal, and adult gut communities. Proteobacteria, especially Acinetobacter, were abundant in whole egg and larval gut samples, whereas adult gut samples were dominated by Firmicutes, particularly Enterococcus. Sex-related differences were mainly observed in pupae, with Methylobacterium and Pseudomonas showing higher relative abundances in female pupae. PICRUSt2 predicted functional categories mainly related to nutrient metabolism and membrane transport. In a preliminary egg surface sterilization assay, larvae from treated eggs showed longer larval and total developmental durations than controls. Overall, these results provide baseline information on bacteria associated with whole eggs and gut tissues of H. vitessoides and identify candidate taxa for future functional studies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070667

Authors: Helin Chan Muye Niu Zhi Huang Xiujuan Liu Jiancheng Zang

This study describes a new species of the family Caliscelidae (Hemiptera) from the Xizang region of China—Peltonotellus lasaensis sp. nov. Through integrated morphological examination (including external morphology and genitalia dissection), and mitochondrial gene (COI) sequence analysis, the taxonomic status of this species was determined. Morphological results reveal that the male aedeagus terminates in valvular lobes, with ventral processes comprising a pair of spinous projections. In females, the type IX arcuate process bears approximately 15 ridge teeth on the dorsal margin, a feature that distinctly differentiates it from congeners. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on COI sequences places the new species within a well-supported clade of Caliscelidae, confirming its genus-level placement in Peltonotellus. This study represents the first record of Caliscelidae in the high-altitude regions of Xizang (3650–3800 m), thereby enriching the diversity data of Caliscelids in Asia and providing valuable insights into the biogeography of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070666

Authors: Lubing Wang Chunchun Li Suqin Shang Zhuandi Pei Youssef Dewer Lixiang Wang

Anoplophora glabripennis is a destructive forest pest. Elaeagnus angustifolia attracts A. glabripennis for feeding and oviposition, but its gum encapsulates and kills the eggs, functioning as a dead-end trap tree. However, the olfactory mechanisms by which A. glabripennis recognizes E. angustifolia volatiles remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the antennal transcriptome of female adult A. glabripennis exposed to E. angustifolia volatiles. Ten OBP genes were significantly up-regulated in response to the volatiles, including six Classic OBPs and four Minus-C OBPs (log2 fold changes: 1.02–3.01). qRT-PCR showed AglaOBP1/2/3 were highly and specifically expressed in the antennae, suggesting key olfactory roles. Static molecular docking showed that all three OBPs bound 22 E. angustifolia volatiles, each displaying the highest affinity for (+)-Longifolene, with AglaOBP1 exhibiting the strongest binding. Nevertheless, 200 ns MD simulations revealed a shift: the AglaOBP3–(+)-Longifolene complex displayed the greatest structural stability, not AglaOBP1. MM/PBSA corrected the initial docking screen and confirmed that AglaOBP3 had the strongest thermodynamic binding affinity for (+)-Longifolene (ΔGbind = −30.94 ± 2.57 kcal·mol−1). This study provides novel molecular insights into the olfactory recognition of E. angustifolia volatiles in A. glabripennis, laying a foundation for future functional validation and sustainable pest management.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070665

Authors: Gabriela-Maria Baci Adrian Ionașcu Attila Cristian Rațiu Daniel Severus Dezmirean

The economic value of Bombyx mori is built on two complementary substrates: the productive traits and the molecular mechanism of fibroin synthesis. Despite their importance to European sericulture, neither phenotypic nor transcriptional characterizations of Romanian breeds have been reported. Herein, we combine ten phenotypic traits with qRT-PCR quantification of fibroin light-chain (Fib-l) and fibroin heavy-chain (FIBH) expression across four B. mori breeds: the Romanian breeds Băneasa 1 (B1) and Galben de Băneasa (GB), the Japanese breed JH3, and the Chinese breed Auriu Chinez (ACH). All breeds were reared on the same artificial diet under identical thermohydrometric conditions, highlighting the genetic background as the dominant source of variation. Phenotypically, univariate testing and multivariate analyses converged on a two-cluster solution, (B1 + JH3) and (GB + ACH), consistent with genetic background and silk-pigment. However, B1 is the only breed that combines high silk-gland mass with Fib-l overexpression relative to the other three breeds (FC = 2.7–3.6, all p < 1 × 10−4) and with a Fib-l/FIBH expression ratio of 9.27, above the 1.5–2.9 observed in the other three breeds. The molecular signature identifies B1 as transcriptionally distinct and provides a candidate mechanism for superior productive parameters under artificial-diet rearing.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070664

Authors: Tian Miao Zige Wang Min Peng Jinchao Chen Dengbo Li Yuemin Ma

Juvenile hormone (JH) analog insecticides are widely used in pest management because of their ability to disrupt insect growth and metamorphosis; however, the molecular mechanisms linking endocrine disruption to metabolic dysregulation remain incompletely understood. In addition to their established roles in diapause and developmental regulation, JH signaling pathways have also been implicated in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of two JH analogs, pyriproxyfen and hydroprene, on the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, with particular emphasis on lipid metabolic regulation and the function of midgut-enriched fatty acid-binding protein gene (Mg-FABP). Bioassays were performed to evaluate insecticidal activity, and transcriptomic analyses were conducted to identify differentially expressed genes associated with endocrine signaling and lipid metabolism. Functional characterization of Mg-FABP was further performed using RNA interference (RNAi) and Oil Red O staining assays. In addition, the tertiary structure of LmMg-FABP was predicted using AlphaFold 3, and molecular docking analyses were carried out to investigate its interactions with fatty acid ligands. Both pyriproxyfen and hydroprene caused approximately 70% mortality in locust nymphs and induced significant transcriptional changes in pathways related to hormone signaling and lipid metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis revealed pronounced downregulation of Mg-FABP following JH analog exposure. RNAi-mediated silencing of Mg-FABP significantly reduced lipid droplet accumulation in the fat body, indicating that Mg-FABP plays an essential role in lipid transport and metabolic homeostasis in L. migratoria. Structural analyses further demonstrated that LmMg-FABP possesses a conserved tertiary structure highly similar to FABP homologs from other insect species. Molecular docking identified key amino acid residues involved in fatty acid binding and suggested that hydrophobic interactions are critical for ligand stabilization within the binding cavity. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that pyriproxyfen and hydroprene disrupt insect development not only through endocrine imbalance but also through perturbation of Mg-FABP-associated lipid metabolic pathways. This study provides new mechanistic insight into the coordinated interaction between hormonal signaling and lipid metabolism during JH analog exposure and identifies FABP-mediated lipid transport as a potential molecular target for the development of more selective insect growth regulators.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070663

Authors: Yehya Alattal Khaled El-Asha Ahmad Alghamdi

The Arabian honeybee, Apis mellifera jemenitica, is well adapted to the arid and semi-arid conditions of the Arabian Peninsula. However, little is known about the interactions among climatic conditions, Varroa mite, and honeybee viruses affecting A. m. jemenitica colonies. This study investigated the prevalence of Varroa destructor and major honey bee viruses (DWV, BQCV, SBV, CBPV, ABPV, KBV, IAPV and AIV) in A. m. jemenitica colonies located across arid and semi-arid regions of Saudi Arabia. The results revealed a high prevalence of Varroa infestation and DWV in both climatic zones. The other viruses (BQCV, SBV, CBPV, ABPV, KBV, IAPV and AIV) showed significant spatial variation in prevalence across the surveyed regions. Varroa infestation levels were generally low and significantly higher in semi-arid environments compared to arid regions (p < 0.001). Mean regional DWV loads (copies/bee) were consistently low across all A. m. jemenitica colonies (6.8 × 102 to 4.4 × 103 copies/bee), were positively linked with Varroa infestation levels (R2 = 0.63), and demonstrated significant variation among climatic zones (p < 0.001). Virus co-occurrence analysis using Phi (ϕ) coefficients revealed structured viral communities, with several virus pairs exhibiting moderate to strong positive associations. Overall, this study highlights the low DWV loads in A. m. jemenitica colonies, and the impact of climate conditions on Varroa mite–virus interactions in shaping honeybee health under arid and semi-arid conditions.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070662

Authors: Qi Zhou Xiaoxue Li Weiwei Zheng Hongyu Zhang

The gut microbiota influences host health, development, nutrition, and behavior, positioning it as a frontier research area in life sciences. Bactrocera dorsalis is a major agricultural pest, with a short life cycle, ease of laboratory rearing, and the availability of germ-free larvae. The gut microbiota of B. dorsalis is complex and relatively insensitive to environmental influences. Due to these advantages, B. dorsalis has emerged as a promising model organism for gut microbiota research. This review synthesizes the advantages of B. dorsalis as a model organism, detailing its gut structure and the composition of its microbiota across developmental stages, sexes, diets, and geographical populations—highlighting the dominance of Enterobacteriaceae as a core component. Key functional roles of gut microbiota in B. dorsalis are elucidated, including nutrient provisioning, regulation of development and reproduction, enhancement of environmental adaptability, behavioral modulation, pesticide resistance, and immune interactions. The mechanisms underpinning gut microbiota homeostasis, involving the host Duox/ROS system, NOX enzymes, and the Imd pathway, are also discussed. Limitations are addressed, alongside future directions for leveraging genetic tools to dissect host–microbe interplay. Furthermore, the potential applications of gut microbiota research—including probiotics for Sterile Insect Technique optimization, microbial-based attractants, and paratransgenesis for pest control—are emphasized. Collectively, B. dorsalis offers a platform for understanding intricate host–microbe interplay and inspires novel pest management strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070661

Authors: Xiang Zhang Zi-Qi He Pei-Ping Xu Bao-Li Qiu Li-He Zhang

LED-based trapping may improve whitefly management, but light conditions that attract pests may also affect beneficial predators. This study evaluated how wavelength, irradiance, and temperature influence the phototactic behavior of Bemisia tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and its predator Serangium japonicum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Adults were tested in Y-tube assays across multiple wavelength–irradiance combinations at 25 ± 1 °C, followed by temperature-dependent experiments at 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C under selected settings. B. tabaci MEAM1 consistently showed strong positive phototaxis. At irradiances of 100, 200, 400, 600, and 800 µW cm−2, positive phototaxis was highest under 480 nm light, whereas at 1000 µW cm−2, it was highest under 520 nm light. For S. japonicum, negative phototaxis was highest under 440 nm at 200 µW cm−2 and under 400 nm at 600, 800, and 1000 µW cm−2, and this avoidance weakened as temperature increased. Under a strict predator-safe criterion, 400 nm at 600 µW cm−2 was the best coordinated setting at 20–30 °C, whereas 440 nm at 600 µW cm−2 was the best strict predator-safe setting at 35 °C. These results indicate that selective LED trapping should be deployed as a temperature-aware strategy rather than as a single fixed setting. The findings provide a basis for improving the compatibility of physical and biological control in B. tabaci management.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070660

Authors: Zunair Ahsan Faouzi Haouala Mokhtar Rejili

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) serve as biological sentinels because their foraging behavior links colony health to environmental conditions. Traditional hive inspections are invasive, observer-dependent, and often detect problems only after symptoms appear. This review synthesizes advances in precision beekeeping, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, exposomics, and artificial intelligence to propose the Honeybee-Based Early Warning System (H-BEWS), a unified framework that integrates digital sensors, molecular and chemical monitoring, and ecological data into a predictive early warning system for both colony and ecosystem health. By linking anomalies detected by hive sensors to targeted molecular and chemical analyses, H-BEWS enables proactive interventions and environmental surveillance, supporting a One Health perspective. Unlike previous reviews that focus on individual technologies, H-BEWS emphasizes multi-layered integration, predictive risk assessment, and ecosystem-level insights, providing a novel conceptual framework for early detection of colony stress and environmental hazards. The approach offers practical applications for beekeepers, researchers, and policymakers by converting real-time data into actionable insights and informing management decisions. Challenges include sensor standardization, data integration, AI validation, and equitable access for small-scale beekeepers. Future directions will focus on real-time sequencing, multimodal AI models, digital twin creation, and the development of global surveillance networks. H-BEWS demonstrates how an integrative, multi-layered approach can transform honeybee colonies into living biosensors, providing actionable insights for both apiculture management and ecosystem monitoring.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17070659

Authors: Thamara Rios Isabela Ramos

Choriogenesis, the final stage of oogenesis in insects, is a highly coordinated developmental process responsible for the formation of the chorion (eggshell), a specialized multilayered extracellular matrix that protects the embryo and mediates essential physiological functions. Despite its fundamental importance for reproductive success and species survival, the mechanisms underlying chorion biogenesis remain incompletely understood across insect taxa. This review provides an updated synthesis and integrated view of choriogenesis, including cellular, molecular, biochemical, and structural perspectives. We examine the role of follicle cells in chorion formation, the regulatory mechanisms governing chorion gene expression, and the biochemical composition of the eggshell, including proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. In addition, we compare the structural diversity of the chorion across insect taxa, highlighting both conserved multilayered organization and lineage-specific adaptations in surface morphology and internal architecture.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060658

Authors: Sándor Csősz Laura El-Ghor Herbert C. Wagner

The taxonomy of the East Mediterranean species of the Crematogaster scutellaris complex, Crematogaster schmidti (Mayr, 1853) and C. ionia Forel, 1911 sensu lato, has not yet been investigated via modern approaches like morphometric analyses. We collected morphometric data of 201 workers from 68 nests of Crematogaster schmidti and C. ionia s. l. from Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Greek mainland, Crete, Bulgaria, Samos, Karpathos, Rhodes, Turkish Thrace, and Anatolia. Nest-centroid clustering suggested four distinct entities with different geographic distributions: C. schmidti from Slovenia southwards to Greece and Turkish Thrace, and three species which have been so far summarized under C. ionia: one from the Greek mainland and North Macedonia, one from Crete, and one from Samos, Karpathos, Rhodes, and Anatolia. We describe two new species: the Cretan entity as Crematogaster ariadnae sp. n. and the Balkan mainland entity as Crematogaster graeca sp. n. A key and (re)descriptions for the East Mediterranean members of the Crematogaster scutellaris complex are provided. The four species show different geographic distribution patterns, do not occur together at the same localities, and most likely speciated through long-term geographic isolation.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060657

Authors: Udawaththa Kankanamge Don Sahan Suganda Gunasekara Konatsu Inoue Zui Fujimoto Shuhei Henmi Wataru Tsuchiya Rintaro Suzuki Keisuke Kutsuwada Izumi Ikeda Toshimasa Yamazaki Takahiro Shiotsuki

The authors previously reported that 2-methylbenzimidazole derivatives (MBIs) exhibit insect growth-regulating activity against the silkworm, Bombyx mori. However, despite their unique effects on juvenile hormone (JH)-related endocrine pathways, the precise mode of action of MBIs remained unclear. In the present study, the interactions between MBIs and the lepidopteran hemolymph JH-binding protein (JHBP), a key regulator of JH transport and activity, were investigated using multiple approaches, including in vitro binding affinity assays, X-ray crystallography, and molecular docking simulations. A series of MBIs bearing a 1-(4-alkoxybenzyl) group, which exhibited potent insect growth-regulating activity, showed high binding affinity and structural compatibility with the JH-binding pocket of JHBP. In contrast, 1-(4-alkylbenzyl) MBIs, which displayed weak or negligible insect growth-regulating activity, exhibited low affinity for JHBP. These findings suggest that the insect growth-regulating activity of MBIs is mediated through inhibition of JHBP function, likely by disrupting the precise regulation of JH concentration in the hemolymph during larval development and pupal metamorphosis.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060656

Authors: Helivelton H. M. Araújo Vagner S. Vale Flávio G. Jesus Ednaldo C. Rocha Carlos de M. Silva-Neto André C. S. Almeida Matheus C. Heinzelmann Márcio S. Araújo

A large portion of the Brazilian Cerrado vegetation currently exists as small, disturbed, and isolated fragments. Evaluating the degree of anthropogenic disturbance in certain environments has been successfully achieved using bioindicator insects, particularly ants. This study aims to characterize the epigeic and arboreal ant communities in Cerrado fragments in the southeastern region of Goiás, bordered by agricultural crops, during both the dry and wet seasons, and to correlate these ant communities with the structural characteristics of the forest fragments. Morphospecies richness and ant community structure across the different environments were compared, and bioindicator species were proposed using the Indicator Value (IndVal) method. The ant community structure under the evaluated conditions was significantly altered, indicating effects that extend beyond fragment-specific variables and are associated with the surrounding agricultural landscape. The IndVal analysis suggested two environmental quality indicator species for the ground stratum: Pheidole cf. radoszkowskii and Crematogaster stollii. However, it did not point to any significant indicator species for the arboreal stratum. Ants mediate various functional roles and shifts in the structure of local communities, reinforcing the importance of these insects as bioindicators of environmental quality.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060655

Authors: Mohd Banday Ambashree Dubey Neha Thakur Saima Banday Jyoti Jawla Jameel Ahmad Esteban Pérez-García Ariana Saraiva Hmidan Alturki António Raposo

Edible insects are increasingly recognized as a viable alternative protein source, offering a potentially sustainable approach to addressing global food security challenges. This narrative review critically examines the nutritional composition, environmental advantages, techno-functional attributes, and potential applications of insect-based proteins within human food systems. Edible insects are characterized by high protein content, favourable essential amino acid profiles, and appreciable levels of key micronutrients, rendering them nutritionally comparable to conventional livestock-derived proteins. Moreover, insect production systems generally require substantially lower inputs of land, water, and feed, resulting in comparatively lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced overall environmental burden. Despite these advantages, broader adoption remains constrained by challenges related to regulatory heterogeneity, food safety concerns, and limited consumer acceptance. Overall, the available evidence suggests that edible insects can function as a nutritionally adequate and environmentally sustainable complementary protein source; however, significant variability in nutrient composition, limitations in standardized safety assessment, and socio-cultural barriers currently restrict their large-scale integration into mainstream food systems. In addition, inconsistencies in analytical methodologies and reliance on in vitro data further complicate cross-study comparisons and translational relevance. Future research should focus on standardization of rearing and processing conditions, harmonization of evaluation frameworks (e.g., protein quality indices), comprehensive safety assessments, and well-designed clinical studies to validate nutritional and functional benefits, alongside the development of effective strategies to improve consumer acceptance and support regulatory alignment across regions.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060654

Authors: Peter Brimblecombe Graham Holloway Pascal Querner

Museum collections are at risk from insects. A changing climate or increased amounts of imported materials, exhibition loans and international travel, can increase exotic species. Heritage properties are often monitored for pests, so we used trapping data from 31 Austrian museums, libraries and storerooms. The carpet beetles Anthrenus spp. and Attagenus spp. studied here, showed that the catch of these two species in buildings was correlated. Unheated libraries show high catch rates for Anthrenus spp., Attagenus spp. seemed more often caught in heated/urban museums. Anthrenus verbasci, Anthrenus olgae and Anthrenus museorum account for almost 98% of our catch. Anthrenus verbasci and Anthrenus olgae are commonly found occurring together suggesting they form a core ecological pair, found in most buildings. Rarer Anthrenus fuscus appears typically at locations lacking winter heating. Attagenus smirnovi and Attagenus unicolor accounted for 95% of this genus in the buildings. There are notable differences in the types of carpet beetle across European heritage environments. Anthrenus olgae, often trapped in Austria, is uncommon elsewhere, while Anthrenus sarnicus, fairly common in the UK, is rare elsewhere. Not enough is known about the range of heritage insects across Europe, which is increasingly relevant to management under a changing climate.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060653

Authors: Aaron M. Lloyd Daniel L. Kline Karen E. McKenzie Daniel A. Hahn

Florida mosquito control districts are increasingly confronted with severe Culicoides biting midge problems in coastal areas. Yet, there is no clear guidance for integrating Culicoides management into mosquito-focused operations. This study describes population abundance and distribution trends for the biting midge Culicoides furens on a residential island in Cedar Key, Florida. We use multi-year adult trapping data to help develop strategies that may be used by mosquito control districts to target C. furens populations where they are nuisance pests. Trap data from 2005 and 2007 identified seasonal peaks, high spatial heterogeneity, and substantial year-to-year variation, with an 88.3% reduction in trap captures between 2005 and 2007. These findings provide a foundation for integrated Culicoides management strategies where legal mandates, emerging pathogen risks, and taxpayer-driven nuisance complaints may justify expanded Culicoides control activities by Florida’s Mosquito Control Districts.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060652

Authors: Hanbo Zhao Lei Liu Bin Yang Guirong Wang

The biosynthesis of sex pheromones in lepidopteran pheromone glands is tightly regulated by pheromone biosynthesis-activating neuropeptide (PBAN) signaling; yet the contribution of non-coding RNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation remains largely unclear. This study aimed to characterize temporal transcriptomic changes, candidate non-coding RNA-mediated regulatory associations, and temporal molecular dynamics underlying transcriptional remodeling after PBAN treatment in Ostrinia furnacalis. First, we performed comprehensive whole-transcriptome sequencing (WTS) on 18 biologically independent samples collected at six time points (0, 20, 40, 60, 90, and 120 min) after PBAN injection. Then, we systematically identified and quantified the dynamic expression patterns of differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in response to PBAN stimulation. By integratively analyzing these multidimensional omics datasets and inferring sequence-based interaction relationships, we inferred a dynamic candidate competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) like regulatory network. The candidate ceRNA network anchored four core node genes: the PBAN receptor (PBANR), the rate-limiting enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and the terminal biosynthetic enzymes desaturase (DES) and fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR). The qRT-PCR results further support the temporal expression pattern of key genes during the PBAN response, suggesting that this network can provide a valuable resource for further functional studies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060650

Authors: Ksenia S. Onufrieva Andrea D. Hickman Tom W. Coleman

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used in precision pest management, yet their performance in operational forest settings remains underexplored. We evaluated the efficacy of SPLAT® SM-O mating disruptant applied using a UAV at a dosage of 14.8 for control of the spongy moth, Lymantria dispar dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). One treatment plot received 11.4 g AI/ha because of a calibration deviation during application. Both treatments reduced trap catches by >90% for 10 weeks following the application, meeting the efficacy requirement set by the USDA’s National Slow the Spread (STS) Program. One year after the application, trap catches continued to be reduced by 28% and 67% in plots treated with 14.8 and 11.4 g AI/ha, respectively. These levels of trap catch reduction in the year of treatment and one year after the treatment application are comparable to those reported following fixed-wing aerial treatments. These results indicate that UAV-applied SPLAT® SM-O meets STS requirements for operational use and is suitable for integration into the program for treating small or isolated blocks. These findings also have broader implications for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to deploy SPLAT® formulations in forest pest management programs.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060651

Authors: Inga Fuchs Randolf Menzel

We developed a laboratory-based setup to perform behavioral tests of the effect of the neonicotinoid insecticide Thiacloprid in the CALYPSO® formulation on bumblebees. This setup simulates essential components of navigation and pollination under natural conditions. The behavioral components are exploration, exploratory learning, learning of a rewarded local cue in the context of a specific panorama, and retrieving the memory for this association. The walking bumblebees navigated under their own motivation between a fully functional colony and a training/test arena. They explored the arena and learned the association of a rewarded local cue in the context of a panorama. The rule of association was that the local cue was bound to a particular part of the panorama irrespective of where it appeared in its spatial relation to the entrance gate through which the animal came from the colony. Extinction tests were performed for two conditions, match and mismatch. The match condition resembled the training condition. In the mismatch condition the local cue appeared in a different part of the panorama. Solving this task requires the learning and remembering of a rule under variable conditions, mimicking the cognitive requirements faced by bumblebees under natural conditions. The control animals solved this task, whereas animals treated with Thiacloprid 400 ng CALYPSO® diluted in 4 µL per animal were significantly compromised, as shown by several parameters of the walking trajectories under the match and mismatch conditions. No dose–response functions were established, but a volume of 800 ng CALYPSO® diluted in 8 µL per animal did not show any significant differences from a volume of 4 µL CALYPSO®. The setup and the experimental paradigm are suitable for routine quantitative tests on the effects of insecticides on the cognitive faculties of insects during navigation and pollination.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060649

Authors: Xiaoju Zhu Xiuxiu Zhu Shuxia Wang

Meleonoma belonging to the subfamily Periacminae is one of the most species-rich genus in the family Autostichidae. In this study, we described two new species: M. latizona sp. nov. and M. serrulata sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis of these and closely related species was conducted based on mitochondrial genes to achieve a better understanding of their taxonomic status of the two new species.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060648

Authors: Sizhu Zhao Zijie Wang Simeng Chen Ruirui Li Zhengxiao Du Xing Huang Haibin Yuan Shusen Shi Yuxin Zhou Yu Gao

Thiamethoxam is the main neonicotinoid insecticide used for controlling Riptortus pedestris (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). However, sublethal concentration stress may induce intergenerational transcriptional memory, leading to transcriptional patterns that may contribute to the intergenerational accumulation of metabolic tolerance, and evaluating only the toxicity of the current generation would underestimate the long-term risk. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of parental exposure on the expression of detoxification enzyme genes in offspring. Using transcriptome sequencing, we systematically identified three detoxification enzyme gene families (cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs), carboxylesterases (CCEs), and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs)) in R. pedestris and compared their differential expression patterns between the parental and filial generations after thiamethoxam treatment at three sublethal concentrations (LC10, LC30, and LC50). In the parental generation, a Theta family GST was consistently upregulated, while in the filial generation, detoxification genes were predominantly downregulated, and the genes upregulated in the parents were not also upregulated in the offspring. Comparisons of parents and offspring at the same concentration revealed that the medium concentration induced the highest number of intergenerationally upregulated genes, exhibiting a non-linear response pattern. These results indicate that parental exposure to sublethal thiamethoxam leaves an intergenerational transcriptional imprint in the offspring, and the transmission pattern involves transcriptional reprogramming rather than simple replication of the parental response, the mechanism of which remains to be determined. This study provides transcriptomic evidence for understanding the metabolic adaptation and intergenerational resistance evolution of R. pedestris to thiamethoxam, offering important reference value for field resistance monitoring and rational insecticide application.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060647

Authors: Ronnalit Mintara Wannachai Wannasingha Chavanut Jaroenchaiwattanachote Waraporn Jumpato San Namtaku Khamla Inkhavilay Isara Thanee Pairot Pramual

Many biting midge species of the genus Culicoides Latreille are significant pests and vectors that transmit diverse parasites to humans and other animals. However, knowledge of these hematophagous insects in Laos remains limited, with the most recent information reported more than four decades ago. In this study, we investigated Culicoides species diversity, DNA barcoding and host blood sources using specimens collected across seven provinces in northern, central, and southern Laos. A total of 4592 specimens were collected, comprising 3095 females and 1497 males. Morphological identification, complemented by DNA barcode analysis, revealed 26 species (24 named and 2 unnamed), including five (three named and two unnamed) new country records. Culicoides peregrinus was the most abundant species, representing 25.7% (1179 individuals), followed by C. oxystoma at 23.8% (1093 individuals), and C. arakawae/C. mahasarakhamense, which together comprised 18.5% (849 individuals) of the total specimens. DNA barcode analysis demonstrated that this genetic marker is effective for species identification of Culicoides in Laos. Of the 115 COI sequences, 103 (89.6%) were successfully matched with conspecifics in the BOLD database. Cryptic genetic diversity was detected in three species, C. clavipalpis, C. palpifer, and C. huffi, with two, two, and three divergent lineages, respectively. Host blood meal analysis revealed that chickens and domestic water buffalo were the most common blood sources for the investigated Culicoides species. These findings provide important baseline information for future studies on the pest and vectorial roles of Culicoides in Laos.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060646

Authors: A-Tai Truong Mi-Sun Yoo Khanh Linh Ha Tran So Youn Youn Hyang-Sim Lee Yun Sang Cho

Honey bee populations face significant threats from viral pathogens, Nosema ceranae, Varroa destructor, and the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), all of which contribute to colony losses worldwide. RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising molecular tool for controlling these pathogens and pests through sequence-specific gene silencing. This review summarizes current advances in RNAi applications against major honey bee diseases and parasites, including antiviral strategies, suppression of Nosema development, interference with Varroa reproduction, and RNAi-based control of small hive beetles. Particular attention is given to recent developments in delivery technologies, including oral administration, nanoparticle-assisted formulations, and symbiont-mediated RNAi systems. The opportunities, limitations, and future challenges associated with large-scale implementation, environmental safety, regulatory approval, and field deployment are also discussed. Collectively, these advances highlight the potential of RNAi as a valuable component of sustainable honey bee health management and integrated pest management programs.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060645

Authors: Andressa Graebin Patrícia F. Pinheiro Karina D. Amaral Vinicius F. Santos Tarciza F. Nascimento Marcela V. de S. Vilela Yenara K. M. Silva Thais D. Marcelino Raul Narciso C. Guedes

Social insect pests such as leaf-cutting ants challenge conventional pest management because effective control must disrupt colony-level organization rather than target individual insects. Colony persistence depends on the mutualistic association between gardener workers and their cultivated fungus, Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. Compounds that selectively impair these components while preserving forager-mediated bait transport may therefore offer strategic advantages. We evaluated the essential oils of weeping willow (Salix babylonica), Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora), weeping bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and black pepper (Piper nigrum) against two leaf-cutting ant species, Atta sexdens and Acromyrmex subterraneus, after characterizing their chemical composition by GC–MS. The oils displayed distinct terpenoid profiles: bottlebrush oil, for instance, was dominated by 1,8-cineole and α-pinene, while ginger oil was rich in camphene and β-phellandrene. Forager and gardener workers were tested separately, along with their symbiotic fungus. Responses were generally concentration-dependent, although effects varied among oils and biological targets. Ginger oil exhibited strong fungicidal activity, but only at the highest concentration tested (100 mg mL−1). Bottlebrush oil showed marked toxicity to A. sexdens gardeners at concentrations as low as 0.10 mg mL−1, while effects on foragers were comparatively low. The remaining oils produced limited or inconsistent responses. These findings indicate that caste-selective toxicity and fungal suppression are achievable but not widespread among essential oils. Bottlebrush oil emerges as a promising candidate for further investigation, particularly regarding its constituent compounds and potential synergistic interactions for toxic bait development.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060644

Authors: Shengxiang Zhang Yating Liu Wenhui Song Chunjiu Ren Junwen Ai Bing Han Huiju Gao Bing Wang

As important silkworm varieties reared on artificial diet, Youshi No. 1 (YS) and Guangshi No. 1 (GS) showed remarkable differences in physiological characteristics. GS had significantly better performance than YS in body weight, cocooning ability, food intake, feed utilization efficiency, and digestive enzyme activities. We further performed metabolomics and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to analyze their metabolic profiles and midgut microbiota. More than 40 differential metabolites were screened out, and four metabolic pathways related to feeding divergence were determined via KEGG enrichment, among which L-valine was enriched in multiple pathways. Significant structural differences were also observed in midgut microbiota, and Bacillus was positively correlated with pantothenic acid and valine metabolism. These correlational results disclosed that differential metabolites and gut microbiota might underlie the phenotypic variations between the two varieties. Integrated analysis combined with functional verification experiments demonstrated that supplementation of 1% L-valine or specific Bacillus strains in an artificial diet was associated with the improvement of the growth performance, cocoon quality, and feed utilization efficiency of the YS silkworm variety.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060643

Authors: Xiao-Long Liu Hai-Dong Sun Yi-Wen Pei Min Lu Hai-Nan Zhang

Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the willow leaf beetle, is a leaf-eating pest that generally occurs on salicaceous trees. However, there is a blank of identification and phylogenetic relationship of the detoxification genes in P. versicolora. Here, we identified four detoxification gene families (glutathione S-transferases: GSTs, UDP-glycosyltransferases: UGTs, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases: CYPs and carboxylesterases: COEs) from the adult antennal transcriptome data. In all, 146 candidate detoxification genes including 22 GSTs, 20 UGTs, 60 CYPs, and 44 COEs were identified. We used quantitative real-time PCR technology to explore the tissue expression patterns of 12 PvGSTs in P. versicolora. The results showed that 7 PvGSTs have significantly high expression in antennae, indicating these PvGSTs may play an important role in degrade and/or inactivate the sex pheromones and host volatiles. The identification and phylogenetics of the detoxification genes in P. versicolora extended the database in Coleoptera and contributed to the subsequent in-depth research for function about detoxification genes.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060642

Authors: Jiani Yang Ruonan Zhang Rui Zhu Lan Gao Chenbin Wang Zhiya Gu Yu Wang

Phormia regina (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a necrophagous blow fly of significant forensic value, plays a crucial role in postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. The intra-puparial period of this species constitutes approximately half of its entire immature developmental duration. Therefore, precise aging of intra-puparial specimens is essential to improve the accuracy of PMI estimation. This study was performed at a constant 25 °C, examining intra-puparial morphology, histological sections, and body weight across different developmental stages. Additionally, full-length transcriptome profiling was conducted via a hybrid sequencing strategy combining PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and Illumina short-read next-generation sequencing (NGS). Morphological studies revealed the intra-puparial morphological characteristics, the reconstruction process of tissues and organs, and the continuous body weight loss during the intra-puparial period. Transcriptomic research identified a total of 425,349 full-length non-chimeric (FLNC) sequences. After redundancy removal, 84,852 transcript sequences were obtained, of which 46,325 transcripts were annotated. Using day-0 puparia (D0) as the control, differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was performed on samples from subsequent developmental stages (D1–D5), identifying 4242, 7964, 9509, 10,526, and 10,011 DEGs, respectively. Results from GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses provided reasonable explanations for the behavioral traits of different developmental stages. Eight candidate genes for intra-puparial development were screened, most of which were highly expressed at different time points during the intra-puparial period. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed consistent gene expression trends with the RNA-seq data, confirming the reliability of the RNA-seq results. This study provides key morphological and molecular markers for P. regina in forensic PMI estimation.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060641

Authors: Yang Liu Yong-Hao Zhai Chen-Han Sun Jia-Yi Yin Li-Xia Liu Tian-Bo Ding Chun-Hong Yang Guy Smagghe Yan Shi

Phytolacca americana L. (pokeweed) is an invasive alien plant in China that experiences little herbivore or disease pressure, suggesting the presence of effective chemical defenses. Although insecticidal activity of P. americana tissues has been reported, its potential repellent effects against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), remain unexplored. In this study, we further optimized distillation conditions to obtain fruit extract (FE) from P. americana. Subsequently, its chemical composition was analyzed. behavioral repellency, and antennal olfactory activity against P. xylostella adults. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) tentatively identified 11 compounds, accounting for 96–99% of the total distillate composition. The major constituents in the final distillate were palmitic acid ethyl ester (26.00%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (25.75%), and ethyl oleate (14.19%). Behavioral assays using a Y-tube olfactometer demonstrated that the FE, as well as diethyl phthalate, palmitic acid ethyl ester, and ethyl oleate, exhibited strong repellent activity against adult P. xylostella, whereas 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone showed moderate repellency only at high concentrations (10 μg/μL). Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings revealed robust antennal responses to the three highly repellent compounds, with ethyl oleate eliciting the strongest response (0.58 mV at 100 μg/μL). Furthermore, Diethyl phthalate shows moderate repellency to P. xylostella. These results indicate that P. americana FE mediates repellency primarily through olfactory perception and that its major constituents contribute substantially to this effect. Overall, this study provides the first laboratory evidence that P. americana FE functions as an effective olfactory repellent against P. xylostella. The findings offer preliminary proof-of-concept for developing phytogenic repellents.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060640

Authors: Weihan Xu Jiaqiang Zhao Qike Wang Zhashenjiacan Bao Yuan Xu Haiwei Wu Juan Shi

Obolodiplosis robiniae (Haldeman) is a specialist herbivore of Robinia pseudoacacia L., and its infestation is closely associated with tender leaf tissues. The ability of gravid females to recognize suitable host tissues is essential for successful oviposition and subsequent population development. Here, we assessed whether leaf age affects the host-selection behavior of O. robiniae and whether volatile organic compounds are associated with this process. Laboratory oviposition assays were used to compare egg deposition on tender leaves and mature leaves of R. pseudoacacia, and Y-tube olfactometer bioassays were performed to evaluate female responses to odors from the two leaf ages. Volatiles released from healthy tender leaves and mature leaves were collected using dynamic headspace sampling and characterized by thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, and variable importance in projection scores were used to compare volatile profiles between leaf ages. Gravid females deposited significantly more eggs on tender leaves than on mature leaves in both choice and no-choice assays. Females also showed a significant olfactory preference for tender-leaf odors when directly offered a choice between volatiles from tender leaves and mature leaves, with 76.47% of responding individuals selecting tender-leaf odors and 23.53% selecting mature-leaf odors. Chemical profiling identified 28 volatile compounds across the two leaf ages, and their composition and relative abundance differed markedly. Among shared compounds, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol and α-farnesene differed significantly between tender leaves and mature leaves. Multivariate analyses further identified several candidate compounds contributing to leaf age-related volatile differences. These results indicate that leaf age influences both oviposition behavior and odor-mediated host location in O. robiniae. Leaf age-dependent volatile blends may serve as important chemical cues associated with host selection by gravid females and provide a basis for future studies on volatile-mediated management strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060639

Authors: Xinan Li Ruiyang Qin Wen Zhang Fengfan Wang Ganyu Zhu Xiaopeng Wang Hengyu Zhang Menghui Liu Liangjian Qu Hao Yu

Hyblaea puera is a major pest of teak and mangroves. Reliable RT-qPCR normalization requires stable reference genes, none of which have been validated in H. puera. In this study, we assessed the expression stability of ten candidate reference genes under different experimental conditions. Stability was evaluated using the ΔCt method, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and geNorm, and a comprehensive stability ranking was generated using the RefFinder online tool. Our results indicated that amplification efficiencies ranged from 91.67% to 100.82%, with R2 values exceeding 0.9901. The optimal reference gene combinations varied by condition: Ribosomal Protein L27 (RPL27) and Ribosomal Protein L10 (RPL10) for temperature treatments; Actin and RPL10 for larval instars; Ribosomal protein S5 (RPS5) and Elongation factor-1α (EF-1a) for adult sexes; RPL10 and EF-1a for tall developmental stages; RPL10 and RPS5 for tissues; as well as EF-1α and Actin for all combined conditions. Finally, the expression profiles of target gene Lethal were evaluated, and the outcomes further confirm the importance of selecting fitting reference genes for normalization of qRT-PCR data. These results provide the evaluated reference gene sets for H. puera, facilitating more accurate RT-qPCR normalization in future molecular studies of host plant adaptation (teak vs. mangroves), temperature tolerance, and larval development in this pest.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060638

Authors: Boling Liu Yunhui Liu Yi Zhang Bingyu He Yulin Gao Chao Li

This study utilized the age-stage, two-sex life table method to evaluate the toxic effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE, 300 mg/kg) and cadmium (Cd, 30 mg/kg), both individually and combined, on Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Compared to controls, all treatments significantly prolonged larval development and reduced survival, lifespan, and fecundity. The combined exposure (PE + Cd) exerted the strongest inhibition: the total pre-adult developmental duration (TPOP) increased by 18.8% (38.00 days), while the intrinsic growth rate (r) dropped by 59.0% to 0.0273 d−1. Additionally, the net reproduction rate (R0) and fecundity fell to their lowest levels (5.08 and 19.06, respectively), significantly lower than in single-treatment groups. Age-stage life expectancy analysis confirmed severe survival pressure in the combined group, evidenced by a 30% reduction in first-instar survival and a 14-day shortened adult lifespan. These findings demonstrate the synergistic toxicity of PE and Cd co-contamination, providing critical data for ecological risk assessment in the “soil–plant–herbivore” system and integrated pest management strategies.

Insects doi: 10.3390/insects17060637

Authors: Wael Elmenofy Abd-Elkhalik M. Husseen Mervat A. Kandil Hossam S. El-Beltagi Hosny H. Kesba Mohamed A. M. Atia

Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval, 1833) is one of the most destructive insect pests in Egypt and worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the impact of exposure to a magnetic field (MF) of 180 milliTesla on the developmental phases of S. littoralis, as well as malform, reproductivity, and genomic DNA mutagenicity. The obtained results concluded that the exposure of S. littorelis to MF significantly affected the malformation and mortality rates in both larvae and pupae. The MF extended the duration of the pupal stage from approximately 0.8 to 5.9 days compared to the untreated pupae. The adult emergence percentages decreased to 68.0 and 74.0% upon exposure to a magnetic field for 60 and 40 min, respectively. The female fecundity decreased by increasing the exposure duration, yielding (7–10), (6–10), and (3–8) mass eggs per female upon exposure intervals of 20, 40, and 60 min, respectively. Meanwhile, the hatchability percentage diminished with prolonged exposure time, recording 77%, 60%, and 53% for MF exposure durations of 20, 40, and 60 min, respectively, compared to 91% hatchability in the control trial. The genetic characterization employing inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers disclosed genetic mutagenicity, exhibiting a similarity matrix range from 61.6% to 74.1% for larvae, 59.8% to 68.5% for adults, and 36.2% to 49% for pupae, indicating genetic alteration in treated insects. Hence, these findings highlight the implications and prospective application of a magnetic field of 180 milliTesla as a unique approach in integrated S. littoralis control frameworks.