Search Results (2,470)

Ulomoides dermestoides (Yangchong) is a tenebrionid beetle used in traditional medicine across Asia and Latin America. While crude extracts show effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, and other conditions, systematic integration of its bioactive substances, mechanisms, and translational potential is lacking. This review consolidates its chemical basis, comprising volatile benzoquinones, terpenes, and alkenes, alongside non-volatile fatty acids, proteins (antioxidant enzymes, glycoproteins), and phenolics. Pharmacological evidence indicates multi-target modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cytokines, leukocyte recruitment, endothelial activation, and thromboinflammation. Recent advances include proteomic identification of antioxidant protein complexes, neuroprotection in a Parkinson’s disease model, chromosome-level genome assembly, and isolation of the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase 2a (UGP2A) glycoprotein, which alleviates thrombosis partly via toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (TLR4/MyD88)-mediated endothelial anti-inflammatory effects. However, most evidence remains preclinical, relying on non-standardized crude extracts, and benzoquinone-containing fractions display potential cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Future research should integrate bioassay-guided isolation, structural characterization, multi-omics, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis, standardized quality markers, and rigorous safety evaluation to transform U. dermestoides from an empirical insect-derived medicinal resource into a scientifically validated source of preclinical antioxidant and anti-inflammatory candidate substances. Full article

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is a key dryland cereal in northern China yet multi-regional information on its disease–pest complexes remains limited. Using a 2025 field-monitoring dataset from 84 sites in 11 provincial-level regions, this study assessed the occurrence spectrum, regional variation, relative pressure, provincial spatial patterns, complex types, and statistical co-occurrence associations of major diseases and insect pests observed during a single grain-filling-stage survey. Field records were standardized numerically, and richness metrics, relative pressure indices, complex-type classification, provincial mapping, and binary correlation analysis were applied. Foxtail millet blast, millet downy mildew, and foxtail millet sheath blight were the dominant field-diagnosed disease categories, with occurrence rates of 97.18%, 89.74%, and 73.02%, respectively. Stink bug-related records represented by the hyaline grass bug, double-spotted long-tarsed leaf beetle records, armyworm records, foxtail millet leaf beetle records, and Asian corn borer records were the most common insect pest variables. Northeast China showed higher disease richness and total disease–pest richness, while Northeast China and the North China–Huang-Huai region had higher total disease–pest pressure. Pest-dominated sites accounted for 47.62% of all sites. Co-occurrence analysis identified strong positive statistical associations, particularly between millet downy mildew and stink bug-related records. These results provide a grain-filling-stage monitoring baseline for foxtail millet disease–pest complexes and support integrated monitoring, regional surveillance, and exploratory classification-based interpretation. The findings should be interpreted as cross-sectional field-monitoring results rather than evidence of seasonal dynamics, causal disease–pest interactions, or validated control thresholds. Full article

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. Full article

This is of significant engineering importance for enhancing the operation stability and reliability of aeroengines. To ensure the precise identification of aerodynamic instability, it proposes a deep learning model for multi-source fusion based on cross-attention and bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (CA_BiLSTM) network. From a high-speed multistage compressor, multi-dimensional feature extraction is performed in the time domain, frequency domain, and entropy value range. Based on dispersion entropy, feature cross-identification is constructed with a multi-level early warning method. In response to the nonlinear aerodynamic parameters, Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO) for global optimization are integrated to construct a VMD_DBO_LSTM-coupled prediction model for aerodynamic stability. To address the limitation of single-point detection, this paper proposes a dual-channel fusion model based on cross-attention mechanism. Through shared convolution and dynamic weighting mechanism, the CA_BiLSTM model can precisely characterize the nonlinear features of the complex flow. It can fully integrate the complementary information of inlet and outlet signals, achieving the collaborative signal characterization. Its anti-interference capability is significantly superior to that of the original single-point signal. Combined with the dispersion entropy threshold, it can detect instability 1580 r in advance, effectively overcoming the problems of information deficiency and incomplete representation caused by traditional single-point monitoring. Full article

Gamma irradiation is one of the techniques widely authorized for the decontamination of dried herbs and spices. Its effect on the functional properties of essential oils, however, remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we examined the impact of gamma irradiation (at 5, 15, and 25 kGy) on the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, and insect-repellent activity of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil. The GC-MS analysis revealed that the citral-dominant chemotype remained stable across all irradiation doses, with geranial and neral constituting approximately 62–63% of the volatile profile. The antibacterial assays were done on five bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Inhibition zones showed no statistically significant differences across irradiation doses (p ≥ 0.05), while MIC (75–100 µg/mL) and MBC (125–150 µg/mL) values remained constant across all doses. DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP antioxidant assays revealed no dose-dependent changes (DPPH IC₅₀: 688–703 µg/mL; ABTS IC₅₀: 18–22 µg/mL; FRAP: 505–517 µg/mL ascorbic-acid equivalents). The essential oil exhibited pronounced repellent activity (87–99%) against adult Tribolium confusum beetles at 0.125 µL/cm², persisting for 24 h and unaffected by irradiation. Molecular docking of the major constituents (geranial, neral, geraniol, and β-myrcene) against key target proteins (3N7H, 3NVY, 4URM, and 8BN6) provided predictive support consistent with the observed activities, indicating plausible molecular interactions rather than confirmed target engagement. In silico ADME and toxicity profiling indicated favorable predicted pharmacokinetic properties and no major in silico toxicity alerts for the four modeled constituents. Taken together, these findings indicate that, under the conditions tested, gamma irradiation at food-decontamination doses produced no major shifts in composition and no statistically detectable changes in the measured bioactivities of C. citratus essential oil. Full article

Pressure fluctuations in the articulated steering system of wheel loaders can degrade steering smoothness, operational stability, and energy utilization efficiency. To address this issue, this study starts from the stroke difference and force-arm difference of steering cylinders induced by articulation motion, systematically reveals the structural mechanism responsible for pressure fluctuations in the steering mechanism, and proposes a suppression method based on hinge-point optimization. Specifically, a mathematical model of the articulated steering mechanism is established according to the analytical relationships between the stroke difference, force-arm difference, and articulation angle. The Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO) is introduced to optimize and compare the hinge-point coordinates of the steering cylinders under different single-objective and multi-objective functions, thereby clarifying that the force-arm difference is the dominant factor affecting pressure fluctuations. Prototype modification and full-vehicle experiments are then conducted for validation. The results demonstrate that the hinge-point coordinates optimized with the force-arm difference as the objective function can significantly suppress steering pressure fluctuations. This study provides a theoretical basis and engineering reference for structural design, hinge-point layout optimization, and pressure-fluctuation suppression in articulated steering systems of wheel loaders. Full article

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. Full article

In recent years, it has become inevitable to dig underneath existing highways when excavating tunnels. The soil settlement induced by ground excavation may adversely affect existing highways. In this study, a settlement monitoring system is used to obtain the settlement sequence of multiple measurement points on the pavement. Multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) is used to focus on analyzing the multiple fractal features of the pavement settlement rate. The results show that the settlement rates of the highway caused by the tunnel excavation and construction process all show multiple fractal characteristics. The fluctuations in the measurement points above and near the entrance of the tunnel are more complex and intense. Based on the moving-average method (MA), convolutional neural network (CNN), and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), MA-CNN and MA-ELM prediction models are constructed to predict the settlement value sequences of the fluctuating points. The results indicate that the MA-ELM prediction model demonstrates superior predictive performance (with R² values of 0.956, 0.950, and 0.979 on the test set). Further, with the help of the Dung Beetle Optimizer (DBO), a meta-heuristic algorithm for parameter optimization, the hybrid model DBO-MA-ELM greatly improves the prediction performance (R² of 0.975, 0.997, 0.998 for the testing set). Full article

Forest decline in genus Abies has been increasingly associated with drought, warming, pollution, and biotic disturbances. However, the importance of these drivers and the degree to which drought–bark beetles’ interactions have been studied in Abies remain insufficiently documented. This review aimed to identify the main reported causes of decline in Abies species worldwide and to assess the current state of knowledge on the drought–bark beetles’ interaction, with special attention to sacred fir (Abies religiosa) because of its ecological importance in Mexico and its role as a winter habitat for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). We reviewed 237 articles indexed in Scopus and complemented this analysis with bibliometric indicators and keyword co-occurrence maps generated using the Bibliometrix R package (version 5.4.1) and VOSviewer (version 1.6.12). The main causes of decline were drought, pollution, and rising temperatures, affecting 41 taxa in 28 countries. Although drought has been reported throughout the study period (1977–2026), publications linking drought and warming to Abies decline have increased markedly during the last 15 years. Bibliometric results indicate that drought–bark beetles’ interactions have been extensively studied in Pinus and Picea, whereas comparable evidence for Abies remains limited. Future management should integrate monitoring, stand-density regulation, pest surveillance, and climate-adaptation strategies implemented by forest managers, conservation agencies, and local communities. Full article

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. Full article

The subfamily Dynastinae, commonly known as rhinoceros beetles, represents one of the most morphologically striking lineages within the Scarabaeidae. This distinctiveness arises from the elaborate horns present on the head and pronotum of many species, particularly in males. Despite their significant ecological and economic importance, the phylogenetic relationships within this subfamily remain poorly understood, and available mitochondrial genomic data are remarkably scarce, hindering comprehensive phylogenomic analyses. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of three dynastine species for the first time, including the first representatives for the tribes Pentodontini and Cyclocephalini. All three genomes contain the typical set of 37 mitochondrial genes; however, a rearrangement in the tRNA gene cluster trnQ-trnI-trnM was observed. Given that this rearrangement is also present in other lineages within the subfamily Dynastinae but not in any other subfamilies, we propose it as a potential synapomorphy for Dynastinae. Furthermore, all three newly sequenced genomes exhibit relatively large sizes, which may be attributed to their expanded control regions. By integrating these sequences with existing Scarabaeidae mitogenome data, we reconstructed the phylogeny of Dynastinae. Our results showed that the tribes Dynastini and Oryctini were not monophyletic, suggesting the need for a taxonomic revision of these tribes. Our results also support the three-subtribe hypothesis for the tribe Dynastini. Full article

This study evaluates the multi-year taxonomic diversity and functional structure of beetle assemblages (Coleoptera) within Sub Arini Park, a historic urban green space in Sibiu, Romania. Following a preliminary baseline and methodological calibration phase in 2023, systematic monitoring was conducted during the 2024 and 2025 seasonal cycles utilizing standardized pitfall trapping across diverse park zones. We explicitly tested two hypotheses: (H1) that long-standing historic park management preserves a resilient and functional insect community structure, and (H2) that local spatial heterogeneity and microhabitat variations significantly drive species distribution. A total of 14,843 individuals belonging to 39 species were analyzed. While total abundance exhibited a slight decrease from 2024 (N = 7112) to 2025 (N = 6551), true diversity metrics (Hill numbers) revealed a significant increase in raw species richness (q = 0) from 30 to 39 species, alongside an enhanced equity of frequent species (Shannon diversity, q = 1, increased from 4.26 to 5.12). Functional guild analysis and multivariate PCA demonstrated a highly structured biocenotic distribution; specialist and hygrophilous species (e.g., Carabus variolosus Fabricius, 1787) were strictly constrained to high-humidity riparian corridors, whereas thermophilous generalists dominated open lawns under high anthropogenic stress. Our spatial analysis identified critical degradation within these heavily managed zones, specifically driven by intensive mowing, soil compaction, and organic debris removal. These findings confirm both hypotheses, revealing that the park operates as a heterogeneous mosaic of ecological refugia rather than a uniform habitat block. Crucially, this study provides a concrete, quantitative basis—derived from empirical thresholds of species richness, abundance shifts, and mapped microhabitat preferences—for implementing nature-based management strategies (such as establishing buffer zones with reduced mowing frequencies, limiting trampling, and retaining coarse woody debris) aimed at mitigating urban biodiversity loss and maintaining vital biological pest control services in Central–Eastern Europe. Full article

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. Full article

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. Full article

Livestock intensification drives biodiversity loss, making impact quantification essential. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can evaluate whether regenerative practices, such as silvopastoral systems, mitigate this loss, but it requires specific characterization factors (CFs). In this pilot study, we applied the countryside Species-Area Relationship (SAR) model to derive the first invertebrate-specific CFs using dung beetles (Scarabaeinae). From field surveys, we calculated intensity-specific CFs for potential species loss (PSL/m²) in pastureland and cropland. We assessed biodiversity impacts per 1 kg calf live weight (LWC) across three livestock regimes: native silvopastoral (NSP, minimal land use), intensive silvopastoral (ISP, light land use), and monoculture (MC, intense land use). Results show high dung beetle affinity for NSP. The CFs distinguished impact intensity levels: MC had the highest PSL per area (6.76 × 10⁻¹⁰ PSL/m²), followed by ISP (5.93 × 10⁻¹⁰ PSL/m²) and NSP (4.99 × 10⁻¹⁰ PSL/m²). However, normalizing by yield reversed this trend: MC showed the lowest impact per 1 kg LWC (7.64 × 10⁻⁸ PSL/kg LWC), ISP was intermediate (1.06 × 10⁻⁷ PSL/kg LWC), and NSP had the highest impact (1.31 × 10⁻⁷ PSL/kg LWC). Incorporating upstream feed production significantly increased the overall biodiversity footprint, underscoring the need for comprehensive system boundaries. Integrating broader biodiversity components and landscape context remains essential to fully capture livestock management effects. Full article