Insect Molecular Biology最新文献

{"title":"Knockout of Ku70 and Ku80 elevates homology-directed repair efficiency in Plutella xylostella","authors":"Faisal Munir,&nbsp;Uroosa Zaheer,&nbsp;Muhammad Asad,&nbsp;Guang Yang","doi":"10.1111/imb.70039","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The suppression of Ku70 and Ku80 has been verified to increase homology-directed repair (HDR) efficiency in fruit fly, silkworm and mosquito, but not in other insects. In this study, <i>PxKu70</i> and <i>PxKu80</i> were identified from the <i>Plutella xylostella</i> genome. Domain analysis revealed that PxKu70 contained three conserved domains: Ku N, Ku and Ku C, while PxKu80 comprised the Ku N, Ku and Ku PK bind domains. Phylogenetic analysis and multiple-sequence alignment indicated strong conservation of both proteins among lepidopteran insects. RT-qPCR analysis showed that <i>PxKu70</i> and <i>PxKu80</i> were highly expressed in adult stages, particularly in reproductive tissues such as the ovary and testis, suggesting their role in maintaining genomic stability during gametogenesis. Two homozygous knockout lines (Δ<i>PxKu70</i> and Δ<i>PxKu80</i>) were successfully generated through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. These knockout lines remained viable and fertile without observable fitness effects. A donor construct carrying an <i>EGFP</i> cassette designed for insertion at the <i>PxKmo</i> locus was generated to assess HDR-mediated integration. The HDR insertion rate was significantly elevated in both knockout lines compared with the wild-type. These findings demonstrate that suppression of either <i>PxKu70</i> or <i>PxKu80</i> can enhance HDR in <i>P. xylostella</i>, offering an effective approach for precise genome editing in lepidopteran species.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"35 4","pages":"434-447"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147689819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gene misexpression system for functional studies of genes involved in cuticle development in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus","authors":"Shintaro Inoue,&nbsp;Ayane Shimamura,&nbsp;Kenichiro Koshiyama,&nbsp;Sayuri Tomonari,&nbsp;Taiyo Takada,&nbsp;Yoshiyasu Ishimaru,&nbsp;Katsuyuki Miyawaki,&nbsp;Akira Takahashi,&nbsp;Takeshi Nikawa,&nbsp;Sumihare Noji,&nbsp;Takahito Watanabe,&nbsp;Taro Mito","doi":"10.1111/imb.70044","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The insect epidermis possesses the potential to generate remarkable diversity in exoskeletal cuticle traits, including colour, thickness and mechanical properties. Genetic manipulation is essential for investigating the molecular mechanisms; however, spatiotemporally controlled gene overexpression remains technically challenging despite the widespread use of loss-of-function approaches in many insects. In this study, we established an epidermal gene misexpression system in the model hemimetabolous insect <i>Gryllus bimaculatu</i>s by inserting a gene expression cassette into the evolutionarily conserved <i>yellow</i> gene, which is involved in melanin synthesis, using genome editing. Insertion of the EGFP expression cassette into <i>yellow</i> gene resulted in fluorescence in the epidermis of pre-hatching embryos and post-moult individuals across developmental stages, corresponding to melanin pigmentation. Using this system, we induced the misexpression of Arylalkylamine <i>N</i>-acetyltransferase (aaNAT), an enzyme involved in the synthesis of <i>N</i>-acetyldopamine (NADA)-sclerotin, which serves as both a white pigment and a crosslinker in the cuticle. Compared to the background strain, the <i>aaNAT</i> misexpression strain exhibited a brighter body coloration, indicating that <i>Gryllus aaNAT</i> has the function of producing white NADA sclerotin and suppressing melanin pigment production. Wing thickness exhibited no substantial alteration, whereas a significant reduction in puncture resistance was observed. Collectively, these results suggest that an imbalance in the molecular components essential for cuticular crosslinking leads to alterations in the mechanical properties of the cuticle. This system serves as a gain-of-function analysis tool for cuticle research and has the potential to be applicable across a wide range of insect species, thereby helping to elucidate cuticle diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"35 4","pages":"476-486"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147963611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification and functional characterization of key ecdysteroid biosynthesis and signalling genes regulating moulting and metamorphosis in Dastarcus helophoroides","authors":"Tayyab Shaheen,&nbsp;Yan Sun,&nbsp;Jiali Guo,&nbsp;Mengxue Zhang,&nbsp;Zhaochen Wu,&nbsp;Zhengqing Zhang,&nbsp;Guanghui Tang","doi":"10.1111/imb.70035","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Dastarcus helophoroides</i> is an important ectoparasitoid used in the biological control of longhorn beetles. Its first-instar larvae actively seek hosts and progress through four larval instars before pupation. Throughout these developmental stages, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) plays a pivotal role in initiating and regulating moulting and metamorphosis; however, the specific genes and underlying molecular mechanisms in <i>D. helophoroides</i> remain uncharacterized. In this study, comparative transcriptome analysis across larval development identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with cuticle remodelling, hormone metabolism and stage-specific metabolic and cellular reprogramming. RT-qPCR validation revealed stage-specific expression patterns of 20E biosynthesis and signalling pathway genes, with <i>EcR</i>, <i>Br-C</i>, <i>E93</i> and <i>HR39</i> peaking during the larval–prepupal transition, whereas <i>CYP18A1</i>, <i>E74A</i>, <i>E75B</i>, <i>HR3</i> and <i>FTZ-F1</i> were highly expressed in early instars. RNAi targeting the eight key genes (<i>CYP315A1</i>, <i>CYP314A1</i>, <i>EcR</i>, <i>USP</i>, <i>Br-C</i>, <i>E93</i>, <i>HR39</i> and <i>FTZ-F1</i>) severely disrupted metamorphosis and reduced adult eclosion by 47.83–100%. The developmental arrests were accompanied by stage-specific morphological abnormalities, including abnormal pigmentation, wing deformities and malformed prepupae and pupae. This study identifies key ecdysteroid biosynthesis and signalling genes as critical regulators of <i>D. helophoroides</i> development, providing insights into growth regulation and artificial rearing optimization in this parasitoid biocontrol agent.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":"35 4","pages":"399-416"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147432727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From biology to biotechnology: Host-regulation factors from parasitoid wasps are a source of bioactive molecules with translational potential.","authors":"Ciro Pedro G Pinto, Andrew A Walker, Glenn F King","doi":"10.1111/imb.70053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parasitoidism is a trophic strategy that has evolved repeatedly in insects, but it has reached its greatest diversification and mechanistic sophistication in Hymenoptera. The ecological success of parasitoid wasps is strongly linked to their capacity to regulate host physiology through a temporally coordinated and compartmentalised arsenal of maternal and embryonic factors. Maternal components, including venom, calyx fluid and polydnaviruses, are delivered during oviposition, whereas embryonic factors, such as teratocytes and larval secretions, act throughout larval development within the host. Together, this diverse toolkit of molecular effectors manipulates host immunity, endocrine signalling, metabolism, development and behaviour, thereby ensuring survival of parasitoid larvae. This review first examines parasitoidism as an evolutionary and ecological strategy, highlighting diverse strategies of host exploitation. We then examine the principal molecular tools involved in host regulation and their mechanistic roles in host-parasitoid interactions. Finally, we critically evaluate the biotechnological potential of these molecules, with an emphasis on proteins and peptides that may serve as templates for peptide engineering, recombinant technologies and bioinspired molecular development, especially for insecticides and antimicrobials.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148368225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome assembly of Elcysma westwoodi provides insights into host-plant cyanogenic glucoside detoxification and chemical defence gene evolution.","authors":"Minyoung Choi, Murtaza Khan, Juil Kim","doi":"10.1111/imb.70055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Elcysma westwoodi is a major pest of cherry trees (Rosaceae), which contain high levels of cyanogenic glucosides that release toxic hydrogen cyanide upon tissue damage. To investigate the genomic basis of host-plant cyanogenic glucoside detoxification and the evolution of chemical defence genes, we generated a PacBio HiFi-based genome assembly of E. westwoodi. The final assembly spans 460.62 Mb with high contiguity (contig N50 > 15 Mb) and near-complete recovery of conserved genes (99.6% BUSCO completeness). We predicted 19,502 protein coding genes, with annotation completeness reaching 95.2% BUSCO. Comparative analyses of three Zygaenidae genomes revealed strong conservation of chromosomal synteny and showed that E. westwoodi shares a more similar detoxification gene repertoire with Achelura yunnanensis, another Rosaceae feeder, than with the more divergent, non-Rosaceae feeding Zygaena filipendulae. Genome-wide analysis identified 272 detoxification-related genes, indicating substantial capacity for xenobiotic metabolism. Phylogenetic analysis supported long-term conservation of a vertically inherited, single-copy β cyanoalanine synthase (bCAS) gene involved in cyanide detoxification. In addition, structural and phylogenetic analyses revealed parallel retention of CYP405A and CYP332A in the two Rosaceae feeding species, a pattern most parsimoniously explained by the inheritance of an ancestral cyanogenic toolkit rather than by independent convergent recruitment, whereas UGT33A retained the canonical GT-B fold characteristic of UDP glycosyltransferases, indicating the evolutionary stability of phase II conjugation enzymes. Together, these findings indicate that adaptation in E. westwoodi proceeds through targeted gene-level evolution within an otherwise conserved genomic framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacteriomes, cryptic forms and evolution of a common wireworm pest species, Hypnoidus bicolor.","authors":"Ivan Drahun, Augustine Chukwunta, Adeniyi Ayodele, Ben G Pilling, Willem G van Herk, Bryan J Cassone","doi":"10.1111/imb.70054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imb.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Like other insects, coleopterans harbour dynamic bacteriomes that shape core aspects of their life history. The bacteriomes of several wireworm species (Coleoptera: Elateridae) have been described; however, little research has been undertaken to determine the factors that influence their structure and composition. These soil-dwelling larvae of click beetles are significant agricultural pests in the Canadian Prairies, with the most ubiquitous species, Hypnoidus bicolor, delineated into two genetically distinct clades and both sexual and parthenogenetic populations. In this study, we collected 69 H. bicolor adults and larvae from nine populations spanning three Prairie provinces and subjected them to Sanger and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine their clade and characterize their bacteriome, respectively. Combined with long-term surveillance, we provide compelling evidence that the parthenogenetic and sexual populations are associated with different clades. Development, sampling location and host genetics all contributed to the plasticity of H. bicolor bacteriomes. These differences are largely attributed to gut bacterial community composition of larvae, whereas, in adults, they appear driven by overall community structure as well as differences in the presence/absence of taxa and within-clade/population variance. Several notable genera emerged from our study, including Alphaproteobacteria and Rickettsiella endosymbionts that predominated in the parthenogenetic clade. Incorporation of this research into integrative pest management and reclassification of H. bicolor into a cryptic species complex is also discussed. Overall, this study advances our understanding of Elateridae bacteriomes, including factors that contribute to their richness and community composition.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148338587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nuclear receptor E75 regulates moulting and ovarian development in Nilaparvata lugens.","authors":"Xiaojuan Jiang, Zhenghui Qiu, Fuhong Wei, Anfu Bamu, Huidan Yuan, Xinda Lin","doi":"10.1111/imb.70026","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>E75, a member of the nuclear receptor gene family, regulates diverse biological processes, including ovarian development and fat body remodelling. The brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål) (Hemiptera:Delphacidae), a major rice pest, poses a significant threat to rice production. However, the role of Nilaparvata lugens E75 (NlE75) in development, particularly ovarian development and its underlying mechanisms, remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that downregulation of NlE75 expression significantly reduced the eclosion rate, especially in the third-, fourth- and fifth-instar nymphs. Moreover, decreased NlE75 levels affected fat body morphology as well as ovarian and testicular development, leading to delayed ovarian maturation and reduced egg production. NlE75 knockdown drastically reduced the total number of eggs laid. We also found that NlE75 may participate in the transcriptional regulation of Vitellogenin (Vg), Vitellogenin-like1 (Vg-like1) and Vitellogenin-like2 (Vg-like2) and that downregulation of NlE75 significantly reduced Vg protein expression. In summary, we found that NlE75 is required for lipid droplet formation in the fat body, as well as for ovary and vas deferens development. Furthermore, downregulation of NlE75 altered fat body morphology and reduced lipid content, suggesting decreased energy reserves. Importantly, NlE75 was found to be involved in the transcriptional regulation of cell cycle-related genes, influencing DNA replication and the expression of genes controlling cell cycle progression. Flow cytometry analysis further revealed significant disruption of ovarian cell cycles following NlE75 downregulation, suggesting that E75 may function in cell cycle progression to coordinate development and reproduction in N. lugens. The involvement of NlE75 in regulating cell cycle-related genes and cell cycle progression in N. lugens represents a novel finding. This study provides a valuable reference for related research in other species, offering new insights into the mechanisms of NlE75 function and its interaction with both JH and ecdysone signalling.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":"257-269"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145932915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome and transcriptome-based identification and expression profiling of chemosensory gene families across developmental stages and tissues in Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae).","authors":"Alisa Postma, Leandri Klynsmith, Tuan A Duong, Jeremy Dean Allison, Werner Smidt, Robert M Waterhouse, Peter Lesny, Jan Philip Oeyen, Malte Petersen, Sebastian Martin, Shanlin Liu, Xin Zhou, Tanja Ziesmann, Alexander Donath, Christoph Mayer, Bernhard Misof, Oliver Niehuis, Ralph S Peters, Lars Podsiadlowski, Martin P A Coetzee, Fourie Joubert, Bernard Slippers","doi":"10.1111/imb.70029","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Sirex woodwasp (Sirex noctilio; Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is among the most destructive invasive pests affecting Pinus plantations worldwide. Chemosensory systems offer promising targets for pest control strategies. The identification and characterization of chemosensation genes in non-model, economically significant insects such as S. noctilio, is an important first step towards the development of such control methods. Here we sequenced and assembled a draft genome of S. noctilio and performed RNA-sequencing of 15 olfactory and non-olfactory tissues to study the expression patterns of chemosensation-related genes. Specific genes, such as SnocOR16 and SnocSNMP1, displayed tissue- and sex-specific expression patterns, making them particularly intriguing for their potential roles in chemosensation and oviposition. As woodwasps and their related lineages form a sister group to the majority of other Hymenoptera, including Apocrita, insights into their gene repertoires are crucial for tracing the evolutionary history of chemosensory multigene families of this ecologically and economically significant insect order. This study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying S. noctilio chemosensation, paving the way for further research in chemical ecology and the functional characterization of S. noctilio chemosensation genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":"270-283"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13140056/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146112037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-wide and gene-specific DNA methylation across developmental stages in Pogonomyrmex californicus: A socially polymorphic ant.","authors":"Tania Chavarria-Pizarro, Mohammed Errbii, Janina Rinke, Lukas Schrader, Jürgen Gadau","doi":"10.1111/imb.70021","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>DNA methylation has been proposed as an epigenetic driver of phenotypic plasticity in social insects, yet experimental evidence remains limited. Even less is known about the role of epigenetic mechanisms underlying behavioural and social polymorphism. We quantified CpG methylation for the socially polymorphic harvester ant Pogonomyrmex californicus across larvae, pupae, workers and queens using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing. These results were compared against the current gold standard whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). Methylation sites were highly correlated between WGBS and ONT, validating the use of ONT for high-throughput epigenomic profiling. Genome-wide methylation was low (~3%), consistent with findings in other (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and highly clustered within gene bodies, especially exons, while introns, intergenic DNA, promoters and transposable elements were hypo-methylated. Gene body methylation (GBM) correlated positively with gene expression in queens, corroborating previous reports for other insects, suggesting a conserved regulatory role for DNA methylation in insects. A comparison between developmental stages revealed significant stage-specific differences in GBM frequencies. Workers and queens, although from different populations, shared a substantial core of methylated loci enriched for olfactory-receptor activity and biosynthetic pathways, processes that are central to caste-specific behaviour and physiology. These shared methylation signatures, coupled with stage-dependent variability, highlight DNA methylation as a possible factor in developmental stages and caste differentiation. In the future, it is essential to disentangle the effects of caste and variation between populations. Our study establishes P. californicus as a powerful model for dissecting how epigenetic modifications interface with gene expression to generate developmental and complex social organization, which is largely unexplored.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":"232-245"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13139995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145793942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Functions of melanin synthesis genes, yellow and tan, in wing pigmentation revealed by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis in Drosophila guttifera.","authors":"Keiji Matsumoto, Wataru Yamamoto, Yuichi Fukutomi, Shigeyuki Koshikawa","doi":"10.1111/imb.70024","DOIUrl":"10.1111/imb.70024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Colour pattern formation is a key model for studying evolutionary and developmental mechanisms. In the fruit fly Drosophila guttifera, which exhibits distinctive polka-dot wing pigmentation, we investigated the roles of two putative melanin synthesis genes, yellow and tan, using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. We established multiple mutant strains with lesions in either gene and found that both genes were essential for normal pigmentation intensity in wing spots, though the patterns themselves persisted. Double mutants showed further reduction in pigmentation, indicating additive effects but not complete loss of patterning. Ectopic expression of wingless failed to induce normal pigmentation in yellow or tan mutants, demonstrating that both genes act downstream of wingless and are required for its pigmentation-inducing function. Furthermore, mosaic phenotypes in G0 individuals revealed quasi-cell-autonomous functions of tan, suggesting that pigmentation in D. guttifera wings depends on local availability of precursors rather than solely on transport via wing veins. This study establishes D. guttifera as a genetically tractable system for functional analyses and contributes to understanding the molecular basis of insect colour pattern formation.</p>","PeriodicalId":13526,"journal":{"name":"Insect Molecular Biology","volume":" ","pages":"246-256"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145804313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}