{"title":"Rearing of Black Soldier Fly Larvae with Corn Straw and the Assistance of Gut Microorganisms in Digesting Corn Straw.","authors":"Xifeng Wang, Xiangru Tian, Zhi Liu, Zhihua Liu, Shuying Shang, Haifeng Li, Jianhang Qu, Pengxiao Chen","doi":"10.3390/insects15100734","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100734","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Corn straw is considered a renewable biomass energy source, and its unreasonable disposal leads to resource waste and environmental pollution. Black soldier fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i> L.) larvae (BSFL) facilitate the bioconversion of various types of organic wastes. In this study, we found that 88% of BSFL survived, and 37.4% of corn straw was digested after 14 days of feeding with corn straw. Contrary to expectations, the pretreatment of corn straw with alkaline hydrogen peroxide did not promote its digestion but rather reduced the growth and survival rates of BSFL. <i>Acinetobacter</i>, <i>Dysgonomonas</i>, and unclassified <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> were the abundant genera in the BSFL gut fed with corn straw. Compared with the standard diet, the relative abundances of carbohydrate metabolism genes, such as the gene abundances of β-glucosidase and α-glucosidase, were higher with corn straw as the substrate. These results suggested that the gut microbial community could regulate suitable and functional microorganisms in response to the substrates. Furthermore, four cellulase-producing strains, namely <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Proteus mirabilis</i>, <i>Klebsiella oxytoca</i>, and <i>Providencia rettgeri</i>, were isolated from the guts of corn straw BSFL. These four strains helped increase the conversion rates of corn straw, the weights of BSFL, and survival rates. In summary, we reared BSFL with corn straw and discovered the functions of gut microorganisms in adapting to the substrates. We also isolated four cellulase-producing strains from the BSFL guts and declared the benefits of BSFL digesting corn straw.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11508837/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499724","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-24DOI: 10.3390/insects15100736
Denise Kuhn, Nils Nägele, Till Tolasch, Georg Petschenka, Johannes L M Steidle
{"title":"Can a Mixture of Farnesene Isomers Avert the Infestation of Aphids in Sugar Beet Crops?","authors":"Denise Kuhn, Nils Nägele, Till Tolasch, Georg Petschenka, Johannes L M Steidle","doi":"10.3390/insects15100736","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100736","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The negative impact of pesticides on the environment and the potential of pest species to develop pesticide resistance make it necessary to explore new methods of pest control. Pheromones and other behavior-modifying semiochemicals are already important in integrated pest management (IPM). (E)-ß-farnesene (EBF) is a semiochemical that acts as an alarm pheromone in aphids. Upon perception of EBF, aphids stop feeding, move away, and sometimes even abandon the host plant. The aphids <i>Myzus persicae</i> and <i>Aphis fabae</i> are significant crop pests and vectors of many harmful phytopathogens affecting sugar beet (<i>Beta vulgaris</i>). Field trials were conducted at different locations in Germany to test whether dispensers containing a mixture of farnesene isomers (FIMs) including EBF were able to reduce the infestation of these species on sugar beet. Our results showed a reduction in aphid abundance in the FIM-treated patches in two out of three sites. Therefore, we hypothesize that FIM dispensers could prevent aphid infestation and could be used in combination with other IPM measures. However, more research is required to increase the effect and ensure the reliability of this method.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11508235/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499572","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-24DOI: 10.3390/insects15100735
Phoompong Boonsaen, Adèle Nevot, Sathaporn Onju, Clément Fossaert, Piangjai Chalermwong, Kornkanok Thaisungnoen, Antoine Lucas, Sophie Thévenon, Roungthip Masmeatathip, Sathaporn Jittapalapong, Marc Desquesnes
{"title":"Measurement of the Direct Impact of Hematophagous Flies on Feeder Cattle: An Unexpectedly High Potential Economic Impact.","authors":"Phoompong Boonsaen, Adèle Nevot, Sathaporn Onju, Clément Fossaert, Piangjai Chalermwong, Kornkanok Thaisungnoen, Antoine Lucas, Sophie Thévenon, Roungthip Masmeatathip, Sathaporn Jittapalapong, Marc Desquesnes","doi":"10.3390/insects15100735","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100735","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In addition to blood pathogen transmission, insects of the order Diptera affect livestock through visual and contact harassment; blood-feeders are responsible for painful bites and blood despoliation, generating behavioral modifications, anemia, and production losses. Knowledge of their economic impact is a basis for cost-effective control. Here, we measured the global impact of diptera insects by comparing two batches of six feeder cattle, one in the open air and the other protected by a mosquito net. The analytical data were insect density in the open air and, for feeder cattle, tail flick counts, hematocrit values (Ht), feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and live body weight gain (LBWG). Over a period of five months, the results showed significant losses in the LBWG of cattle exposed to insects, estimated at 8.0 ± 1.5 kg/month [2.7; 13.3], with a total loss reaching 40.0 ± 5.5 kg/head. Main diurnal insects were <i>Stomoxys</i> spp. and <i>Musca crassirostris</i>. There was a strong correlation between fly density and diurnal tail flicks. Night trapping and tail flicks showed a potentially important role of mosquitoes to be further explored. The Ht levels of exposed animals were 3-4% lower than those of controls. FCRs indicated that exposed animals needed 33% more dry matter intake/kg of LBWG. An economic assessment showed that dipterans were responsible for a 10-11% loss in LBWG during the main growing period of feeder cattle (10-15 months). A feedlot of 100 calves would register a total loss of USD 16,000 within 5 months, which appears to be an unexpectedly huge loss caused by dipterans. Investing part of this money into fly control would probably be beneficial.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11508644/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499678","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-24DOI: 10.3390/insects15100737
Kouhei Toga, Fumiko Kimoto, Hiroki Fujii, Hidemasa Bono
{"title":"Genome-Wide Search for Gene Mutations Likely Conferring Insecticide Resistance in the Common Bed Bug, <i>Cimex lectularius</i>.","authors":"Kouhei Toga, Fumiko Kimoto, Hiroki Fujii, Hidemasa Bono","doi":"10.3390/insects15100737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insecticide resistance in the bed bug <i>Cimex lectularius</i> is poorly understood due to the lack of genome sequences for resistant strains. In Japan, we identified a resistant strain of <i>C. lectularius</i> that exhibits a higher pyrethroid resistance ratio compared to many previously discovered strains. We sequenced the genomes of the pyrethroid-resistant and susceptible strains using long-read sequencing, resulting in the construction of highly contiguous genomes (N50 of the resistant strain: 2.1 Mb and N50 of the susceptible strain: 1.5 Mb). Gene prediction was performed by BRAKER3, and the functional annotation was performed by the Fanflow4insects workflow. Next, we compared their amino acid sequences to identify gene mutations, identifying 729 mutated transcripts that were specific to the resistant strain. Among them, those defined previously as resistance genes were included. Additionally, enrichment analysis implicated DNA damage response, cell cycle regulation, insulin metabolism, and lysosomes in the development of pyrethroid resistance. Genome editing of these genes can provide insights into the evolution and mechanisms of insecticide resistance. This study expanded the target genes to monitor allele distribution and frequency changes, which will likely contribute to the assessment of resistance levels. These findings highlight the potential of genome-wide approaches to understand insecticide resistance in bed bugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11508591/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142499618","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-23DOI: 10.3390/insects15090731
Félix Martín, Pedro Guirao, María Jesús Pascual-Villalobos
{"title":"Repellent Effects of Coconut Fatty Acid Methyl Esters and Their Blends with Bioactive Volatiles on Winged <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer) Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae).","authors":"Félix Martín, Pedro Guirao, María Jesús Pascual-Villalobos","doi":"10.3390/insects15090731","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090731","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the most important aphid crop pests, due to its direct damage and its ability to transmit viral diseases in crops. The objective is to test whether spraying nanoemulsions of botanical products repels winged individuals of <i>M. persicae</i> in a bioassay in culture chambers. The bioactive volatiles were applied on pepper plants at a dose of 0.2% alone or at 0.1% of each component in blends. A treated plant and a control plant were placed at each side of an entomological cage inside a growth chamber. The winged individuals were released between the plants, in a black-painted Petri dish suspended by wires in the upper half of the cage. The most repellent products were farnesol (repellency index, RI = 40.24%), <i>(E)</i>-anethole (RI = 30.85%) and coconut fatty acid methyl ester (coconut FAME) (RI = 28.93%), alone or in the following blends: farnesol + <i>(E)</i>-anethole + distilled lemon oil (RI = 36.55%) or <i>(E)</i>-anethole + distilled lemon oil + coconut FAME (RI = 30.63%). The observed effect of coconut FAME on aphids is the first report of this product having a repellent effect on a crop pest. Repellent substances for viral disease vectors should be further investigated to develop new strategies for plant protection.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11431849/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142346053","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-22DOI: 10.3390/insects15090730
Saraswoti Neupane, Yoonseong Park, D Wes Watson, Rebecca T Trout Fryxell, Edwin R Burgess, Dana Nayduch
{"title":"Bacterial Communities of House Flies from Dairy Farms Highlight Their Role as Reservoirs, Disseminators, and Sentinels of Microbial Threats to Human and Animal Health.","authors":"Saraswoti Neupane, Yoonseong Park, D Wes Watson, Rebecca T Trout Fryxell, Edwin R Burgess, Dana Nayduch","doi":"10.3390/insects15090730","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adult house flies (<i>Musca domestica</i> L.) inhabiting dairy farms not only are nuisance pests but also harbor and disseminate bacteria. We examined the bacterial community composition, diversity, environmental sources, and prevalence in individual adult female house flies and cattle manure samples collected monthly from Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee dairy farms between May and August 2021. Individual house flies carried diverse bacterial communities, encompassing all bacterial taxa (100%) identified across manure samples, and additional species likely acquired from the animals. Bacterial community assemblage in house flies and manure samples within farms varied by month. Some taxa were differentially associated with either house flies (<i>Corynebacterium</i>, <i>Acinetobacter</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus</i>) or manure samples (<i>Treponema</i>, <i>Succinivibrio</i>, and Clostridia). House fly bacterial communities mostly contained specialist species originating from manure, with several taxa (<i>Escherichia, Corynebacterium</i>, <i>Turicibacter</i>) being potential pathogens of livestock and humans. These findings further support the role of house flies as carriers of cattle-associated bacteria, including pathogens, and their potential for disseminating these microbes among cattle and to neighboring environments. Since their bacterial communities provide a snapshot of their surrounding environment, house flies also serve as effective sentinels in xenosurveillance strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432648/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142346029","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-22DOI: 10.3390/insects15090729
Zsófia Varga-Szilay, Gergely Szövényi, Gábor Pozsgai
{"title":"Flower Visitation through the Lens: Exploring the Foraging Behaviour of <i>Bombus terrestris</i> with a Computer Vision-Based Application.","authors":"Zsófia Varga-Szilay, Gergely Szövényi, Gábor Pozsgai","doi":"10.3390/insects15090729","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090729","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To understand the processes behind pollinator declines and for the conservation of pollination services, we need to understand fundamental drivers influencing pollinator behaviour. Here, we aimed to elucidate how wild bumblebees interact with three plant species and investigated their foraging behaviour with varying flower densities. We video-recorded <i>Bombus terrestris</i> in 60 × 60 cm quadrats of <i>Lotus creticus</i>, <i>Persicaria capitata</i>, and <i>Trifolium pratense</i> in urban areas of Terceira (Azores, Portugal). For the automated bumblebee detection and counting, we created deep learning-based computer vision models with custom datasets. We achieved high model accuracy of 0.88 for <i>Lotus</i> and <i>Persicaria</i> and 0.95 for <i>Trifolium</i>, indicating accurate bumblebee detection. In our study, flower cover was the only factor that influenced the attractiveness of flower patches, and plant species did not have an effect. We detected a significant positive effect of flower cover on the attractiveness of flower patches for flower-visiting bumblebees. The time spent per unit of inflorescence surface area was longer on the <i>Trifolium</i> than those on the <i>Lotus</i> and <i>Persicaria</i>. However, our result did not indicate significant differences in the time bumblebees spent on inflorescences among the three plant species. Here, we also justify computer vision-based analysis as a reliable tool for studying pollinator behavioural ecology.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432343/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142346047","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-21DOI: 10.3390/insects15090727
Jinmeng Li, Xu Tian, Tom Hsiang, Yuting Yang, Caihua Shi, Hancheng Wang, Wenhong Li
{"title":"Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Function in the Venom Glands of the Predatory Stink Bug, <i>Picromerus lewisi</i> (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).","authors":"Jinmeng Li, Xu Tian, Tom Hsiang, Yuting Yang, Caihua Shi, Hancheng Wang, Wenhong Li","doi":"10.3390/insects15090727","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090727","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The predatory stink bug, <i>Picromerus lewisi</i> (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an important and valuable natural enemy of insect pests in their ecosystems. While insects are known to harbor symbiotic microorganisms, and these microbial symbionts play a crucial role in various aspects of the host's biology, there is a paucity of knowledge regarding the microbiota present in the venom glands of <i>P. lewisi</i>. This study investigated the venom glands of adult bugs using both traditional in vitro isolation and cultural methods, as well as Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. Additionally, the carbon metabolism of the venom gland's microorganisms was analyzed using Biolog ECO metabolic phenotyping technology. The results showed 10 different culturable bacteria where the dominant ones were <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. and <i>Lactococcus lactis</i>. With high-throughput sequencing, the main bacterial phyla in the microbial community of the venom glands of <i>P. lewisi</i> were Proteobacteria (78.1%) and Firmicutes (20.3%), with the dominant bacterial genera being <i>Wolbachia</i>, <i>Enterococcus</i>, <i>Serratia</i>, and <i>Lactococcus</i>. At the fungal community level, Ascomycota accounted for the largest proportion (64.1%), followed by Basidiomycota (27.6%), with <i>Vishniacozyma</i>, <i>Cladosporium</i>, <i>Papiliotrema</i>, <i>Penicillium</i>, <i>Fusarium</i>, and <i>Aspergillus</i> as the most highly represented fungal genera. The bacterial and fungal community structure of the venom glands of <i>P. lewisi</i> exhibited high species richness and diversity, along with a strong metabolism of 22 carbon sources. Functional prediction indicated that the primary dominant function of <i>P. lewisi</i> venom-gland bacteria was metabolism. The dominant eco-functional groups of the fungal community included undefined saprotroph, fungal parasite-undefined saprotroph, unassigned, endophyte-plant pathogen, plant pathogen-soil saprotroph-wood saprotroph, animal pathogen-endophyte-plant pathogen-wood saprotroph, plant pathogen, and animal pathogen-endophyte-epiphyte-plant pathogen-undefined saprotroph. These results provide a comprehensive characterization of the venom-gland microbiota of <i>P. lewisi</i> and demonstrate the stability (over one week) of the microbial community within the venom glands. This study represents the first report on the characterization of microbial composition from the venom glands of captive-reared <i>P. lewisi</i> individuals. The insights gained from this study are invaluable for future investigations into <i>P. lewisi</i>'s development and the possible interactions between <i>P. lewisi</i>'s microbiota and some Lepidopteran pests.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432061/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142346050","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}
InsectsPub Date : 2024-09-21DOI: 10.3390/insects15090728
Anastasia Kokkari, Nikos A Kouloussis, George Floros, Dimitrios S Koveos
{"title":"Effect of Olive Fruit Volatiles on Landing, Egg Production, and Longevity of <i>Bactrocera oleae</i> Females under Different Temperatures.","authors":"Anastasia Kokkari, Nikos A Kouloussis, George Floros, Dimitrios S Koveos","doi":"10.3390/insects15090728","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090728","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Females of the olive fruit fly <i>Bactrocera oleae</i> use various contact and volatile plant stimuli to find olive fruits and lay their eggs on them. We detected certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the olive fruit and studied their effect on female landings on olive fruits, egg production, and longevity under a series of different temperatures from 15 °C to 35 °C. When female flies were maintained at temperatures from 17 °C to 30 °C and exposed to different fruit VOCs either increased or decreased, depending on the substance tested, their landings on olives, egg production, and longevity. Temperature significantly affected the females' responses to fruit VOCs. The highest responses of the flies to fruit VOCs were observed at 30 °C, except for longevity. By contrast, at 15 °C or 35 °C, the flies did not show any response to VOCs. Our results may contribute to a better understanding of the olive fly positive or negative responses to fruit VOCs and the improvement of its control.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432112/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142346033","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":"Special Survival Strategy of First-Instar Scorpions Revealed by Synchronous Molting Behavior from Social Facilitation of Maternal Care and Reciprocal Aggregation.","authors":"Yiyuan Guo, Songryong Li, Sijia Lu, Xinrong Wang, Zhijian Cao, Yingliang Wu","doi":"10.3390/insects15090726","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15090726","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ecdysis is a well-known developmental feature among arthropods. Because the aggregate and synchronous molting of first-instar scorpions is markedly different from the common independent molting behavior of older scorpions and most arthropods, knowledge on the biological benefits of the unusual behavior of first-instar scorpions remain limited. Before the molting of newborn scorpions, their mothers exhibited a remarkable ability to efficiently locate the fallen offspring and help them climb onto their back, which was supported by strong maternal behavior because they climbed more swiftly than the 7-day postpartum scorpions. Most newborn scorpions molted and survived on the mother's back, with a survival rate of approximately 100%, and most newborn scorpions survived via aggregate molting behavior on sand in the absence of mothers (89.83% ± 1.91%). The important role of the mother scorpion was further highlighted in mothers with one to five first-instar scorpions. While all first-instar scorpions individually or reciprocally molted and survived on the mother's back, only 52.00% ± 7.14% to 79.20% ± 4.24% of newborn scorpions isolated from the mother could individually or reciprocally molt and survive on the sand, and the aggregated states of first-instar scorpions strengthened as their numbers on sand increased before molting. These results highlight collaborative molting as an evolutionary driving force for newborn scorpions. Taken together, both maternal care and collaborative aggregate molting behavior enhanced the survival of first-instar scorpions before and after molting, and these benefits for first-instar scorpions play essential and evolutionary roles in scorpion survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432028/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142346064","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}