Insects最新文献

{"title":"Syntaxin-1A Silencing by RNAi Disrupts Growth and Reproduction in the Asian Citrus Psyllid, <i>Diaphorina citri</i>.","authors":"Dingming Dong, Xingmin Wang, Baoli Qiu, Changqing Chang, Changfei Guo","doi":"10.3390/insects16090901","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090901","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Diaphorina citri</i> is the primary global vector of \"<i>Candidatus</i> Liberibacter asiaticus\", the bacterium responsible for Huanglongbing. Syntaxin-1A (<i>Syx1A</i>), a member of the Qa-SNARE family, is essential for vesicle fusion and signal transduction, though its function in hemipteran insects remains poorly understood. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of <i>Syx1A</i> expression in <i>D. citri</i>. Transcripts were detected across all life stages, with peak expression in the salivary glands. RNAi silencing of <i>Syx1A</i> reduced mRNA levels by 39.0% in nymphs and 58.0% in adults, resulting in 58.3% nmortality in nymphs within 5 days and 73.3% in adults within seven days, along with significant weight loss. Treated females showed marked declines in fecundity, ovarian degeneration, and deficient yolk deposition. RT-qPCR confirmed significant downregulation of <i>Vg1</i>, <i>VgA</i>, and <i>VgR</i>. These findings establish <i>Syx1A</i> as a regulator of growth and reproduction in citrus psyllids via modulation of yolk synthesis. RNAi targeting of <i>Syx1A</i> represents a promising strategy for ecologically sound pest control and may contribute to efforts in halting the transmission of the Huanglongbing pathogen <i>C</i>Las.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470858/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145175057","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":"Ovary Activation Dynamics in the Bean Weevil <i>Zabrotes subfasciatus</i> (Bruchinae): The Essential Roles of Seeds and Males.","authors":"Sílvia de Oliveira Miranda, Bruno de Oliveira Cruz, Juliana Ramos Martins, Talita Sarah Mazzoni, Waner de Oliveira Miranda, Lívia Maria Rosatto Moda, Ester Siqueira Caixeta, Isabel Ribeiro do Valle Teixeira, Angel Roberto Barchuk","doi":"10.3390/insects16090894","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phytophagous beetles, particularly those within the superfamilies Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea, constitute one of the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of insect herbivores. Within this group, the subfamily Bruchinae is especially notable for its close association with leguminous plant seeds. As most Bruchinae species do not feed during the adult stage, the timing and regulation of vitellogenesis remain unclear. Previous studies suggest that vitellogenesis may be triggered by volatile organic compounds emitted by host seeds, which promote juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis. This increase in JH is hypothesized to stimulate vitellogenesis, enhance female attractiveness, and ultimately facilitate fertilization and oviposition. To explore this hypothesis, we investigated the external cues regulating reproductive physiology in the capital breeder <i>Zabrotes subfasciatus</i>. Specifically, we examined the effects of host seeds and male presence on oviposition dynamics, fecundity, ovary activation, and the expression of vitellogenic genes (<i>vg</i> and <i>vgR</i>) throughout adult life. Our results show that females initiate vitellogenesis during the final phases of adult development, enabling oviposition to begin as early as the first day after emergence. Oviposition remains at basal levels throughout adult life unless both host seeds and males are present (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). This oviposition pattern is consistent with ovary activation dynamics, which reveal that vitellogenesis peaks early in the oviposition period and is prolonged by the presence of seeds and males (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Notably, <i>vg</i> and <i>vgR</i> gene expression respond differentially to these cues (<i>p</i> < 0.05). We integrate our findings with previous literature to propose a working model for the regulation of oviposition in the Bruchinae beetle <i>Z. subfasciatus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145174895","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":"Proteasome Subunits Regulate Reproduction in <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i> and the Transovarial Transmission of Its Yeast-like Symbionts.","authors":"Xin Lv, Jia-Yu Tu, Qian Liu, Zhi-Qiang Wu, Chen Lin, Tao Zhou, Xiao-Ping Yu, Yi-Peng Xu","doi":"10.3390/insects16090895","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090895","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The brown planthopper, <i>Nilaparvata lugens</i>, a major rice pest, harbors yeast-like symbionts (YLSs) that form mutualistic relationships with the host, significantly influencing its development and reproduction. As proteasome subunits play major roles in the assembly and functional maintenance of the proteasome, but their regulation on the YLSs in <i>N. lugens</i> are unclear. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal and temporal expression patterns of five <i>N. lugens</i> proteasome subunits (<i>NlPSMA2</i>, <i>NlPSMB5</i>, <i>NlPSMC4</i>, <i>NlPSMD10</i>, <i>NlPSMD13</i>), and further verified their functions on the transovarial transmission of YLSs, in addition to the reproduction of <i>N. lugens</i>, based on RNA interference (RNAi). The results showed that <i>NlPSMA2</i>, <i>NlPSMB5</i>, <i>NlPSMC4</i>, <i>NlPSMD10</i>, and <i>NlPSMD13</i> were highly expressed in ovarian follicular cells of <i>N. lugens</i> upon sexual maturation. After suppressing the expression of these genes by RNAi, <i>N. lugens</i> exhibited a shortened lifespan, abnormal pear-shaped follicles, and impaired oviposition capacity, but the number of YLSs in the whole body and the oocyte of <i>N. lugens</i> were significantly increased. These results indicate that the proteasome subunits play crucial roles in the reproduction of <i>N. lugens</i> and the transovarial transmission of its YLSs.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470604/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145174886","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":"A Synopsis of Two Decades of Arthropod Related Research at the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF), Texas State University (TXST), San Marcos, Texas, USA.","authors":"Tennyson B Nkhoma, Gabriella D Rakopoulou, Scott H Fortney, Daniel J Wescott, Katherine M Spradley, Ian R Dadour","doi":"10.3390/insects16090897","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090897","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Forensic Anthropology Research Facility (FARF) at Texas State University (TXST), San Marcos, TX, USA, is a leading human taphonomy facility (HTF), dedicated to advancing forensic science through the study of human decomposition. This systematic review synthesizes 15 scholarly outputs comprising 7 peer-reviewed journal articles and 8 dissertations centered on arthropod-associated research undertaken at FARF, with particular emphasis on its contribution to forensic entomology. The analyzed body of literature is organized into six overarching thematic domains: (1): refining postmortem interval (PMI) estimation; (2): developmental biology of forensic arthropods; (3): arthropod behavior and forensic implications; (4): Taxonomy and systematics; (5): microbial-arthropod interactions; and (6): forensic decomposition scenarios with arthropod involvement. Key contributions from these studies include refined methodologies for PMI estimation, the systematic revision of forensically relevant arthropods and identification of accidental arthropod activity. Additionally, studies at FARF have incorporated interdisciplinary approaches bridging entomology, microbiology and ecology. The semi-arid, subtropical environment and large open natural range of FARF provides some unique regional and specific insights concerning decomposition. This entomological review on FARF is the first to be completed concerning any HTF and adds to the knowledge of forensic evidence involving arthropods.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470946/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145175111","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":"Alternative Characterizations of Methyl Lucidone-Responsive Differentially Expressed Genes in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Using DEG-by-Index Ratio Transformation.","authors":"Sang Woon Shin, Ji Ae Kim, Jun Hyoung Jeon, Kunhyang Park, SooJin Lee, Hyun-Woo Oh","doi":"10.3390/insects16090898","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090898","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Identifying robust differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RNA-Seq data remains challenging under variable experimental conditions. To address this, we performed five independent RNA-Seq experiments using <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> larvae treated with methyl lucidone-a putative juvenile hormone disruptor-and compared conventional normalization methods (relative log expression [RLE] via DESeq2 and trimmed mean of M-values [TMM] via edgeR) against our novel DEG-by-index ratio transformation (DiRT). DESeq2 identified two significant DEGs, while edgeR detected none; both methods showed limited validation across four additional independent experiments. In contrast, DiRT identified a distinct set of numerous DEGs with improved reproducibility and reliable validation. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that DiRT-derived DEGs were functionally enriched in pathways related to methyl lucidone detoxification, including the proteasome, drug metabolism, and xenobiotic metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 and other enzymes. Although DESeq2 and edgeR remain widely used standard methods, DiRT offers a novel complementary approach to enhance DEG characterization in RNA-Seq studies affected by experimental variability.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470851/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145175157","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":"Pollination of Enclosed Avocado Trees by Blow Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and a Hover Fly (Diptera: Syrphidae).","authors":"David F Cook, Muhammad S Tufail, Elliot T Howse, Sasha C Voss, Jacinta Foley, Ben Norrish, Neil Delroy","doi":"10.3390/insects16090899","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite flies regularly visiting flowers, limited research has gone into their pollination ability on commercial crops. A national project in Australia aimed to identify fly species as potential managed pollinators for the horticultural industry and, in particular, avocado. This study investigated the ability of two calliphorids (<i>Calliphora dubia</i> and <i>Calliphora vicina</i>) and a syrphid (<i>Eristalis tenax</i>) fly species to pollinate Hass avocados in southwestern Australia. Four (4) field trials over three (3) years showed that each fly species (all found across Australia) was capable of pollinating Hass avocados when released into netted enclosures around multiple trees (12-26) during flowering. Trees enclosed with <i>Eristalis tenax</i> produced the highest fruit yield (18.0 kg/tree) outperforming trees pollinated by either <i>C. dubia</i> (11.6), managed honey bees in the open orchard (10.5) or <i>C. vicina</i> (6.8). Increasing fly numbers from 10,000 to 15,000 in the enclosures provided no additional pollination benefit. These results suggest that either <i>E. tenax</i> or <i>C. dubia</i> could be valuable managed pollinators for the avocado industry either with or without honey bees. <i>Calliphora dubia</i> was a significant pollinator during warmer flowering seasons and <i>C. vicina</i> was a useful pollinator during cold and wet flowering seasons.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470310/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145174946","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":"First Detection of <i>Encarsia smithi</i> in Italy and Co-Occurrence with <i>Eretmocerus iulii</i>: A Case of Unintentional Introductions and New Associations with the Invasive Species <i>Aleurocanthus spiniferus</i>.","authors":"Gianluca Melone, Lucia Andretta, Feliciana Pica, Francesco Pio Donnarumma, Roberta Ascolese, Francesco Nugnes, Stefania Laudonia","doi":"10.3390/insects16090891","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090891","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The occurrence of the invasive Orange Spiny Whitefly (<i>Aleurocanthus spiniferus</i>) has expanded rapidly in Italy, prompting responses from both native and unintentionally introduced natural enemies. Through field monitoring, morpho-molecular identification, and phenological analysis, a multi-species parasitoid complex acting on this pest was revealed. In addition to the predominant activity of <i>Eretmocerus iulii</i>, this study reports the first European detection of <i>Encarsia smithi</i>, genetically confirmed as belonging to haplogroup I, a lineage previously associated with <i>A. spiniferus</i> in Asia. Occasional parasitization by <i>Cales noacki</i> was also observed. Seasonal patterns suggest a possible ecological complementarity between <i>Er. iulii</i> and <i>E. smithi</i>, which may contribute to the suppression of <i>A. spiniferus</i> populations. Although climatic variables showed weak correlations with infestation or parasitism rates, a slight positive relationship was observed between rainfall and whitefly abundance. The increasing biocenotic complexity, reflected by the diversity and interactions among parasitoid species, indicates an emerging ecological balance. These findings underscore the potential role of unintentional biological control in supporting agroecosystem resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470831/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145175016","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":"A New <i>Neosuidasia</i> Species (Sarcoptiformes: Suidasiidae) from The Netherlands: Life Stage Morphology.","authors":"Qing-Hai Fan, Farid Faraji","doi":"10.3390/insects16090896","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090896","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The family Suidasiidae Hughes (Acari: Sarcoptiformes: Acaroidea) comprises a small but ecologically diverse group of mites. The genus <i>Neosuidasia</i> is currently monotypic, containing only the species <i>Neosuidasia faini</i> Ranganath & ChannaBasavanna. Although this genus exhibits a wide geographic distribution, ontogenetic research into it remains scarce. This study describes a new species, <i>Neosuidasia sjorsvandenbergi</i> sp. nov., found in domestic poultry in the Netherlands and comprehensively presents the morphological changes across all known life stages, including the adult female, male, tritonymph, protonymph, larva, and egg stages. By documenting the developmental changes and setal patterns throughout ontogeny, this study addresses a significant gap in the understanding of suidasiid mite development.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470869/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145175127","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":"Olive Pomace and Melon Bio-Byproducts from the Agribusiness: A Promising Combination for the Sustainable Production of Animal Protein from BSF Larvae.","authors":"Carolina Ligeiro, Clarice Silva E Souza, Rafaela Fantatto, Daniel Murta","doi":"10.3390/insects16090889","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090889","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The black soldier fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) offers a sustainable solution for converting agro-industrial bio-byproducts into high-quality animal protein. This study evaluated two abundant residues from the Santarém region of Portugal, melons and olive pomace, as substrates for larval rearing. Two experimental diets were formulated using these byproducts and compared to a standard Gainesville-based control diet, with all diets adjusted for moisture and protein content. Larval performance was assessed through metrics including individual weight, biomass, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and bioconversion rate. Diets 1 (melon-based) and 2 (melon + 55.2% olive pomace) yielded larval biomass of 1.82 ± 0.17 kg and 1.80 ± 0.11 kg per box, respectively, compared to the control (1.60 ± 0.03 kg). The FCRs were lower in the experimental diets (7.47 ± 0.75 and 7.53 ± 0.49) than in the control (8.42 ± 0.16), and the bioconversion rates were higher (13.48% and 13.31% vs. 11.88%). These results suggest that combining melon and olive pomace improves larval development and conversion efficiency, compared to the literature. This study demonstrates the potential of using local bio-byproducts to enhance insect-based protein production while reducing waste and supporting circular economy practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470391/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145174760","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":"Efficient Conversion of Mushroom and Sawdust Residues in <i>Protaetia brevitarsis</i> Biosystem: Characterization of Humic Acid and Bacterial Communities.","authors":"Abdelaziz Mansour, Junbeom Lee, Taeho Jeong, Mohamed Mannaa, Sun Young Kim, Jeong-Hun Song, Young-Su Seo, Dae-Weon Lee","doi":"10.3390/insects16090893","DOIUrl":"10.3390/insects16090893","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The accumulation of agricultural residues presents an environmental challenge. PBLs have emerged as effective agents for biodegrading such biomass, producing frass rich in HA with low phytotoxicity, positioning it as a potential biofertilizer. However, the influence of PBL bioconversion on HA yields and microbial communities across different substrates remains underexplored. In this research, PBL is fed on two <i>Pleurotus</i> SMSs and oak sawdust. The resulting frass was characterized and showed low phytotoxicity based on seed germination and plant growth. The extracted HA quantity and quality were significantly higher in frass than diet samples. Microbial profiling using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing revealed the enrichment of potential PGP genera, including <i>Pseudoxanthomonas</i>, <i>Cellulomonas</i>, Flavobacterium, and <i>Mucilaginibacter</i>. In addition, the actino-genera <i>Cellulomonas</i>, <i>Demequina</i>, <i>Xylanimicrobium</i>, <i>Mycolicibacter</i>, <i>Nakamurella</i>, and <i>Glutamicibacter</i> were positively correlated with HA content and quality parameters. This study highlights the potential of PBL systems in waste valorization and biofertilizer production as a novel approach for sustainable agriculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12470708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145175063","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}