Insects最新文献

{"title":"Transcriptomic Evidence Reveals the IIS-FOXO-SOD2 Axis as a Core Anti-Aging Pathway in Long-Lived Queens of <i>Odontotermes formosanus</i>.","authors":"Yiyang Chen, Dandan Qiao, Hao Chen, Dayu Zhang, Yongjian Xie","doi":"10.3390/insects17040432","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040432","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The reproductive caste of higher termites exhibits remarkable longevity, but the mechanisms by which they manage age-related oxidative stress during lifespan extension remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the dynamic regulation of the insulin/IGF (IIS)-FOXO axis, a key anti-aging regulatory pathway that integrates insulin signaling with downstream processes, including antioxidant defense and DNA repair, as well as the superoxide dismutase (SOD) system in female <i>Odontotermes formosanus</i> reproductives at various life stages (Swarming Queen (SQ), 1-Year Queen (1YQ), 8-Year Queen (8YQ)) through transcriptomic, qRT-PCR, and enzyme activity analyses. Age-dependent upregulation of IIS pathway components (<i>InR</i>, <i>chico</i>, <i>PDK1</i>, <i>Akt</i>, <i>Sirt1</i>, <i>FOXO</i>) was observed, alongside the identification of six <i>SOD</i> transcripts, including two <i>SOD1</i>, two <i>SOD2</i>, and two <i>SOD3</i> isoforms. Notably, mitochondrial <i>SOD2</i> (particularly <i>SOD2_b</i>) showed a progressive increase with age, exhibiting the highest enzymatic activity and being associated with reduced mitochondrial oxidative stress and the disruption of reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification cycles. These findings suggest that <i>O. formosanus</i> reproductives counteract the potential lifespan-reducing effects of chronic IIS activation by maintaining or enhancing FOXO activity, thereby supporting DNA repair, antioxidant defenses, and cellular homeostasis. The IIS-FOXO-SOD2 axis is identified as a key regulator of reproductive longevity in higher termites, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms behind lifespan extension in social insects.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13116683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770525","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":"Three New Species, New Records, and a Key to <i>Dryops</i> Olivier, 1791 (Coleoptera: Dryopidae) from Brazil.","authors":"Matheus de Souza Leite Alexandre, Bruno Clarkson, André Silva Fernandes, Felipe Ferraz Figueiredo Moreira","doi":"10.3390/insects17040430","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dryopidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) comprise 37 genera and about 280 species, occurring on all continents except Antarctica. The Neotropical fauna of the family has been neglected for decades, despite a few recent contributions. So far, seven genera and 29 species have been recorded from Brazil. Based on 369 adults collected in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Paraná, and Rio de Janeiro, we describe <i>Dryops antonioi</i><b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>D. nelsimarae</i><b>sp. nov.</b>, and <i>D. simoneae</i><b>sp. nov.</b> Furthermore, we herein redescribe and provide new records for <i>D. ovatus</i> (Grouvelle, 1890), an updated key to the species recorded from the country and a checklist of Neotropical representatives of the genus.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13116749/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770530","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":"Differences in Pigment Content and Expression of Cocoon Color Formation-Related Genes in Multiple Silkworm Strains.","authors":"Lin Zhu, Mengli Li, Zijian Huang, Yuyang Wu, Guodong Zhao, Heying Qian","doi":"10.3390/insects17040435","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040435","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Deciphering the coloration mechanism of natural-colored cocoons in the domestic silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i>) is of great importance for the green and sustainable development of the sericulture industry. In this study, 14 silkworm strains were selected for studying differences in the coloration mechanism of diverse cocoon colors, and the present research carried out integrated investigations from three aspects: pigment content, differences in gene expression levels, and gene structural variation. The results demonstrated that pigment accumulation presented distinct tissue-specific and strain-specific characteristics. The middle silk gland (MSG) acts as the primary locus for pigment deposition: silkworm strains forming yellow or red cocoons accumulate carotenoids at high levels in this tissue, whereas those producing green cocoons show abundant flavonoid enrichment here. Analysis of gene expression profiles indicated that the expression patterns of core transporter genes are highly correlated with the spatial distribution of pigments. The expression level of <i>CBP</i> gene in the MSG is over 10-fold higher than that in the midgut (MG) among yellow/red cocoon strains. The pivotal glycosylation gene <i>UGT86</i> displayed remarkably elevated expression in the MSG relative to other tissues across all green cocoon silkworm strains. The <i>CBP</i> gene acts as a core regulatory factor governing the transport of carotenoid pigments, and notable disparities existed in the coding region of the gene among silkworm strains with different cocoon colors. In contrast to yellow and red cocoon strains, the transcription start site of <i>CBP</i> gene is displaced in silkworm varieties that form green or white cocoons. In summary, this study clarified the expression patterns and variations in key pigment deposition-related genes at the population level for the first time and provided data references for the study of the biological basis and coloration mechanism of diverse cocoon colors.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13116753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770302","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":"Biology of <i>Bedellia somnulentella</i> (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae) Associated with Wild <i>Ipomoea</i> spp. (Convolvulaceae) as Host Plants.","authors":"Maria Jéssica Dos Santos Cabral, Rodrigo Almeida Pinheiro, Isabel Moreira da Silva, José Barbosa Dos Santos, Muhammad Haseeb, Marcus Alvarenga Soares","doi":"10.3390/insects17040425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Bedellia somnulentella</i> (Lepidoptera: Bedelliidae) is an invasive, leaf-mining, and defoliating pest of sweet potatoes (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i> L.) that has recently established in Brazil. Its colonization and infestation levels in cultivated fields are influenced by the availability of wild <i>Ipomoea</i> species that sustain populations during off-season periods. The objective was to evaluate the biology and life history of <i>B. somnulentella</i> feeding on wild plants of the genus <i>Ipomoea</i> and on <i>I. batatas</i> cv. Beauregard. Vegetative and reproductive parts of <i>Ipomoea</i> plants were collected and cultivated, and the biology and life history of <i>B. somnulentella</i> were studied using twenty adult pairs of the insect per host plant in a climate-controlled room. The wild species <i>Ipomoea hederifolia</i> L., <i>Ipomoea indica</i> (Burm.f.) Merr., <i>Ipomoea purpurea</i> L., and cultivated <i>I. batatas</i> were used for the assays. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with ten replicates. Hatching, larval stages, prepupa, pupa, and adult phases were observed and recorded daily. Variations in the coloration of <i>B. somnulentella</i> larvae feeding on leaves of <i>I. hederifolia</i>, <i>I. indica</i>, and <i>I. purpurea</i> were observed. The survival and development of <i>B. somnulentella</i> were higher on <i>I. batatas</i> and <i>I. hederifolia</i> than on <i>I. indica</i> and <i>I. purpurea</i>, mainly during the larval and adult stages. The results provide information on infestation in alternative wild hosts and on biological aspects of <i>B. somnulentella</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13116266/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770704","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":"Application of an Electronic Nose for Early Detection of Tephritidae Infestation in Fruits.","authors":"Eirini Anastasaki, Aikaterini Psoma, Mattia Crivelli, Savina Toufexi, Maria-Vassiliki Giakoumaki, Panagiotis Milonas","doi":"10.3390/insects17040429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040429","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Identifying pest infestations in fresh fruits is a crucial aspect of international trade. Currently, inspections rely on visual observations and destructive sampling, which are, in most cases, quite demanding. The detection of oviposition signs or early larval development is largely not feasible. Therefore, new methods that are sensitive and non-destructive are urgently needed to detect fruit fly infestation during inspections of fresh produce before their introduction and spread into pest-free areas. Portable electronic olfactory systems, or electronic noses (e-noses), are used in various scientific fields and industries. In this study, we evaluated the potential of a portable PEN3 electronic nose to discriminate between non-infested and infested fruits for three fruit fly species: <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> (Wiedemann), <i>Bactrocera dorsalis</i> (Hendel), and <i>Bactrocera zonata</i> (Saunders) (Diptera: Tephritidae). E-nose datasets were generated from samples of each combination of fruit, fruit fly species, infestation status, and storage condition. These datasets were used to develop classification models. The classification accuracy of the models ranged from 50 to 99% during calibration and cross-validation conditions. However, their performance decreased substantially when applied to independent datasets, highlighting limitations in robustness. These findings indicate that although the PEN3 system shows promise as a non-destructive detection tool, its performance is strongly influenced by seasonal and experimental variability. Further work is needed to incorporate multi-season and multi-variety datasets, improve calibration, and robust validation before practical implementation in field inspection systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13116407/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770693","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":"Towards Bioethical and Functional Standards in the Slaughter Methods of Edible Insects: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Oscar Abel Sánchez-Velázquez, Alan Javier Hernández-Álvarez","doi":"10.3390/insects17040424","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040424","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rapid expansion of edible insect production has focused primarily on rearing, processing efficiency, safety, and nutritional composition, while the slaughter of insects has received comparatively little scientific and ethical scrutiny. This narrative review examines insect slaughter as a critical control point linking bioethics, physiology, and ingredient quality. The review synthesizes evidence from neurobiology, food science, and processing studies to evaluate how commonly used slaughter methods interact with biological aspects of insects. Existing literature shows that slaughter techniques influence protein stability and hydrolysis, lipid oxidation, antioxidant retention, techno-functional properties such as emulsification and gelation, as well as sensory attributes and consumer acceptance. Available evidence suggests that methods designed to rapidly suppress metabolic activity may be associated with improved preservation of certain nutritional and functional parameters, although findings remain species- and context-dependent. The review further highlights major knowledge gaps, including the lack of species- and life-stage-specific welfare indicators and standardized assessment protocols. Overall, the findings support the need to reconceptualize insect slaughter as a strategic upstream decision rather than a neutral processing step. Integrating ethical considerations with nutritional, functional, and regulatory perspectives is essential for establishing science-based standards and ensuring the responsible development of edible insect-based food and feed systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770541","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":"Independent Evolution of Linear and Branched Cuticular Hydrocarbons in Ants: A Hypothesis.","authors":"Abraham Hefetz","doi":"10.3390/insects17040427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040427","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The epicuticle of <i>Cataglyphis niger</i> is endowed with hydrocarbons comprising both linear and branched alkanes. For linear alkane, it is hypothesized that the primary driving force for their evolution was acquiring means for attaining cuticular impermeability that protects the ants from desiccation, and, secondarily, was co-opted as cues and signals. For example, being more abundant in foragers, they signal colony foraging intensity and, accordingly, adjust task allocation. Branched alkanes serve mostly in communication, but their evolution is less clear. Studies of the biosynthesis of both classes of hydrocarbons revealed disparate pathways, which suggests an independent evolution. The biosynthesis of branched alkanes hints at their possible evolution. They are derived from branched fatty acids, which have evolved as protective means due to their bactericidal activity. It is hypothesized that their biosynthetic pathway was secondarily co-opted for producing branched alkanes as signals and cues. Branched alkanes blend within the linear alkane layer to evenly cover the ants' body surface and enhance the ants' communicative capacity by conveying larger informational content due to their numerous positional and stereoisomers. The present study presents the occurrence of substantial amounts of branched fatty acids with branching position that matches that of the branched alkanes. The disparate biosynthesis pathways and the postulated differences in their evolutionary roots lend credence to the hypothesis of their independent evolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13116278/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770313","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":"The Potential of Landscape Plants <i>Photinia</i> × <i>fraseri</i> and <i>Pittosporum tobira</i> as Refuge for Natural Enemies of Pest Insects in Rice-Wheat Rotation Systems.","authors":"Qianwen Yang, Qiang Li, Xiaowei Liu, Yajun Yang, Yongming Ruan, Pingyang Zhu, Zhongxian Lu, Chuanwang Cao, Yanhui Lu","doi":"10.3390/insects17040428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040428","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rice-wheat rotation is a predominant cropping pattern in China, frequently challenged by pests such as aphids in wheat, and <i>Chilo suppressalis</i> and <i>Cnaphalocrocis medinalis</i> in rice. This study investigates the potential of two common landscape plants, <i>Photinia</i> × <i>fraseri</i> and <i>Pittosporum tobira</i>, as functional plants for conserving natural enemies across crop cycles. Arthropod communities were systematically monitored using Malaise traps during the wheat, wheat-rice transition, and rice seasons from 2023 to 2024. Results revealed that both species successfully conserved a diverse natural enemy community, though their structural differentiation was strongly driven by seasonal variation, as confirmed by Heatmap and principal component analysis (PCA) (<i>P.</i> × <i>fraseri</i>: PC1 = 46.3%, PC2 = 23%; <i>P. tobira</i>: PC1 = 40.2%, PC2 = 25%). During the wheat season, both plants synergistically supported rich functional guilds, including predatory guilds (e.g., <i>Episyrphus balteatus</i>, <i>Gnathonarium dentatum</i>, and <i>Harmonia axyridis</i>) and parasitic guilds (e.g., <i>Microplitis tuberculifer</i> and <i>Cotesia</i> spp.). Notably, during the critical wheat-to-rice transition, these shrubs functioned as \"habitat anchors,\" where <i>P.</i> × <i>fraseri</i> demonstrated superior retention capacity for functional groups like <i>Aphidius gifuensis</i>, mitigating post-harvest habitat fragmentation. During the rice season, distinct functional complementarity emerged: <i>P.</i> × <i>fraseri</i> appeared to function as a habitat-type plant, potentially providing stable shelter for predatory groups (e.g., spiders and lady beetles), while <i>P. tobira</i> appeared to act as a resource-type plant, potentially attracting a significant rebound of parasitoids (e.g., <i>Xanthopimpla flavolineata</i>) in August. This mid-summer rebound on <i>P. tobira</i> was primarily attributed to its dense evergreen foliage providing a microclimatic refuge, rather than an active flowering resource. Analysis of shared dominant taxa (<i>H. axyridis</i>, <i>Cotesia</i> spp., and <i>E. balteatus</i>) showed highly significant seasonal fluctuations, with peak conservation during the wheat season. This study confirms that <i>P.</i> × <i>fraseri</i> and <i>P. tobira</i> have cross-cycle potential as a \"natural enemy bank\" in rice-wheat rotation agricultural systems. Their synergistic effects-integrating stable structural shelter with seasonal nutritional subsidies-support the conservation of diverse natural enemy communities throughout the annual crop cycle and significantly enhance the sustained pest control capacity of farmland ecosystems, identifying them as exemplary functional plants for ecological engineering in rice-wheat landscapes and providing a foundation for future studies on biological control efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13116421/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770532","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":"Early-Life Heat Stress Exposes Genotype-Dependent Male Fertility Limits in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> Under Sublethal Agrochemical Exposure.","authors":"David A Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ying Ting Yang, Felipe Martelli, Nina Wedell","doi":"10.3390/insects17040426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040426","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insect populations are increasingly exposed to concurrent climate warming and agrochemical contamination, yet how these stressors interact to influence reproductive performance remains poorly understood. Because fertility can constrain population growth before survival declines, understanding how environmental stress affects reproduction is essential for predicting demographic responses. Here, we investigated how elevated temperatures and sublethal imidacloprid exposure during development and early-life interact with the insecticide resistance locus <i>Cyp6g1</i> to influence male reproductive performance in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>. Males were reared from embryo to adulthood under factorial combinations of temperature and insecticide exposure, and mating behaviour and fertilisation success were subsequently quantified under benign assay conditions. Early-life heat reduced fertilisation success in a genotype-dependent manner, with a pronounced collapse observed in insecticide-susceptible males. Sublethal insecticide exposure modified this thermal response, restoring fertilisation success in susceptible males and producing non-additive interactions between thermal and agrochemical stress. In contrast, although mating frequency varied across treatments, it did not show the pronounced decline observed in fertilisation success, indicating that behavioural engagement does not necessarily predict functional reproductive output. These results suggest that environmental stress experienced during early-life can reshape reproductive performance, potentially through genotype-dependent shifts in physiological investment. Considering developmental stress history and genetic variation will therefore be important for predicting insect population responses to climate warming and environmental contamination.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115718/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770486","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":"Robust Fine-Grained Pest Classification via Boundary-Aware Attention and Growth-Stage Supervision.","authors":"Xinliang Liu, Ruiming Zhu, Yuying Cao","doi":"10.3390/insects17040423","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040423","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate pest identification plays a critical role in effective pest management and sustainable agricultural production. However, fine-grained pest classification is inherently challenging due to low inter-class separability, significant intra-class variability, and complex environmental interference. To address these challenges, we develop a boundary-aware channel-spatial attention network to strengthen discriminative feature learning while suppressing background noise. The proposed attention module enhances fine-grained structural and boundary cues to improve inter-class separability under cluttered field conditions. Furthermore, auxiliary label supervision based on pest growth stages is incorporated to model developmental variations and enhance intra-class consistency. Experiments on the IP102 dataset demonstrate that the proposed method consistently outperforms state-of-the-art baselines in classification accuracy, validating its effectiveness for fine-grained agricultural pest classification. These results highlight the potential of integrating boundary-aware attention mechanisms with growth-stage supervision for robust real-world pest classification.</p>","PeriodicalId":13642,"journal":{"name":"Insects","volume":"17 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13115946/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770613","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}