Journal of insect physiology最新文献

{"title":"Age modifies metabolic but not survival responses to immune challenge in female yellow mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor).","authors":"Andréanne Nault, Romy Seminaro, Clint D Kelly","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104992","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104992","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immune activation is energetically costly, yet the extent to which physiological costs translate into consequences for organismal performance remains unclear. Because immune responses and energy allocation can vary with age, we experimentally manipulated the type and intensity of immune stimulation (injection versus implantation) in young and old female Tenebrio molitor and quantified the effects on metabolic rate and survival under food limitation. Immune stimulation elevated metabolic rate, with treatment explaining approximately 30% of the variance in log-transformed metabolic responses, particularly following injection-based challenges. In contrast, survival under food limitation was only weakly affected by immune treatment (∼2% variance explained), but was strongly influenced by body mass (∼15%). Metabolic responses differed between young and old females, indicating age-dependent physiological sensitivity to immune challenge, whereas the effects of immune treatment on survival were similar across age classes. These findings demonstrate that immune activation produces pronounced physiological costs, but these costs do not necessarily translate into reduced starvation tolerance. Age modifies physiological responses to immune challenge, yet energetic reserves remain the primary determinant of survival under food limitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":" ","pages":"104992"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147816387","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":"Corrigendum to “Effect of BmPriL on the development of silk glands in silkworm” [J. Insect Physiol. 170 (2026) 104971]","authors":"HuaiRong Lin ,&nbsp;Nuo Chen ,&nbsp;Xiaohan Jiang ,&nbsp;Shuxin Qiu ,&nbsp;Niewang Ju ,&nbsp;Qingyou Xia ,&nbsp;Liang Jiang ,&nbsp;Huizhen Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104972","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 104972"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147486277","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":"Improved RNAi-mediated pest control using dsRNAs","authors":"Luc Swevers ,&nbsp;Olivier Christiaens","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104974","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104974","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"170 ","pages":"Article 104974"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147468210","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":"Lipids as currency in parasitoid competition: Interactions between two lipid-scavenging species","authors":"Mark Lammers ,&nbsp;Tim A.M. van Gorkum ,&nbsp;Stefanie Hoeijmans ,&nbsp;Ken Kraaijeveld ,&nbsp;Jeffrey A. Harvey ,&nbsp;Jacintha Ellers","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104942","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104942","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lipid scavengers are organisms that rely on exogenous lipid acquisition as they lack the ability to synthesize fatty acids <em>de novo</em> or in sufficient quantity. Most parasitoid wasps are lipid scavengers and obtain required lipids by feeding on their hosts as larvae. Here, we studied the nutritional ecology of competitive interactions and the possibility of trophic flexibility between a native species, the pupal ectoparasitoid <em>Nasonia vitripennis</em> and an exotic species, the larval-pupal endoparasitoid, <em>Tachinaephagus zealandicus</em>. While the former species has been shown to alter host lipid content to their own benefit, we show that <em>T</em>. <em>zealandicus</em> also relies on host lipids. Competitive interactions between the two species were studied using non-choice tests, in which oviposition of <em>T</em>. <em>zealandicus</em> on a host was followed by multiparasitism by <em>N</em>. <em>vitripennis</em>. The outcome of competition was determined by the duration of the time lag between oviposition events. <em>N</em>. <em>vitripennis</em> prevailed when arriving three days after oviposition by <em>T</em>. <em>zealandicus</em>. In contrast, nine days after oviposition by <em>T</em>. <em>zealandicus</em>, no <em>N</em>. <em>vitripennis</em> offspring survived. Only when <em>N</em>. <em>vitripennis</em> laid eggs fifteen days after <em>T</em>. <em>zealandicus</em> did both species emerge from the same host. This suggests that successful emergence of <em>N</em>. <em>vitripennis</em> in this treatment was achieved through hyperparasitism. Choice experiments with hosts at different time intervals after <em>T. zealandicus</em> oviposition revealed a partial mismatch in <em>N. vitripennis</em> females between competition avoidance and offspring performance, which may be linked to the limited co-evolutionary time interval between the native and introduced species. We discuss the role of lipids in the context of interspecific competition in parasitoids.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 104942"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035316","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":"Metabolome of diapause-destined Megachile rotundata prepupae differs from those undergoing direct development","authors":"B. Mondal ,&nbsp;R.M. Walter ,&nbsp;J.P. Rinehart ,&nbsp;G.D. Yocum ,&nbsp;F. Basile ,&nbsp;K.J. Greenlee","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104949","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104949","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diapause in many insects is a non-feeding state, yet energetic demands persist. This imbalance between energy in and energy out can be met by two main mechanisms: reduced metabolism, facilitated by decreasing temperatures, and storage of nutrients. In bivoltine insects, some individuals may continue direct development while others may enter diapause. Few studies have compared these two groups prior to the decision to diapause, even though biochemical differences are likely due to accumulation of nutrient stores and molecules involved in metabolic suppression. In <em>Megachile rotundata</em>, offspring oviposited in early summer develop directly to adults, while those oviposited later that summer enter diapause as prepupae. Here we test the hypothesis that prepupae between the two groups have distinct metabolomic signatures that will indicate key differences in energetic status. We collected 12 non-diapause and 15 diapause-destined nests. Two prepupae from each nest were flash frozen and kept in −80°C until extracted. Diapause state of frozen bees was verified by observing whether nestmates developed or underwent diapause. We used an untargeted GC–MS-based approach that identified 57 significant metabolites with the potential to differentiate between diapause-destined and non-diapause prepupae. Altered metabolites included sugars, polyols, intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and amino acids. Seventeen metabolites (60% carbohydrates) were more abundant in diapause-destined prepupae. Forty metabolites (30% amino acids) were more abundant in non-diapausing prepupae. Several metabolites were previously implicated in diapausing insects. Some metabolites, e.g., putrescine, could be used as a biomarker to identify diapause status of nests, benefitting bee growers and farmers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 104949"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131607","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":"Notch regulates mitochondrial activity in pupal diapause of Helicoverpa armigera through the c-Myc-TFAM pathway","authors":"Zhe Song ,&nbsp;Xinhui Liu ,&nbsp;Jinhua Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104951","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104951","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insects enter diapause in order to avoid adverse environmental conditions. Diapause is a complex physiological process regulated by multiple signaling pathways, and the molecular regulatory mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Notch signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved and plays diverse roles in insect development, including cell fate determination, organ growth, and tissue patterning. Recent research has demonstrated that Notch signaling is indispensable for both the maintenance and recovery of dauer (a diapause-like state in <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em>), however, the role of Notch signaling in insect diapause has not been previously documented. In the current study, we therefore investigated the expression pattern of Notch in diapausing and developing pupae of <em>Helicoverpa armigera</em>, aiming to elucidate its potential regulatory mechanism of Notch in pupal diapause. We found that the protein expression of intracellular domain of Notch (NICD, the functional part of Notch) was lower in diapause-destined pupae than that in non-diapause pupae. Inhibiting the NICD expression by LY411575 delayed the development of non-diapause pupae. Furthermore, NICD knockdown (via dsRNA) or pharmacological inhibition downregulated the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels and mitochondrial activity by regulating the transcription factors c-Myc and TFAM. Consistent with previous findings that diapausing brains have lower mitochondrial activity, we propose that Har-NICD might participate in diapause regulation by modulating mitochondrial activity via the c-Myc-TFAM axis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 104951"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146180644","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":"Physiological and morphological development of the spermatheca in queens of the ant Crematogaster osakensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)","authors":"Ayako Gotoh","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104953","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104953","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The spermatheca is a specialized organ for sperm storage and is essential for reproductive success, particularly in ants, where queens preserve the viability of stored sperm for over a decade. However, the process of establishing the physiological environment and morphology of the spermatheca that enable long-term sperm storage remains largely unexplored. This study demonstrated that a near-anoxic state crucial for sperm viability and an elevated pH, both key features of the spermathecal environment in mated queens of <em>Crematogaster osakensis</em>, were established by 8 days after eclosion, suggesting that the spermatheca becomes functionally ready for sperm storage well before mating. Subsequently, the near-anoxic condition within the spermatheca is maintained after mating. In contrast, the queen’s body was normoxic at eclosion, gradually declined to near-anoxic levels by the mating period, and subsequently recovered to normoxic levels 2 months after the nuptial flight. These findings suggest spatio-temporal regulation of oxygen levels in ant queens. Morphologically, the formation of columnar epithelial cells in the hilar region of the spermathecal reservoir, considered essential for sperm storage, was triggered by nuptial flight, unlike in other ant subfamilies, where they develop during the pupal stage. Because these cells are thought to facilitate waste removal from stored sperm, their formation soon after mating appears to occur at an appropriate time for sperm maintenance. These findings indicate that <em>C</em>. <em>osakensis</em> queens establish their sperm storage environment in two distinct phases: preparation of physiological conditions before mating, followed by the completion of morphological development after mating to support long-term sperm maintenance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 104953"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146213518","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":"Molecular characterization and seasonal expression profiling of circadian clock genes in relation to obligatory diapause in the Sunn Pest, Eurygaster integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae)","authors":"Zeynab Alborzi ,&nbsp;Azam Amiri ,&nbsp;Maria Dolors Piulachs ,&nbsp;Ali R. Bandani","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104957","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104957","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Univoltine insect pests exploiting seasonal crops must synchronize reproduction and diapause with host phenology. The Sunn pest, <em>Eurygaster integriceps</em>, reproduces in spring and enters an obligatory diapause over the summer–winter, yet the role of circadian clock genes in this schedule remains unclear. We asked whether seasonal modulation of core clock genes aligns with generation-specific reproductive versus diapause states in <em>E. integriceps</em>. Using a brain + corpora cardiaca + corpora allata (brain–CC–CA complex) transcriptome and RT–qPCR, we identified five core clock genes (Clock/<em>clk</em>, cycle/<em>cyc</em>, period/<em>per</em>, timeless/<em>tim</em>, cryptochrome 2/<em>cry2</em>), verified hemipteran orthology, and quantified transcript levels in female brain–CC–CA complex collected in January, March, June, and August, representing overwintering, reproducing, and new-generation diapause adults, respectively. Also, ovarian status was assessed by dissection. Most core clock transcripts (per, tim, clk, and cry2) were elevated in March relative to summer diapause, whereas cyc showed a distinct profile with higher levels in January. <em>Per</em>, <em>tim</em>, <em>cyc</em>, <em>clk</em>, and <em>cry2</em> were significantly downregulated in June and August, indicating transcriptional dampening consistent with seasonal reprogramming of clock-gene transcripts during the refractory phase. In contrast, diapausing adults in January exhibited renewed expression, with <em>cyc</em> reaching its annual peak. This upregulation marks the transition from physiological diapause to quiescence, when the circadian clock enables accurate photoperiod measurement. Such sensory priming is essential for detecting lengthening winter days that cue migration to wheat fields and the onset of feeding and reproductive activity. These findings link seasonal clock gene expression dynamics to diapause, feeding, and reproduction in the Sunn pest’s obligatory diapause, highlighting circadian components as potential targets for control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 104957"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146227259","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":"Size, sex, & survival: water balance across temperatures in the alfalfa leaf cutting bee","authors":"Meredith G. Johnson ,&nbsp;Christopher Waylett ,&nbsp;Lukas Sokalski ,&nbsp;Joseph Rinehart ,&nbsp;Julia Bowsher ,&nbsp;Kendra Greenlee","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104958","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104958","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water balance is critical to insect survival. <em>Megachile rotundata</em>, a solitary bee, is used for alfalfa pollination across the United States, necessitating performance across a range of environmental conditions. We investigated sex-specific effects of temperature on desiccation tolerance, cuticular permeability, and water loss rates in adult <em>M. rotundata</em>. Females were larger than males in both wet mass (42.9 ± 8.2 mg vs. 32.5 ± 6.9 mg) and body water content (27.9 ± 7.1 mg vs. 20.8 ± 5.2 mg), with body water content scaling hypermetrically with dry mass while male body water content scaled hypometrically. For all bees, survival time decreased with increasing temperature and was positively associated with body water content, with the effect strongest at lower temperatures. Cuticular permeability was 1.8-fold higher in males than females. For both sexes, mass-specific water loss rates increased with temperature, but was 1.6-fold greater in males. Comparisons of water loss routes revealed that respiratory water loss substantially exceeded cuticular water loss in live bees, and the relative contribution of respiration increased with temperature. Overall, these results indicate that sex, body size, and route of water loss interact to determine desiccation risk in <em>M. rotundata</em>, and that males may be more vulnerable to desiccation at high temperatures due to higher cuticular permeability and respiratory water loss rates. These findings provide insight into the physiological adaptations of <em>M. rotundata</em> to water stress and contribute to a broader understanding of insect water balance mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 104958"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146258330","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":"Diapause termination alters the m6A methylation profiles and regulates gene expression associated with early embryonic development in the silkworm (Bombyx mori)","authors":"Zhi-Hao Huang ,&nbsp;Jia-Yue Yang ,&nbsp;Cai-Ping Hou ,&nbsp;Shi-Huo Liu ,&nbsp;Bing Li ,&nbsp;Jie Wang ,&nbsp;Shou-jun Huang ,&nbsp;Jia-Ping Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jinsphys.2026.104944","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Univoltine and bivoltine silkworms (<em>Bombyx mori</em>) exhibit typical diapause characteristics. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), an important epigenetic modification of RNAs in eukaryotic cells, plays a vital role in developmental regulation. In this study, we aimed to explore whether m⁶A modification regulates gene expression associated with early embryonic development in the silkworm. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) treatment was used to terminate silkworm embryonic diapause. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were used to identify genes with m⁶A modifications associated with early embryonic development. By combining MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq data, we identified 56 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with distinct changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) m⁶A modification, predominantly in the Hippo pathway and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. In the Hippo pathway, the <em>cadherin-related tumor suppressor</em> (<em>Ft</em>), <em>extracellular serine/threonine protein kinase four-jointed</em> (<em>Fj</em>), <em>Kibra</em>, and <em>Dachsous</em> (<em>Ds</em>) genes showed less m⁶A modification of their mRNA after HCl treatment and downregulated expression. Additionally, genes downstream of the Hippo pathway, the <em>FERM domain containing expanded</em>, <em>serine/threonine-protein kinase hippo</em>, <em>scaffold protein Salvador</em>, and <em>serine/threonine-protein kinase warts</em> were also downregulated. We speculate that the downregulation of the key genes <em>Ft</em>, <em>Fj</em>, <em>Ds</em>, and <em>Kibra</em> by m⁶A modification leads to decreased expression of downstream genes, which may affect the transcriptional coactivator Yorkie and inhibit the Hippo pathway after diapause termination, thereby promoting early silkworm embryonic development. Overall, our findings provide novel insight into the systematic function of RNA methylation in regulating embryogenesis and the importance of m⁶A modification in the developmental process in the silkworm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16189,"journal":{"name":"Journal of insect physiology","volume":"169 ","pages":"Article 104944"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146018595","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}