Physiological Entomology最新文献

{"title":"Macronutrient composition of spermatophores of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri varies depending on male feeding?","authors":"Andréa Karla Lemos da Silva Sena,&nbsp;Maria Flora Menezes Tomás,&nbsp;Marciel Teixeira de Oliveira,&nbsp;Franklin Magliano da Cunha,&nbsp;Wendel José Teles Pontes","doi":"10.1111/phen.12490","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12490","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Many insect species produce nutritive ejaculates, which represent the male's contribution to female reproductive fitness. Studies on the quantification of male contribution are assessed via indirect observations and direct assessment through the post-copulation effect on female reproductive performance, such as longevity and fecundity. Few studies directly address the nutritive content transferred by males via spermatophores. In species with multiple copulations, males produce ejaculates whose proportion of allocated substances varies according to the adult diet. We hypothesized that the spermatophores of <i>C. montrouzieri</i> show significant variations in nutrient composition when dietary modifications occur and whether this affects female fecundity and fertility. To test this hypothesis, we analysed the macronutrients proteins, lipids, sugars and glycogen using colorimetric methods. We tested for quantitative changes in these macronutrients in adult males well fed with <i>Planococcus citri</i> mealybugs, under limited amounts of <i>P. citri</i> (food scarcity), and with honey. The macronutrient profile of a spermatophore from a well-fed <i>C. montrouzieri</i> is composed of approximately 49.62 μg/mL lipids, 5.18 μg/mL glycogen, 3.25 μg/mL sugar and 0.27 μg/mL proteins. When compared with the spermatophores produced by males subjected to food scarcity or honey, no significant difference was found in the macronutrients. Fecundity was not affected, but there was a significant reduction in fertility in females that mated with males fed with honey.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 3","pages":"297-304"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144773453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A knockdown in the expression of a male-specific aminopeptidase impedes the male reproductive success of the mosquito Culex pipiens","authors":"Tatyana Martynova,&nbsp;Bryan King,&nbsp;Prabin Dhungana,&nbsp;Xueyan Wei,&nbsp;David Kang,&nbsp;Cheolho Sim","doi":"10.1111/phen.12487","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12487","url":null,"abstract":"<p>It is imperative to determine the expression patterns and functions of genes essential for reproduction in mosquito vectors, such as <i>Culex pipiens</i>, to optimize vector control strategies, such as the sterile insect technique (SIT). The reproductive organs of mosquitoes are responsible for various processes, including spermatogenesis, seminal fluid secretion and female insemination during mating. Using Illumina RNA-seq and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation, this study aimed to identify and categorize genes associated with the male accessory glands, as well as potentially other reproductive structures, of <i>Cx. pipiens</i>. Analysis of young and old male accessory gland tissues revealed 345 and 26 upregulated transcripts, respectively. Further qRT-PCR analysis showed that six genes were highly upregulated in old male accessory gland (MAG) tissue, including <i>dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase hemipterous</i>, <i>atrial natriuretic peptide receptor</i> and <i>zinc-binding dehydrogenase</i>. Additionally, 17 genes were found to be highly upregulated in young MAG tissue, with some of them speculated to have reproductive functions; among the notably upregulated genes were those encoding <i>heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein</i>, <i>protein cluster segregational</i> and two <i>cytosol aminopeptidases</i>. The function of <i>cytosol aminopeptidase</i> (CPIJ003539) has been validated in male <i>Cx. pipiens</i> through in-cage insemination and fertility assays, revealing that females mated with <i>dsi-aminopeptidase</i> knockdown males had impaired sperm storage and egg production abilities. These findings provide promising prospects for the development of targeted vector control strategies for <i>Culex</i> mosquitoes to achieve more successful outcomes concerning the efficient reduction of pest populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 3","pages":"277-289"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effects of sleep deprivation on susceptibility to parasitic infection in Drosophila nigrospiracula","authors":"Holly Tang,&nbsp;Collin J. Horn,&nbsp;Sean Chua,&nbsp;Cora F. Plitt,&nbsp;Sissi Yuli,&nbsp;Lien T. Luong","doi":"10.1111/phen.12489","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12489","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sleep serves an essential function, and as such sleep deprivation has numerous negative effects on a wide range of organisms, including <i>Drosophila</i>. The link between sleep and cellular/humoral immunity is well studied, but behavioural immunity has been neglected for the most part. Here, we investigate the role of sleep deprivation on <i>Drosophila nigrospiracula</i> susceptibility to parasitism by the ectoparasitic mite, <i>Macrocheles subbadius</i>. We tested the hypothesis that sleep deprivation reduces behavioural resistance against mites, resulting in higher rates of infection among sleep-deprived (SD) flies compared to non-sleep-deprived flies, and that this is mediated by lower endurance (in negative geotaxis assays) among SD flies. We tested the impact of sleep deprivation on two age groups, flies 14 and 21 days post-eclosion. The prevalence of infection was 15% higher and mite abundance nearly 3x higher in older flies compared to younger flies. Moreover, older sleep-deprived flies experienced increased susceptibility to infection and lower climbing endurance compared to control flies. 21-day-old SD flies were 11% more likely to be infected and accumulated nearly double the number of mites as control flies. As such, we performed endurance assays on 21-day-old flies; control flies were 1.7x more likely to initiate climbing and climbed 6x longer in duration than SD flies. Taken together, our results show that increased susceptibility to parasitism among sleep-deprived flies is mediated by a concomitant decline in endurance. These findings contribute to our understanding of the importance of sleep and consequently the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on animals, particularly with regard to behavioural immunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 3","pages":"290-296"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/phen.12489","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Species differences in reproductive timing and egg load in two fly species adapted to different host plants","authors":"Alycia C. R. Lackey,&nbsp;Kaitlyn Damron,&nbsp;Alyssa Gebhardt,&nbsp;Sophia Anner,&nbsp;Myia Alizadeh","doi":"10.1111/phen.12488","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12488","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Selection acts on reproductive timing and egg number to maximize reproductive success based on available resources. Species often vary in these life history traits due to differences in trait variation and local selection pressures, especially when species are adapted to different environments. Yet, species may share similar life history traits given common correlations, such as a positive relationship between body size and fecundity. In this study, we tested whether species adapted to different environments differ in their reproductive timing and egg load using two species of Tephritid fruit flies: <i>Rhagoletis pomonella</i> adapted to downy hawthorn and <i>Rhagoletis suavis</i> adapted to black walnut. In both species, older females were more likely to produce eggs and have more eggs. However, reproductive timing differed between species; hawthorn flies produced eggs earlier than walnut flies. In contrast to the common association of larger body size with earlier reproduction and higher egg counts, we did not find that adult female body size predicted reproductive timing in either species. In hawthorn flies with earlier reproductive maturity, body size did not affect egg number. For walnut flies with later reproductive maturity, larger females produced more eggs. Our findings suggest that while the time to accumulate resources and develop eggs is a common constraint, reproductive strategies are likely shaped by adaptation to specific host plants. Our study highlights the complex interaction between selection pressures and trait correlations in shaping life history traits across species.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 3","pages":"245-252"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutribloods: Novel synthetic lepidopteran haemolymphs for understanding insect–microbe nutritional interactions in vitro","authors":"Robert Holdbrook,&nbsp;Joanna L. Randall,&nbsp;Catherine E. Reavey,&nbsp;Yamini Tummala,&nbsp;Awawing A. Andongma,&nbsp;Annabel Rice,&nbsp;Judith A. Smith,&nbsp;Stephen J. Simpson,&nbsp;Sheena C. Cotter,&nbsp;Kenneth Wilson","doi":"10.1111/phen.12486","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12486","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding the role of nutrients in microbial population dynamics relies on a sound appreciation of their nutritional environment and how this may vary in different habitats. For microbial pathogens and commensals, this can be especially challenging because the microbe may share nutritional resources with its host. Here we design a series of 20 synthetic cell-free haemolymphs (<i>nutribloods</i>) that mimic haemolymph nutrient profiles of caterpillars fed on one of 20 chemically defined diets that vary in their protein: carbohydrate (P:C) ratio and caloric density. Using these, we are able to simulate the range of nutritional conditions that insect blood pathogens might face, providing a model system for understanding the role of nutrition in microbial growth. We tested this using the entomopathogen, <i>Xenorhabdus nematophila</i>, a Gram-negative extracellular bacterium of insect hosts. This revealed that whilst bacterial fitness peaked in nutriblood nutrient space that was high in carbohydrates and low in proteins, levels of amino acids in the nutribloods also appear to be an important driving force for bacterial growth. Using synthetic haemolymphs that had average levels of all nutrients other than carbohydrate, protein or amino acids, we also established that bacterial growth is generally enhanced by carbohydrates and amino acids but reduced by proteins. Here, we have established a tractable model system for examining the role that nutrition plays in the growth of an entomopathogenic bacterium. In future work, this model host–pathogen system can be used to test a range of nutritionally driven processes, including competition during co-infection and interactions with the host microbiome, as well as comparative studies of other entomopathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 3","pages":"264-276"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/phen.12486","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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 physiological changes and the impact of rapid cold hardening on the survival ability of Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) under cold stress","authors":"Yanchen Wang,&nbsp;Defu Chi","doi":"10.1111/phen.12485","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12485","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Dastarcus helophoroides</i> (Fairmaire) serves as an ideal biological control agent for forest beetles. However, its survival ability at low temperatures is a critical factor for its use in colder regions. This study investigates the survival ability, supercooling point (SCP), impact of rapid cold hardening (RCH) and physiological changes of <i>D. helophoroides</i> under cold stress. SCPs of adults that underwent RCH were lower than those of adults cultured at room temperature, with SCPs of −25.1°C and −16.9°C, respectively. As the cold stress temperature decreased in the test, the survival ability of <i>D. helophoroides</i> adults also diminished, reaching the lowest survival rates at −20°C across all observation time points in the test. However, adults induced by RCH exhibited higher survival rates than those cultured at room temperature, suggesting that RCH enhances the cold resistance of <i>D. helophoroides</i>. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the adults increased as the stress temperature decreased. With prolonged cold stress, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) initially decreased and then increased. Both fat and water content decreased with the lowering of stress temperature. These results provide insights into the cold resistance strategies of <i>D. helophoroides</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 3","pages":"253-263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144773799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomic analysis of the mandibular gland genes associated with reproductive dominance in Apis mellifera capensis Esch. parasitic workers","authors":"Fiona Nelima Mumoki,&nbsp;Christian Walter Werner Pirk,&nbsp;Robin Michael Crewe,&nbsp;Abdullahi Ahmed Yusuf","doi":"10.1111/phen.12484","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12484","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Regulation of reproductive division of labour is generally modulated by the queen's chemical secretions, particularly the mandibular gland (MG) pheromone complex. Workers can activate their ovaries and lay unfertilised eggs with some dominant workers able to produce queen-like MG signals to become false queens. We examined the effect of social condition as a regulator of social behaviour, by investigating differential gene expression in the MG of two subspecies of African honey bees, with differing reproductive potentials and, at two ages. Sequencing of RNA from young and older <i>Apis mellifera scutellata</i> (low reproductive potential) and <i>A. m. capensis</i> (higher reproductive potential) workers was carried out. A total of 5646 transcripts were differentially expressed across four libraries, classified into 29 biological processes based on their gene ontology accessions. Further, 48 differentially expressed genes were found to be putatively associated with the biosynthesis of MG fatty acids. Of these, 25 were cytochrome P450s thought to participate in the caste-specific hydroxylation of stearic acid, a crucial regulatory point in the biosynthetic pathway. Multiple points of regulation were identified starting from in-situ biosynthesis and activation of stearic acid, caste-specific hydroxylation, transport between organelles, uncompleted <i>β</i>-oxidation and oxidation of 9-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (9-HDA) to 9-oxo-2 (<i>E</i>)-decenoic acid (9-ODA). Our data shows that regardless of age, reproductively dominant individuals switch on a very specific set of genes as they transition from worker-like to queen-like MG signals. This study provides insight into the molecular-level changes that occur as workers switch from social cooperative behaviours to reproductive dominance.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 3","pages":"233-244"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/phen.12484","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Use of essential versus nonessential fatty acids during flight in monarch butterflies: Implications for the importance of nectaring during migration","authors":"Libesha Anparasan,&nbsp;Jeremy N. McNeil,&nbsp;Keith A. Hobson","doi":"10.1111/phen.12483","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12483","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Many insect species are migratory, but migration is energetically costly, leading to a trade-off between migration and subsequent reproduction. Of importance to the allocation of resources to migration and reproduction is the relative use of essential and nonessential fatty acids. How different ecological conditions experienced by individuals affect differential allocation of nutrients has not been well explored, especially in insects. Our goal was to evaluate how reproductive (summer) and migratory (fall) rearing conditions affect the source and allocation patterns of fatty acids used during experimental flights (0–6 h) in monarch butterflies (<i>Danaus plexippus</i> L.). We used larval and adult diets manipulated isotopically (δ¹³C) and chromatographic analyses to determine fatty acid composition and source in the fat body. C4 versus C3 carbohydrate feeding increased the δ¹³C value of lipids in monarchs (−31.2‰ vs. −22.1‰) and increased total fatty acid concentrations reflecting lipid synthesis during adult feeding. Fuel use during flight differed, with essential fatty acids being more conserved in fall versus summer conditions (21% vs. 32% loss, respectively), indicating that the environmental cues responsible for the onset of migration result in physiological changes that modify lipid use. Frequency of stopovers for nectar and nectar quality available during migration will influence the capacity of monarchs to conserve essential fatty acids up to and through the migration and overwintering period.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 2","pages":"221-232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/phen.12483","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Chilling induces prompt and synchronised hatching after obligatory diapause in the subtropical cricket Cardiodactylus guttulus","authors":"Hiroki Takekata,&nbsp;Kazuhiro Satomura,&nbsp;Atsushi Ogura,&nbsp;Akihiro Takemura","doi":"10.1111/phen.12482","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12482","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Cardiodactylus guttulus</i> is a subtropical cricket endemic to the Ryukyu Islands. <i>C. guttulus</i> has a univoltine life cycle with an obligatory diapause in embryos during winter. An environmental time cue(s) is required to terminate diapause and synchronise the life cycle with the seasonal cycle. In several temperate crickets, chilling terminates embryonic diapause and induces prompt and synchronised hatching. In the present study, by observing the day of hatching after chilling, we investigated whether <i>C. guttulus</i> terminates embryonic diapause with reference to temperature as shown in temperate crickets. After chilling at 16°C, the hatching rates to day 120 after oviposition increased compared to the control maintained at 25°C without chilling. When the chilling treatment lasted more than 30 days, hatching occurred synchronously, showing that chilling at 16°C for 1 month is sufficient to terminate diapause and induce synchronised hatching in <i>C. guttulus</i>. In addition, longer exposure to 16°C was associated with shorter days of transfer from 16 to 25°C to hatching. This result suggests that embryogenesis post-diapause progressed slowly during chilling. These characteristics would be adaptive to warm winters in subtropical regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 2","pages":"216-220"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/phen.12482","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Larval instar-dependent hemocytes in specialist herbivore Cydalima perspectalis fed on Buxus hyrcana and Buxus microphylla","authors":"Maryam Kholghahmadi,&nbsp;Azadeh Karimi-Malati,&nbsp;Jalal Jalali Sendi","doi":"10.1111/phen.12480","DOIUrl":"10.1111/phen.12480","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The boxwood moth, <i>Cydalima perspectalis</i> Walker (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), as invasive specialist species in Iran has caused considerable damage in endemic forest stands of <i>Buxus hyrcana</i> Pojark since 2016. Host plant species can alter herbivore–plant interactions through the quantitative and qualitative changes of hemocytes even within a specialist herbivore. To determine the hemocyte variations on different host plants across larval development, the third and sixth instar larvae of <i>C. perspectalis</i> fed on <i>B. hyrcana</i> (native boxwood) and <i>B. microphylla</i> Sieb. and Zucc. (introduced nonnative boxwood) were compared. Total (THC) and differential (DHC) hemocyte count were determined using light, phase-contrast, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on results, six types of hemocytes were recognized in hemolymph including prohemocytes (PRs), plasmatocytes (PLs), granulocytes (GRs), oenocytoides (OEs) and spherulocytes (SPs) as well as unknown elongated quadrangular cells (elongocytes [ELs], the term has been first employed here) with obvious and distinguishable nuclei which were observed by the SEM and TEM microscopy. The ELs were rectangular or trapezoidal in shape, and the largest cells in hemolymph—their length varied from 14.00 to 15.73 μm. Our results showed that the total number of hemocytes (THC) significantly increased across larval development. Moreover, host plant species significantly affected total hemocyte count where the THC of sixth instar larvae on <i>B. microphylla</i> (2561.00 ± 10.60 cell/mm³) was significantly higher than on <i>B. hyrcana</i> (2440.00 ± 51.50 cell/mm³). The differential hemocyte count (DHC) profile study showed that GRs along with PLs were the most abundant cells in the hemolymph irrespective of larval instar and host plant species. Furthermore, the GRs% and ELs% increased throughout the larval development on both host plants, while a significant reduction of PLs% was recorded from third instar to sixth instar during the larval stage on two <i>Buxus</i> species. Apart from larval instar, host plant species had a significant effect on DHC of <i>C. perspectalis</i>. Despite higher total hemocyte number when fed on <i>B. microphylla</i>, the PLs% and ELs% were significantly higher in sixth-instar larvae fed on <i>B. hyrcana</i> compared with <i>B. microphylla</i>. Oppositely, the percentage of GRs was 17% less in larvae reared on <i>B. hyrcana</i> than on <i>B. microphylla</i>. As hemocyte types are responsible for different immune functions, these findings on instar- and host plant-dependent variation in their relative abundance would be critical to understand the immune response of this specialist herbivore.</p>","PeriodicalId":20081,"journal":{"name":"Physiological Entomology","volume":"50 2","pages":"182-194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143909569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}