Frontiers in insect science最新文献

{"title":"Cooling rate affects supercooling points of overwintering spotted lanternfly eggs.","authors":"Clarissa Dahl, Angie Ambourn, Robert C Venette","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1916560","DOIUrl":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1916560","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spotted lanternfly, <i>Lycorma delicatula</i> (White) is a planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) that is native to China and invasive elsewhere in Asia and North America. The insect feeds on several plants and is an emerging pest of apples, grapes, walnuts, and other hardwoods. Forecasts of the ultimate geographic distribution for <i>L. delicatula</i> in Asia and North America, particularly its northern latitudinal limits, are uncertain because of limited information about the cold tolerance of this insect. Cooling rate can affect supercooling point, the temperature at which bodily fluids begin to freeze and a common reference point for insect cold tolerance studies. This study measures changes in supercooling point of overwintering <i>L. delicatula</i> eggs in response to different cooling rates. Overwintering egg masses were collected from two field locations in Virginia, USA in November and December 2024. Supercooling points of individual eggs were measured with contact thermocouple thermometry at cooling rates of 0.033, 0.5, and 1 °C/min. The distribution of supercooling points changed with different cooling rates and were negatively related to the cooling rate. At a cooling rate of 0.033 °C/min, SCPs ranged from -28.4 to -22.9 °C and, at 1 °C/min, from -29.2 to -24.7 °C. If supercooling points reflect lethal temperatures for <i>L. delicatula</i>, relatively rapid cooling may slightly overestimate the cold tolerance of the insect and inflate the estimated geographic area where overwintering might be successful. Such risk-averse forecasts may be useful for biosecurity efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1916560"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13518334/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148842664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting elongation factor 2 in <i>Anopheles gambiae</i>: molecular insights and implications for malaria vector control.","authors":"Adebanke E Ogundipe, Fabrice B Kernyuy, Titilope M Dokunmu, Emeka E Iweala, Olubanke O Ogunlana","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1869625","DOIUrl":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1869625","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria remains one of the most devastating infectious diseases globally, with <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> serving as the principal vector across sub-Saharan Africa. The effectiveness of traditional vector control methods is currently under threat due to the rapid rise of pesticide resistance, which calls for the discovery of new molecular targets. The GTP-dependent GTPase known as Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (EF-2; encoded by AGAP009441 in <i>An. gambiae</i>) is essential for cellular viability because it catalyzes the translocation stage of ribosomal protein production. EF-2 was identified as an important gene in An. gambiae by machine learning-based computational screening, and RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown experimentally verified that EF-2 silencing dramatically shortens mosquito longevity (p < 0.0001). Despite the fact that EF-2 and its human homolog share about 79% of the same protein sequence, species-specific structural characteristics may provide opportunities for selective targeting. Additionally, a comparative dN/dS analysis was carried out on EF-2 across <i>Anopheles</i> species using the HyPhy Datamonkey platform. The dN/dS results revealed high evolutionary conservation (ω = 0.0198) and are consistent with purifying selection, but not with positive selection. The current understanding of EF-2 biology, its validation as a vector control target, suitable intervention modalities like RNA interference and small-molecule inhibition, and the major issues of selectivity, delivery, and ecological safety that need to be resolved prior to translational application are all summarized in this review. EF-2 is a promising but understudied contender whose complete potential in integrated malaria vector control necessitates immediate and ongoing research.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1869625"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13519973/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148842648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization and typology of beekeeping systems: a case study in the district of Tamburco, Apurímac, Peru.","authors":"Alex Ñahui-Sayago, Delmer Zea Gonzales, Rutniss Alecy Vasquez-Onzueta, Nilton César Gómez Urviola, José Américo Saucedo-Uriarte, Lizeth A Heredia-Vilchez","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1869943","DOIUrl":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1869943","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Beekeeping in rural regions of Peru presents considerable heterogeneity in technification and productivity, which may limit its development. This study aimed to characterize beekeeping systems and identify producer typologies associated with productive characteristics in the district of Tamburco, Apurímac, Peru.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using a census sample of 34 active beekeepers. Data were collected through a structured and validated questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, exploratory hierarchical cluster analysis, association tests, correlation analysis, and complementary multivariate analyses based on FAMD and HCPC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The multivariate analyses identified distinct beekeeper typologies that differed in production scale, educational level, technification, and access to training. Significant associations were observed between cluster structure and several productive and sociodemographic variables, while beekeeping experience was positively associated with production scale.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Overall, the identified typologies were primarily associated with differences in production scale, technological level, and access to training. These findings may help guide extension and training strategies for beekeepers in Tamburco. Given the relatively small sample size and the cross-sectional design, the findings should be interpreted as exploratory and require validation in larger and geographically diverse populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1869943"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13504388/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal dynamics of honey bee pathogens and <i>Varroa destructor</i> infestation in South Korea: results from a National Active Surveillance Program.","authors":"Jang-Hyeon Kim, Se-Ji Lee, Ji-Yeon Kim, Mi-Sun Yoo, So Youn Youn, Yun Sang Cho, Hyang-Sim Lee","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1891174","DOIUrl":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1891174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Honey bee colony losses are an increasing global concern, yet nationwide pathogen-resolved surveillance data integrating molecular diagnostics with field-based mite monitoring remain limited. This study presents the first national active surveillance program for honey bee diseases in South Korea, combining standardized field inspections with RT-qPCR-based pathogen detection. A total of 1,715 samples were collected from 107 apiaries during three seasonal surveillance rounds in 2025: Round 1 (post-overwintering; March-May), Round 2 (post-honey-harvest; July-August), and Round 3 (pre-overwintering; October-November). Both <i>Apis mellifera</i> and <i>Apis cerana</i> colonies were included in the analysis. Fourteen target honey bee pathogens were screened using RT-qPCR assays (Ct ≤ 35), and <i>Varroa destructor</i> infestation status in <i>A. mellifera</i> apiaries was evaluated through brood inspection or powdered-sugar roll testing depending on seasonal field conditions. DWV prevalence increased progressively from 70.1% in Round 1 (post-overwintering) to 90.4% in Round 2 (post-honey-harvest) and 97.0% in Round 3 (pre-overwintering), coinciding with increasing <i>Varroa</i> detection in <i>A. mellifera</i> apiaries (28.1%, 85.4%, and 87.9%, respectively). Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) also increased progressively across the three surveillance rounds (18.3%, 40.1%, and 47.7%). In contrast, black queen cell virus (BQCV), sacbrood virus (SBV), <i>Vairimorpha</i> spp. (formerly <i>Nosema</i> spp.), and chalkbrood showed declining trends toward autumn. Co-infection patterns shifted seasonally. Although the mean number of detected pathogens per sample decreased from 2.76 to 2.02, co-detection of DWV and IAPV increased markedly from 15.3% to 47.0%. In <i>A. cerana</i> apiaries, SBV remained highly prevalent throughout the surveillance rounds. These findings indicate that the late-season expansion of the <i>Varroa</i>-DWV-IAPV complex represents a major epidemiological feature of Korean apiculture and coincides with the critical period of winter-bee production. This nationwide surveillance framework provides an evidence-based foundation for seasonal honey bee disease management and optimized timing of <i>Varroa</i> control interventions in temperate apicultural systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1891174"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13503378/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential for gene silencing by piwi-interacting RNA in three lepidopterans.","authors":"Santosh Poudel, Kevin Quito, Mosharrof Mondal, Kiran Nawaz, William Benjamin Walker, Alex Sutton Flynt","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1869174","DOIUrl":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1869174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising strategy for insect pest control, yet its application in lepidopterans is hindered by insensitivity to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Here, we investigate the piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway as an alternative, mechanistically distinct gene silencing system in <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, <i>Plutella xylostella</i>, and <i>Cydia pomonella</i>. Small RNA profiling revealed that piRNAs (26-30nt) are the predominant class across all species, marked by strong ping-pong signatures and extensive genomic distribution. Notably, abundant somatic expression, including in gut tissues, indicates that ubiquitous, endogenous piRNA populations may be able to initiate processing of exogenous RNA substrates. To test this possibility, synthetic piRNA-trigger constructs were found to induce gene silencing in Sf9 cells. Further, this approach to gene silencing offers opportunities for nucleic acid engineering, which we demonstrate by incorporating G-quadruplex structures that can enhance RNA stability. Together, these findings establish piRNAs as the dominant small RNA pathway in these lepidopterans and provide a mechanistic and design framework for next-generation RNA-based biopesticides.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1869174"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13501171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148815381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Checklist of edible insects and their marketability: improving rural livelihood in Imo State, Nigeria via insect consumption and marketing.","authors":"John I Iwunze, Bertram E B Nwoke, Micheal O Nwachukwu, Venatius C S Ubah, Gerald M Ugagu, Nnedinma N Nnodim, Murphy C Nwoke, Ozioma P Ugwuegbulam, Chizoba Chidera Amaechi, Onyinyechi C Ndubueze, Samuel M Dadi, Kelechi K Okwara, Gospel U Nzewuihe, Udoaku C Egbe, Williams Nongu, Onyinyechi G John, Goodluck E Alisi","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1856335","DOIUrl":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1856335","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The consumption of edible insects (EIs) as food has been a long tradition for some populations worldwide. They are sold in markets found in the rural and urban areas of Imo State, Nigeria. Data on the economic value, marketing, and utilization of EIs are limited, particularly in Southeast Nigeria where the study was conducted. This study is necessary for the provision of data on effective marketing and utilization of EIs in order to determine their sustainability in relation to the current market system.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study investigated the marketability of some EIs as a means of improving rural livelihood in Imo State, Nigeria. Data were collected using structured and validated questionnaires administered interpersonally to 60 respondents/EI marketers in the selected markets. Descriptive and inferential methods were employed in data analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study revealed that four species of EIs were sold: <i>Macrotermes</i> species (35.0%), <i>Gonimbrasia belina</i> (30.0%), <i>Rhynchophorus</i> species (25.0%), and <i>Anaphae</i> species (10.0%), with more than one species sold by marketers (43.8%). EIs were primarily obtained from the wild (68.3%) and were sold mainly for consumption (91.7%); marketing is dominated by women (91.7%). The supply of insects is irregular and seasonality is a major constraint (51.7%). <i>Macrotermes</i> species (termites) had the highest significant mean quality per marketer (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There was a significant difference in mean quality per marketer of <i>G. belina</i>, <i>Rhynchophorus</i>, and <i>Anaphae</i> species (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The study concluded that EI marketing is a promising venture that needs attention. Policy intervention that will facilitate mass production/domestication of EIs and modern technical skills on harvesting is recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1856335"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13494698/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148804355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Banana aphid, <i>Pentalonia nigronervosa</i> (Hemiptera: Aphididae): ecology and implications for the integrated management of banana bunchy top disease.","authors":"Geofrey Ogwal, Walter Ocimati, Elizabeth Kearsley, Guy Blomme","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1883891","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2026.1883891","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Banana bunchy top disease (BBTD), caused by the banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), poses a growing threat to banana production in Africa and is spread locally by the banana aphid, <i>Pentalonia nigronervosa</i>. Effective BBTD management requires better understanding of aphid habitat, dispersal, response to farm operations, and practical aphid vector and disease control options.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study integrated field assessments, field experiments, and a laboratory trial in Uganda to characterize aphid ecology and refine integrated pest and disease management.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Aphids were highly cryptic, occurring mainly between leaf sheaths and on lower and middle pseudostem sections. Though winged aphids were mostly associated with larger aphid colonies they occurred across all colony sizes, indicating that even small colonies may contribute to BBTV spread. Sticky traps showed winged aphids to actively disperse throughout fields, with flights often extending beyond adjacent mats. Mechanical disturbance, simulating farm activities such as de-trashing and roguing, strongly increased movement of both winged and wingless aphids and occasionally flight, which could potentially increase BBTV transmission risk in case aphids are viruliferous. Aphids persisted on cut and disposed pseudostem pieces, especially under shaded conditions, but not on corms. In laboratory assays, aphids preferred leaf tissue, although field colonies were mainly pseudostem-associated. Spraying with a 1% laundry soap solution rapidly reduced both winged and wingless aphid populations within 30 minutes to two hours, with populations remaining low for up to two weeks on de-trashed plants.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings show that BBTD management should target hidden pseudostem colonies, minimize aphid dispersal during plant disturbance, apply soap spray before or immediately after de-trashing infected plants or infected mat removal, and rapidly bury infected pseudostems and leaves while drying corm pieces separately. The study provides practical refinements for smallholder-oriented BBTD integrated management.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1883891"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13488419/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148804316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of CPP and LDH nanocarriers for dsRNA efficiency in <i>Brassicogethes aeneus</i>.","authors":"Triin Kallavus, Ly Porosk, Liina Soonvald, Apurva Vikas Sabnis, Silva Vilumets, Riina Kaasik, Jonathan Willow, Clauvis Nji Tizi Taning, Kristof De Schutter, Margus Pooga, Eve Veromann","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1872725","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2026.1872725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluates two nanocarrier systems, clay-based magnesium-aluminum layered double hydroxide (MgAl-LDH) and the cell-penetrating peptide PepFect14 (PF14), for delivering double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting the <i>αCOP</i> gene in <i>Brassicogethes aeneus</i>. Both carriers successfully formed stable complexes and protected dsRNA from degradation under simulated gut conditions. PF14 produced small, uniform nanoparticles (<120 nm), whereas MgAl-LDH generated substantially larger particles (~416 nm), potentially limiting cellular uptake. Feeding assays revealed that naked dsRNA caused high mortality (93% by day 12), while PF14-complexed dsRNA induced substantial mortality (70%) with a delayed onset. In contrast, MgAl-LDH-complexed dsRNA achieved only 22% mortality despite providing strong protection against degradation. mRNA expression analysis at day 3 and 6 showed moderate, statistically insignificant early <i>αCOP</i> downregulation, consistent with delayed intracellular processing. At higher concentrations (600 ng/µL), naked dsRNA strongly suppressed <i>αCOP</i> transcripts (100%), whereas MgAl-LDH complexes produced only modest knockdown (63.6%). Overall, these findings suggest that while MgAl-LDH offer robust dsRNA stabilization, its delivery efficiency may be constrained by particle size and gut physiology. PF14 demonstrates promise as a carrier enabling sustained delivery with delayed onset, whereas MgAl-LDH requires higher dsRNA doses to achieve comparable effects. Carrier selection should balance dsRNA stability with timely release and account for species-specific gut barriers to optimize RNAi-based pest control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1872725"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13481716/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148804426","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expression and RNAi characterization of neuropeptides underlying developmental regulation in the Colorado potato beetle.","authors":"Emma E Terris, Sophie M Verkoulen, Russell L Groves, Steven Moen, Sean D Schoville, Morgan Weissner, Umut Toprak","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1862257","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2026.1862257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuropeptides are evolutionarily ancient signaling molecules that act through diverse G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways to coordinate essential physiological and behavioral processes in insects. Despite their broad functional importance, the specific roles, receptor interactions, and regulatory mechanisms of individual neuropeptides remain underexplored, limiting our understanding of how these signaling systems operate across developmental and physiological contexts. In this study, we characterized transcript expression of five functionally diverse neuropeptides and one GPCR across <i>Leptinotarsa decemlineata</i> (Colorado potato beetle) tissues and life stages and subsequently knocked down the glycoprotein hormone subunit alpha 2 (GPA2) and its cognate receptor with glycoprotein hormone subunit beta 5 (GPB5), leucine-rich repeat-containing GPCR 1 (LGR1), for phenotypic investigation. Expression analyses revealed broad and tissue-specific variation among neuropeptides across developmental stages. No significant patterns in mortality, larval weight, or defoliation were detected following dsRNA-mediated knockdown of GPA2 or LGR1 via injection, though in the feeding trial third instar larvae given LGR1 dsRNA weighed significantly more and showed reduced defoliation rates compared the control. State-transition modeling identified significant effects of GPA2 and LGR1 knockdown on developmental timing, specifically during pupal-adult and larval-pupal-adult transitions, respectively, with time in life stage emerging as a key predictor of overall survival. These findings suggest a potential hormonal role for the GPA2-LGR1 signaling system in regulating developmental progression and stabilizing life-stage transitions in <i>L. decemlineata.</i></p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1862257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13478068/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148804382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular monitoring and multiplex qPCR-based detection of <i>Cydia pomonella</i> and <i>Grapholita molesta</i> in apple orchards of Kazakhstan.","authors":"Alibek Makhambetov, Valeriya Kostyukova, Bakyt Dulat, Zarina Dairbekova, Gulnur Zholdasbek, Kairova Gulshariya, Marina Khusnitdinova, Abay Sagitov, Dilyara Gritsenko","doi":"10.3389/finsc.2026.1897268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2026.1897268","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Apple production in Kazakhstan is highly vulnerable to damage caused by fruit-infesting tortricid pests, particularly codling moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Accurate and rapid species identification is essential for effective pest management and phytosanitary monitoring in apple orchards.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Field surveys were conducted in apple orchards of southern and southeastern Kazakhstan to investigate the codling moth complex. Collected specimens were identified morphologically and confirmed by sequencing a mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region. Comparative COI sequence analysis was used to develop a multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay employing Minor Groove Binder hydrolysis probes for simultaneous detection and differentiation of <i>Cydia pomonella</i> and <i>Grapholita molesta</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Field surveys identified <i>C. pomonella</i> and <i>G. molesta</i>, with <i>C. pomonella</i> accounting for 83.3% of collected specimens. COI sequencing enabled reliable discrimination between the two species. The multiplex assay demonstrated high specificity, produced no false-positive amplification in non-target species, and achieved 100% detection down to 5 pg DNA per reaction.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The developed COI-based multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay provides a rapid, sensitive, and reliable tool for simultaneous identification of <i>C. pomonella</i> and <i>G. molesta</i>. It is suitable for phytosanitary monitoring, early detection, and management of quarantine-relevant tortricid pests in Kazakhstan.</p>","PeriodicalId":517424,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in insect science","volume":"6 ","pages":"1897268"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13473341/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148763143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}