{"title":"Antibiotic treatment eliminated Wolbachia in Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and prolonged tonic immobility duration in later generations","authors":"Kohei Nakao, Takuto Sumi, Kentarou Matsumura","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00915-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00915-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Based on previous studies, parasites manipulate host behavior. In particular, <i>Wolbachia</i> has often been shown to manipulate the life history and reproductive traits of the host. <i>Wolbachia</i> is generally transmitted vertically in the maternal line of host populations, but it can also be transmitted horizontally from infected prey to predators. Hence, <i>Wolbachia</i> may manipulate its hosts to increase their predation risk. Nevertheless, the impact of <i>Wolbachia</i> infection on the predator avoidance behavior of the host remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of <i>Wolbachia</i> removal on tonic immobility as their antipredator behavior in <i>Tribolium confusum</i> Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), which is known to be infected by <i>Wolbachia</i>. Results indicated that the duration of the tonic immobility of <i>T. confusum</i> remarkably increased after <i>Wolbachia</i> removal. This study is the first to reveal that antibiotic treatment of <i>T. confusum</i> can prolong tonic immobility duration in its later generations, which may result from host manipulation to increase the probability of the horizontal transmission of <i>Wolbachia</i>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"249 - 255"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145145581","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":"Growth performance and gene expression analyses reveal the viability of tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima as diet for the eri silkworm, Samia ricini (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)","authors":"Mohammed Muzeruddin Baig, Tsuneyuki Tatsuke, Kotaro Konno, Chikara Hirayama, Isao Kobayashi, Shuichiro Tomita","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00914-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00914-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The generalist feeding habit of the eri silkworm, <i>Samia ricini</i> (Donovan) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) enables it to utilize a wide range of host plants with diverse phytochemical compositions, has made understanding its dietary preferences and adaptations complex. In this study, we evaluated the phenotypic responses of the yellow plain strain of <i>S. ricini</i> reared on four diets: castor (<i>Ricinus communis</i>), cassava (<i>Manihot esculenta</i>), tree of heaven (<i>Ailanthus altissima</i>), and the artificial diet Silkmate L4M. Our results demonstrated that diet was the most influential factor shaping phenotypic traits, with additional influences from sex and season, highlighting the complex interplay of these factors in determining eri silkworm life-history characteristics. <i>S. ricini</i> performed best when reared solely on castor when compared with other diets, reinforcing its status as the primary diet. To circumvent suboptimal performance provided by <i>A. altissima</i>, we shifted larvae from castor to <i>A. altissima</i> at the fifth instar and observed minimal compromise in survivability, suggesting a commercially viable strategy and broader diet options for eri silkworm by utilizing this plant. Transcriptomic analysis of fifth instar larvae fed on castor showed significant enrichment in gene pathways associated with metabolic activity, whereas larvae fed on <i>A. altissima</i> or cassava exhibited reduced expression in pathways related to lipid and energy metabolism, correlating with their lower performance and survivability. Our results support the strategic integration of <i>A. altissima</i> to enhance sustainability and facilitate extended eri silkworm rearing seasons, particularly in temperate regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"211 - 220"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145144850","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}
Hideto Yoshimura, Yusuke Tsushima, Ken Tabuchi, Yusuke Masuya
{"title":"Estimating the potential distribution in the invasive chrysanthemum lace bug, Corythucha marmorata (Hemiptera: Tingidae), in northern Japan based on vegetation and meteorological factors","authors":"Hideto Yoshimura, Yusuke Tsushima, Ken Tabuchi, Yusuke Masuya","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00912-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00912-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The chrysanthemum lace bug, <i>Corythucha marmorata</i> (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), is an invasive agricultural pest. A logistic regression model to estimate the distribution of <i>C. marmorata</i> was developed based on both vegetation and meteorological information, and the potential distribution area was mapped for effective pest management in northern Honshu Island, Japan. Deciduous broadleaf forests and urban areas had significant negative and positive effects, respectively, and no interaction was statistically significant between vegetation and meteorological information on the probability of presence. Comparing the degree of influence between variables indicated that their distribution was limited mainly by vegetation rather than the average daily minimum temperatures in January, probably related to the environment for establishing the major host plant, tall goldenrod <i>Solidago altissima</i> L. (Asterales: Asteraceae). The accuracy of the prediction model was 65.2% and indicated that the surveyed area included both established and progressive invasion areas. The accuracy dramatically improved in the established area (94.4%) but declined in the progressing area (34.3%). The percentage of data correctly predicted as present was 98.8%, whereas the specificity of the percentage of absent data correctly predicted as absent was 11.3%. Based on the valuation index results, our model could estimate the presence of <i>C. marmorata</i> with high reliability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"241 - 247"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145142302","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}
Natsuki Hashimoto, Eizi Yano, Takahito Watanabe, Lia Hemerik, Ikuo Kandori
{"title":"Voracity of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) for Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and its functional response to the density of B. tabaci","authors":"Natsuki Hashimoto, Eizi Yano, Takahito Watanabe, Lia Hemerik, Ikuo Kandori","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00911-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00911-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a zoophytophagous mirid predator that has recently been commercialised for augmentation biological control in Japanese greenhouses. This predator species is expected to control both <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and <i>Thrips palmi</i> Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on vegetables grown in greenhouses throughout Japan. Studies on the predatory efficacy of <i>N. tenuis</i> are essential for assessing the effectiveness in terms of biological control in greenhouses. The voracity (the daily maximum predation) of <i>N. tenuis</i> for <i>B. tabaci</i> and <i>T. palmi</i> of different stages and the functional response to the density of <i>B. tabaci</i> nymphs were assessed in a controlled environment. <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> nymphs and females exhibited high voracity for both <i>B. tabaci</i> nymphs and <i>T. palmi</i> larvae. Females reached peak voracity at 462.4 ± 72.8 on <i>B. tabaci</i> first-/second-instar nymphs. The voracity of <i>N. tenuis</i> nymphs increased with the development and that of fifth instar nymphs were not significantly different from females. <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> females reached peak voracity (61.9 ± 5.2) on <i>T. palmi</i> second-instar larvae and both the fourth-instar nymphs and females of <i>N. tenuis</i> showed higher voracity for <i>T. palmi</i> second-instar larvae than for <i>T. palmi</i> adults. Moreover, the <i>N. tenuis</i> females exhibited a type III functional response to the density of <i>B. tabaci</i> first-/second-instar nymphs. The voracity and the functional response will be used as input to a prey–predator models for the quantitative evaluation of biological control by <i>N. tenuis</i> in greenhouses.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"201 - 209"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145142295","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":"Plant preference of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) between tomato and a banker plant, Cleome hassleriana","authors":"Ryohei Nakano, Takayuki Mitsunaga, Tetsuya Adachi-Hagimori","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00910-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00910-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The zoophytophagous mirid <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important biological control agent that primarily acts against small insect pests of tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L., Solanales: Solanaceae). In Japan, biological control programs in vegetable greenhouses are primarily implemented using <i>N. tenuis</i> and cleome (<i>Cleome hassleriana</i> Chod., Brassicales: Cleomaceae), which is a suitable banker plant for maintaining this mirid. However, the preference of <i>N. tenuis</i> for crop or banker plant remains unclear. Here, we assayed the plant preference of <i>N. tenuis</i> between tomato and cleome using three colonies—individuals reproduced on <i>Crassula ovata</i> (Mill.) Druce (Saxifragales: Crassulaceae), tomato, and cleome. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of temporary (24 h) plant experience on the preference of <i>N. tenuis</i>. The plant preference was assayed by a dual-choice test using potted plants. The results showed that individuals reproduced on <i>C. ovata</i> showed equal preference for tomato and cleome, suggesting that <i>N. tenuis</i> has no innate preference for either of these plants. In contrast, individuals reproduced on tomato or cleome had a strong preference for the plant species on which they were grown. Furthermore, individuals who were temporarily exposed to a plant were more likely to prefer that plant. Our findings demonstrate that the preference of <i>N. tenuis</i> between tomato and cleome changes reversibly through learning, indicating that plant preference may be artificially manipulated. This study can help develop effective release strategies for <i>N. tenuis</i>, leading to improved banker plant systems for biological control.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"191 - 199"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145145549","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":"Interspecific differences in the abdominal hair and mid-tibial traits are likely determined by a single locus in Ostrinia moths (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)","authors":"Tomohiro Muro, Takeshi Fujii, Susumu Katsuma","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00907-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00907-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Ostrinia</i> Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a moth genus that includes major agricultural pests and has been used as a model for studies such as chemical ecology and reproductive manipulation by its symbionts. The presence or absence of abdominal hair tufts and the morphology of the mid tibiae (small, medium, or large) in males both represent major interspecific and intraspecific differences in this genus. In this study, we generated hybrids between two <i>Ostrinia</i> species (<i>O</i>. <i>furnacalis</i> and <i>O</i>. <i>scapulalis</i>) with different abdominal hair and mid-tibial phenotypes to explore their hereditary modes. The ratios of abdominal hair phenotypes in F2 and backcrossed individuals indicated that a single dominant locus on an autosome determines the presence of abdominal tufts in males. After 23 rounds of backcrossing to <i>O</i>. <i>furnacalis</i> (lacking abdominal tufts), where only individuals with abdominal tufts were selected as male parents in each generation, males with abdominal tufts also exhibited enlarged, grooved mid tibiae, whereas those without abdominal tufts did not. According to these results, the two traits are most likely governed by the same locus, or tightly linked genomic regions, in <i>Ostrinia</i> moths. This study is the first to clarify the genetic association between abdominal hair and mid-tibial traits, thus providing insights into understanding the evolution of a male-specific novelty in the genus.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"183 - 190"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13355-025-00907-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145142035","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":"Mesenetia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility in the coconut hispine beetle in Japan","authors":"Rambandage Nadeeka Nirmalee Perera, Shun-ichiro Takano","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00908-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00908-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Some maternally inherited endosymbionts are known to cause Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), in which uninfected females cannot or seldom produce offspring by mating with infected males. Mortality by CI may vary depending on the bacterial strain, the host’s genotype, or the host’s age. <i>Mesenetia</i> is an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont infecting the coconut hispine beetle <i>Brontispa longissima</i> (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a serious pest of the coconut palm. This bacterium was discovered in the Pacific clade <i>B. longissima</i>, which causes 100% CI mortality. The <i>Mesenetia</i> infection in the other Asian clade, which is considered more invasive than the Pacific clade, was then discovered; however, the CI was unknown. We investigated the CI ability of <i>Mesenetia</i> infecting the Asian clade using different ages of hosts originally collected in Japan. The effects of the host’s age on bacterial density were also investigated with qPCR. The results of crossing tests showed that infected males caused CI with approximately 70% mortality with uninfected females in all age groups: 21–30, 30–40, 60–70, or 90–100-day-old males. CI mortality did not differ among the males’ ages. Infected females rescued CI caused by infected males in all age groups: 15–20, 30–40, 60–70, or 90–100-day-old females. Results of qPCR showed that, in males, bacterial density did not diverge according to age in the testis, hindleg, foregut, midgut, and hindgut. In females, aged insects tended to have higher bacterial density than younger ones in the ovary and, to a lesser extent, in the hindgut.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"233 - 239"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145145337","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":"Feeding preference of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) between Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Thrips palmi (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)","authors":"Natsuki Hashimoto, Eizi Yano, Ikuo Kandori","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00906-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00906-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Mirid bugs include polyphagous predators, which are used for augmentative biological control in the greenhouses to manage whiteflies, thrips and lepidopteran pests around the world. <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), which is indigenous to Japan, has recently been commercialised to control whiteflies and thrips. This predator species is expected to control both <i>Bemisia tabaci</i> (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and <i>Thrips palmi</i> Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on greenhouse-grown cucumbers in Japan. To examine the suppressive effects of <i>N. tenuis</i> against these two pest species, occurring in cucumbers, it is essential to clarify the prey selection between them. In this study, we examined the preference of <i>N. tenuis</i> between <i>B. tabaci</i> and <i>T. palmi</i> on cucumber leaf discs under controlled conditions. <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> female adults preferred <i>T. palmi</i> larvae over <i>B. tabaci</i> nymphs. Preference for <i>T. palmi</i> larvae was weakest when the density ratio of <i>B. tabaci</i> to <i>T. palmi</i> presented to the <i>N. tenuis</i> female was highest. Neither the nymphal developmental stage of <i>B. tabaci,</i> nor predation experience in either prey species prior to the experiment, significantly affected prey selection. <i>Nesidiocoris tenuis</i> has excellent predatory characteristics for the control of <i>T. palmi</i> when it co-occurs with <i>B. tabaci</i> on cucumbers in greenhouses.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"171 - 178"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145143424","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":"Utilization of floral rewards in male of long-horned bee throughout their lives","authors":"Yuta Nagano, Naoto Wabiko, Tomoyuki Yokoi","doi":"10.1007/s13355-025-00905-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13355-025-00905-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Male solitary bees visit flowers and forage for floral resources (pollen and/or nectar), similar to females. However, little is known about the use of floral resources during this activity. In the present study, we focused on the solitary bee species <i>Eucera spurcatipes</i> Pérez, 1905 (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and investigated whether male individuals of any age continuously feed on floral resources throughout their lives. We collected males visiting red clover flowers from April to May. Wing-wear was used as an indicator of age, and the collected specimens were dissected to differentiate between feeding conditions. Wing-wear stages were positively related to the sampling period. Most individuals fed on nectar, and more than half fed on pollen. The proportion of pollen feeders was not related to age, whereas that of nectar feeders was significantly related to age. Our results suggest that males use pollen and nectar throughout most of their lifetimes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8551,"journal":{"name":"Applied Entomology and Zoology","volume":"60 3","pages":"229 - 232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145143385","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}