【Aim】Apterous (Ap) is a developmental regulatory protein belonging to the LIM domain family. This study aims to elucidate the role of the Ap gene in the wing development of the white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera. 【Methods】 Based on the genome and transcriptome databases of S. furcifera, the cDNA sequence of SfAp was verified by RT-PCR and subjected to bioinformatic analysis. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of SfAp in different developmental stages (1st－5th instar nymphs, and female and male adults) and various adult tissues (head, thorax, abdomen, leg, wing, integument, fat body and gut) of S. furcifera. The growth and development of S. furcifera were observed after silencing SfAp in the 3rd instar nymphs using RNAi, and the survival rate, total mortality rate, and wing deformity rate after RNAi were counted, while the expression levels of the key genes involved in wing development signaling pathways (bursicon genes SfBurs-α and SfBurs-β, Hippo signaling pathway genes SfHippo and SfSal, Wnt signaling pathway gene SfWg, Hedgehog signaling pathway genes SfHh and SfDpp, and SfHOW) were measured using RT-qPCR. 【Results】 The open reading frame of SfAp (GenBank accession no.: PP901867) of S. furcifera was cloned, with the length of 1 287 bp encoding a protein of 428 amino acids. The encoded protein has the predicted molecular weight of 47.41 kD and the theoretical isoelectric point of 8.99. SfAp has the conserved typical LIM domain. SfAp was closely related to NlAp of Nilaparvata lugens, and their amino acid sequence identity was 84.86%. Developmental expression profile result revealed that SfAp exhibited high expression levels before the 4th instar nymph followed by a gradual decline, a significant increase on the 3rd day of the 5th instar nymph, and a subsequent decrease after adult eclosion. Tissue expression profile result showed that the expression level of SfAp in the adult thorax was the highest, followed by those in the abdomen, fat body, and gut. Microinjection of dsSfAp resulted in the impaired wing extension and wing deformation of the eclosed adults, and significantly suppressed the expression of the wing development-related genes SfBurs-α, SfBurs-β, SfHippo, SfSal, SfWg, SfHh, SfDpp and SfHOW. 【Conclusion】 SfAp influences wing expansion and development of S. furcifera by modulating the expression levels of the key genes involved in the wing development signaling pathway.

 【Aim】 Apolipoprotein D (ApoD) is an extracellular protein involved in various biological functions, including metabolism, tissue development, immunity and antioxidation. It serves as a crucial molecular basis for anti-aging and lifespan extension. This study aims to elucidate the duplication and expansion extent, and phylogenesis of ApoD genes in the genomes of spider mites and explore the impact of multifunctional ApoD genes on the longevity and reproduction of Tetranychus urticae.【Methods】 A combined approach utilizing BLASTP, HMMER, TBLASTN and GEMOMA was employed to identify the members of the ApoD gene family in the genomes of Aculops lycopersici, Tetranychus truncatus and T. urticae. The phylogenetic tree of ApoDs from bacteria, fungi, plants, mammals, insects, gall mites and spider mites was constructed with the maximum likelihood method. Based on the expression profiles of the ApoD family genes of T. urticae in different developmental stages (egg, nymph, 1-day-old female adult and 5-day-old female adult) and nymphs or adults on different host plants (bean, Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato, eggplant, cotton and cucumber), four genes (ApoDR2, ApoD9, ApoD17 and ApoD24) were selected for further RNAi. The RNAi of ApoDR2, ApoD9, ApoD17, and ApoD24 in the newly molted adult females was conducted through immersion in dsRNA, and the survival rate and the daily average number of eggs laid per female within 10 d were monitored. 【Results】 A total of 68 ApoD genes in the T. urticae genome were identified. There were 33 of 68 ApoD genes in the closely related T. truncatus and one in A. lycopersici. Outside the Tetranychidae family, organisms typically possessed 1-10 ApoD genes. Phylogenetic analysis result revealed that the ApoD gene family in spider mites clustered into three major clades, aligning with lipid transport protein genes of insects, gall mites and fungi, respectively. The expanded ApoD lineage of spider mites exhibited multiple unique conserved sites shared with fungal ApoD genes, and the maximum likelihood tree suggested a close evolutionary relationship between them. Most of these ApoD genes exhibited high expression levels in nymph and adult and displayed diverse expression regulation patterns in T. urticae fed on different host plants. The silencing of ApoDR2 and ApoD9 showed no significant impact on the fitness of T. urticae, while the silencing of ApoD17 and ApoD24 significantly reduced the survival rate and daily average number of eggs laid per female of T. urticae, with the silencing of ApoD17 exhibiting greater effects on the survival rate and daily average number of eggs laid per female withing 10 d compared with the control. 【Conclusion】 The ApoD genes, likely acquired from fungal horizontal transfer, underwent substantial expansion in the genomes of spider mites, showing varying degrees of impacts on the longevity and reproduction of T. urticae. However, the multifunctionality of ApoD genes in spider mites requires further investigation.

 Invasive alien insects, as dangerous pests in newly introduced areas, present challenges such as delayed detection, difficult monitoring, rapid outbreaks and incomplete eradication. These issues have long been the emphases and difficulties in the field of biosecurity worldwide. In this article, we made an overview of the major progress in the studies on the mechanisms of population outbreak and causing disaster, monitoring and early warning technologies, and control measures for invasive alien insects in China. We also summarized and introduced the main contents of this special issue from three aspects: The researches on population dynamics monitoring, mechanisms of insect resistance, and green control technologies for pest insects. Finally, we prospected the development trends of standardization, informatization, intelligence, and greening of monitoring and control of invasive alien insects in the future, and proposed the key directions for future control and management strategies for these pests, in order to promote more efficient, integrated and sustainable control approaches through technological innovation.

【Aim】 To clone the odorant receptor (OR) gene HvarOR21 highly expressed in the antennae of the variegated lady beetle, Hippodamia variegata and clarify the ligand binding characteristics of HvarOR21, so as to provide a theoretical basis for revealing the recognition mechanism of the localization of prey habitats for H. variegata. 【Methods】 Based on the adult antennal transcriptome sequencing data and the identification results of odorant receptors of H. variegata, the cDNA sequence of HvarOR21 with a complete open reading frame (ORF) was cloned using PCR. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence analysis were used to study the classification and sequence structure characteristics of HvarOR21, respectively. Through the heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes coupled with two-electrode voltage clamp recording, the electrophysiological responses of the recombinant HvarOR21 to 66 candidate odorant compounds were determined. Using homology modeling and molecular docking simulation analysis, the binding sites between HvarOR21 and decanal were predicted. 【Results】 The full-length cDNA sequence of HvarOR21 (GenBank accession no.: PP236119) of H. variegata was cloned and the deduced protein has seven transmembrane domains with an intracellular N-terminus and an extracellular C-terminus, which conforms to the typical structure of insect odorant receptors, belonging to the coleopteran OR group 5 subfamily. The recombinant HvarOR21 specifically tuned to decanal in a dose-dependent manner. HvarOR21 bound multiple amino acid residues with decanal through hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals forces, with the binding energy of －22.18 kJ/mol.【Conclusion】 Decanal is a volatile compound emitted from cotton plants infested by Aphis gossypii. HvarOR21 has a specific electrophysiological response to decanal with strong binding affinity, suggesting that HvarOR21 plays an important role in the localization of prey habitats for H. variegata.

【Aim】The aim of this study is to clarify the level of the field-evolved resistance of Tuta absoluta to spinetoram and its potential resistance risk, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the rational use of spinetoram to control T. absoluta and slowing development of its resistance to spinetoram. 【Methods】 The leaf-dipping method was used to determine the resistance levels of 18 field populations of T. absoluta collected from five provinces (municipalities or autonomous regions) in northern China to spinetoram. To assess the resistance risk of T. absoluta to spinetoram, 10-generation consecutive selections with spinetoram were carried out in the spinetoram-susceptible strain of T. absoluta via the leaf-dipping method. After that, the realized heritability (h²) of resistance was calculated using Tabashnik’s method for threhold trait agalysis, and the resistance development rates under different selection pressures were predicted based on the data of selection. 【Results】 Among the 18 field populations of T. absoluta, three populations including the populations from Miyun and Huairou in Beijing, and Baotou in Inner Mongolia, exhibited low-level resistance to spinetoram, with the resistance ratios of 6.7, 6.0 and 7.1, respectively. On the other hand, the other 15 populations of T. absoluta were susceptible to spinetoram. After 10-generation consecutive selections with spinetoram, T. absoluta developed 8.9-fold resistance to spinetoram, with the h2 of 0.1973. It was predicted that under different selection pressures (mortality=50%, 60%, 70%, 80% and 90%), T. absoluta needed 11.56, 9.50, 7.92, 6.60 and 5.23 generations, respectively, to develop 10-fold resistance to spinetoram, and 23.12, 18.99, 1583, 13.19 and 10.47 generations, respectively, to develop 100-fold resistance to spinetoram. 【Conclusion】 Due to the risk of T. absoluta developing resistance to spinetoram, it is essential to strengthen insecticide management in the field and emphasize the rotation with alternative types of insecticides to prolong the lifecycle of this insecticide.

【Aim】 Previous study found that the overexpression of CYP6AY3v2 and CYP439A1v3 in deltamethrin-resistant strain JH-del of Laodelphax striatellus is the main mechanism of deltamethrin resistance of L. striatellus. The aim of this study is to clarify the mechanism of up-regulated expression of CYP6AY3v2 and CYP439A1v3 in L. striatellus and to reveal the regulatory signal pathways. 【Methods】 The expression levels of long wavelength-sensitive opsin (LOW) gene LWO of the G proteincoupled receptor (GPCR) family A in the 4th instar nymphs of the deltamethrin-resistant strain JHdel and the sensitive strain JHS of L. striatellus were detected by quantitative PCR. RNAi and Bupivacaine HCL were used to interfere with LWO/AC/cAMP/PKA signal pathway genes LWO, AC-2, AC-3, PKA-1, PKA-2 and PKA-3 of the 3rd instar nymphs of L. striatellus strain JH-del, and bioassay was used to detect the change in the sensitivity of L. striatellus to deltamethrin so as to verify that LWO-activated downstream AC/cAMP/PKA/CYP450s signal pathway genes to mediate deltamethrin resistance of L. striatellus by increasing its own expression level. Transgenic Drosophila combined with GAL4/UAS system and insect baculovirus expression system were used to heterogeneously express the L. striatellus LWOi n the 3-day-old female adults of Drosophila melanogaster and Sf9 cells of Spodoptera frugiperda to verify the function of LWO. 【Results】 The relative expression level of LWO  in the deltamethrin-resistant L. striatellus strain JH-del was 1.54-fold as high as that in the sensitive strain JHS. When any node of the LWO/AC/cAMP/PKA signal pathway in the 3rd instar nymph of L. striatellus strain JH-del was interfered by feeding dsRNAs of target genes, the expression levels of CYP6AY3v2 and CYP439A1v3 that metabolize deltamethrin downstream of this signal pathway were significantly decreased, and the sensitivity of the 3rd instar nymphs of strain JH-del of L. striatellus was restored as compared with that in the control group (fed with ds GFP). After heterologous expression of LWO in D. melanogaster and Sf9 cells, the resistance of D. melanogaster and Sf9 cells to deltamethrin increased significantly, and the increase of deltamethrin resistance was also mediated by LWO/AC/cAMP/PKA/CYP450s signal pathway of L. striatellus. 【Conclusion】 LWO receptor activates downstream AC/cAMP/PKA/CYP450s signal pathway by increasing its own expression level, which mediates deltamethrin resistance of L. striatellus. The results provide a theoretical basis for resistance management of L. striatellus and screening of new insecticide targets.

【Aim】 This study aims to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among the higher-level taxa of Fulgoroidea using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data and transcriptome data, and to provide genome data for understanding the phylogenetic relationships of Fulgoroidea.【Methods】 The 2nd-generation sequencing technology was utilized to obtain the low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data of a species of Flatida sp. from the family Flatidae. In combination with the low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data and transcriptome data of 25 species from the Fulgoroidea (ingroup) and two species from the Cercopoidea (outgroup) downloaded, single-copy orthologous genes were extracted using BUSCO. Different matrices of completeness data based on nucleotide and amino acid sequence data were generated using Phykit to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of the Fulgoroidea. 【Results】 The number of single-copy orthologous genes in the Fulgoroidea ranged from 836 to 2 421 based on the low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data and transcriptome data. In the phylogenetic relationships of the Fulgoroidea, all phylogenetic results supported Cixiidae+Delphacidae as the sister group of other families of the Fulgoroidea, and Cixiidae, Delphacidae, Achilidae, Derbidae, Fulgoridae, Dictyopharidae, Acanaloniidae, Tettigometridae, Issidae, Caliscelidae, Ricaniidae and Tropiduchidae are monophyletic groups. However, the Nogodinidae are not a monophyletic group. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses conducted using the maximum likelihood method based on four distinct matrices suggested that the Flatidae are not a monophyletic group. Conversely, when constructing phylogeny using a species tree approach with each marker present in amino acid sequence data matrix faa_all, the Flatidae are supported as a monophyletic group, albeit with relatively low nodal support values. 【Conclusion】The phylogenetic relationships of the Fulgoroidea obtained in this study using low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data and transcriptome data are largely consistent with the previous studies. However, more specimens and molecular markers are needed to further clarify the sister group relationships among families regarding their phylogenetic relationships.

【Aim】The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the important inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) B-type (GABA_B) receptor in modulating the feeding preference of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda larvae in response to sweet and bitter substances. 【Methods】 RT-qPCR was used to identify the expression levels of GABA_B receptor gene in larvae (day-2 1st instar to day-2 6th instar) and different tissues (head, cuticle, midgut, fat body and hemolymph) of the day-2 5th instar larvae of S. frugiperda. The GABA_B receptor gene was silenced by feeding the 5th instar larvae of S. frugiperda with dsGABA_B R. The GABA_B receptor antagonist was injected into the 5th instar larvae. Using the leaf disc method, the feeding preference indexes for sucrose (sweet substance) and sinigrin (bitter substance), as well as the feeding area on maize leaves of the 5th instar larvae after the treatments with dsGABA_B R and GABA_B receptor antagonist were detected, respectively. 【Results】The expression level of GABA_B receptor gene in the 1st instar larvae was significant higher than those in the other instar larvae of S. frugiperda. The expression level of GABA_B receptor gene in the fat body of the 5th instar larvae of S. frugiperda was significantly higher than those in the other tissues. After dsGABA_B R feeding treatment, the feeding area on maize leaves of the 5th instar larvae significantly decreased as compared with that of the control larvae, the 5th instar larvae didn’t significantly prefer to feed sucrose and exhibited aversive feeding behaviors to the bitter substance sinigrin. After injecting GABA_B receptor antagonist into the hemolymph, the feeding area on maize leaves of the 5th instar larvae also decreased significantly as compared to that of the control larvae. Unlike the control larva significantly preferred to feed sucrose, the 5th instar larvae injected with GABA_B receptor antagonist showed obviously aversive feeding behaviors to sucrose. While both control larvae and larvae injected with GABA_B receptor antagonist exhibited aversive feeding behaviors to the bitter substance sinigrin. 【Conclusion】 GABA_B receptor could not only affect the food ingestion amount of S. frugiperda larvae, but also could change the preference tendency to sweet substances. While the aversive feeding behaviors for bitter sinigrin were not significantly changed by GABA_B receptor. Our results contribute to understanding the regulation mechanisms of feeding behaviors in insects.

【Aim】 Through laboratory insecticidal effect determination and field control efficacy evaluation, the insecticides with high control efficacy against Tuta absoluta were screened to satisfy the demand for emergency control of this pest in production.【Methods】 T. absoluta larvae collected from tomato plants in the field were reared in the laboratory for more than 45 generations, the effects of 10 commonly used insecticides of seven categories including 5% emamectin benzoate water dispersible granule (WG), 60 g/L spinetoram suspension concentrate (SC) and 5% spinosad SC (antibiotics), 200 g/L chlorantraniliprole SC (bisamide), 150 g/L indoxacarb emulsifiable concentrate (EC)(oxadiazine), 10% chlorfenapyr SC (pyrroles), 240 g/L methoxyfenozide SC (hormone), 2.5% rotenone EC (botanical source), and 8 000 IU/μL Bacillus thuringiensis SC and 30 billion spores/g Beauveria bassiana wettable powder (WP)(microbial source) on the hatching rates of T. absoluta eggs and the  mortality rates of the 2nd instar larvae were determined by indoor egg-dipping method and leaf-dipping method, respectively. In July 2023, five insecticide formulations with strong insecticidal effects on T. absoluta in laboratory bioassay were sprayed to open field tomatoes in Xinjiang, Northwest China to evaluate their field control efficacy against T. absoluta. 【Results】 Laboratory bioassay results showed that the 10 pesticides had different effects on the hatching of T. absoluta eggs, the microbial insecticides 8 000 IU/μL B. thuringiensis SC and 30 billion spores/g B. bassiana WP and the botanical insecticide 2.5% rotenone EC had no significant effect on the hatching of eggs at 7 d after treatment, while the chemical insecticides 240 g/L methoxyfenozide SC, 60 g/L spinetoram SC and 5% emamectin benzoate WG exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the hatching of eggs in 5 d. The 10 pesticides had different lethal effects on the 2nd instar larvae of T. absoluta. Among the chemical pesticides, 60 g/L spinetoram SC showed the highest insecticidal activity against the 2nd instar larvae, causing 100.00% mortality rate at 1-4 d post treatment, and 10% chlorfenapyr SC and 150 g/L indoxacarb EC causing 100.00% mortality rate at 3 and 4 d post treatment, while the botanical insecticide 2.5% rotenone  EC  and the microbial insecticide  30 billion spores/g B. bassiana WP had lower lethal effects on the 2nd instar larvae during the 4-d treatment. Field experiment results revealed that the control efficacy of the tested five insecticide formulations against T. absoluta was most obvious at 7 d after application. The control efficacy of 60 g/L spinetoram SC, 200 g/L chlorantraniliprole SC and 10% chlorfenapyr SC against T. absoluta was ranked the top three, being 91.14%, 90.29% and 88.67%, respectively.【Conclusion】 Through laboratory bioassay and field control efficacy evaluation, it was found that 60 g/L spinetoram SC, 200 g/L chlorantraniliprole SC and 10% chlorfenapyr SC at their recommended dosages can be used for chemical control of T. absoluta in tomato production, which can provide guidance for the formulation of comprehensive control plans for T. absoluta and the selection of field control agents.

 【Aim】 This study aims to reveal the impact of the climatic features of Hainan Island, South China on the occurrence patterns of the invasive pest Brontispa longissima, so as to provide a scientific basis for developing effective control strategies. 【Methods】From 2021 to 2023, a monthly survey was conducted on Palmae plants within a 500-m range of expressways and national highways on Hainan Island. The information such as the latitude and longitude of the area of B. longissima infestations, host species, and the number of damaged plants was recorded. The spatio-temporal occurrence patterns of the occurrence area of B. longissima were analyzed by statistical methods, while the influences of ten climatic factors on the occurrence area of B. longissima were explored using the random forest model. 【Results】 The occurrence area of B. longissima had been increasing annually, showing a unimodal pattern within the annual cycle, with the peak occurring in May or June. The damage of B. longissima during the wet season (May to October) was more severe than that during the dry season (November to April of the next year). The damage caused by B. longissima was mainly concentrated in the coastal areas of Hainan Island, with the eastern coastal regions being the most severely affected. According to the climate zone division, the southeastern region had the largest occurrence area of B. longissima. The occurrence area in the northeastern region was larger than that in the southwestern region from March to August, but from September to February of the next year, the occurrence area in the southwestern region exceeded that in the northeastern region. According to the random forest feature importance ranking for the occurrence area of B. longissima and climatic factors, precipitation and relative humidity were the main climatic factors affecting the occurrence area of B. longissima, with the percentages of increase of mean square error (IncMSE%) of 28.14% and 27.39%, respectively.【Conclusion】 The occurrence area of B. longissima on Hainan Island is closely related to climatic conditions, displaying distinct spatio-temporal occurrence patterns. The wet season (May to October) is a critical period for control efforts, with damage reaching its annual peak particularly in May and June. Coastal areas of Hainan Island, especially in the eastern and southeastern climate zones, are the key regions for focus, requiring enhanced monitoring and management. In the northeastern climate zones, emphasis should be paid on the control in spring and summer (March to August), while in the southwestern region efforts should be strengthened during the autumn and winter months (September to February of the next year). This study provides a reference for scientifically formulating regional and seasonal control strategies for B. longissima.

【Aim】 The objective of this study is to investigate the oviposition deterrent and antifeedant effects of plant essential oils (EOs) on a major invasive pest, the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, and provide a new method for the green control of this pest. 【Methods】 S. frugiperda collected from a maize field in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, South China and reared indoors for several generations was used. In the laboratory, the oviposition deterrent activities of EOs from 21 plants (Perilla frutescens, Cupressus funebris, Acorus calamus, Artemisia argyi, Capsicum annuum, Myristica fragrans, Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum, Allium sativum, Cedrus deodara, Cinnamomum cassia, Mentha canadensis, Mentha spicata, Litsea cubeba, Melia azedarach, Citrus limon, Camellia sinensis, Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus globules, Cinnamomum camphora and Plectranthus hadiensis) against S. frugiperda adults were investigated using the behavior selection method, while the antifeedant activities of these EOs against the 2nd instar larvae of S. frugiperda were evaluated using the leaf dish feeding method. 【Results】 At the concentration of 2.5 mL/L, Capsicum annuum EO and Melia azedarach EO had the best oviposition deterrent effects on S. frugiperda adults, with the deterrent rates of 89.13% and 88.83%, respectively. At the concentration of 5 mL/L, Capsicum annuum EO showed the best oviposition deterrent effect on S. frugiperda adults, with the deterrent rate of 100.00%. At the concentration of 10 mL/L, the EOs from Perilla frutescens, Cupressus funebris, Capsicum annuum, Myristica fragrans, Piper nigrum, Allium sativum, Cedrus deodara and Citrus limon showed obvious oviposition deterrent effects on S. frugiperda adults. Piper nigrum EO at the concentration of 2.5 mL/L had the best non-selective and selective antifeedant effects on the 2nd instar larvae of S. frugiperda, with the antifeedant rates of 98.67% and 97.37%, respectively. At the concentrations of 5 and 10 mL/L, Piper nigrum EO also exhibited the best antifeedant effects on the 2nd instar larvae of S. frugiperda, both with the antifeedant rate of 100.00%. 【Conclusion】 At relatively low concentrations, Cayenne pepper EO and Melia azedarach EO showed highly effectiveness in deterring oviposition of S. frugiperda adults, and Piper nigrum EO showed excellent antifeedant activity against the 2nd instar larvae of S. frugiperda. These plant EOs demonstrated promising application potential in the green control of S. frugiperda.

 During the long-term evolution, plants and herbivorous insects have acquired diverse and complex mechanisms to adapt to each other. Plants have evolved a series of defense mechanisms against insects; meanwhile, herbivorous insects have evolved multiple strategies to adapt to plant defense for survival. Microorganisms are widely found in plants and insects as well as in environments. Increasing evidence proves that microorganisms can participate in the interaction between plants and herbivorous insects, which impacts the environmental adaptability of plants and herbivorous insects. Rice is an important food crop. In this article, we outlined the research progress on rice-pest interactions and common microorganisms in agroecosystems such as insect symbiotic bacteria, soil microorganisms and pathogenic microorganisms that affect rice growth and development, reproduction of pest populations, and alteration of rice defense responses to pests. It has great significance for the further understanding of the interactions between plants and pests. Finally, we presented an outlook on the future research directions of the use of microorganisms to control rice pests: (1) Strengthening research and development of insecticidal microbial agents; and (2) application of endosymbiotic bacteria for pest control and prevention.

 Tomato is one of the most important horticultural crops, and China is the largest producer of tomato in the world. In recent years, the tomato industry is facing increasingly severe pest threats including the traditional important pests (Bemisi tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis and Helicoverpa armigera) and the newly emerged invasive pest Tuta absoluta. Elucidating the defensive mechanism of tomato especially wild tomato germplasm resource, which has significantly higher resistance to pests, can provide important genetic resources for breeding process of insect-resistant tomato varieties. Meanwhile, the key insect-resistant metabolites of tomato can also offer valuable insights into the development of new safer and more eco-friendly botanical pesticides. In this article, we summarized the interactions between tomato pests and host plants like tomato across multiple levels of insect resistance mechanisms in plants. Key topics include: (1) the recognition of saliva proteins from piercing-sucking and chewing insects by tomatoes and its impact on anti-insect immunity; (2) the signal transduction networks of insect resistance and the regulatory mechanisms of core defense-related transcription factors in tomato; (3) structural and metabolic bases of insect resistance in plants, such as trichomes, acylsugars, phenolamides, steroidal alkaloids, and volatile compounds, which respond to pest attacks and confer insect resistance through molecular and ecological pathways. Future research should leverage emerging technologies like single-cell transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics, combined with gene editing and genetic manipulation tools, to further clarify the signaling pathways of insect resistance and the synthesis and regulation of defense compounds in tomato. These efforts will deepen our understanding of plant-insect interactions and lay a theoretical foundation for breeding high-yield, insect-resistant tomato varieties.

As the most diverse group of animals on earth, insects are closely related to human production and activities, making entomological research both theoretically significant and practically valuable. In the past decade, the rapid development of novel methods and technologies has greatly promoted the research progress of entomological research. In this article, we provided a comprehensive overview of the applications of emerging methods and technologies in such fields as entomological morphological identification, molecular mechanism and pest management, focusing on the main contents of this special issue from seven aspects: Micro-computed tomography, RNA interference, gene editing, artificial intelligence-driven intelligent recognition, nanotechnology, regulation of insect-microorganism symbiotes, and olfactory behavior regulation. We also proposed the challenges faced by the large-scale application and sustainable development of these technologies, and prospected the future development trend.

【Aim】To explore the role of heat shock protein Hsp70 genes of Myzus persicae in response to high and low temperature stress. 【Methods】 RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of eight MpHsp70 genes (MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70-2, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70B2, MpHsp68a, MpHsp68b, MpHsc70-4 and MpHsp70) in different wingless adult tissues (head, midgut, embryo and cuticle) and wingless adults under high temperature (36 ℃) and low temperature (4 ℃) stress for different duration (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min), respectively. RNAi was used to silence two key MpHsp70 genes (MpHsp70A1 and MpHsp68a), and the survival rate and number of nymphs produced of wingless adults were observed and calculated at 120 min under high temperature treatment (36 ℃) and 30 min under low temperature treatment (4 ℃).【Results】 The eight MpHsp70 genes were expressed in different wingless adult tissues of M. persicae, and the expression levels of MpHsp70, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70B2, MpHsc70-4 and MpHsp68b in the cuticile were significantly higher than those in the other tissues. The expression levels of MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70-2 and MpHsp68a in the embryo of M. persicae were significantly higher than those in other tissues. High and low temperature stress had significant induction effect on the expression of MpHsp70 genes in wingless adult of M. persicae. The expression levels of MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70-2, MpHsp68a and MpHsp68b all increased and then decreased under 4 ℃ stress, and reached the highest at 30 min under 4 ℃ stress, which were significantly higher than those of the control. Under 36 ℃ stress, the expressions levels of MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70-2, MpHsc70-4, MpHsp68a and MpHsp68b increased first and then decreased. The expression level of MpHsp70-1 reached the highest at 60 min after 36 ℃ stress, and those of the other genes reached the highest at 120 min after 36 ℃ stress. After the silence of MpHsp68a, the survival rate and number of nymphs produced of M. persicae under high and low temperature stress were significantly decreased and those after the silence of MpHsp70A1 under high temperature stress were extremely significantly decreased as compared with those of the control group. 【Conclusion】MpHsp70 genes of M. persicae can respond to high and low temperature stress, and play an important role in the molecular mechanism of resistance to temperature stress of M. persicae.
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【Aim】The aim of this study is to investigate the biological function of ABC transporter genes in the development of resistance to indoxacarb in Spodoptera frugiperda, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the comprehensive control of this pest. 【Methods】 Indoxacarb alone and combined with ABC transporter inhibitor verapamil hydrochloride were used to treat the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 and the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH of S. frugiperda by the topical application method, and the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) and the synergistic ratio of verapamil hydrochloride to indoxacarb were calculated at 24 h after treatment. The expression levels of seven ABC transporter genes (SfABCG20, SfABCC2, SfABCF4, SfABCA1, SfABCA5, SfABCG23 and SfABCG9) in the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH and four indoxacarb-resistant populations， including DC-22, CX-22, MY-22 and RH-22, were examined. The highly expressed ABC transporter gene SfABCG23 in response to indoxacarb was silenced through RNAi by injecting dsSfABCG23 into the 3rd instar larvae of DC-22 and WH. The expression level of SfABCG23 was detected by RT-qPCR at 48 h after RNAi, and the mortality was detected at 24 h after exposure to LC₃₀of indoxacarb following RNAi.【Results】Verapamil hydrochloride significantly increased the susceptibility of the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 to indoxacarb, with the synergistic ratio of 1.73. The expression levels of SfABCG23 in the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-resistant populations DC-22 and CX-22 were up-regulated by 2.56- and 4.05-fold, respectively, as compared with that in the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH, and the expression level of SfABCG23 was significantly positively correlated with the resistance ratio, with the correlation coefficient of 0.941. After dsSfABCG23 injection, the gene silencing efficiency was 65.04% and 39.55%, respectively, in the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 and the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH, and compared with the dsGFP-injected control group, the dsSfABCG23 injection increased the mortality of the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 and the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH, by 30.55% and 25.00%, respectively, at 24 h after exposure to indoxacarb. 【Conclusion】 The results of this study suggest that ABC transporter genes play an important role in regulating the development of resistance in the indoxacarb-resistant population of S. frugiperda, and the overexpression of SfABCG23 may play an important role in the development of resistance to indoxacarb in S. frugiperda.

【Aim】 To ascertain the effects of soil drought stress on the physiological metabolism, ovarian development and yolk protein content of Bradysia cellarum. 【Methods】 Reared respectively in the soil with the 10% relative water content (drought stress) and the 40% relative water content (wet treatment), the changes in the contents of key metabolites (soluble protein, fat, glycogen and trehalose) and the activities of the protective enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in the 2nd and 4th instar larvae, and female and male adults of B. cellarum were determined, the ovaries of female adults were dissected and their developmental states were observed, and the relative contents of yolk protein and the expression levels of vitellogenin gene (Vg) in the 1-3-day-old pupae and adults were assayed.【Results】 Compared with the wet treatment, drought stress significantly reduced the water content and food intake of the 4th instar larvae of B. cellarum, for example, the food intake of the 4th instar larvae after the 48-h drought stress was 35.72% lower than that in the wet treatment. Under drought stress, the contents of soluble protein and fat in the 4th instar larvae and female adults significantly decreased, and the trehalose content significantly increased, as compared with those under wet treatment. Drought stress induced a significant increase in the activities of three protective enzymes, SOD, CAT and POD in the 4th instar larvae and female adults. Under drought stress, the SOD, CAT and POD activities in the 4th instar larvae increased by 31.64%, 18.69% and 48.61%, respectively, and those in the female adults increased by 34.13%, 12.67% and 31.35%, respectively, as compared with those in wet treatment. Drought stress inhibited the ovarian development and damaged the ovarian structure of female adults. Compared with the wet treatment, drought stress caused the content of yolk protein and the expression level of Vg in female adults to significantly decrease. The difference in the expression level of Vg in the 2-day-old adults between the two treatments was the most significant, and the expression level of Vg under drought stress decreased by 35.66% as compared with that under wet treatment. 【Conclusion】 B. cellarum can resist drought stress by regulating physiological metabolism. The decrease of yolk protein content is the main factor of fecundity decrease. This study provides a theoretical basis for control of B. cellarum with soil drought stress technology.

 Pollinators (including bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, moths, etc.) play an irreplaceable and important role in ecosystems, and they directly affect plant reproduction and ecological balance. With the rapid growth of global population and social development, serious problems such as ecological damage and environmental pollution have occurred and exacerbated challenges for pollinators, such as habitat loss and the use of chemical pesticides, synergistic effects of climate change and pathogen transmission, which have many negative impacts on the stability of ecosystems. Therefore, strengthening research on pollinators and exploring their physiological, morphological, behavioural and ecological characteristics as well as their coevolutionary relationship with plants not only contribute to an indepth understanding of the functional mechanisms of biodiversity and ecosystems, but also provide a fundamental scientific basis for the conservation and use of pollinator resources. This special issue of pollinators presented some latest domestic research progress of pollinators, which may promote exchanges and cooperation in the field of pollinators research and advance the development of the discipline in this field, so as to provide a scientific basis for the construction of China’s ecological civilization and the sustainable development of the environment.

 【Aim】 To clarify the spatiotemporal expression pattern of the juvenile hormone receptor methoprene-tolerant gene AsMet in Anopheles sinensis and explore its influence on the reproductive regulation and development of An. sinensis.【Methods】 Based on the transcriptome data of An. sinensis, the full-length cDNA sequence of AsMet was cloned by RACE and its molecular characteristics were analyzed. qPCR was used to analyze the expression levels of AsMet in different developmental stages (pupa and female adult) and different tissues ［head, throax, anterior part of abdomen (the first 3 segments of abdomen), posterior part of abdomen (the remaining part of abdomen), midgut, Malpighian tubules, fat body, ovary and integument］ of the 3-day-old female adults. dsAsMet was microinjected into the last instar female pupa for RNAi, and the expression levels of AsMet, AsKr-h1 and AsVg, the development of ovaries of female adults, emergence rate, number of eggs laid and egg hatching rate were observed and detected.【Results】 The full-length cDNA sequence of AsMet of An. sinensis (GenBank accession no.: OR783325) was 6 841 bp with the open reading frame (ORF) of 3 159 bp in length, encoding 1 052 amino acids with the predicted molecular weight of 114.46 kD and the isoelectric point of 6.63. AsMet had four conserved domains, including one helix-loop-helix domain, two PAS-binding domains, and one C-terminal conserved motif. AsMet clustered with Mets of An. gambiae, Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens. AsMet was significantly highly expressed at 30 h after pupation and at most stages of adults, significantly highly expressed in the head and thorax of female adults, and lowly expressed in the midgut, Malpighian tubules and ovary. The expression levels of AsMet were reduced by 70.05%, 41.05% and 68.64%, respectively, at 24, 48 and 72 h after dsAsMet microinjection into the last instar female pupa as compared with those in the control group microinjected with dsEGFP. The emergence rate in microinjection group with dsAsMet was lower than that in microinjection group with dsEGFP, and after mating and blood-feeding the ovaries were agenesia, and the number of eggs laid decreased by 67.58% as compared with that in microinjection group with dsEGFP, and the egg hatching rate in microinjection group with dsAsMet was reduced by 93.10% compared with that in microinjection group with dsEGFP.【Conclusion】The decreased expression of AsMet can reduce the normal development of ovary, and decrease the number of eggs laid and egg hatching rate significantly. The results lay a foundation for further research on the mechanism of JH regulation of reproductive development of An. sinensis, and provide a theoretical basis for understanding the signaling pathway of juvenile hormone and the molecular mechanism of insect reproductive regulation.

【Aim】The codling moth, Cydia pomonella, is a quarantine pest in the world and one of the important fruit-boring pests on fruit trees. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of host switching on the growth, development and reproduction of C. pomonella under high temperature stress, and to clarify its adaptation mechanism to hosts. 【Methods】 The apple population and walnut population of C. pomonella reared on the original hosts and the switched hosts, respectively, at the temperature gradient of 26, 32, 35 and 38 ℃, and designated as apple population reared on apples, walnut population reared on walnuts, apple population reared on walnuts and walnut population reared on apples. The survival rates and duration of different developmental stages and adult fecundity of the experimental population of C. pomonella were analyzed, and the life tables of various treatments were constructed and the population parameters were analyzed. 【Results】 The apple and walnut populations of C. pomonella reared on the original hosts and the switched hosts at 26 and 32 ℃ could grow and develop normally, and the developmental duration was shortened with the increase of temperature. At 26 ℃, larval duration of the apple population of C. pomonella reared on walnuts was the longest (31.76 d), and the pupal duration of the walnut population of C. pomonella reared on walnuts was the longest (11.36 d). At 32 ℃, the egg and larval duration of the apple population of C. pomonella reared on apples were 4.88 and 26.98 d, respectively, and the pupal duration of the walnut populations of C. pomonella reared on apples was the shortest (8.54 d). The adult longevity of C. pomonella at the temperature ranging from 26 to 35 ℃ exhibited significant difference. At 35 and 38 ℃, the development process of C. pomonella was blocked and the developmental duration was prolonged. The female adults could not lay eggs at 35 ℃, and the larval survival was significantly inhibited at 38 ℃. The survival rates of C. pomonella at various developmental stage and the average numbers of eggs laid per female decreased with the increase of temperature. The average number of eggs laid per female of the apple population of C. pomonella reared on apples was the highest (up to 109.20 grains) at 26 ℃. The fitness indexes (egg hatching rate, larval survival rate, pupation rate, eclosion rate and number of eggs laid per female) and population parameters (intrinsic growth rate, finite rate of increase and net reproductive rate) of the apple population of C. pomonella reared on apples were the largest, and those of C. pomonella reared on walnuts were the lowest. 【Conclusion】 Under high temperature stress, host switching has a significant effect on the growth, development and reproduction of C. pomonella, and too high temperature is not conducive to its growth and reproduction. It still has the ability to feed and damage hosts after host switching, and apples are more conducive to improving the fitness and population growth of C. pomonella than walnuts. In general, C. pomonella has the highest fitness to apple hosts, with the strongest fecundity and high adaptability on apples.

【Aim】 The objective of this study is to elucidate the regulatory function of piR-ame-1186994 of Apis mellifera ligustica, so as to offer a scientific basis for further investigation of the underlying regulatory mechanism of piR-ame-1186994. 【Methods】 The expression and sequence authenticity of piR-ame-1186994 in the 6-day-old adult worker’s midgut, 12-day-old adult drone’s testis and 7-day-old adult queen’s ovary of A. m. ligustica were verified by Stem-loop RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing, respectively. Relevant software was utilized to predict the target mRNAs of piR-ame-1186994 followed by GO and KEGG database annotation. Regulatory networks related to developmental signaling pathways, energy metabolism pathways and cellular and humoral immune pathways were further constructed. Newly emerged adult workers were fed with mimic and mimic-NC (negative control) of piR-ame-1186994, followed by the detection of the relative expression levels of piR-ame-1186994 and its key target genes (YAP1 and PLD2) in the midguts of adult workers using RT-qPCR. 【Results】 The specific fragment of piR-ame-1186994 was amplified from the 6-day-old adult worker’s midgut, 12-day-old adult drone’s testis and 7-day-old adult queen’s ovary of A. m. ligustica. piR-ame-1186994 targeted 1 097 mRNAs, which could be annotated to 30 GO terms involved in metabolic process, binding, cell, etc., and 182 KEGG pathways including Wnt signaling pathway, endocytosis and oxytocin signaling pathway. Thirty-six and 16 target mRNAs were respectively involved in five developmental-related signaling pathways (mTOR, Wnt, Hippo, AMPK and Notch signaling pathways) and four pathways related to energy metabolism (amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, fructose and mannose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pentose phosphate pathway), respectively. Additionally, 29 and eight target mRNAs were engaged in four cellular immune pathways (lysosome, endocytosis, phagosome and ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation) and three humoral immune pathways (PI3K-Akt, MAPK and FoxO signaling pathways), respectively. In the mimic-piR group, the expression level of piR-ame-1186994 was significantly up-regulated in the 1-, 3- and 5-day-old workers’ midguts and up-regulated extremely significantly in the 2- and 4-day-old workers’ midguts, the expression level of the target gene YAP1 was extremely significantly down-regulated in the 1-, 3-, 4- and 5-day-old workers’ midguts and significantly down-regulated in the 2-day-old worker’s midgut, and the expression level of target gene PLD2 was significantly down-regulated in the 2-, 3- and 5-day-old workers’ midguts and downregulated extremely significantly in the 4-day-old worker’s midguts as compared with those in the mimic-NC group. 【Conclusion】 piR-ame-1186994 exists and expresses in the worker’s midgut, drone’s testes and queen’s ovary of A. m. ligustica. piR-ame-1186994 potentially modulates the development and immunity of worker’s midgut through targeting and negatively regulating the expression of YAP1 and PLD2.

 One of the hot topics in entomology today is the symbiotic microorganism-host interactions in insects. Symbiotic microorganisms in insects can not only provide nutrients for the growth and development of the hosts, but also synthesize many active substances that regulate the ecological adaptability, stress resistance, diversity formation, reproduction, and mating behavior of hosts. Despite of their widespread use, microbial insecticides have led to varying degrees of resistance in pests due to the toxicity of their metabolites and their long-term application in the field. The development of this resistance is closely related to the symbiotic microorganisms in pests. In this article, we reviewed the role of insect symbiotic microorganisms in the development of host resistance to adversity stresses, with focuses on the role of insect symbiotic microorganisms in assisting hosts to resist infestation by different species of biocontrol fungi/bacteria, such as Beauveria, Metarhizium, Pandora neoaphidis and Bacillus thuringiensis. In addition, we deeply clarified the defense mechanisms of symbiotic microorganisms against exogenous pathogen infestation. The present studies showed that the symbiotic microorganisms against exogenous pathogens are mainly distributed in the epidermis, antennal glands and gut of insects, and the symbiotic microorganisms such as Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Wolbachia, Citrobacter freundii and Arsenophonus are more prominent in assisting the hosts to fight the pathogen infestation, having a protective effect on various insect hosts. In addition, these symbiotic microorganisms improve the resistance of insects to pathogens mainly through three pathways: Competition for nutrients with exogenous microorganisms, secretion of antimicrobial substances and modulation of the immune system. This article provides new ideas for a comprehensive elucidation of the mutualistic interactions among pathogenic microorganisms, insects and symbiotic microorganisms, and can also serve as a valuable reference for the development of pest biological control strategies based on the regulation of symbiotic relationships.

【Aim】 To explore the function of BmMCP18, a gut-specific metallocarboxypeptidase gene from Bombyx mori, and its resistance mechanism to exogenous virus infection. 【Methods】 The BmMCP18 knockout B. mori (BmMCP18KO)(C18KO) was constructed. The 5th instar larval midgut transcriptomes from C18KO and its control wild-type B. mori (C18KOC), and the 5th instar larval midgut transcriptomes of BmMCP18KO (C18KOV) infected with nuclear polyhedrosis virus ( B. mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus, BmNPV) and its control wild-type B. mori (C18KOCV) were sequenced. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed for GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment, and qRT-PCR was used to verify the expression of related genes.【Results】 Compared with the control group C18KOC, C18KO had 75 genes with up-regulated expression and 303 genes with down-regulated expression. Compared with the control group C18KOCV, C18KOV had 96 genes with up-regulated expression and 57 genes with down-regulated expression. The significantly enriched GO items by differentially expressed genes in the C18KOC vs C18KO comparison group were extracellular space, cell surface, peptide cross-linking and synaptic target recognition. The most significantly enriched GO item by differentially expressed genes in the C18KOCV vs C18KOV comparison group was transmembrane transporter activity. The expression of genes related to the immune pathway, carbohydrate and energy metabolism pathway, including Toll and Imd pathway, and MAPK pathway in the transcriptome of the 5th instar larval midgut of C18KO, was significantly down-regulated，while that related to ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway was significantly up-regulated, as compared with that of C18KOC. The expression of energy metabolism genes in the 5th instar larval midgut of C18KOV was significantly up-regulated as compared with that of C18KOCV. The qRT-PCR validation results indicated that the transcriptome data were reliable.【Conclusion】 The function of BmMCP18 involves cellular recognition, immune regulation and energy metabolism in the midgut of B. mori, possibly by participating in the immune response, energy and material supply of midgut cells to affect the resistance of B. mori to the infection of exogenous pathogens.

【Aim】 The aim of this study is to investigate the role of spalt major, a regulator of wing development, in wing differentiation of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and to further reveal the molecular mechanism of non-genetic wing polyphenism in insects. 【Methods】 A high ratio of winged offspring was induced by density in the parthenogenetic wingless A. pisum under the laboratory conditions and the expression level of Apsal was detected by qRT-PCR. dsRNAs were synthesized, including dsApsal targeting spalt major gene (Apsal), dsApWnt2 targeting Wnt-2 (ApWnt2) and dsApdpp targeting decapentaplegic (Apdpp) in A. pisum. ApWnt2 and Apdpp are upstream of Apsal in the Wg/Wnt and Dpp pathways, respectively. Nanocarrier-mediated body wall penetration was used to interfere with Apsal, ApWnt2 and Apdpp in wingless female adults and their newly born nymphs, and then the ratio of winged morph was recorded, and the gene expression levels were analyzed by qRT-PCR. 【Results】 More than 80% of winged offspring of A. pisum could be stably induced by high density treatment on the female adults. The expression level of Apsal, a key gene in wing development, was increased in the winged offspring aphid induced by density as compared with that in the wingless solitarily bred aphid. Interfering the expression of Apsal by dsApsal resulted in a significant decrease of the ratio of winged morph compared with the control group (dseGFP). When the expression of upstream gene ApWnt2 or Apdpp was interfered, the expression level of Apsal decreased as compared with that in the control group (dseGFP). 【Conclusion】 Apsal regulates wing differentiation of A. pisum and is activated by both Wg/Wnt and Dpp signaling pathways. This study further reveals the molecular mechanism of aphid wing differentiation, providing theoretical and technical bases for RNAi-based pest management to prevent aphids from migrating to new hosts.

【Aim】To explore the effect of Lactobacillus on the transcription level of antimicrobial peptide genes in Bombyx mori. 【Methods】After spraying the suspension (2×10 ⁸ CFU/mL) of Lactobacillus plantarum FLPL028, L. rhamnosus FLRH956 and L. reuteri FLRE589 to the mulberry leaves (20 μL/cm ²) to feed the 1st instar larvae of B. mori, the RNAref transcriptome sequencing of the 5th instar larvae was performed and the mortality rate before cocooning of B. mori after feeding the 5th instar larvae with the mulberry leaves sprayed with the suspension (2×10 ⁶ CFU/mL, 20 μL/cm ²) of Serratia marcescens was calculated. The numbers of viable bacteria of S. marcescens were counted at 4 h after incubation with L. plantarum FLPL028, L. rhamnosus FLRH956 and L. reuteri FLRE589, respectively. The expression levels of immune-related genes including LOC101742127, glv1,glv2, CecA, LOC101739681, CecD, Attacin1, Leb3 and Lzm (antimicrobial peptide genes), LOC692824 (lectin gene), PGRP-S1 and LOC101738493(Toll/Imd signaling pathway-related genes), and Pi3k60, MAPK and Ras2(PI3K and MAPK signaling pathway-related genes) in the 5th instar larvae of B. mori were detected by qPCR. 【Results】After the 1st instar larvae of B. mori were fed with L. plantarum FLPL028, L. rhamnosus FLRH956 and L. reuteri FLRE589, respectively, the transcription levels of most antimicrobial peptide genes, including Moricin, glv4-like and glv2, were significantly decreased in the 5th instar larvae, and that of Moricin decreased the most, as compared with those of the control group. After the 1st instar larvae of B. mori were fed with L. plantarum FLPL028, L. rhamnosus FLRH956 and L. reuteri FLRE589, respectively, the transcription levels of lectin genes such as CTL10, CTL19 and LOC101736606, and Toll/Imd signaling pathway-related genes PGRP-S2, LOC101738325 and LOC101738493 in the 5th instar larvae decreased, and those of PI3K and MAPK signaling pathway-related genes Pi3k60 and MAPK were increased by about 2.4- and 2.1-fold, respectively, as compared with those of the control group. However, the above three species of Lactobacillus had antagonistic effects on S. marcescens, and reduced the mortality rate of B. mori in the model group (only fed with S. marcescens) from 83% to less than 35%, among them L. reuteri FLRE589 had the best antagonistic effect on S. marcescens, causing only 18.1% mortality rate of the 5th instar larvae of B. mori. The basic change trends of the expression levels of LOC101742127, glv1, glv2, CecA, LOC101739681, CecD, Attacin1, Leb3, Lzm, LOC692824, LOC101738493, PGRP-S1, Pi3k60, MAPK and Ras2 were consistent with those of RNAref transcriptome sequencing results. The supernatant of the fermentation of these three species of Lactobacillus could effectively kill S. marcescens and reduce the number of viable bacteria of S. marcescens.【Conclusion】Lactobacilli inhibits the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes and Toll/Imd immune pathway-related genes in B. mori, reduces the innate immune response of B. mori, but is conducive to the harmony between Lactobacilli and B. mori. In addition, Lactobacilli can also improve the acquired immunity of B. mori by activating the PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways. This finding will help to understand the immune system of B. mori more comprehensively and provide a new strategy for the prevention and control of diseases in B. mori industry.

【Aim】 This study focuses on the cloning and prokaryotic expression of the sex pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide gene PxylPBAN in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Additionally, the effects of RNAi-mediated PxylPBAN silencing on the expression of genes involved in both the juvenile hormone pathway and the sex pheromone synthesis pathway were detected to explore the role of PxylPBAN in sex pheromone synthesis. 【Methods】 The full-length CDS of PxylPBAN  in P. xylostella was cloned using RT-PCR. PxylPBAN was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system and subsequently purified. RNAi was conducted by injecting ds PxylPBAN into female pupae of P. xylostella, followed by the RT-qPCR verification of the expression levels of PxylPBAN, juvenile hormone pathway genes PxylJHAMT, PxylnJHBP, PxylhJHBP and PxylMet, as well as the sex pheromone synthesis pathway genes PxylACC and PxylFAR6 at 24, 48 and 72 h post injection. 【Results】 The cloning process successfully generated a 582 bp full-length CDS for PxylPBAN (GenBank accession number: LOC105391112), of P. xylostella, encoding a 193 amino acid protein with the estimated molecular weight of approximately 21.85 kD. The recombinant PxylPBAN protein was produced through prokaryotic expression. RNAi result revealed a significant down-regulation in expression level of PxylPBAN following the injection of ds PxylPBAN compared to the control group injected with ds EGFP of P. xylostella, with the most pronounced decrease observed at 24 h post injection. Additionally, the expression levels of PxylJHAMT, PxylnJHBP, PxylhJHBP, PxylMet, PxylACC and PxylFAR6 of P. xylostella in the ds PxylPBAN-injected group were significantly reduced as compared to those in the control group. 【Conclusion】 This study successfully obtained the recombinant PxylPBAN protein and identified PxylPBAN as a key gene in the juvenile hormone pathway and sex pheromone synthesis pathway in P. xylostella. These findings establish a theoretical basis for understanding the regulatory relationship between PxylPBAN and juvenile hormones in sex pheromone biosynthesis in P. xylostella.

 【Aim】 The small cocoon mutant sc was discovered among the offspring of space silkworm (Bombyx mori), exhibiting slow larval development and reduced consumption of mulberry leaves. We speculate that genes related to growth and development pathways of the sc mutant may be affected by the gene mutation. Our previous research indicated that the sc mutant is controlled by a pair of recessive genes located on the 3rd linkage group of B. mori, but the responsible gene has not yet been identified. This study aims to provide insights into the identification of the responsible gene for the sc mutant and the analysis of its molecular mechanisms through comparative transcriptomic analysis between the sc mutant and the normal cocoon strain (TG) derived from space B. mori.【Methods】 The head and midgut tissues from the day-4 5th instar larvae of sc and TG were collected for transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), respectively. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained by comparative transcriptome analysis. Then GO annotation and KEGG enrichment analysis of DEGs were performed. qRT-PCR was employed to validate the expression levels of randomly selected DEGs in sc and TG and investigate the expression levels of the genes of interest in sc. 【Results】 A total of 1 528 DEGs were detected in heads in the comparison group TG vs sc, with 820 DEGs showing up-regulated expression and 708 DEGs showing down-regulated expression. Similarly, 1 401 DEGs were identified in the midguts of the comparison group TG vs sc, with 683 DEGs showing up-regulated expression and 718 DEGs showing down-regulated expression. The GO analysis indicated that in biological processes, the majority of DEGs in the head and midgut were implicated in cellular process, metabolic process, biological regulation, response to stimulus, etc. In terms of molecular functions, most DEGs were associated with binding, catalytic activity, structural molecule activity, transporter activity and ATP-dependent activity. DEGs in the head and midgut were implicated in signaling pathways associated with the growth and development of B. mori, including the Hippo, Insulin and mTOR pathways. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the gene expression trend was consistent with the transcriptome sequencing result, and compared to TG, the sc mutant had the key genes BMSK0008105, BMSK0009907, BMSK0002689, BMSK0000286, BMSK0012340 and BMSK00083629 involved in growth and development signaling pathways with differential expression. 【Conclusion】 The differential expression of the critical genes in growth and development signaling pathways of sc and TG disturbs the key physiological processes like energy metabolism, organogenesis and cell growth, proliferation and apoptosis, thereby affecting the body development of the small cocoon mutant sc. These findings contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of the sc mutant and offer valuable experimental data for further exploration into the regulation of B. mori body size.

【Aim】 Ionotropic receptors (IRs) are crucial for insects’ olfactory, gustatory, temperature, and humidity sensing capabilities. This study aims to identify the IR gene family in Bactrocera dorsalis at the whole-genome level combined with transcriptome data, so as to provide a theoretical basis for further research on the functions of ionotropic receptor genes in B. dorsalis. 【Methods】 IR genes in the whole genome of B. dorsalis were identified by using hidden Markov models, multiple sequence alignments, gene domain analysis, and phylogenetic analysis. Chromosomal localization, full-length gene structure, protein conserved motifs, and collinearity analysis of IR gene family were examined by using TBtools. Evolutionary pressures were assessed with EasyCodeML. Hisat2 and Stringtie software was employed to quantify and analyze the expression patterns of IR genes in the peripheral nervous tissues (antenna, mouthparts, foreleg, midleg, hindleg, and genitalia) of B. dorsalis. qPCR was used for verification. 【Results】 A total of 39 candidate IR genes were identified within the whole genome of B. dorsalis. All the above candidate IR genes were located on autosomes, with 26 of them having complete full-length CDS structures supported by transcriptomic evidence. These full-length IR genes shared 2-8 identical protein conserved motifs, reflecting their structural conservation. Twenty-eight candidate IR genes were demonstrated the collinearity with those of other true flies in the genus Bactrocera, and one IR gene was found to be under strong negative selection. Seventeen candidate IR genes with collinearity were expressed in the peripheral nervous tissues of B. dorsalis, among them, 10 IR genes were exclusively expressed in the antennae, two IR genes only expressed in the mouthparts, and one IR gene solely expressed in the ovipositor. Additionally, one IR gene was expressed only in the antennae and male genitalia, one IR gene was expressed across the tissues except for the ovipositor, two IR genes were expressed across all peripheral nervous tissues, six IR genes were expressed differentially between female and male, and the remaining 11 candidate IR genes showed no expression in peripheral nervous tissues. 【Conclusion】 In this study we systematically identified the IR gene family in B. dorsalis using genomic and transcriptomic data. We analyzed the structural features, evolutionary relationships, and expression patterns of the IR gene family members, providing a theoretical foundation for further functional studies on the IR genes of B. dorsalis.

【Aim】 To clarify the regulatory role of apoptosis in the transmission of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) GAV strain (BYDV-GAV) by Sitobion avenae. 【Methods】 The expression levels of the key apoptosis genes, including the caspase family genes Caspase-1 and Caspase-3, and the apoptosis inhibitor genes IAP-1 and IAP-2, were detected by the qPCR method, and the apoptosis levels of midgut and salivary gland tissues were also detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL) assay in the BYDV-GAV-uninfected and -infected S. avenae adults. After adding the apoptosis inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO or the Caspase-1 specific activator PAC-1 to the artificial diet and feeding the  BYDV-GAV-infected and  -uninfected S. avencee adults, the expression levels of Caspase-1 and the copy numbers of BYDV-GAV CP in adults were examined at different virus acquisition and transmission time using the qPCR method, and the efficiency of transmitting BYDV-GAV was detected by RT-PCR. By incorporating dsRNA into artificial diets to silence Caspase-1 or IAP-1 in S. avenae adults, the silencing efficiency at different time and the corresponding effects of gene silencing on the survival and reproduction of S. avenae were determined, and the copy numbers of BYDV-GAV CP during the virus acquisition and transmission periods, and the virus transmission efficiency in S. avenae adults were also measured.【Results】Compared with the BYDV-GAV-uninfected healthy S. avenae adults, the BYDV-GAV-infected S. avenae adults showed significantly increased expression level of Caspase-1， and significantly decreased expression levels of IAP-1 and IAP-2. Additionally, the percentage of apoptotic cells in the midgut of the BYDV-GAV-infected S. avenae adults was significantly increased, as compared to that in the BYDV-GAV-uninfected healthy S. avenae adults. Compared with the control fed with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), S. avenae adults fed with the activator PAC-1 exhibited enhanced expression level of Caspase-1 during the acquisition and transmission periods, and significantly decreased copy numbers of BYDV-GAV CP and the virus transmission efficiency. In S. avenae adults fed with dsCaspase-1 and dsIAP-1, the silencing efficiency of Caspase-1 and IAP-1 reached their maximum on the 3rd day (80.63% and 71.91%, respectively), as compared with that in the control fed with dsGFP. The silencing of Caspase-1 and IAP-1 had no significant effect on the survival and reproduction of S. avenae. Moreover, the copy number of BYDV-GAV CP in S. avenae adults fed with dsCaspase-1 significantly increased during the virus acquisition period as compared with that in the control fed with dsGFP. 【Conclusion】 BYDV-GAV could enhance the apoptosis level of S. avenae, which may serve as an innate immune system of S. avenae to suppress its capacity to acquire and transmit the virus. These findings provide theoretical bases for understanding the interaction mechanism between vectors and plant viruses, and a new intervention strategy to curtail the spread of plant viral diseases by targeting the apoptotic pathways in vectors.

【Aim】 To analyze the types, effects and monomer composition of the main natural antioxidant components in the larval body of Bombyx mori, so as to provide a reference for their development and utilization as well as the study of their pharmacodynamic effects.【Methods】 The antioxidant capacity (AC) of the extracts from the leaves of three varieties of mulberry trees (Heyebai, Jisang2 and Boluo), as well as the extracts from excrement and whole larval bodies of the 5th instar of four varieties of B. mori (Jingsong×Haoyue, Dongfei, Cai3 and Cai4) fed on Jisang2 leaves, were tested by the scabenging abilities to free radicals of 2, 2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Meanwhile, the contents of total flavonoids, total phenols, polysaccharids and 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) in the above extracts were determined by spectrophotometry and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (RP-HPLC-UV) to analyze the main antioxidant active substances from the whole larval body of B. mori. The daily contents of total phenol and the AC for scavenging ABTS radicals (AC_ABTS) in the hemolymph of the last instar larvae (the 4th instar of 3-molter silkworms, the 5th instar of 4-molter silkworms) of six varieties of B. mori (Dongfei, Ansiwuhua, Caigan, 7903, Cai0 and Cai3) were detected. Furthermore, liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) was used for the non-targeted qualitative and quantitative analysis of antioxidant active components in the whole bodies of four varieties of larval B. mori (Jingsong×Haoyue, Dongfei, Cai3 and Cai4) on the last day of the 5th instar and in the leaves of Jisang2. 【Results】The contents of total flavonoids, total phenols and polysaccharids of the extracts from mulberry leaves showed highly significant positive correlations with the AC of extracts from mulberry leaves, and the contents of total flavonoids and total phenols showed highly significantly positive correlations with the AC of extracts from excrement and whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae of B. mori. The AC_ABTS and AC_DPPH of extracts from whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of four varieties of B. mori were ［(22.61±1.37)-(36.70±2.12) mg VC/g］ and ［(16.77±0.47)-(23.43±2.34) mg VC/g］, respectively, which were 1.46-2.38 and 1.81-2.54-fold of those of Jisang2 leaf extracts, and also 0.96-2.27 and 1.23-7.73-fold of those of excrement extracts from the 5th instar larve at the last day of B. mori, respectively. The content of total phenols in the extracts from whole body of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori ［(9-14±0.13)-(13.28±0.78) mg/g］ was close to those of Jisang2 leaf ［(19.74±0.58) mg/g］ and excrement of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori ［(10.19±0.19)-(16.74±0.24) mg/g］, but the contents of total flavonoids and 1-DNJ in the extracts from whole body of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori were significantly lower than those of Jisang2 leaf and excrement  of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori. The above data indicated that total phenols were the main antioxidant components in the extracts from whole body of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori. The daily AC_ABTS value and daily content of total phenols in larval hemolymph from six varieties of B. mori at the last instar were significantly positively correlated, which further confirmed that total phenols are the important antioxidant components of B. mori. A total of 436 metabolites were identified in the whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of four varieties of B. mori and in the Jisang2 leaves. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the differences in the contents of the 436 metabolites could be used to effectively distinguish mulberry leaves from whole bodies of B. mori, and whole bodies of Cai4 from those of the other three varieties of B. mori. The clustering analysis result of 375 differential metabolites showed that the monomers with obviously higher content in the extracts from whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori than those of the Jisang2 leaves, mainly belonged to benzene and its derivatives, organic acids, organic oxygen and organic nitrogen compounds. The specific monomer composition of phenols and amino acids was the main reason that the AC of extract from whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori was higher than those of Jisang2 leaf extracts.【Conclusion】 The present study confirmed that the AC of whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori was higher than that of Jisang2 leaves and B. mori excrement. Phenols are the main natural antioxidants of B. mori. B. mori can selectively absorb and transform the substances of ingested mulberry leaves to form their unique antioxidant components. More importantly, it was discovered that the sequence polymorphism and expression pattern changes of detoxification enzyme genes are the important reasons for causing the differences in the phenolic composition among B. mori varieties. The above results obtained provide a scientific basis for the application and development of natural antioxidant substances of B. mori.

 【Aim】 To identify the gustatory receptor (GR) family genes of Anopheles sinensis at the whole genome level, analyze the structure and characteristics of the GR gene family members, and predict the possible biological functions of the GR family members, so as to provide an information framework for the GR family genes of An. sinensis. 【Methods】 Using the known GR amino acid sequences of An. gambiae, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, and Drosophila melanogaster downloaded from NCBI and Vectorbase databases as inquiry sequences, the GR family genes of An. sinensis were searched and identified at the whole genome level by Blast and HMM methods and named. Using bioinformatics methods, the basic characteristics (physicochemical properties, gene structure and genome localization), conservative domains and Ka/Ks ratios of the GR genes in An. sinensis were predicted. Using MEGA software and maximum likelihood (ML) method, a phylogenetic tree of proteins encoded by the GR genes of An. sinensis and An. gambiae was constructed.【Results】 A total of 54 GR genes were screened and identified in the genome of An. sinensis. According to the classification of An. gambiae and phylogenetic relationship, AsGRs of An. sinensis were divided into four subfamilies of CO₂ receptor, bitter receptor, sugar receptor and pheromone receptor, with 3, 40, 6 and 5 receptors, respectively. CO₂ receptors and sugar receptors were clustered into a single branch, pheromone receptors were clustered into a single branch, and bitter receptors were scattered throughout the phylogenetic tree. The 54 GR genes of An. sinensis were located on the chromosomes Chr.1 and Chr.2. The amino acid numbers of AsGRs are 128-3 429, with the molecular weight of 14.85-397.08 kD, the theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 5.16-9.84, and the hydrophilicity index (GRAVY) of between -0.023-0.838. The exons of the 54 An. sinensis AsGR genes ranged from 1 to 23, with a wide range. The Ka/Ks ratios of most of the direct homologous gene pairs between An. sinensis and An. gambiae were less than 1, indicating that the GR family genes of An. sinensis were mainly affected by purification selection during the evolutionary process. 【Conclusion】 This study conducted genome-wide identification and characteristic analysis of the GR family genes of An. sinensis, enriching the genome database of An. sinensis and laying a certain foundation for subsequent functional research on the GR genes of An. sinensis.

【Aim】 Grapholita molesta is a fruit pest that poses a significant threat to fruit production globally. Sex-pheromone-mediated mating disruption technology is a highly specific, efficient, non-toxic, and ecologically beneficial control method. The control efficacy of this technology mainly depends on the dosage of sex pheromones and the density of the mating disruption products. This study aims to explore the accurate use of sex-pheromone-mediated mating disruption technology, and to provide new data support for effectively improving the green control level of G. molesta and realizing the safety of fruit production in China. 【Methods】 In this study, G. molesta adults were treated with the sex pheromone containing four components ［(Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate, (E)-8-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-8-dodecen-l-ol, and dodecanol］ at five different dosages (0.0131, 0.131, 1.31, 13.1 and 131 mg). The electroantennogram (EAG) responses of unmated and once-mated male adults to different dosages of sex pheromone were measured. The number of mating pairs, mating duration and mating day-old age of female and male adults, as well as the change characteristics of the number of eggs laid per female, number of eggs hatched and egg hatching rate were measured in the environments with different dosages of sex pheromone using an indoor cage method. The rate of mating disruption of sex pheromone to G. molesta and the fruit-boring control efficacy were validated in the field. 【Results】 The EAG response results showed that, as the sex pheromone dosage increased, the EAG response of unmated male adults of G. molesta became stronger, reaching the maximum at the dosage of 13.1 mg. However, the sex pheromone dosage had no significant effect on the EAG response of once-mated male adults. Indoor cage test indicated that the sex pheromone at the dosages of 1.31-131 mg significantly reduced the number of mating pairs between female and male adults compared to the control (n-hexane). Although there were no significant differences in mating duration, mating day-old age, and the number of eggs laid per female between the sex pheromone treatment group and the control group, all the five dosages of sex pheromone significantly reduced the number of eggs hatched and egg hatching rate. When pregnant females were directly exposed to different dosages of sex pheromone, the number of eggs laid per female showed no significant change, but the sex pheromone at the dosages of 0.131-131 mg significantly reduced the number of hatched eggs and egg hatching rate compared to the control. In the field, the sex pheromone at the dosage of 131 mg resulted in significantly higher rate of mating disruption and fruit-boring control efficacy against G. molesta than that at the dosage of 13.1 mg. There was no significant difference in the rate of mating disruption or fruit-boring control efficacy against G. molesta between hanging 60 and 90 mating disruption products per 667 m2.【Conclusion】 Considering both control efficacy and economic cost, a sex pheromone dosage of 131 mg with 60 mating disruption products per 667 m² is suitable for mating disruption technology of G. molesta in the field. These results provide the theoretical basis of mating disruption technology to precisely control G. molesta.

【Aim】 This study aims to introduce a suitable life table construction technique for some insects whose data of development, survival and reproduction of all individuals from birth to death could not be recorded continuously or were difficult to be recorded, and demonstrate the reliability of this technique. 【Methods】 We split 24 life tables, whose data were constructed in the usual manner, i.e., the development and survival of all individuals and fecundity of female adults were recorded from birth to their deaths, and then used the bootstrap-match technique to reconstruct them as complete life tables. The main population parameters of the bootstrap-match life tables were compared with and validated against those of the original life tables. Subsequently, we applied this technique to reconstruct the life table of Grapholita molesta with diapause period, and then used simulation program to predict the growth trends of overwintering populations. The projected population data were compared with field sampling data. 【Results】 The population parameters of 24 bootstrap-match life tables constracted based on the 0.5th percentile of R₀ and 0.5th percentile of λ were highly consistent with those of the original life tables. The bootstrap-match life table of G. molesta without diapause period showed significant differences in finite rate of increase (λ), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and mean generation time (T) compared to the life table with a 180-d diapause period, but there were no significant differences in net reproductive rate (R₀) and mean fecundity (F). Ignoring the diapause period in population growth prediction would overestimate the growth potential of field populations, and result in an unrealistic rapid increase. The life table including a 180-d diapause period with reduced fecundity and increased mortality of overwintering larvae, however, could generate the population structure close to the field observations. 【Conclusion】 This study presented a technique to independently collect data of immature and adult stages, and then constructed a complete life table by using TWOSEX-MSChart with 100 000 bootstrap-match resamplings. Computer simulations based on the age-stage, two-sex life table can then be used to predict the growth of pest populations, which will be helpful to determine the optimal timing of effective pest management programs for sustainable agricultural development.

N⁶-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most abundant internal modification on eukaryotic mRNA and non-coding RNA (ncRNA), which is involved in many biological processes by influencing RNA metabolism. Since its discovery in 1974, m⁶A modification has been reported to regulate alternative splicing, translation, nuclear export, localization and stability of RNA and so on at post-transcriptional levels. However, it is a lack about the systematic and comprehensive review on m⁶A methylation modification of insect RNA. In this article, we reviewed the regulatory mechanisms of m⁶A modification elements, the detecting techniques for studying m⁶A modification, and the functions of m⁶A modification in the important biological process of neural development and function, growth and development, phenotypic plasticity, sex determination and stress response in insects. In addition, we analyzed the shortcomings and limitations about the present research and proposed research areas in the future research directions and applications in insects to be further explored. Studying the mechanism and function of insect m⁶A modification can not only contribute to the breeding of economic insects with good economic traits, environmental adaptability and disease resistance, but also provide a scientific basis for plant resistant breeding and effective control of pests and diseases.

 【Aim】 This study aims to explore the relationship between the changes in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity and gene expression of COX subunits SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 in Sitodiplosis mosellana and diapause development, so as to provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the energy metabolism mechanism of diapause of S. mosellana. 【Methods】 The SmCOX activities in S. mosellana larvae at different stages in the natural diapause process including pre-diapause, diapause, post-diapause quiescence and post-diapause development were measured using a COX assay kit. The full-length cDNA sequences of SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 were cloned using RT-PCR and RACE techniques, and analyzed by bioinformatics. qPCR technique was used to detect the expression pattern of SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 in the diapause process of S. mosellana. 【Results】 The SmCOX activity in larvae of S. mosellana in the diapause stage significantly decreased as compared to that in larvae in the pre-diapause stage, remained low level in larvae throughout the diapause stage, significantly increased in larvae in the post-diapause quiescent stage, and increased again in larvae in the post-diapause developmental stage which was significantly higher than those in larvae in the diapause and post-diapause quiescent stages. The open reading frames of SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 (GenBank accession number: PP466915 and PP466916, respectively) obtained were 1 536 and 660 bp in length, respectively, and contained more than 75% A+T base. SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 encoded the proteins of 511 and 220 amino acids with the predicted molecular weight of 57.70 and 25.76 kD, respectively. The amino acid sequence analysis indicated that SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 contained the classical REDOX copper coenzyme factors (CuA and CuB) and heme-containing metal centers heme a and heme a3 of mitochondria COX catalytic core. SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 displayed the highest amino acid sequence identity and the closest relationship to corresponding homologues from Orseolia oryzae (Cecidomyiidae). qPCR result showed that the expression levels of SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 exhibited significant difference in the diapause process of S. mosellana. The expression levels of SmCOX1 and SmCOX2 in larvae in the pre-diapause and post-diapause developmental stages were the highest, followed by those in larvae in the post-diapause quiescence stage, and those in larvae in the diapause stage were the lowest, showing the change trend basically consistent with the activity change of SmCOX. 【Conclusion】 The decrease of SmCOX activity and SmCOX1/2 expression during the diapause of S. mosellana were closely related to low oxygen consumption in diapause stage, while their increase was closely related to more energy demand in the diapause termination and post-diapause developmental stages.

【Aim】 Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to perform single-target knockout of Spodoptera frugiperda doublesex ( Sfdsx), this study aims to explore the effect of Sfdsx on the wing development of male adults of S. frugiperda. 【Methods】CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology was used to knock out the female and male common region of Sfdsx in embryos of S. frugiperda and construct Sfdsx mutant. After pupation, the differences in the morphological characteristics of pupa and adult wings of the Sfdsx mutant were observed.【Results】 The Sfdsx mutant of S. frugiperda exhibited significant male-biased sex ratio (female∶male=0∶14), and the genital pores on the 8th-9th abdominal segments of its male pupae were severely twisted. The wing traits of the male adult mutant tended to be neutral in sex, in which，the renal patches in the center of the forewing were deformed, the black spots at the end of the wing disappeared, and the wing scales were arranged in disorder. The hind wings were deformed in wingspan, the arrangement of wing scales changed, and small black spots developed.【Conclusion】CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the common region of Sfdsx led to wing deformation of male adults of S. frugiperda. The results of our study provide an ideal gene target and theoretical basis to modulate the development of S. frugiperda through sterile insect technology (SIT).

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to agricultural and forestry industries, people’s health, public facilities and biodiversity. Its extreme aggressiveness and strong environmental adaptability make the control of this species a significant challenge. As a soil-dwelling social insect, S. invicta relies primarily on its developed chemical communication system. S. invicta uses a variety of semiochemicals as carriers to efficiently transmit information with other organisms inside and outside nests, thereby coordinating the behavior of ant colonies and completing important life activities. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of the chemical communication of S. invicta may help to timely control the spread of this species. In this article, we focused on the chemical communication system of S. invicta, summarizing the regulatory roles of various important semiochemicals inside and outside the colonies of S. invicta in the social behaviors of ant colonies, including the trail pheromone and alarm pheromone of S. invicta during foraging and dealing with dangers, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs)-based individual recognition inside and outside nests and necrophoric behavior, the ability of interspecies eavesdropping to other organisms and the queen pheromone for regulating the development direction of larval ants. We also reviewed and summerized the contemporary applications and problems of S. invicta semiochemicals, with the aim of providing a theoretical reference for its green prevention and control.

 【Aim】The bootstrap technique has been widely used to estimate the variances, standard errors, and confidence intervals of life table parameters, while the paired bootstrap test (PBT) has been used to compare the differences in life table parameters between treatments. In our research, we present life tables of Helicoverpa armigera reared on corn grains and tea leaves as an example to further explain the application of set theory, Cartesian products, and multinomial theorem in research on pest population biology. 【Methods】 Age-stage, two sex life table was used to analyze the population parameters of H. armigera reared on corn grains and tea leaves. A population statistical analysis was presented in an explicitly mathematical way using set theory, Cartesian products, and multinomial theorems in order to detect all possible bootstrap samples, to accurately compute the confidence intervals of the population parameters as well as the confidence intervals of the differences between treatments, and to compute the probability of fertile and sterile samples. 【Results】 The preadult survival rate, intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R₀), and mean generation time (T) of H. armigera reared on tea leaves were significantly lower than those of H. armigera reared on corn grains, indicating that tea leaf is not a suitable host plant for H. armigera. Because of the large number of sterile samples of the H. armigera population reared on tea leaves, the difference in the population parameters between the original cohort and estimated one was less than 5% when the bootstrap technique was applied and both fertile and sterile samples were accepted. If only fertile samples were accepted in the bootstrap sampling, the results were significantly different from the original values, and there would be obvious errors (>5%). The use of the Cartesian paired test (CPT) to compare differences in R₀ between H. armigera populations fed on the two kinds of foods allowed the calculation of precise confidence intervals for all possible differences in the bootstrap sampling results of the two treatments, whereas the use of the paired bootstrap test usually resulted in an overestimated or underestimated confidence intervals, especially when the number of bootstrap samples was small. The multinomial theorem could reveal the results of bootstrap sampling for both fertile and infertile and kept the bootstrap sampling records for further application in subsequent analysis. 【Conclusion】This study further clarified the mathematical foundation of two-sex life table theory, and also provided mathematical support for the application of life table techniques in entomological research.