【Aim】 In order to provide new actinomycete resources for the development of  antimicrobial drugs, actinomycetes with antimicrobial activity from the gut of Blaps  rynchopetera were explored. 【Methods】 Actinomycetes were isolated from the gut of B.  rynchopetera adults by using dilution coating method and selective culture method. With six  pathogenic bacteria methieillin-resistant Staphylococus aureus, S. aureus, Escherichia  coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and three  pathomycetes Aspergillus niger, Penicillium expansum and Canidia albicans as the indicator  strains,the antimicrobial activities of secondary metabolites of actinomycetes were tested  by Oxford cup method. Subsequently, 16S rRNA sequence analysis was performed to identify  the 18 strains of actinomycetes with significant activity through molecular biological  method and construct a phylogenetic tree. 【Results】 A total of 176 strains of symbiotic  actinomycetes were isolated from the gut of B. rynchopetera adults. Preliminary  antimicrobial screening showed that among them 46 actinomycete strains had different  degrees of antimicrobial activities. Some actinomycetes exhibited broad-spectrum  antimicrobial activity, with their inhibition zone diameters larger than those of the  positive control drugs. Eighteen actinomycete strains with the inhibition zone diameter  larger than 15 mm were selected for molecular identification, and the results showed that  they were Streptomyces spp. 【Conclusion】 There are abundant actinomycete resources with  antimicrobial activity in the gut of B. rynchopetera. 

The age-stage, twosex life table,called two-sex life-table for short, is an important theory and an analytical tool that are commonly used in population ecology and pest management. The user-friendly TWOSEX-MSChart program, which had been designed based on the twosex life table theory to help researchers for data analysis in insect population studies, has been more and more widely used by increasing numbers of scientists around the world. There are many statistical techniques and computer simulations embedded in the TWOSEX program, and the bootstrap technique is one of the major procedures included in the program. In this article, we describe the principles, methods, advantages/disadvantages, and the application of the bootstrap technique in the twosex life table analysis, as well as the application of the multinomial theorem in life table research. Compared with the general statistics, the bootstrap technique can be used to estimate and infer the distribution characteristics of data without the assumption of data distribution. In the twosex life table analysis, the bootstrap technique can not only be used to estimate the population parameters or the variances and standard errors of general statistics, but also to be used to assess the differences between treatments by paired bootstrap test to accurately show the population variability. The same bootstrap samples can be used to calculate the hatching rate and the contribution of different reproductive forms to population parameters, and to link the life table and predation rate analysis of natural enemies for an accurate analysis of the reproduction and predation potential of natural enemies. In addition, we also introduce the multinomial theorem, i.e., the mathematical basis of the bootstrap technique. The application of the multinomial theorem demonstrates that stable and reliable estimates can be obtained by using the bootstrap technique. We also elaborate the necessity of considering the ineffective bootstrap samples in the life table research. In recent years, although the twosex life table and the bootstrap technique had been widely adopted in research, few reports discussed the principles and methodology involved. This article will help interested researchers in entomology and ecology understand the basic theories and principles of the bootstrap technique and the multinomial theorem, and their application in twosex life table analysis, so as to better apply them in the related scientific research projects.

 The halteres in dipteran insects evolved from the hindwings and play an important  role in flight. The sensilla at the base of halteres detect the inertial force and provide  feedback to motor neurons that subsequently balance body during flight. The haltere of  insects is developed from imaginal disc and regulated by the HOX gene (Ultrabithorax, Ubx).  Mature haltere is composed of two layers of epithelial cells. The bulb is filled with  vacuolar cells, while the base possesses various sensilla. Interestingly, the halteres  controlled by independent muscles move antiphase relative to ipsilateral wing. However, the  winghaltere coordination is essential for departure and maintaining balance. Recently,  the navigation principles of halteres have been increasingly applied in bionics, and  navigation devices of aircrafts have been developed based on the structure and functions of  halters of flies. In this article we reviewed the progress in the research on the  development, morphological structure, function and bionics application of halteres with the  goal of providing a theoretical basis for further understanding the developmental  meachanisms and biological functions of halteres in insects.

【Aim】 The solitary wasp, Anterhynchium flavomarginatum is one of the most  important natural enemies for the control of agricultural and forestry pests. This study  aims to investigate the oviposition strategy and behavioral responses of A. flavomarginatum  to parasitism pressure, so as to provide a basis for the biological control of agricultural  and forestry pests. 【Methods】 During the three years (2018-2020), the oviposition  strategy of A. flavomarginatum and its relationships with parasite pressures were  investigated by using artificial trap-nests set according to kilometer-grid protocol  (N=100 1-km² grids) in the Chebaling National Nature Reserve and its surrounding areas,  Guangdong Province. The number of brood cells, sex ratio and parasitism in each trap-nest  were recorded, and the length, innerdiameter, and architecture of each trap-nest were  measured as well. 【Results】 During 2018-2020, we obtained 3 733 trap-nests and 9 269  brood cells with up to 1 420 brood cells parasitized. A. flavomarginatum laid an average of  2.50±1.25 eggs and constructed 1.84±1.14 non-brood cells per trap-nest with a  male-biased sex ratio (male∶female=1.98∶1). For each nest-trap, offspring females tend  to be laid in inner brood cells, while offspring males tend to be laid in outer brood  cells. Structural equation model showed that both the inner diameter and the length of trap -nest positively affected the number of brood cells per trap-nest. The length of  trap-nest also significantly positively affected the number of non-brood cells per trap- nest. However, both the number of brood cells and non-brood cells had a significantly  negative influence on the parasitism rate. Meta-analysis of the sex arrangement pattern of  offspring showed that number of offspring females in the innermost part of trap-nest was  significantly higher than that in the outermost part, while the parasitism rate in the  innermost part of trap-nest was significantly lower than that in the outermost part.  【Conclusion】 Our results provide sound evidence that oviposition strategy by A.  flavomarginatum can help to improve its reproductive fitness, since this species tends to  lay more eggs in trap-nests to reduce the parasitism risk and to improve the survival of  offspring females by adjusting the sex allocation pattern of offspring within each  trap-nest.

 Fat body is a multifunctional organ in insects, similar to the liver of vertebrates, and is distributed in the abdomen, thorax and even the head cavity of insects, with the abdominal fat body being the most developed. The fat bodies of honeybees can be divided into two types, peripheral fat body and perivisceral fat body, and are composed of trophocytes, urocytes and oenocytes. As in other insects, the fat body plays an important role in life activities in honeybees, and its morphology and function vary with the developmental stage, season, and division of labor. The structure of fat body is relatively simple, but its physiological function is very complex. The major function of fat body is the storage and metabolism of energy substances. Fat body is not only a central storage pool of nutrients (i.e., lipids, carbohydrates and proteins) for honeybees, but also an intermediate station for nutrient metabolism, with a variety of enzymatic systems for the interconversion of energy and substances, undertaking the supply of metabolic water and synthesizing purines and pyrimidines and many important proteins. At the same time, fat body is the exchange center for various hormonal and nutritional signals during insect development and behavior regulation, and fat body hormones and nutritional signals are involved in regulating fat body development, nutrient metabolism, reproduction and labor division in honeybees. Fat body has a variety of functions including energy storage and release, biosynthesis and catabolism, regulation of nutrient perception, integration of metabolic signals, endocrine regulation, immunity and detoxification, magnetic field perception, improved cold resistance, and protection of organs in the body cavity. Given the important roles of the fat body, a review of the research progresses in the morphology and function of honeybee fat body can provide references and ideas for the analysis of insect nutritional signaling pathways, highquality bee species breeding and control of honeybee diseases.

【Aim】 This study aims to test the applicability of four analytical methods,  including automatic barcode gap discovery (ABGD), generalized mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC),  Bayesian Poisson tree processes (bPTP), and Bayesian phylogenetics and phylogeography (BPP)  with fragments of two genes, mitochondrial COI and nuclear CAD, in the molecular species  definition of Meloidae insects. 【Methods】 Eighteen meloid morphologic species widely  distributed in northern China and belonging to six genera (Hycleus, Mylabris, Epicauta,  Lytta, Megatrachelus, and Meloe) were sampled. The molecular species definition was carried  out based on COI, CAD, and concatenated COI+CAD sequence data sets by using ABGD, GMYC,  bPTP, and BPP. The molecular species definition results by using different methods were  compared with that by the morphological identification, respectively. 【Results】 The  molecular species definitions based on the COI+CAD concatenated sequence data sets were  consistent with the morphological identification results, those based on COI sequences with  the ABGD and GMYC methods were also consistent with the morphological identification  results, while the number of species identified by using bPTP was more than that by  morphological identification. The definition results based on CAD sequences by using all  three single-gene species definition methods except GMYC were partially different from the  morphological identification results. 【Conclusion】 The molecular species definitions of  Meloidae based on multi-gene concatenated sequences and multiple methods are better than  those based on single gene fragment or single definition method. The results of this study  provide data support and reference for molecular species definition and integrative  taxonomy of the family Meloidae.

【Aim】 This study aims to determine the morphological and biological characteristics including developmental duration and adult fecundity of Trigonotylus coelestialium, so as to provide a theoretical basis for its prediction and scientific control. 【Methods】 T. coelestialium was bred with corn grains at the filling stage as the food under the indoor natural variable temperature (22.0-28.1℃) and the constant temperature of 25℃, respectively, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, central China during September-October, 2021, and the morphological characteristics of T. coelestialium at different developmental stages were observed and recorded. The biological indexes including the duration of different developmental stages, survival rate, adult longevity and female oviposition quantity were measured. 【Results】 The egg mass of T. coelestialium is deposited in the inner glume of corn grain. The egg is cylindrical and slightly curved to one side. The antennae of the 1st instar nymphs are reddish, and the red color becomes obvious with the increase of nymphal instar. At the 5th instar nymphal stage, three clearly visible red longitudinal lines appear on the 1st segment of antennae. The 3rd instar nymphs have evident wing buds. The ovipositor of the female adult is long valvular and lies flat in the groove of genital segments. Under the indoor natural variable temperature, the egg duration of T. coelestialium was 6.27 d with the egg hatching rate of 89.90%, the 1st-5th instar nymphal duration was 2.80, 2.33, 2.70, 2.77 and 3.90 d, respectively, and the total nymphal duration was 14.50 d with the total nymplal survival rate of 85.97%. The pre-oviposition period of female adult was 4.43 d, the oviposition duration was 13.93 d, and a total of 82.55 eggs in 19.47 egg masses were produced by a single female under the indoor natural variable temperature. Under the constant temperature of 25℃, the egg duration of T. coelestialium was 7.73 d with the egg hatching rate of 81.13%, the 1st-5th instar nymphal duration was 2.17, 1.90, 1.77, 1.90 and 2.93 d, respectively, and the total nymphal duration of T. coelestialium was 10.67 d with the total nymphal survival rate of 71.84%. The pre-oviposition period of female adult was 4.17 d, the oviposition duration was 11.27 d, and a single female laid 72.22 eggs in 21.17 egg masses under the constant temperature of 25℃. 【Conclusion】 The morphological characteristics of the 1st antennal segment of the 5th instar nymph and adult of T. coelestialium can be used to distinguish it from other species of Trigonotylus. The developmental characteristics of the wing bud of T. coelestialium can be used to distinguish its nymphal stage. Variable temperature prolongs the nymphal duration and adult longevity of T. coelestialium, and increases its egg laying capacity and egg hatching rate.

【Aim】 Taking the cave cricket, Tachycines asynamorus, as an example, this study  aims to explore the structural adaptation relationship of digestive system and excretory  system of cave crickets to living environment. 【Methods】 The structures of midgut and  Malpighian tubules of T. asynamorus were explored by anatomical methods, paraffin section,  frozen section and ultrathin section. 【Results】 Three gastric caeca of midgut of T.  asynamorus extend forward to enclose a proventriculus. The midgut epithelia consist of  regenerative cells, columnar cells, and endocrine cells, with typical niches of  regenerative cells. Closed endocrine cells are usually located in the periphery of the  niches and a large number of secretory granules are gathered in the basal region of  endocrine cells. There are two kinds of large secretory granules in columnar cells, linear  clump-like ones and spherical ones with high electron density. In the lumen of the midgut,  there is a distinct peritrophic matrix. The base of the midgut is composed by the basal  lamina and muscle layer. Malpighian tubules are joined to the digestive tract at the  junction of the midgut and the hindgut. The transverse section of the Malpighian tubules  contains 3-5 cells. There are a vast number of long microvilli in the apical side of the  cells, facing the lumen. Numerous concentrically layered spherites with dense electrons  were observed in the cells. In the basal regions of the epithelial cells, there are  numerous basement membranes which form membrane labyrinth by infolding. 【Conclusion】In  the midgut of T. asynamorus, the linear clump-like secretory granules in columnar cells  are wrapped by microfilaments. The endocrine cells from the niche stem cell produce  endocrine granules, and then excrete the endocrine granules into the hemocoel. The midgut  basal lamina including glycoconjugates and microfilaments develops well and provides  support for intestinal peristalsis by supporting midgut epithelial cells. A large number of  particles and concentrically layered spherites exist in the Malpighian tubule cells of T.  asynamorus, implying their functions of storage and excretion.

【Aim】 This study aims to establish the adult antennal transcriptome database of  Lytta caraganae, and explore and identify genes of olfactory-related odorant-binding  proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) in its adult antennae. 【Methods】  Transcriptome analysis of adult antennae of L. caraganae was performed on Illumina HiSeq  platform. Assembled genes were annotated by alignment against public databases NR, NT, KO,  Pfam, Swiss-Prot, GO and KOG. OBP and CSP genes of L. caraganae were screened according to  the annotation results. Structural characteristics and evolutionary relationship of OBP and 
CSP genes were analyzed by ClustalX 1.83 and MEGA 7.0 software, respectively. The  expression levels of OBP and CSP genes in female and male adult antennae of of L. caraganae  were determined by qRTPCR. 【Results】 A total of 51 028 transcripts and 41 998 unigenes  were obtained from the adult antennal transcriptome of L. caraganae. Gene annotation  results showed that L. caraganae genes have the highest match (87.3%) to those of  Tribolium castaneum. Twenty-wo OBP genes and seven CSP genes were screened. Sequence  alignment result showed that 13 LcarOBPs are classified into classic OBPs， which contain  six conserved cysteine residues. Phylogenetic tree showed that LcarOBPs and LcarCSPs show  the highest amino acid sequence identity with OBPs and CSPs of Hycleus cichorii and H.  phaleratus, respectively, indicating the closest evolutionary relationship. qRT-PCR  results showed that two LcarOBP genes and two LcarCSP genes were highly expressed in the  male adult antennae of L. caraganae, while ten LcarOBP genes and two LcarCSP genes highly  expressed in the female adult antennae. 【Conclusion】 The OBP and CSP genes in adult  antennae of L. caraganae have been identified for the first time, providing a theoretical  basis for further study on the mechanism of olfactory recognition in L. caraganae.

 【Aim】 The phytophagous piercing-sucking insect saliva protein participates in the regulation of plant defense response against insects and affects insect adaptability to host plants. The aim of the present study is to clone the important salivary protein gene Nl15 in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, and to investigate its temporal and spatial expression patterns, so as to clarify its roles in virulence o f N. lugens. 【Methods】 Based on the transcriptome data of IR56 population of N. lugens, the cDNA sequence of Nl15 was cloned from N. lugens by RT-PCR, and subjected to bioinformatics analysis. The expression profiles of Nl15 in different developmental stages (egg, 1st-5th instar nymph, and female and male adult) and female adult tissues (head, thorax, abdomen and leg) of TN1 and IR56 populations of N. lugens were determined by qPCR. The RNAi of Nl15 was carried out by dsRNA microinjection into the 4th instar nymphs of TN1 and IR56 populations of N. lugens. The relative expression levels of Nl15 in N. lugens nymphs after RNAi of Nl15 and defense-related genes OsLecRK4, OsMPK10, OsWRKY24, OsLox, OsNPR1, and OsGns5 in rice plants fed by N. lugens nymphs for 3 d following RNAi of Nl15 were detected by qPCR. The survival rate and the honeydew amount and body weight gain of N. lugens adults after RNAi of Nl15 were determined by bioassay. 【Results】 The cDNA sequence of Nl15 (GenBank accession no.: OK181113) of N. lugens was cloned. It has an open reading frame of 1 008 bp in length, encoding 335 amino acids with the predicted isoelectric point of 7.54 and the molecular weight of 38.7 kD. The Nl15 protein contains a signal peptide sequence of 23 aa and a predicted glycosylation modification site, whereas has no transmembrane domain and other known functional domains. Nl15 shares 45% amino acid sequence identity with the homologous protein from Laodelphax striatellus. Developmental expression profile revealed that Nl15 was expressed in various developmental stages of N. lugens, with the highest expression level in the 3rd-4th instar nymphs. Tissue expression profile showed that Nl15 exhibited the highest expression level in the head of female adults of N. lugens, with a higher expression level in the head of IR56 population than in the head of TN1 population. RNAi results showed that the expression level of Nl15 in ds Nl15 injection group was significantly down-regulated by 89.5%, the survival rate and the honeydew amount and body weight gain of adults of N. lugens were significantly decreased, and the expression levels of the above six rice defense-related genes were significantly up-regulated as compared to those in the control group (ds GFP injection group). 【Conclusion】 Nl15 in IR56 population of N. lugens is involved in the interaction of defense and counter defense between N. lugens and rice. This study provides insights into the mechanisms by which N. lugens overcomes resistance genes and the molecular network of interactions between insects and plants.

Computer simulation of the dynamics of insect populations is very important for the prediction of population growth and pest management. In this article, we introduced the use of computer simulations to predict the population dynamics, fluctuation of predation, parasitism and feeding, timing of pest control, and variability of simulation based on the age-stage, two-sex life table. Using the life table program TWOSEX-MSChart and predation rate program CONSUME-MSChart to analyze the life table data and predation data, the results can then be used in the simulation program TIMING-MSChart to project the stage structure of the population dynamics, and the changes in the predation, parasitism and consumption capacities of population. Based on the population dynamics, computer simulation can be used to predict the damage caused by the pest population, predation capacity of predator and parasitism capacity of parasitoid. These data can then be used to plan the timing and frequencies of pesticide application in chemical control, and to predict the timing and number of natural enemies to be released in biological control. Furthermore, the uncertainty of population growth can be predicted by using the life table constructed based on 2.5, 97.5 and other percentiles generated through bootstrap technology. Computer simulations based on the age-stage, two-sex life table can predict the growth of pest populations and the optimal timing for chemical and biological control to achieve an economical and efficient integrated pest management, thus providing theoretical and technical support for sustainable agriculture.

Insect symbionts are microorganisms that establish enduring and sustained associations with insect hosts. These microorganisms inhabit the body surface, gut, hemocoel, or intracellular cells of insects, participating in the regulation of various physiological functions of their host insects. Research on insect-symbiont interactions involves multidisciplinary collaboration. In-depth exploration of the functions of insect symbionts and their interactions with hosts not only advances our understanding of fundamental mechanisms in the life sciences but also introduces innovative perspectives and methods for pest management, vector-borne disease control, and optimal utilization of beneficial insects. In recent years, Chinese researchers have made noteworthy progress in the insect microbiome and got significant achievements in many research directions. In this article, we provided an overview of the most recent research progress in insect symbionts, introduced the main contents of this special issue, and proposed three noteworthy research directions: (1) the functions of insect intracellular symbionts; (2) the mechanisms by which insects regulate the abundance and transmission of symbionts; and (3) genetic modification and application of insect symbionts.

【Aim】 The genetic differentiation research is an important link to understand the morphological diversity and adaptive evolution of honey bees. It is a prerequisite for the determination of the bioresource management unit and the protection unit and helps to protect the genetic resources of honey bees. This study aims to study the genetic differentiation and genetic resource distribution of the Asian honey bee, Apis cerana across the geographical environment in China by analyzing morphological differentiation. 【Methods】 A total of 6 147 worker bees of A. cerana were collected from 102 sampling sites across the complete distribution area of A. cerana in China. Sixty worker bees of each sampling site from 10-20 colonies were dissected and 33 morphological characteristics associated with the wings, individual size, hind leg, and body color were measured. A multivariate morphometric analysis was conducted and clusters with their morphological traits and distribution patterns were identified. 【Results】 According to the cluster results of discriminant analysis and principal component analysis, A. cerana in China can be divided into 14 morphological clusters. Five clusters with smaller body size were identified. Hainan cluster had the smallest body size, followed by South Yunnan cluster, Taiwan cluster, Southern cluster, and Northern cluster. These five clusters were significantly different in proboscis length, forewing length, the structure of the 3rd submarginal cell in the forewing, body color, and the length of the wax plate. Changbai cluster had the largest cubital index, wax plate size, and width of the stripe of tomentum on tergite 5. However, Bomi cluster of Tibet had the smallest width of the stripe of tomentum on tergite 5 in China. Northwest cluster had the longest hind legs. Five clusters in the West Sichuan Plateau were characterized by larger individuals and black body color. Batang cluster had the smallest cubital index (3.0169) and the largest individual size in China. The cubital index of the Aba cluster was inferior only to that of the Changbai cluster, and the wing lengths and the sizes of sternite 7 were the largest. Derong cluster was the darkest. Yajiang cluster was unique in wing vein angles (A4, N23, E9 and J10 were the smallest and B4 the largest). Chuandian cluster had the smallest body size on the Western Sichuan Plateau. 【Conclusion】 In this study, the morphometric analysis of A.  cerana was conducted based on collection of samples across the complete distribution area of A. cerana in China, especially those from Bomi of Tibet, Taiwan Province, and the Western Sichuan Plateau. Fourteen clusters of A. cerana were obtained in China, including Hainan cluster, southern Yunnan cluster, Changbai cluster, Taiwan cluster, Bomi cluster, Aba cluster, Batang cluster, Derong cluster, Yajiang cluster, Chuandian cluster, Chuangui cluster, Northwest cluster, Southern cluster, and Northern cluster. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the protection and exploitation of genetic resources of A. cerana in China.

Aim】 This study aims to explore the oviposition preference of Serangium  japonicum to tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) varieties with different densities and types  of leaf trichomes. 【Methods】 We selected four tomato varieties including Zhenmu 101,  Minfenying 1, Zhenmu 301 and Yiseliechaojijingang as the host plants of S. japonicum,  observed the microstructure of the abaxial leaf surface (ALS) under scanning electronic  microscopy, and counted the types and densities of leaf trichomes on the ALS. We determined  the proportions of eggs laid by female adults of S. japonicum on leaf discs and plants of  the four tomato varieties bearing Bemisia tabaci eggs, the offspring and adult performance  such as the development, fecundity and predation capability, and attachment force of S.  japonicum on the leaves of the four tomato varieties, the preference of female adults of S.  japonicum to the odours from healthy leaves and B. tabaci-infected leaves of the four  tomato varieties, and the risk of egg cannibalism on leaf discs and plants of four tomato  varieties. 【Results】There are type Ⅱ, type Ⅲ and type Ⅴ non-glandular trichomes, and  type Ⅰ, type Ⅳ, type Ⅵ and type Ⅶ glandular trichomes on the ALS of four tomato  varieties, and type Ⅴ trichomes have the highest density. Yiseliechaojijingang has the  lowest density of leaf trichomes among the four tested tomato varieties. S. japonicum  preferred to lay eggs on the tomato variety Yiseliechaojijingang. The fecundity of S.  japonicum on the tomato varieties Yiseliechaojijingang, Zhenmu 101 and Minfenying 1 (165- 223.92 eggs per female) was significantly higher than that on the tomato variety Zhenmu  301 (28.09 eggs per female). S. japonicum offspring had the shortest developmental  duration (egg to adult duration) (15.73 d) on Minfenying 1, while had the longest  developmental duration (23.00 d) on Zhenmu 101. However, the proportions of S. japonicum  eggs laid on the four tomato varieties had no significant correlation with the offspring  and adult performance, but were positively correlated with the risk of egg cannibalism. The  proportions of S. japonicum eggs laid on the four tomato varieties had no significant  correlation with the attachment force and the density of leaf trichomes on the ALS. The  densities of the seven types of trichomes were significantly different among the four  tomato varieties. The density of type Ⅰ glandular trichomes was negatively correlated with  the fecundity (number of eggs laid per female in 30 d) of S. japonicum, but the density of  the other six types of trichomes had no correlation with the offspring and adult  performance of S. japonicum. The female adults of S. japonicum had no obvious preference to  odours from the four tomato varieties. The proportions of eggs consumed by cannibalistic S.  japonicum on leaf discs and plants of the four tomato varieties were significantly  different. 【Conclusion】Female adults of S. japonicum prefer to lay eggs on leaves of  tomato varieties with low density of leaf trichomes, and tomato glandular trichomes have  great influence on the life activities of S. japonicum adults.

【Aim】 This study aims to compare the effects on the toxicities of chlorfenapyr  and tolfenpyrad and the activities of their protective enzymes, detoxifying enzymes and so  on in Frankliniella occidentalis and F. intonsa adults under different CO₂ concentrations,  so as to provide guidance for the resistance management of thrips to chlorfenapyr and  tolfenpyrad under elevated CO₂ and timely adjustment of pest management strategies.  【Methods】 The toxicities ［medium lethal concentration (LC₅₀ value) and sublethal  concentration (LC₂₅ value)］ of chlorfenapyr and tolfenpyrad to adults of the two thrips  under the ambient CO₂ concentration (400 μL/L) and the elevated CO₂ concentration (800  μL/L) were determined by dipping method. The activities of protective enzymes ［superoxide  dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT)］, detoxifying enzymes  ［carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 enzyme  system (CYP450)］ and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) in adults of the two thrips exposed to  LC₂₅ of chlorfenapyr and tolfenpyrad for 48 h under the two CO₂ concentrations were  determined with enzymatic activity assay. 【Results】 The LC₅₀ values of chlorfenapyr  against F. occidentalis and F. intonsa adults in 48 h under the 800 μL/L CO₂ concentration  were 1.33 and 0.37 mg/L, respectively, which were 0.68 and 0.66 times those under the  400 μL/L CO₂ concentration, respectively. The LC₂₅ values of chlorfenapyr against F.  occidentalis and F. intonsa adults in 48 h under the 800 μL/L CO₂ concentration were 0.60  and 0.24 mg/L, respectively, which were 0.61 and 0.83 times those under the 400 μL/L  CO₂ concentration, respectively. The LC₅₀ values of tolfenpyrad against F. occidentalis and  F. intonsa adults in 48 h under the 800 μL/L CO₂ concentration were 1 002.64 mg/L and 247 .66 mg/L, respectively, which were 0.98 and 0.78 times those under the 400 μL/L CO₂  concentration, respectively. The LC₂₅ values of tolfenpyrad against F. occidentalis and F.  intonsa adults in 48 h under the 800 μL/L CO₂ concentration were 368.77 and 146.10 mg/L,  respectively, which were 2.44 and 1.21 times those under the 400 μL/L CO₂ concentration,  respectively. The activities of the tested enzymes (except CYP450) in adults of both thrips  exposed to LC₂₅ of chlorfenapyr and tolfenpyrad for 48 h under the 800 μL/L CO₂  concentration were higher than those under the 400 μL/L CO₂ concentration, and the  activities of SOD, POD, CAT and AChE in F. occidentalis adults were significantly higher  than those in F. intonsa adults under the two CO₂ concentrations. Under the two CO₂  concentrations, the activities of protective enzymes (except SOD in F. intonsa under 400 μ L/L CO₂) in adults of both thrips exposed to LC₂₅ of tolfenpyrad were significantly higher  than those in the control (treatment with distilled water containing 0.1% Tween-80), and  the activities of SOD and CAT in F. occidentalis adults were the highest, being 39.74±1. 59 and 37.93±1.31 U/mg pro, respectively. After being exposed to LC₂₅ of chlorfenapyr and  tolfenpyrad for 48 h under the two CO₂ concentrations, the CarE activities in F.  occidentalis adults were significantly decreased, while those in F. intonsa adults  increased as compared to those in the control, with significant difference after treatment  with tolfenpyrad, the AChE activities in adults of both thrips were significantly enhanced  as compared to those in the control under the two CO₂ concentrations. 【Conclusion】  Elevated CO₂ directly enhances the efficacy of insecticides to F. occidentalis and F.  intonsa, while F. intonsa is more susceptible to these two insecticides than F.  occidentalis, and F. occidentalis shows stronger adaptability to these two insecticides  than F. intonsa.

【Aim】 The horned-gall aphid, Schlechtendalia chinensis, is the major  productive species of Chinese gallnuts. Understanding the biological characteristics and  population dynamics of its overwintering nymphs under the condition of soilless moss in the  field will provide a basis for further reducing the mortality of overwintering nymphs and  increasing the yield of Chinese gallnuts. 【Methods】 The overwintering nymphs of S.  chinensis were reared in the field on the host moss Plagiomnium maximoviczii which was  planted on the non-woven fabrics. Mosses with S.chinensis at different developmental  stages were collected regularly and brought back to the laboratory. The behavioral habits,  morphological characteristics, population dynamics and instar distributions of S. chinensis  nymphs during overwintering were investigated using a digital microscopic system. The  thickness and coverage rate of P. maximoviczii duringtheoverwinteringperiodwere measured as  well. 【Results】 Autumn migrants of S.  chinensis reproduce ovoviviparously. The nymphs of S. chinensis excrete wax at the base of  phyllidia of P. maximoviczii and wrap themselves individually to form wax balls where they  feed and overwinter. Usually there is a single nymph in a wax ball. The body color of  nymphs from the 1st instar to the 4th instar deepens gradually from light yellow to dark  brown. The body length and width of nymphs increased with the nymphal instar, from 552.92± 16.95 and 294.70±11.52 μm of the 1st instar nymphs to 1 205.25±10.75 and 593.15±7 .66 μm of the 4th instar nymphs, respectively. During the overwintering period, the  population density of nymphs dropped from 131 000 aphids/m² in mid-October to 10 500  aphids/m² in next March. The total mortality rate was as high as 91.98%. The developmental  progress of overwintering nymphs was irregular and closely related to the changes of local  temperature. The thickness and coverage rate of the moss layer increased gradually during  overwintering of S. chinensis nymphs. 【Conclusion】 The body length and body width may be  used as the main indicators for the identification of different instars of overwintering  nymphs of S. chinensis. The total mortality rate of overwintering nymphs of S. chinensis in  the field is very high, and the mortality rates during the early overwintering stage and  the middle host-transferring stage are higher than those during the other stages.

 As one of the important branches of entomology, insect development and immunity, facing the national demand and scientific frontier, has made great achievements in solving major pest disasters and human health through multidimensional research. Meanwhile, the progress of new biotechnology has greatly promoted the research of insect development and immunity by deepening and widening our understanding of insect development and immune defense. Articles in this special issue of “Insect growth and development and immunity” reflect well the current status and features of research on insect development and immune in China. The growth and development part covers all developmental stages from egg to adult, mainly focusing on the signal transduction, and the immunity part focuses on biological interactions. In the context of big data, more efforts will be made to combine traditional and modern techniques, and strengthen cooperation, thus making the research branch play a greater role in pest control, insect resource utilization, and food security.

【Aim】 This study aims to assess the selective toxicity of six neonicotinoid insecticides and one novel insecticide triflumezopyrim to Thrips hawaiiensis and its natural enemy Orius strigicollis so as to provide a basis for the combined control of T. hawaiiensis using O. strigicollis and insecticides. 【Methods】 The acute toxicity of six neonicotinoid insecticides including imidacloprid, dinotefuran, flupyradifurone, imidaclothiz, nitenpyram and thiamethoxam, and triflumezopyrim to T. hawaiiensis adults and the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis was determined using the residual film method, and their exposure risks to the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis were assessed. 【Results】 The median lethal rates (LR₅₀ values) of these seven insecticides to T. hawaiiensis adults were lower than their maximum recommended field application rates. The LR₅₀ value of imidaclothiz to T. hawaiiensis adults was the lowest (0.183 g a.i/hm²), significantly lower than those of the other insecticides, whereas those of flupyradifurone and triflumezopyrim were 3.066 and 3.949 g a.i/hm², significantly higher than those of other insecticides. The LR₅₀ values of the two nitenpyram formulations 20% nitenpyram SL and 10% nitenpyram AS to T. hawaiiensis adults were 0.327 and 0.201 g a.i/hm², and those of the two thiamethoxam formulations 70% thiamethoxam WG and 25% thiamethoxam WG were 0.970 and 0.685 g a.i/hm², respectively. The toxicity of nitenpyram and thiamethoxam in different formulations and with different contents to T. hawaiiensis adults was significantly different. The LR₅₀ values of the tested six neonicotinoid insecticides to the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis were lower than their maximum recommended field application rates, while that of triflumezopyrim to the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis was higher than its maximum recommended field application rate. The toxicity of triflumezopyrim to the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis was the lowest, with the LR₅₀ value of over 65.736 g a.i/hm², and that of imidacloprid and dinotefuran followed, with the LR₅₀ values of 21.317 and 24.486 g a.i/hm², respectively. Imidacloprid, dinotefuran, and triflumezopyrim showed high selective toxicity to T. hawaiiensis adults and the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis. The risks of imidacloprid and triflumezopyrim to O. strigicollis adults were acceptable in two exposure scenarios in- and off-field. However, the risks associated with imidaclothiz and thiamethoxam to the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis were unacceptable. 【Conclusion】 T. hawaiiensis adults have extremely high sensitivity to six neonicotinoid insecticides and triflumezopyrim. Imidacloprid and triflumezopyrim exhibit low risks to the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis, and triflumezopyrim has high compatibility with O. strigicollis. The combination of triflumezopyrim with O. strigicollis shows a promising potential for the management of T. hawaiiensis.

【Aim】This study aims to preliminarily clarify the molecular mechanism of  diapause in Gomphocerus sibiricus eggs through screening diapause genes and metabolic  pathways of the eggs.【Methods】 Transcriptome sequencing was performed on G. sibiricus  eggs at different developmental stages ［early developmental stage (ES), diapause stage  (DS), and post-diapause developmental stage (PS)］, with the Illumina NovaSeq 6000  sequencing platform. The diapause-associated pathways of G. sibiricus eggs were predicted 
by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, and analyzed by cluster heat map analysis combined with  literature reports to screen diapause-associated genes. qRT-PCR was used to verify six  important genes of the screened diapause-associated genes. 【Results】 In the DS vs ES and  PS vs DS comparative groups, 12 419 and 4 789 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were  enriched, respectively, and most of them were up-regulated. A total of 2 206 DEGs of the  two comparative groups were mainly related to glucose metabolism, environmental stress and  growth and development. The most significant enrichment of GO items in the DS vs ES group  was protein binding. The GO items in the PS vs DS group mainly included enzymatic activity,  cytoskeleton construction and protein binding. Diapause-associated genes were mainly  involved in Wnt signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, cell cycle pathway and insect  hormone biosynthesis pathway. The expression trends of the six important  diapause-associated genes were consistent with the transcriptome data. 【Conclusion】 In  this study, important metabolic pathways that regulate diapause of G. sibiricus eggs were  preliminarily identified, and a total of 20 diapause-associated genes were screened out,  laying a foundation for further study on the adaptation mechanism of this species.

【Aim】 The objective of this study is to reveal the impacts of Wolbachia on the  egg hatching of hybrids of two sibling tea geometrids and the underlying mechanism.  【Methods】 A subset of Ectropis grisescens larvae were fed with fresh tea leaves soaked in  2.5 mg/mL tetracycline solution for 1 min to remove Wolbachia. E. grisescens populations  without Wolbachia were established after being fed with tetracycline-treated tea leaves  for three generations. E. obliqua adults were hybridized with E. grisescens adults with and  without Wolbachia to produce hybrids for the investigation of the impacts of Wolbachia on  the egg hatching. The iTRAQ technique was used to detect and analyze the differences in  sperm proteins between E. grisescens with and without Wolbachia. 【Results】 When Wolbachia  was removed from E. grisescens, the egg hatching rates of hybrids between E. grisescens and  E. obliqua were significantly increased from 3.92% to 56.20%, indicating that Wolbachia  induced cytoplasmic incompatibility. Results of differential sperm proteins analysis showed  that a total of 128 proteins were confirmed to have significantly different expression  levels in sperms of E. grisescens with and without Wolbachia. According to the KEGG  database, 45 differential proteins were enriched in 106 pathways, including sphingolipid  metabolism, salivary secretion, lysosome, sphingolipid signaling, sphingolipid  biosynthesis, etc. Among them the expression levels of ceramidases and phosphatases related  to ceramide synthesis in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway were significantly  up-regulated. 【Conclusion】 The symbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia, mediates the prezygotic  reproductive isolation between the two sibling tea geometrids through cytoplasmic  incompatibility, leading to a significant decrease in the egg hatching rate of hybrids. The  observed cytoplasmic incompatibility may be attributable to the modification of the male  sperm proteins caused by the impacts of Wolbachia on the sphingolipid metabolism pathway.

Insect vectors cause significant economic losses and human casualties worldwide each year by transmitting parasites and viruses such as malaria, Zika virus, and dengue. Agricultural pests cause huge losses of crop yield every year and seriously threaten global food security. However, the current control methods based on chemical agents are insufficient to completely control the occurrence and damage of pests. At the same time, the use of chemical pesticides will induce resistance and result in environmental pollution and pesticide residues, etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new pest control strategies in production. In recent years, with the development of genome sequencing and gene editing techniques, the genetic control technology for the target pest population and their specific target genes has been rapidly developed. Compared with traditional pest control methods such as chemical control, genetic control strategies for pests have the advantages of species specificity, environmental friendliness, and efficient control. In this article, we reviewed several widely studied genetic control techniques for pests, including sterile insect technique (SIT), release of insects carrying a dominant lethal (RIDL), and gene drive (GD) technology. Finally, we presented several prospects for the research of genetic control technology for pests and its application in agricultural pest control: (1) to establish stable and efficient genetic manipulation systems; (2) to identify efficient promoters in germ cells or other tissues to improve the efficiency of gene editing or gene transformation; and (3) to elucidate the sex determination pathway of pests and excavate the key genes involved in the reproductive development of pests.

【Aim】To evaluate the toxicity and ecological risks of the formulations of seven neonicotinoid insecticides to the 7-spot ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata, so as to provide a reference for scientific use of neonicotinoid insecticides and protection of C. septempunctata.【Methods】The acute toxicity of the formulations of seven neonicotinoid insecticides, including 10% imidacloprid WP, 40% acetamiprid SP, 50% dinotefuran WP, 50% clothianidin WG, 40% imidaclothiz WG, 17% flupyradifurone SL and 25% thiamethoxam WG to the 2nd instar larvae of C. septempunctata was determined by using the method of residual film in glass tube, and the ecological risks of these insecticides were assessed. The solutions of the seven insecticides were prepared according to the maximum recommended field application rate, and sprayed on potted plants in the greenhouse to investigate the larval survival rate of C. septempunctata.【Results】The results of the indoor experiments showed that the acute toxicity of the seven neonicotinoid insecticides to the 2nd instar larvae of C. septempunctata was ranked in a descending order: 40% acetamiprid SP>40% imidaclothiz WG>10% imidacloprid WP>50% dinotefuran WP>50% clothianidin WG>25% thiamethoxam WG>17% flupyradifurone SL. The pot experiment in the greenhouse showed that the larval survival rates of C. septempunctata at 7 d after treatment with the seven insecticides at the maximum recommended field application rate were 10.00%-77.50%, and the highest larval survival rate of C. septempunctata was tested in the treatment with 25% thiamethoxam WG, while the lowest survival rate was observed in the treatment with 40% imidaclothiz WG. The results of ecological risk assessment showed that for a single application, the risk of 40% acetamiprid SP was unacceptable with the hazard quotient value in the farm (HQ_in) of more than 5, and those of the other pesticides were acceptable with the HQ_in values of less than 5. The hazard quotient values for crop or vegetable field outside the farm (HQ_{off crop or vegetable}) and for fruit tree garden outside the farm (HQ_{off fruit tree}) of these insecticides to C. septempunctata were less than 5, indicating that the risk is acceptable. After the second spray after 7 d, the risks of 40% acetamiprid SP and 50% dinotefuran WP were unacceptable with the HQ_in values of more than 5, and those of the other insecticides were acceptable with the HQ_in values of less than 5. The HQ_{off crop or vegetable} and HQ_{off fruit tree} values of the other insecticides except 40% acetamiprid SP were less than 5, indicating that the risks of these insecticides are acceptable.【Conclusion】Acetamiprid and dinotefuran should not be used twice continuously and be used in rotation in order to avoid harm to C. septempunctata.

【Aim】 Under short and long light photoperiod, the mature larvae of Carposina  sasakii undergo diapause and non-diapause development, respectively. This study aims to  interfere with the diapause of C. sasakii by using the ecdysone analog methoxyfenozide so  as to lay a foundation for the new control technologies for C. sasakii. 【Methods】 The 20E  titer dynamics in C. sasakii during larvae diapause and non-diapause developments were  measured by ELISA. The interference effect of methoxyfenozide (0.05, 0.1, 1, 2, 5, 7.5  and 10 mg/mL) and 20E (0.5 and 1 mg/mL) on the cocoon formation of C. sasakii was  determined using the sandblast method with pure water as the control. The effects of 5  mg/mL methoxenozide and 1 mg/mL 20E sandblasting treatments on the 20E titer of C. sasakii  were measured, and the effect of sandblasting with 0.1 and 5 mg/mL methoxenozide on the  diapause of C. sasakii were investigated subsequently. 【Results】 There was no difference  in 20E titer in the developmental process between diapause and non-diapause larvae of C.  sasakii under two photoperiods (15L∶9D and 12L∶12D), and both gradually decreased with  the increase of instar and reched the lowest when they escaped off fruits. However, the 20E  titer in non-diapause larvae escaping off fruits under long photoperiod (0.473 ng/g) was  significantly higher than that in diapause larvae escaping off fruits under short  photoperiod (0.254 ng/g). The non-diapause developmental larvae entered the long cocoon  pupation after defruiting, and the 20E titer increased significantly and maintained a high  level (0.652-1.217 ng/g) in the pupal stage. The diapause developmental larvae entered the 
round cocoon diapause after defruiting, and the 20E titer slowly increased in the first  four days, reaching the first peak (0.656 ng/g) on the 4th day, then decreased and then  increased again, reaching the 2nd peak (0.790 ng/g) on the 8th day. With the entry of  diapause stabilization period, the 20E titer gradually decreased. After 70 d, the diapause  was relieved, and the 20E titer remained at a low level. The lowest titer (0.424 ng/g) of  diapause period was reached on the 90th day, and then the 20E titer began to rise.  Methoxyfenozide at the concentration of 0.05 mg/mL could interfere with the formation of  diapause round cocoons of C. sasakii larvae escaping off fruits under short photoperiod,  and the LD₅₀ value of methoxyfenozide to mature defruiting larvae of C. sasakii was 7.039  μg/individual. Both methoxyhydrazine and 20E at the concentration of more than 0.05 mg/mL  sprayed on the sand surface could effectively interfere with the formation of diapause  round cocoons of C. sasakii, and 20E showed higher interference activity than  methoxyfenozide at the same concentration of 1 mg/mL. Both of them could make the diapause  larvae produce long cocoon, abnormal cocoon and non-cocooning reaction, and the 20E titer  in abnormal cocoon and non-cocooning larvae increased significantly. The percentages of  cocooning failure in 5 mg/mL methoxyfenozide and 1 mg/mL 20E sand spraying treatments were  70.0% and 66.7%, respectively. The 20E titers in abnormal cocooning larvae significantly  increased by 16.3% and 143.0%, respectively. The 20E titers in non-cocooning larvae  significantly increased by 149.3% and 278.6%, respectively. Although some larvae could  form round cocoons after being exposed to 0.1 mg/mL methoxyfenozide, the proportion of  larvae successfully completing diapause and eclosion reduced, and the eclosion rate was  only 20.8%. 【Conclusion】 The 20E titer in C. sasakii keeps a low titer during the  diapause process, and a higher titer is needed in the reproductive developmental stage.  Moreover, methoxyfenozide and 20E can interfere with its diapause state forming round  cocoons. The increase range of 20E titer is consistent with the change of cocooning  phenotype, and 20E shows higher interference activity than methoxyfenozide at the same  concentration. Methoxyfenozide reduces the proportion of larvae successfully completing  diapause.

Thrips are important pests of agricultural and horticultural crops, causing  enormous economic losses by direct feeding and indirect transmission of the  plant-pathogenic virus. Plant secondary metabolites play a pivotal role in plant-insect  interactions. The manipulation of insect behavior using plant secondary metabolites to  protect crop plants from pest infestation is a promising eco-friendly control tactic. In  this article, plants, plant extracts, essential oils and chemical compounds that have  attractive, repellent, oviposition and feeding deterrent effects, fumigation toxicity and  toxic activities to thrips were reviewed, and the potential of plant secondary metabolites  for thrips management was discussed. Volatiles or essential oils from 54 plant species in  27 families, 29 benzenoids, 17 pyridines and 13 terpenes are attractive to thrips and could  be used as trap plants and attractants. Volatiles or essential oils from 40 plant species  in 17 families, 20 terpenes and 6 benzenoids show repellency against thrips and could be  used as repellent plants and repellents. Extracts or essential oils from 42 plant species  in 20 families, 6 alkaloids, 15 terpenes and 5 benzenoids have oviposition and feeding  deterrent effects, fumigation toxicity and toxic activities to thrips, and could be  developed into botanical pesticides and fumigants. Finally, current problems of plant  secondary metabolites in thrips management, such as unstable effects, lack of field  application technology and unclear muchamisms, were discussed, and potential research  directions were prospected, which are of great significance to thrips management based on  plant secondary metabolites.

Our research group previously found that destruxin A interacts with the hemocytin of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and strongly suppresses hemolymph immunity, suggesting that hemocytin may become a novel target for pesticide. Therefore, it is necessary to further understand hemocytin. Hemocytin, as a lectin, is an important factor in insect hemolymph immunity to mediate the process of coagulation, nodulation and encapsulation and prevent hemolymph spillage and microbial invasion caused by epidermal breakage, as well as be involved in the fixation and removal of invaded pathogens. Insect hemocytin generally consists of 3 000-4 000 amino acids with multiple and repeatedly arranged domains including FA58C (coagulation factor 5 or 8 C-terminal), VWD (von Willebrand factor type D), TIL (trypsin inhibitor like cysteine rich), VWC (von Willebrand factor type C), CT (C-terminal cystine knotlike), C8 (8 conserved cysteine residues), ChtBD2 (chitin-binding domain type 2), and MUC (mucin-2 protein WxxW repeating region). The amino acid sequence similarity of hemocytin between different insects is quite low, but the domain sequence is highly conserved. Hemocytin is biosynthesized by hemocytes and secreted into the hemolymph in mature form. Hemocytin is the main component of blood clot, forming soft clot by coagulating hemocytes and clotting factors through its fibrous structure to seal the wound, and then forming hard clot and scab through crosslinking. Hemocytin plays an important role in the process of nodulation and encapsulation, agglutinating hemocytes, immune factors and pathogens, and finally combining with melanization to isolate and kill pathogens. Overall, insect hemocytin has not been studied in depth. Analysis of the molecular mechanism of hemocytin regulation of insect immunity is important to enrich the basic research of insect immunology and promote the development of new insecticides based on hemocytin as the target.

【Aim】 The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta, is a newly invaded  devastating pest in China, causing severe damage to tomatoes. However, the current status  of insecticide resistance in newly invaded T. absoluta populations in China has not been  reported. The objective of this study is to clarify the susceptibility of the field  populations of T. absoluta from Xinjiang and Yunnan to six commonly used insecticides and  its relationship with the activities of detoxification enzymes. 【Methods】 Laboratory  toxicities of six frequently used pesticides to the 2nd instar larvae of Xinjiang and  Yunnan populations of T. absoluta were tested by using leaf-dip method. The synergistic  effects of three synergistic agents including the  CYP450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide  (PBO), the esterase inhibitor triphenyl phosphate (TPP) and the GST inhibitor diethyl  maleate (DEM) on chlorantraniliprole were determined in the bioassay against the 2nd instar  larvae of T. absoluta, and the activities of detoxification enzymes including cytochrome  P450-dependent monooxygenase (CYP450), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and  carboxylesterase (CarE) in the 2nd instar larvae of the laboratory susceptible population  and resistant field population (Xinjiang population) of T. absoluta were determined by  enzyme activity assay, to ascertain the relationship of insecticide resistance with  detoxification enzyme activities. 【Results】 The susceptibility of Yunnan population of T.  absoluta to the six insecticides from high to low was emamectin benzoate, chlorfenapyr,  spinosad, indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, and beta-cypermethrin, while that of Xinjiang  population to the six insecticides from high to low was emamectin benzoate, chlorfenapyr,  chlorantraniliprole, spinosad, indoxacarb, and beta-cypermethrin. Compared with the  laboratory susceptible population, both Yunnan and Xinjiang populations showed the highest  level of resistance to chlorantraniliprole, with the resistance ratios of 212.7 and 169.3,  respectively. The bioassay results revealed that the three synergistic agents PBO, TPP and  DEM showed no obvious synergistic effect on chlorantraniliprole. The enzyme activity assays  showed that the activities of CYP450, GST and CarE in the 2nd instar larvae between the  laboratory susceptible population and resistant field population of T. absoluta were not 
significantly different. 【Conclusion】 Both Xinjiang and Yunnan populations of T. absoluta  show different levels of resistance to the tested six pesticides, with the highest  resistance level to chlorantraniliprole, and the insecticide resistance of T. absoluta is  unrelated to the activities of detoxification enzymes. The results of this study provide  valuable information for the field control and insecticide resistance management of T.  absoluta.

【Aim】 Juvenile hormone acid methyl transferase (JHAMT) is the key  rate-limiting enzyme in the juvenile hormone (JH) synthetic pathway. This study aims to  screen and verify the miRNAs targetedly regulating the transcription of JHAMT, and to  eveal the important action mechanism of miRNAs in JH biosynthesis in Drosophila  melanogaster. 【Methods】 MiRNAs targeting JHAMT in D. melanogaster were predicted using  online websites miRanda, TargetScan and microT-CDS, and those predicted by all the three  websites were selected as the miRNA candidates targeting JHAMT. The targeted relationship  between candidate miRNAs and JHAMT were verified using a dual luciferase assay system. The  expression profiles of miRNA and JHAMT during D. melanogaster development were detected by  qRT-PCR. The effects of miRNAs on the JHAMT expression and metamorphosis in D.  melanogaster were tested by overexpressing miRNA in the corpora allata using qRT-PCR and  the fly GAL4-UAS system, respectively. 【Results】 A total of 5, 18 and 16 miRNAs  targeting JHAMT were predicted by miRanda, TargetScan and microT-CDS, respectively, and  four miRNAs including miR-252-5p, miR-277-3p, miR-1002-5p and miR-987-5p were  coincidentally predicted by these three algorithms. Dual luciferase assay results showed  that miR-252-5p mimics significantly decreased the luciferase activities of wild-type  JHAMT 3′UTR luciferase reporter, and the suppression effect was compromised when the miR- 252-5p binding sites within the 3′UTR of JHAMT were mutated. qRT-PCR results showed that  miR-252-5p and JHAMT displayed opposite expression patterns in egg, larval and prepupal  stages of D. melanogaster, and overexpression of miR-252 in the corpora allata  significantly decreased the expression levels of JHAMT and the JH primary response gene Kr -h1. Meanwhile, overexpression of miR-252 resulted in similar phenotypes as JH deletion,  such as delayed pupation, reduced pupal size and increased pupal lethality. 【Conclusion】  miR-252-5p affects Drosophila metamorphosis through targeting JHAMT and regulating JH  biosynthesis.

 Sex determination is an outstanding question in developmental and evolutionary biology. The sex determination cascade in most of known insects is: primary signaling element→key gene of sex determination→double switch gene→sex differentiation gene. In spite of this pattern, different insects have different sex determination genes and regulatory mechanisms, especially the primary signaling element of sex determination. Since the primary signal of Drosophila melanogaster was discovered, the primary signal of mosquito, bee, wasp (Nasonia vitripennis), silkworm (Bombyx mori) and other model insects has been determined successively. There are many kinds of primary signals, including the dose of sex chromosomes, male-determining factors (M factors), heterozygosity of alleles and maternal imprinting, which make it more difficult to study non-model insects to some extent. Even so, the downstream regulatory mechanism is relatively conserved. In particular, the transformer (tra)+transformer2 (tra2)→doublesex (dsx)/fruitless (fru) pathway is fairly common in most insects. Tra produces alternative splicing by sensing primary signals, and with the help of tra2, tra regulates the splicing of itself and the downstream dsx and fru, and maintains gender development. Acting as the terminal ‘double-switch’, dsx is the most conserved gene in the insect sex determination cascade. dsx is highly conserved in regulating bisexual development, courtship behavior, genitalia and formation of sexual dimorphism. As a switch gene of Drosophila sexual behavior, fru is involved in regulating almost all male sexual behaviors of Drosophila. Its function has been verified in a variety of insects such as Bactrocera dorsalis, Aedes aegypti and B. mori, and it has become a typical gene for understanding the complex sexual behavior of insects. Understanding the sex determination cascade in insects, and clarifying the function and interaction of each sex determination gene are essential to elucidate the mechanism of sex determination. It provides a theoretical basis for revealing the general law of insect sex determination, and promoting the basic research on the upstream regulatory mechanism of insect sex determination, and realizing the genetic manipulation of insect sex determination.

【Aim】 Eutectona machaeralis mainly feeds on teak, a precious tree species. This  study aims to observe and study the morphology, tissue structure and ultrastructure of the  compound eyes of E. machaeralis adults, and to analyze the structural characteristics of  the compound eyes, so as to lay a foundation for a better understanding of the relationship  between the complex visual behavior and the photosensitive mechanism of this species.  【Methods】 Optical microscope, and scanning and transmission electron microscope  techniques were used to observe the morphology, tissue structure and ultrastructure of  compound eyes of E. machaeralis adults. 【Results】 The compound eyes of E. machaeralis  adults are symmetrical compound eyes, born at the base of head antennae, and ellipsoidal in  shape. The compound eyes of females and males have 2 300-2 755 and 1 950-2 316 ommatidia,  respectively. The ommatidium is hexagonal, its surface is densely covered with corneal  nipples, and there are occasional interfacetal hairs in the gap. Each ommatidium is  composed of one cornea, four crystalline cone cells, one pair of primary pigment cells, six  secondary pigment cells, 12 retinal cells distributed in different horizontal planes, and  basement membrane. The centripetal cell membranes of 11 retinal cells along the  longitudinal axis of the ommatidium are specialized into filamentous microvilli, forming  radially arranged rhabdomere, which combine into a confluent rhabdom. The 12th retinal cell  is located at the base of the ommatidium. Above the basement membrane, the ends of retinal  cells and secondary pigment cells swell up, passing through the basement membrane in the  form of axons. 【Conclusion】 The compound eyes of E. machaeralis are typical superposition  eyes. There are no obvious differences in the arrangement and internal structure of  ommatidia between the female and male adults, but the number and size of ommatidia in  females and males present obvious sex dimorphism.

【Aim】 This study aims to provide data for elucidating the application value of  the body temperature of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, in its management.  【Methods】 At different temperatures in the artificial climate incubators (ambient  temperatures), the body temperature of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instar larvae of P. xylostella  was measured, and the relation equations between the body temperature of various instar  larvae (y) and the ambient temperature (x) were established. Meanwhile, the body  temperatures of the 3rd instar larvae of P. xylostella at different time after treatment  with different concentrations of avermectin, chlorpyrifos, fipronil and cypermethrin,  respectively, at different ambient temperatures were measured. 【Results】 The relation  equations between the ambient temperature (x) and the body temperature (y) of the 2nd, 3rd  and 4th instar larvae of P. xylostella were y＝0.95x+1.19 (r=0.9463), y＝0.95x+1.18  (r=0.9988), and y＝0.93x+1.45 (r=0.9989) with the corresponding isothermal points of 22.16 ℃, 21.40℃ and 21.41℃, respectively. When the ambient temperature was set at 15℃ or 40 ℃, none of the four pesticides changed the body temperature of the 3rd instar larvae of P.  xylostella. However, at the other ambient temperatures, the body temperature of the 3rd  instar larvae of P. xylostella could be changed by pesticide treatment. For avermectin, at  25℃, the body temperatures of the 3rd instar larvae in the 2, 4 and 8 mg/L treatment  groups at 12 h, 2 and 4 mg/L treatment groups at 24 h, 0.5, 2, 4 and 8 mg/L treatment  groups at 36 h and 0.5, 1, 2 and 8 mg/L treatment groups at 48 h were significantly  increased, while that in the 8 mg/L treatment group at 24 h was significantly decreased; at  30℃, those in the 0.5 mg/L treatment group at 24 h and 1 mg/L treatment group at 36 h were  significantly decreased and those in the 1 mg/L treatment group at 48 h and the treatment  groups at various concentrations at 60 h were significantly increased; and at 35℃, only  those in the 1 and 8 mg/L treatment groups at 48 h were significantly decreased as compared  to that in the control. For chlorpyrifos, at 20℃, the body temperatures of the 3rd instar  larvae in the 50, 200 and 800 mg/L treatment groups at 24 h and 100, 400 and 800 mg/L  treatment groups at 36 h were significantly decreased; at 25℃, those in the 100 and 200  mg/L treatment groups at 12 h, 800 mg/L treatment group at 24 h and 100, 200 and 800 mg/L  treatment groups at 60 h were significantly decreased, but those in the 50, 100, 200 and  400 mg/L treatment groups at 24 h, 100 and 200 mg/L treatment groups at 36 h and 100 and  400 mg/L treatment groups at 48 h were significantly increased; and at 30℃, only that in  the 800 mg/L treatment group at 24 h was significantly decreased and those in the 50, 100,  200 and 800 mg/L treatment groups at 60 h were significantly increased as compared to that  in the control. For fipronil, at 20℃, only the body temperature of the 3rd instar larvae  in the 0.5 mg/L treatment group at 36 h was significantly decreased; at 25℃, that in the 4 
mg/L treatment group at 12 h and those in the treatment groups at various concentrations at  60 h were significantly decreased, and that in the 0.5 mg/L treatment group at 24 h and  those in the 0.25, 1 and 2 mg/L treatment groups at 48 h were significantly increased; at  30℃, those in the 0.25 and 0.5 mg/L treatment groups at 12 h, 0.25 and 2 mg/L treatment  groups at 24 h, 4 mg/L treatment group at 48 h and 2 mg/L treatment group at 60 h were  significantly decreased; and at 35℃, only those in the 0.25 and 0.5 mg/L treatment groups  at 60 h were significantly increased as compared to that in the control. For cypermethrin,  at 20℃, the body temperatures of the 3rd instar larvae in the 2 and 8 g/L treatment groups  at 36 h and 4 and 8 g/L treatment groups at 48 h were significantly increased; at 25℃,  those in the 2, 4 and 8 g/L treatment groups at 12 h were significantly decreased and those  in the 0.5, 4, and 8 g/L treatment groups at 24 h, 1, 4 and 8 g/L treatment groups at 36 h,  and 1, 2 and 4 g/L treatment groups at 60 h were significantly increased; and at 30℃,  those in the 0.5 and 1 g/L treatment groups at 12 h, 0.5, 1, 4 and 8 g/L treatment groups  at 24 h and 1, 2 and 8 g/L treatment groups at 60 h were significantly decreased as  compared to that in the control. 【Conclusion】 The autonomic thermoregulation ability of  P. xylostella larvae is comparatively low. Avermectin, chlorpyrifos, fipronil or  cypermethrin treatment can affect the body temperature of the 3rd instar larvae of P.  xylostella, but the effect varies with the pesticide type and concentration, ambient  temperature and treatment time. The results expand the studies on pesticide toxicology and  pest control.

【Aim】 This study aims to analyze the function and molecular mechanism of the  ATP synthase subunit d (ATPs-d) in trehalose metabolism regulating the development and  metamorphosis of Helicoverpa armigera larva. 【Methods】 The open reading frame (ORF) of  HaATPs-d of H. armigera was cloned by PCR, and its sequence and phylogeny were analyzed by  bioinformatics methods. The qRT-PCR was employed to analyze the expression levels of  HaATPs-d in the cuticle, midgut and fat body of the 5th instar larva at the molting stage  and 6th instar larva, and in the fat body and cuticle of the 6th instar larva in response  to 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E)(0.1 mg/mL). The subcellular localization of HaATPs-d in the  Spodoptera frugiperda oocyte line Sf9 cells was studied by fluorescence photography. Yeast  two-hybrid (Y2H) was emplyed to identify the protein interacting with HaATPs-d. The  effects of the HaATPsd knockdown by RNAi on the larval development and metamorphosis, and  soluble trehalase activity and trehalose content in the midgut after injecting dsHaATPs-d  into the 6th instar larva of H. armigera were measured. 【Results】 The H. armigera HaATPs- d (GenBank accession number: LOC110375576) ORF is 525 bp in length and encodes 174 amino  acids. HaATPs-d was highly conservative, and had close relationship to ATPs-d of S.  frugiperda and S. litura. The HaATPs-d expression level peaked in the cuticle of the day- 3 6th instar larva and in the midgut and fat body of the 5th instar larva at the molting  stage. Compared with the control, 20E (0.1 mg/mL) significantly upregulated the expression  levels of HaATPs-d in the fat body and cuticle of the 6th instar larva. HaATPs-d is a  cytoplasmic protein. HaATPs-d directly bound with soluble trehalase of H. armigera.  Knockdown of HaATPs-d in the 6th instar larva of H. armigera resulted in slower larval  development, larval weight loss, increased larval mortality, decreased pupation rate and  adult emergence rate, significantly decreased soluble trehalase activity and significantly  increased trehalose content in the midgut compared with the control group (injected with  dsGFP). 【Conclusion】 HaATPs-d controls the activity of soluble trehalase and trehalose  content in larvae by binding with the soluble trehalase of H. armigera, thus affecting the  sugar source and finally the larval metamorphosis.

【Aim】 This study aims to investigate the biological characteristics of adults and the growth and development of F1 generation of Serangium japonicum at different cold-storage temperatures, so as to determine the optimal cold-storage temperature of S. japonicum adults.【Methods】 S. japonicum adults were stored at different low temperatures (7, 10, 13 and 16 ℃), their survival rates, numbers of eggs laid per female, longevity and daily predation amount against the 4th instar nymphs of Bemisia tabaci, the survival rates and developmental duration of F1 generation of S. japonicum, and the relative expression levels of the heat shock protein genes Hsp70 and Hsp90 in S. japonicum adults were determined at 10 d after storage by qRT-PCR. 【Results】At 10 d after S. japonicum adults were stored at 16 ℃, their survival rate, female and male adult longevity, number of eggs laid per female and daily predation amount, and the survival rate of F1 generation were not significantly different from those of the control stored at 26 ℃ (survival rate: 99% vs 100%; female adult longevity: 110.65 d vs 106.87 d; male adult longevity: 123.12 d vs 108.79 d; number of eggs laid per female: 399.19 grains vs 422.63 grains; daily predation amount: 34.70 individuals vs 31.95 individuals; F1 progeny survival rate: 8039% vs 94.12%); but the developmental duration of F1 generation was significantly shorter than that of the control (17.33 d vs 18.89 d). At 10 d after coldstorage, all S. japonicum adults died when stored at 7 ℃, when stored at 10 ℃, their survival rate and number of eggs laid per female and the survival rate of F1 generation were significantly affected, and when stored at 13 ℃, the number of eggs laid per female was significantly affected. Various cold-storage temperatures induced the up-regulation of the expression levels of both Hsp70 and Hsp90 in S. japonicum adults at 10 d after storage, and the lower the temperature, the higher the relative expression levels. The relative expression levels of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in the treatment group of 10 ℃ were 7.06- and 2.33-fold, respectively, as high as those in the control.【Conclusion】 Combining the above results, the optimum cold-storage temperature for S. japonicum adults is 16 ℃, and the heat shock proteins Hsp70 and Hsp90 may play a protective role in the response to cold stress in S. japonicum adults.

【Aim】 To reveal the relationship between the feeding of Bt proteins by  Spodoptera frugiperda larvae and the changes in the expression levels of related ABC (ATP- binding cassette transporter) genes in the midgut. 【Methods】 Artificial diets containing  Cry1Ab (LC₇₀=240.2 μg/g) or Cry1Fa (LC₇₀=270.0 μg/g) activated crystal protein were  used to feed the 4th instar larvae of S. frugiperda for 48 h, respectively. Transcriptome  sequencing of midgut and bioinformatics analysis were used to screen differentially  expressed genes in the midgut after treatment. RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression  levels of the differentially expressed ABC genes. 【Results】 A total of 1 305 and 1 202  differentially expressed genes were detected in the midgut transcriptome of the 4th instar  larvae of S. frugiperda fed with the artificial diet containing 240.2 μg/g Cry1Ab and  270.0 μg/g Cry1Fa, respectively, compared with those fed with the normal artificial diet  (the control group). There were 994 and 912 differentially expressed genes between the  Cry1Ab and Cry1Fa treatment groups and the control group, respectively, and were annotated  by GO function into three categories biological process, molecular function and cell  component. Among the nine differentially expressed ABC family genes screened, there were  four differentially expressed ABC genes (three up-regulated and one down-regulated)  between the Cry1Ab treatment group and the control group and five differentially expressed  ABC genes (two up-regulated and three down-regulated) between the Cry1Fa treatment group 
and the control group. The expression levels of two ABC genes (LOC118267200 and  LOC118267201) in the Cry1Ab and Cry1Fa treatment groups were significantly up-regulated as  compared to those in the control grpup. RT-qPCR validation results showed that the  expression levels of three and two ABC genes in the Cry1Ab treatment group were extremely  significantly up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively, and those of five ABC genes  and one ABC gene in the Cry1Fa treatment group were up-regulated and down-regulated,  respectively, as compared to those in the control grpup. 【Conclusion】 The intake of  Cry1Ab and Cry1Fa proteins could affect the expression levels of certain ABC family genes  in the midgut of S. frugiperda larvae, and the expression level changes of these genes are  related to pest resistance. After comparison, we found that the expression levels of ABCC  family and ABCG8 genes changed significantly. This study provides a theoretical basis for  further clarifying the role of ABC transporter proteins in the insecticidal mechanism of Bt  proteins in S. frugiperda and the rational use of Bt proteins for controlling S. frugiperda  and delaying resistance.

【Aim】 This study aims to study the population genetic diversity and adaptive evolution of Apis cerana samples from the eastern and southeastern edges of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent areas, so as to provide references for further revealing their genetic resource diversity, population diffusion rules and molecular evolutionary mechanisms of adapting to plateau habitats. 【Methods】 The whole-genomes of 77 colonies of A. cerana samples collected from the eastern and southeastern edges of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent areas were resequenced. The whole-genome reseqeuncing data of the 77 colonies of A. cerana and the reseqeuncing raw data of 90 colonies of A.  cerana downloaded from GenBank database were analyzed using population genetic method based on the population structure, principal component analysis, phylogenetic tree, genetic differentiation index, mitochondrial genome haplotype and selective signal analysis. 【Results】 The 167 colonies of A. cerana were separated into four plateau colonies including colonies from Western Sichuan Plateau, Southern Tibet Plateau, Northern Yunnan Plateau and Northern Sichuan Plateau, which clustered into two clades. The average genetic differentiation index of A. cerana colonies in the plateau region (Fst=0.1178) was higher than that in the non-plateau region ( Fst=0.0411). The analysis of the minimum genetic distance among populations showed that the colonies of Southern Tibet Plateau, Northern Yunnan Plateau and South Yunnan on the southeastern edge had closer genetic relationships. The colonies of Western Sichuan Plateau and Northern Sichuan Plateau on the eastern edge had closer genetic relationship with those of the Western Sichuan Mountain and Qinba, respectively. Combined with the haplotype analysis of the mitochondrial genome, the ancestral haplotype and origin of the plateau populations on the eastern and southeastern edges of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were preliminarily inferred. Through selective analysis, potential selected genes involved in signaling pathways of fatty acid metabolism, phototransduction, temperature adaptation, and ovarian development were identified. Two co-selected genes, ISL-1 and FOXO, were found in the populations of Southern Tibet Plateau and Northern Yunnan Plateau to be mainly involved in insulin secretion in response to cellular stress, suggesting that they play important roles in the adaption of A. cerana to the habitat of the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. 【Conclusion】 The genetic diversity of A. cerana in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is highly abundant, and the colonies of Southern Tibet Plateau and Northern Yunnan Plateau on the southeastern edge and Western Sichuan Plateau and Northern Sichuan Plateau on the eastern edge can be obviously distinguished. The four plateau colonies are geographically isolated after the diffusion of non-plateau populations in adjacent areas, resulting in population differentiation. The 
potential genes of plateau environmental adaptability of A. cerana were identified by preliminary screening. This study lays a basis for further exploring the molecular evolutionary mechanism of the adaptation of A. cerana to plateau habitat.

【Aim】 This study aims to clarify the types and rules of grooming behaviors of  adults of the Chinese citrus fly, Bactrocera minax, so as to provide a theoretical basis  for the development of new targets and effective green pest control strategies to control  B. minax. 【Methods】 The ethogram, average time of one grooming and proportion of  frequencies of grooming behaviors of B. minax adults were analyzed with video technology  and the detection and statistics system of grooming behaviors of B. minax adults based on  computer vision recognition technology. 【Results】 The results showed that the female and  male adults of B. minax have 9 and 8 types of grooming behaviors, respectively, including  foreleg, hindleg, ommateum, antenna, mouthpart, abdomen, wing and midleg grooming for both  female and male, and additional ovipositor grooming for the female. B. minax adults could  optionally transit from non-grooming behaviors to all types of grooming behaviors, or  transit from any type of grooming behavior to non-grooming behavior. There are significant  differences in the proportion of frequencies and the average time of one grooming among all  types of grooming behaviors. The proportions of frequencies of foreleg grooming of female  and male adults (♀: 33.70%±2.53%; ♂: 33.89%±2.43%) and the average time of one wing  grooming of female and male adults (♀: 15.58±2.55 s; ♂: 24.76±4.12 s) were the  highest. 【Conclusion】 The time series of various types of grooming behaviors of B. minax  adults is not fixed, but there are some intrinsic connections among these behaviours.

【Aim】 This study aims to provide the basis at the protein level for exploring the mechanism of nutrient digestion and absorption in termites by comparing the differences in protein composition and expression in the fore-midgut and hindgut contents of  Reticulitermes perilucifugus workers fed with diets with different lignocellulose contents. 【Methods】 R. perilucifugus workers were fed with three diets (pine, straw and filter paper) with different lignocellulose contents. The proteins in contents of different parts of their gut were analyzed by two dimensional (2D) electrophoresis, and the differiential proteins were sequenced and bioinformatically analyzed by MALDI-TOF/MS. 【Results】 The results of 2D electrophoresis showed that the number of visible protein spots in the fore-midgut of R. perilucifugus workers fed with the same diet was significantly higher than that in the hindgut, while those in the fore-midgut and hindgut of workers fed with pine were the highest, those in the fore-midgut and hindgut of workers fed with filter paper followed, and those in the fore-midgut and hindgut of workers fed with straw were the least. The sequencing results of 115 protein points showed that the mainly differential proteins between the fore-midgut and hindgut were proteins with catalytic activity including enzymes related to amino acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, TCA cycle, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis and cellulose degradation and proteins involved in cellular components and signal transduction. 【Conclusion】 The differential proteins in the gut of R. perilucifugus workers fed with different diets are 
mainly proteins with catalytic activity, and proteins involved in cell composnents and signal transduction, indicating that different diets affect the composition of intestinal proteins of R. perilucifugus. These results provide data for revealing the degradation mechanism of lignocellulose in termites.

 【Aim】 Adoxophyes orana is an important insect pest endangering apple, peach,  pear, jujube and other fruit trees. In recent years, the occurrence area of A. orana in the  apple and jujube orchards of Shaanxi has increased by years, causing increasing harm to  fruit production. The objective of this study is to clarify the roles of host-plant  volatiles in the olfactory communication of A. orana adults, so as to provide basic data  for the development of botanical attractants for A. orana. 【Methods】 The  electroantennogram (EAG) responses of the 2-day-old unmatched female and male adults of  A. orana to 51 host-plant volatile compounds were determined using EAG apparatus, and the  behavioral responses of A. orana adults to 15 volatile compounds with strong EAG amplitude  were measured with the device developed by our laboratory for testing the olfactory  behavior of tiny moths. 【Results】 The EAG test results showed that there were significant  differences in the relative EAG response values of A. orana adults to the tested 51  hostplant volatile compounds. Both sexes showed strong EAG responses towards  cis-3-hexen-1-ol, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol, hexanal, (E) -2-hexenal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, butyl acetate, isopentyl acetate and  cis-3-hexenyl acetate. In addition, male adults also displayed strong EAG responses to 3 -methyl-1-butanol, 1-penten-3-ol, benzaldehyde, butyl butyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl  trimethylcrotonate, ethyl hexanoate, butyl propionate, cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate,  benzonitrile and lemonile. Obvious differences existed in the EAG response values towards  29 compounds of the tested 51 volatile compounds between the females and the males, and  female adults showed significantly higher EAG responses to (-)-α-phellandrene and  camphene than males, while male adults exhibited significantly higher EAG responses to the  other 27 volatile compounds than females. When the doses of volatile compounds ranged from  0.02 μg to 20 μg, the relative EAG response values did not increase significantly,  however, when the doses of volatile compounds increased from 20 μg to 200 μg, the  relative EAG values in both female and male adults significantly increased. The olfactory  behavioral tests revealed that the female adults showed obvious preference to hexanal,  heptanal, octanal and cis-3-hexenyl acetate, with the selection rates to them all  exceeding 58%, while the males showed obvious preferences to 1-hexanol, heptanal,  isopentyl acetate and benzonitrile. 【Conclusion】 The unmated male adults of A. orana show  higher sensitivities towards host-plant volatiles in the EAG responses than the unmated  females. 1-Hexanol, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, isopentyl acetate  and benzonitrile have obvious attractancy to female or male adults of A. orana and can be  applied in developing botanical attractants for this pest.

【Aim】 This study aims to clarify the function of vitellogenin receptor (VgR) in  the reproductive development of the tomato moth, Tuta absoluta, so as to provide a  potential target for the green control of leaf miner pests. 【Methods】 Based on the  transcriptomic data of T. absoluta, the full-length cDNA sequence of TaVgR was amplified  by RT-PCR and analyzed by bioinformatics methods. The expression patterns of TaVgR in  different developmental stages (1st-4th instar larvae, 1-7-day-old female pupae, and  female adults) and female adult tissues (head, integument, foregut, midgut, hindgut, ovary,  fat body, and Malpighian tubules) of T. absoluta were examined by RT-qPCR. RNAi was used  to inhibit the expression of TaVgR in female pupae, and the changes in the ovarian  development and fecundity of T. absoluta were observed after silencing of TaVgR. 【Results 】 The cDNA sequence of TaVgR (GenBank accession no.: MZ682118) of T. absoluta was cloned.  It contains an open reading frame of 5 496 bp in length, encoding 1 831 amino acids with  the predicted molecular weight of 206 kD and isoelectric point of 5.17. The deduced protein  of TaVgR has a signal peptide with 18 amino acid residues at the N-terminus and harbours  the typical conserved functional domains of LDLR family proteins. The RT-qPCR results  showed that the transcriptional level of TaVgR gradually rose with the increase of age of  T. absoluta and reached the peak after female adult emergence. TaVgR exhibited the highest  expression level in the ovaries of female adults of T. absoluta. RNAi of TaVgR inhibited  the expression level of TaVgR in the early female pupae by 62.04%-72.55%, led to disruption  of the deposition of yolk protein in the ovary, shortened the lengths of ovarioles and  eggs, and reduced the total number of eggs laid per female adult in 10 d and the egg  hatching rate of offspring, resulting in a decline in fertility. 【Conclusion】 TaVgR is  ighly expressed in female adults and ovaries of T. absoluta. Silencing of TaVgR severely  blocks the ovarian development of T. absoluta and impairs its fecundity. This study lays a  theoretical foundation for the development of new control strategies of lepidopteran pests  with VgR gene as the target.

【Aim】Based on the features that the P2C can be delivered into ovaries and the Gal4 protein can stably bind to the UAS sequence, to establish an efficient non-embryonic exogenous DNA delivery technical system in Anopheles sinensis.【Methods】The recombinant protein P2C-Gal4-DsRed was injected into the abdomen of female adults of A. sinensis at 20 h after sucking blood. The delivery efficiency of the recombinant protein P2C-Gal4-DsRed in the ovaries was analyzed by frozen section fluorescence observation and Western blot. The recombinant P2C-Gal4 DNA BINDING protein was prepared, transgenic plasmid and helper plasmid containing the 12×UAS repeat motif were constructed, and the in vitro binding between the recombinant protein P2C-Gal4 DNA BINDING and 12×UAS repeat motif was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The complexes P2C-Gal4 DNA BINDING recombinant protein+helper plasmid ITF36-12×UAS and P2C-Gal4 DNA BINDING recombinant protein+transgenic plasmid ITF2-12×UAS afm incubated in vitro were injected into the abdomen of female adults of A. sinensis at 20 h after sucking blood, and the DNA of their ovaries was extracted at 40 h after a blood meal. The delivery of exogenous DNA in vivo was analyzed by PCR amplification with specific primers and sequencing. 【Results】The ovaries of 100% female adults of A. sinensis injected with P2C-Gal4-DsRed showed obvious red fluorescence under the green filter, indicating that the P2C-Gal4-DsRed recombinant protein could be efficiently transferred into the ovaries of female adults of A. sinensis. The recombinant P2C-Gal4 DNA BINDING protein could stably bind to the 12×UAS repeat motif and the plasmid containing this repeat motif fragment. Exogenous DNA fragments were detected in the ovarian tissues of 91% and 93% of female adults of A. sinensis injected with P2C-Gal4 DNA BINDINGP2C-Gal4+ITF36-12×UAS and P2C-Gal4 DNA BINDING+ITF2-12×UAS afm, respectively. 【Conclusion】The exogenous DNA delivery technical system based on the P2C ovary-delivering peptide and the Gal4-12×UAS binding property was successfully established in A. sinensis. Through this technology platform, DNA molecules such as plasmids can be conveniently, rapidly and efficiently delivered into the ovaries of A. sinensis, laying a foundation for further simplifying genetic operations such as transgene, overexpression and gene knock-in.

【Aim】 The purpose of this study is to identify the autotomy sites in the German  cockroach (Blattella germanica), and to explore the relationship between autotomy and leg  regeneration of B. germanica, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the study of insect  regeneration. 【Methods】 The healthy nymphs of B. germanica at the 3rd to 6th instars were  selected and amputated separately at 11 sites of the right hindleg, including the proximal  1st segment of tarsus, proximal 2nd segment of tarsus, joint site of tarsus and tibia, one -third, one half and two-thirds from distal tibia, joint site of tibia and femur, one  half of femur, joint site of femur and trochanter, joint site of trochanter and coxa, and  base of coxa. The treated nymphs of B. germanica were observed daily to record whether the  phenomenon of autotomy occurred. And the time and sites of autotomy, and regeneration or  not after molting were also recorded. By using the length of the unamputated left hindleg  as the control, the differences in the regenerated legs between autotomy and without  autotomy in B. germanica were analyzed and compared, and the relationship between autotomy  and leg regeneration was analyzed.【Results】Two autotomy sites were recorded in all the 11  amputation sites of B. germanica nymphs. One autotomy site was at the end of trochanter  when amputation was performed at different parts of tibia, the joint site of tibia and  femur, and one half of femur, the other was at the end of tibia when amputation was  performed at the 1st and 2nd segments of proximal tarsus. There was no autotomy detected in  leg amputation treatments at the other sites. The autotomy sites were decided by amputation  sites but not affected by nymphal instars. At different amputation sites with the same site  of autotomy, there was a positive correlation between the degree of amputation and the  probability of autotomy in the same nymphal instar. While there was a negative correlation  between the nymphal instars and the probability of autotomy when leg amputation was  performed at the same site. Autotomy did not affect whether regeneration happened or not  but influenced the sites of regeneration. When autotomy occurred at the end of trochanter  or at the end of tibia, a completly new leg was regenerated or tarsus was regenerated at  the end of tibia. When autotomy did not happen, regeneration occurred at the amputation  sites. At the same time, the length of the regenerated leg of the individuals under  autotomy was significantly longer than that of the individuals without autotomy, this  phenomenon was more obvious when the leg was amputated at the joint site of tibia and femur  and at two-thirds from distal tibia. It was more coordinated for the proportion of  regenerated legs under autotomy than that without autotomy, and the length of sensilla on  regenerated legs under autotomy was much longer than that without autotomy. 【Conclusion】 B. germanica can optimize the regeneration by autotomy. There are two autotomy sites at the  end of trochanter and the end of tibia, respectively, and the regenerative ability is  strong at these two autotomy sites. B. germanica faces a choice between autotomy and limb  salvage when its leg is amputated: when limb autotomy can optimize the length and sensilla  integrity of the regenerated legs, B. germanica prefers to choose autotomy, while when the  regeneration can not be optimized by autotomy, no autotomy will happen.