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

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

【Aim】To explore the role of heat shock protein Hsp70 genes of Myzus persicae in response to high and low temperature stress. 【Methods】 RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression levels of eight MpHsp70 genes (MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70-2, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70B2, MpHsp68a, MpHsp68b, MpHsc70-4 and MpHsp70) in different wingless adult tissues (head, midgut, embryo and cuticle) and wingless adults under high temperature (36 ℃) and low temperature (4 ℃) stress for different duration (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min), respectively. RNAi was used to silence two key MpHsp70 genes (MpHsp70A1 and MpHsp68a), and the survival rate and number of nymphs produced of wingless adults were observed and calculated at 120 min under high temperature treatment (36 ℃) and 30 min under low temperature treatment (4 ℃).【Results】 The eight MpHsp70 genes were expressed in different wingless adult tissues of M. persicae, and the expression levels of MpHsp70, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70B2, MpHsc70-4 and MpHsp68b in the cuticile were significantly higher than those in the other tissues. The expression levels of MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70-2 and MpHsp68a in the embryo of M. persicae were significantly higher than those in other tissues. High and low temperature stress had significant induction effect on the expression of MpHsp70 genes in wingless adult of M. persicae. The expression levels of MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70-2, MpHsp68a and MpHsp68b all increased and then decreased under 4 ℃ stress, and reached the highest at 30 min under 4 ℃ stress, which were significantly higher than those of the control. Under 36 ℃ stress, the expressions levels of MpHsp70-1, MpHsp70A1, MpHsp70-2, MpHsc70-4, MpHsp68a and MpHsp68b increased first and then decreased. The expression level of MpHsp70-1 reached the highest at 60 min after 36 ℃ stress, and those of the other genes reached the highest at 120 min after 36 ℃ stress. After the silence of MpHsp68a, the survival rate and number of nymphs produced of M. persicae under high and low temperature stress were significantly decreased and those after the silence of MpHsp70A1 under high temperature stress were extremely significantly decreased as compared with those of the control group. 【Conclusion】MpHsp70 genes of M. persicae can respond to high and low temperature stress, and play an important role in the molecular mechanism of resistance to temperature stress of M. persicae.
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【Aim】 To analyze the types, effects and monomer composition of the main natural antioxidant components in the larval body of Bombyx mori, so as to provide a reference for their development and utilization as well as the study of their pharmacodynamic effects.【Methods】 The antioxidant capacity (AC) of the extracts from the leaves of three varieties of mulberry trees (Heyebai, Jisang2 and Boluo), as well as the extracts from excrement and whole larval bodies of the 5th instar of four varieties of B. mori (Jingsong×Haoyue, Dongfei, Cai3 and Cai4) fed on Jisang2 leaves, were tested by the scabenging abilities to free radicals of 2, 2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS) and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Meanwhile, the contents of total flavonoids, total phenols, polysaccharids and 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) in the above extracts were determined by spectrophotometry and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (RP-HPLC-UV) to analyze the main antioxidant active substances from the whole larval body of B. mori. The daily contents of total phenol and the AC for scavenging ABTS radicals (AC_ABTS) in the hemolymph of the last instar larvae (the 4th instar of 3-molter silkworms, the 5th instar of 4-molter silkworms) of six varieties of B. mori (Dongfei, Ansiwuhua, Caigan, 7903, Cai0 and Cai3) were detected. Furthermore, liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) was used for the non-targeted qualitative and quantitative analysis of antioxidant active components in the whole bodies of four varieties of larval B. mori (Jingsong×Haoyue, Dongfei, Cai3 and Cai4) on the last day of the 5th instar and in the leaves of Jisang2. 【Results】The contents of total flavonoids, total phenols and polysaccharids of the extracts from mulberry leaves showed highly significant positive correlations with the AC of extracts from mulberry leaves, and the contents of total flavonoids and total phenols showed highly significantly positive correlations with the AC of extracts from excrement and whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae of B. mori. The AC_ABTS and AC_DPPH of extracts from whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of four varieties of B. mori were ［(22.61±1.37)-(36.70±2.12) mg VC/g］ and ［(16.77±0.47)-(23.43±2.34) mg VC/g］, respectively, which were 1.46-2.38 and 1.81-2.54-fold of those of Jisang2 leaf extracts, and also 0.96-2.27 and 1.23-7.73-fold of those of excrement extracts from the 5th instar larve at the last day of B. mori, respectively. The content of total phenols in the extracts from whole body of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori ［(9-14±0.13)-(13.28±0.78) mg/g］ was close to those of Jisang2 leaf ［(19.74±0.58) mg/g］ and excrement of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori ［(10.19±0.19)-(16.74±0.24) mg/g］, but the contents of total flavonoids and 1-DNJ in the extracts from whole body of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori were significantly lower than those of Jisang2 leaf and excrement  of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori. The above data indicated that total phenols were the main antioxidant components in the extracts from whole body of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori. The daily AC_ABTS value and daily content of total phenols in larval hemolymph from six varieties of B. mori at the last instar were significantly positively correlated, which further confirmed that total phenols are the important antioxidant components of B. mori. A total of 436 metabolites were identified in the whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of four varieties of B. mori and in the Jisang2 leaves. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the differences in the contents of the 436 metabolites could be used to effectively distinguish mulberry leaves from whole bodies of B. mori, and whole bodies of Cai4 from those of the other three varieties of B. mori. The clustering analysis result of 375 differential metabolites showed that the monomers with obviously higher content in the extracts from whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori than those of the Jisang2 leaves, mainly belonged to benzene and its derivatives, organic acids, organic oxygen and organic nitrogen compounds. The specific monomer composition of phenols and amino acids was the main reason that the AC of extract from whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori was higher than those of Jisang2 leaf extracts.【Conclusion】 The present study confirmed that the AC of whole bodies of the 5th instar larvae at the last day of B. mori was higher than that of Jisang2 leaves and B. mori excrement. Phenols are the main natural antioxidants of B. mori. B. mori can selectively absorb and transform the substances of ingested mulberry leaves to form their unique antioxidant components. More importantly, it was discovered that the sequence polymorphism and expression pattern changes of detoxification enzyme genes are the important reasons for causing the differences in the phenolic composition among B. mori varieties. The above results obtained provide a scientific basis for the application and development of natural antioxidant substances of B. mori.

Gall-inducing insects are a category of insects capable of causing abnormal proliferation in parasitized plants, leading to the formation of galls. There are approximately 20 families of gall-inducing insects of six orders worldwide. These insects exhibit a high degree of specificity in their parasitism but can harm multiple parts of their hosts. The most extensively affected and severely damaged part is the plant leaf, and this damage has caused significant economic losses worldwide and disrupted regional ecological balance and the stability of the biological chain. In this article, with six categories of leaf gall-inducing insects, including Cecidomyiidae (gall midges), Cynipidae (gall wasps), Eulophidae (parasitic wasps), Psylloidea (sucking lice), Aphidoidea (aphids) and Eriophyoidea (gall mites) as the focuses, the simple and complex structure of plant leaf galls was summarized. The diversity of gall morphologies on leaves was discussed around three major hypotheses, providing a deeper understanding of the significance of gall structure to leaf gall-inducing insects. The gall midge Dasineura jujubifolia was used as a case study to explore the damage characteristics of leaf gall-inducing insects and to discuss the causes of their damage from a practical perspective. The discussion integrated both existing and potential control measures for leaf gall-inducing insects, both domestically and internationally, including chemical control, agricultural control and biological control as the three major strategies. The six types of gall-inducing insects have distinctive characteristics in terms of their damaging methods, gall formation features, and the completion modes of their life cycles. The different structural composition and hormonal changes of galls correspond to explanations of the nutrition hypothesis, microenvironment hypothesis and natural enemy hypothesis. Based on the current limited research, the formation process of galls is divided into the initial stage, growth stage, maturity stage and emergence stage. A comprehensive discussion was presented on how leaf gall insects can cause changes in multiple factors such as sugars, proteins, lipids and growth hormones in the host plant by secreting specific molecules. The three major characteristics of the damage by leaf gall-inducing insects are its prolonged duration, severe degree and high difficulty in control. The control methods mainly based on chemical control before the emergence stage of adult insects, supplemented by agricultural measures during the forestry period were introduced. At the same time, biological control with natural enemies and biological agents has a broad prospect for development. Research on leaf gall insects in our country still has significant room for development. Their unique way of causing damage suggests a certain trend in the co-evolution between species, which holds substantial economic value and practical significance from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives.

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

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

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

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

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

【Aim】The aim of this study is to investigate the biological function of ABC transporter genes in the development of resistance to indoxacarb in Spodoptera frugiperda, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the comprehensive control of this pest. 【Methods】 Indoxacarb alone and combined with ABC transporter inhibitor verapamil hydrochloride were used to treat the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 and the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH of S. frugiperda by the topical application method, and the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) and the synergistic ratio of verapamil hydrochloride to indoxacarb were calculated at 24 h after treatment. The expression levels of seven ABC transporter genes (SfABCG20, SfABCC2, SfABCF4, SfABCA1, SfABCA5, SfABCG23 and SfABCG9) in the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH and four indoxacarb-resistant populations， including DC-22, CX-22, MY-22 and RH-22, were examined. The highly expressed ABC transporter gene SfABCG23 in response to indoxacarb was silenced through RNAi by injecting dsSfABCG23 into the 3rd instar larvae of DC-22 and WH. The expression level of SfABCG23 was detected by RT-qPCR at 48 h after RNAi, and the mortality was detected at 24 h after exposure to LC₃₀of indoxacarb following RNAi.【Results】Verapamil hydrochloride significantly increased the susceptibility of the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 to indoxacarb, with the synergistic ratio of 1.73. The expression levels of SfABCG23 in the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-resistant populations DC-22 and CX-22 were up-regulated by 2.56- and 4.05-fold, respectively, as compared with that in the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH, and the expression level of SfABCG23 was significantly positively correlated with the resistance ratio, with the correlation coefficient of 0.941. After dsSfABCG23 injection, the gene silencing efficiency was 65.04% and 39.55%, respectively, in the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 and the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH, and compared with the dsGFP-injected control group, the dsSfABCG23 injection increased the mortality of the 3rd instar larvae of the indoxacarb-resistant population DC-22 and the indoxacarb-susceptible strain WH, by 30.55% and 25.00%, respectively, at 24 h after exposure to indoxacarb. 【Conclusion】 The results of this study suggest that ABC transporter genes play an important role in regulating the development of resistance in the indoxacarb-resistant population of S. frugiperda, and the overexpression of SfABCG23 may play an important role in the development of resistance to indoxacarb in S. frugiperda.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

【Aim】 This study aims to enrich the basic information of 14-3-3ζ gene of Apis cerana cerana, so as to provide a reference and basis for its further functional study. 【Methods】 The coding sequence (CDS) of 14-3-3ζ gene was amplified by RT-PCR, followed by TA cloning and Sanger sequencing. The physicochemical properties and molecular features of 14-3-3ζ were predicted using the relevant software, and the phylogenetic analysis of 14-3-3ζ was performed. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of 14-3-3ζ gene in different developmental stages (egg, larva, pre-pupa, pupa and adult), and different tissues (antennae, midgut, fat body, hypopharyngeal gland, brain, cuticle and venom gland) of the newly emerged adult workers of Ap. cerana cerana, as well as in the guts of the 4-, 5- and 6-day-old larvae of Ap. cerana cerana after inoculating the 3-day-old larval workers with Ascosphaera apis.【Results】 The CDS of 14-3-3ζ gene of Ap. cerana cerana was successfully cloned, including 744 nucleotides and encoding 247 amino acids. 14-3-3ζ of Ap. cerana cerana had the molecular weight of about 28.0 kD, included 26 phosphorylation sites, four structural domains and one conserved motif, but had no transmembrane domains and signal peptides. The 14-3-3ζ proteins of Ap. cerana cerana, Ap. mellifera, Ap. laboriosa, Ap. florea, Ceratina calcarata, Bombus pyrosoma, B. terrestris, Megachile rotundata, Osmia lignaria and Habropoda laboriosa all contained four identical conserved motifs and one same structural domain (14-3-3_1). The 14-3-3ζ proteins of Ap. cerana cerana and Ap. mellifera clustered into a single clade on the phylogenetic tree. The expression level of 14-3-3ζ gene in Ap. cerana cerana eggs was significantly higher than those in the 3-day-old larvae, 1-day-old prepupae, 2-day-old prepupae and 4-day-old pupae. The differences in the expression level of 14-3-3ζ gene in various day-old adult workers of Ap. cerana cerana were non-significant. The expression level of 14-3-3ζ gene in the venom gland of the newly emerged adult workers of Ap. cerana cerana was the highest, significantly higher than those in the antennae, midgut, hypopharyngeal gland, brain, cuticle and fat body. Following inoculation of the 3-day-old larval workers of Ap. cerana cerana with As. apis, the expression levels of 14-3-3ζ gene in the 4-, 5- and 6-day-old larval worker guts of Ap. cerana cerana were significantly down-regulated as compared with those in the control group.【Conclusion】 Ap. cerana cerana 14-3-3ζ gene is specifically and highly expressed in the venom gland and egg of worker, and the expression of 14-3-3ζ gene in the larval guts is activated in the process of As. apis infection. 14-3-3ζ is a putative hydrophilic, non-transmembrane and intracellular protein, and highly conserved in Ap. cerana cerana and the above other ten bee species. There is the closest genetic relationship between 14-3-3ζ of Ap. cerana cerana and Ap. mellifera.
Key words: Apis cerana cerana; 14-3-3; molecular features; expression pattern; Ascospaera apis

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

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

【Aim】 To reveal the functions of the cytochrome P450 (CYP450）genes, HcCYP4S47 and HcCYP332A29, in Hyphantria cunea in response to chlorantraniliprole stress.【Methods】The diets containing LC₃₀ (0.06 mg/L) of chlorantraniliprole were fed to the 3rd instar larvae of the laboratory population, northern population (Tieling population from Liaoning), and southern population (Dawu population from Xiaogan, Hubei) of H. cunea via mixing the pesticide into the diets, and the surviving larvae were collected at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after feeding treatment, respectively. The CYP450 activity in the 3rd instar larvae of H. cunea was determined. The expression levels of HcCYP4S47 and HcCYP332A29 in the 3rd instar larvae of the three geographical populations after exposure to 0.06 mg/L of chlorantraniliprole were analyzed using RT-qPCR. Additionally, HcCYP4S47 and HcCYP332A29 in the 3rd instar larvae of the three geographical populations were silenced by RNAi technology, and the expression levels of target genes were detected by RT-qPCR after dsRNA injection. The diets containing 0.06 mg/L of chlorantraniliprole were fed to the gene-silenced 3rd instar larvae of the three geographical populations, and the survival rates of H. cunea larvae were recorded at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h after feeding.【Results】 After exposure to 0.06 mg/L of chlorantraniliprole, the CYP450 activities in the 3rd instar larvae of the northern and southern populations of H. cunea were higher than those in the laboratory population at four treatment time points (6, 12, 24 and 48 h). Specifically, the CYP450 activity in the 3rd instar larvae of the northern population in the chlorantraniliprole treatment group exhibited the highest levels at 24 and 48 h after treatment, while that in the 3rd instar larvae of the southern population in the chlorantraniliprole treatment group peaked at 12 and 24 h after treatment. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that HcCYP4S47 and HcCYP332A29 belong to the CYP4 and CYP3 subfamilies, respectively. The expression levels of HcCYP4S47 and HcCYP332A29 were significantly higher in the 3rd instar larvae of the northern and southern populations than those in the 3rd instar larvae of the laboratory population. After exposure to 0.06 mg/L of chlorantraniliprole, the expression levels of HcCYP4S47 and HcCYP332A29 were significantly up-regulated in the 3rd instar larvae of the laboratory population as compared to those in the control group, peaking at 12 h post treatment. The expression levels of HcCYP4S47 in the 3rd instar larvae of the southern and northern populations were significantly down-regulated at 6, 12 and 48 h after chlorantraniliprole treatment, that in the northern population was significantly up-regulated and that in the southern population showed no significant change at 24 h after chlorantraniliprole treatment, as compared to that in the control group. The expression level of HcCYP332A29 in the 3rd instar larvae of the northern population in the chlorantraniliprole treatment group was significantly decreased at 6 and 12 h, but significantly up-regulated at 48 h, as compared to that in the control group. The expression level of HcCYP332A29 in the 3rd instar larvae was significantly decreased at 6 and 12 h after chlorantraniliprole treatment but significantly up-regulated at 48 h after chlorantraniliprole treatment as compared to that in the control group. In the 3rd instar larvae of the southern population, the expression level of HcCYP332A29 was significantly down-regulated at 6 h after chlorantraniliprole treatment, followed by a significant increase at 12 and 24 h. Silencing HcCYP332A29 and HcCYP4S47 increased the susceptibility of the 3rd instar larvae of H. cunea to chlorantraniliprole. 【Conclusion】 HcCYP332A29 and HcCYP4S47 play crucial roles in the response of H. cunea to chlorantraniliprole stress.

【Aim】 Picromerus lewisi is a significant predatory natural enemy insect distributed in multiple countries of Asia, such as China, Korea and Japan, primarily used for controlling lepidopteran pests. Venom plays a crucial role in causing rapid paralysis and death of preys during hunting. The aim of this study is to understand the transcriptomic characteristics of the venom glands of P. lewisi, explore the diversity of toxins in P. lewisi, and establish a foundation for further research on the composition and function of the venom in P. lewisi.【Methods】Transcriptome sequencing was conducted on the venom glands of adults and the 5th instar nymphs of P. lewisi collected from Qianxinan Prefecture, Guizhou Province using the high-throughput Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The resulting data were annotated using the NR, NT, Pfam, KOG/COG, Swiss-Prot, KEGG and GO databases. Gene expression in the venom gland samples of P. lewisi was assessed using the FPKM method, and DESeq was employed for the differential expression analysis of venom gland transcriptomes between adult and the 5th instar nymph. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the adult and the 5th instar nymphal venom gland transcriptomes were screened using the criteria of |log₂(Fold change)|>1 and P<0.05, followed by GO functional enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the identified DEGs. The 33 215 transcripts obtained from the sequenced venom gland transcriptomes of adults and the 5th instar nymphs of P. lewisi were subjected to BLAST comparisons in the UniProt database.【Results】Transcriptome sequencing of the venom glands of adults and the 5th instar nymphs of P. lewisi assembled to 22 242 unigenes with an average length of 949 bp. A total of 15 364 unigenes were annotated to the NR, NT, Pfam, Swiss-Prot, GO, KOG/COG and KEGG databases, corresponding to 10 closely related species including three species of true bugs and two species of spiders. A total of 344 DEGs were screened between the venom gland transcriptomes of adults and the 5th instar nymphs of P. lewisi, with 218 genes up-regulated and 126 genes down-regulated. A total of 443 sequences encoding 33 distinct types of toxin-related proteins were identified.【Conclusion】The transcriptome data from the venom glands of both the 5th instar nymphs and adults of P. lewisi were sequenced and obtained in this study. Differential proteins between the venom gland transcriptomes of adults and the 5th instar nymphs were screened, and sequences associated with toxin proteins were identified. This research lays a theoretical foundation for the identification of components in the venom of P. lewisi and the investigation of their biological functions.

【Aim】This study aims to elucidate the circadian rhythms of the behavioral activities of Phyllotreta striolata adults and the staying positions at different time under different light intensities， so as to provide a basis for indoor breeding, behavioral research, and the development of innovative control technologies. 【Methods】The circadian rhythms of movement, mating, feeding and resting of P. striolata adults were observed and recorded under the artificial light-dark conditions (light intensity: 5 000 lx; photoperiod: 16L∶8D), the time allocation characteristics and staying positions of their specific behaviors were analyzed, and the differences in their behavior activities under three light intensities (500, 5 000 and 10 000 lx) were compared. 【Results】The most prevalent behavioral activity observed in P. striolata adults during day and night was resting, which peaked from 22:00 to 6:00. Feeding of P. striolata adults was only observed during daylight hours, from 8:00 to 18:00, with a peak at 8:00. Mating of P. striolata adults occurred exclusively at night, from 0:00 to 2:00. From 6:00 to 18:00, P. striolata adults demonstrated a preference for the backside and heart of leaves, as well as the sides of insect rearing cages, with the proportions of frequency staying on these positions significantly higher than those at night. The proportion of frequency of adults remaining in the soil or on the leaf surface at night was significantly higher than that at daytime. Light intensity was shown to significantly influence the behavioral activities of P. striolata adults. Under the light intensity of 500 lx, there was a significant reduction in the proportion of frequency of feeding behavior of P. striolata adults. However, when the light intensity increased to 5 000 lx and above, the proportion of frequency of the resting behavior of P. striolata adults was significantly reduced. Under the light intensity of 5 000 lx, feeding behavior of P. striolata adults was most prevalent, and compared to the light intensity of 10 000 lx, the light intensity of 5 000 lx caused a notable decrease in the proportion of frequency of movement behavior of P. striolata adults. Additionally, under the light intensity of 500 lx, the proportion of frequency of P. striolata adults remaining on the backside and heart of leaves was significantly less than those under the other two light intensities, whereas under the light intensity of 5 000 lx, P. striolata adults tended to prefer staying on the surface of leaves. 【Conclusion】The behaviors of P. striolata adults, including movement, feeding, mating and resting, as well as their staying positions, exhibit distinct circadian rhythms. The frequencies of different behaviors and time points of activity peaks differ, and various behavioral activities and staying positions are subject to the effects of light intensity.

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

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

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

 【Aim】The previous studies demonstrated that there was a slight difference in aedeagus morphology between the tea green leafhopper from Pu′er tea gardens in Yunnan Province, Southwest China and Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii from tea gardens in other provinces although the highly similar morphological characteristics. In order to provide a scientific basis for the control of the tea green leafhoppers in Yunnan, this study was carried out to determine whether the species of the tea green leafhoppers occurring in Yunnan tea gardens is E. (M.) onukii. 【Methods】Tea green leafhopper samples were collected from 13 tea gardens in 11 districts/counties of four cities in Yunnan Province, and E. (M.) onukii samples were collected from one tea garden in Guizhou Province and two tea gardens in Zhejiang Province. The morphological observations, comparisons of the COI gene sequences, and hybridization experiments were used to identify the species of the tea green leafhoppers in Yunnan tea gardens.【Results】The ventro-basal side of the male aedeagal shaft of the tea green leafhoppers from 13 tea gardens in Yunnan had a spiny protuberance, but there was no such characteristic in E. (M.) onukii samples from Guizhou and Zhejiang. The COI gene sequences of tea green leafhoppers from 13 tea gardens in Yunnan showed 99.35%-99.74% identity with those of E. (M.) onukii on NCBI. The pairwise genetic distance of tea green leafhoppers from 16 collecting localities ranged from 0.000 to 0.011. The cluster analysis of haplotype abundance showed that the samples from Yunnan formed a separate branch while those from Guizhou and Zhejiang formed a branch. In the hybridization experiments, both female and male adults of Pu′er population in Yunnan could naturally mate with E. (M.) onukii from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and produced the fertile F₁ generation. There was no reproductive isolation between the two populations. The hatching rates, emergence rates, and nymphal duration among the F₁ generation from hybridization experiments showed no significant difference. Among the F₂ generations from self-crossing of the F₁ generations, the numbers of eggs laid per female, emergence rates, female-male ratios and nymphal duration showed no significant difference. 【Conclusion】 The species of the tea green leafhoppers from Yunnan tea gardens is E. (M.) onukii. E. (M.) onukii in tea gardens in China has evolved into multiple geographic populations with different morphological features.

【Aim】 This study aims to investigate the effect of phenol and its derivatives on the trail-following behavior of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, and screen compounds that have the trail-following activity for C. formosanus, so as to provide new insights for developing termite attractants. 【Methods】 A Y-shaped path was drawn on qualitative filter paper, with the stem and one branch drawn with varying concentrations of phenol or 12 phenol derivatives, while the other branch was drawn with chemical-free acetone. The trail-following distance of C. formosanus workers and soldiers in response to each compound was measured and the tail-following behaviors of workers and soldiers were compared. 【Results】 Eight compounds, including phenol (0.05, 0.5 and 5 μg/cm), p-chlorophenol (0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 μg/cm), phenyl benzoate (0.0005, 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 μg/cm), phenyl acetate (0.5, 5 and 50 μg/cm), 4-hydroxy benzaldehyde (0.5, 5 and 50 μg/cm), 2-phenylethyl methyl ether (5 and 50 μg/cm), ethyl phenyl ether (50 μg/cm), and 2-fluorophenol (0.5 and 5 μg/cm), showed the trail-following activities for C. formosanus workers (mean tail-following distance ≥3.0 cm). In addition, no significant differences were observed in the trailfollowing distance between worker and soldier termites along paths drawn with phenol (0.5 μg/cm), chlorophenol (0.05 μg/cm), or phenyl benzoate (0.5 μg/cm), and worker and soldier termites showed similar trail-following behaviors. 【Conclusion】 Phenol and multiple phenol derivatives have trail-following activities for C. formosanus. These compounds have different chemical structures from previously reported trail-following chemicals in termites, and have the potential to be used as termite attractants.

 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a general term for a class of oxygen-containing free radicals formed due to incomplete oxidation of oxygen molecules, or peroxides that are easy to form oxygen free radicals. When insects are invaded by pathogens, the ROS defense system mediated by dual oxidase (DUOX) will respond quickly to produce a large amount of ROS to resist the invasion of pathogenic bacteria, and then play a role in regulating the immune defense process of insects. However, high level of ROS can damage the biological macromolecules such as proteins, DNA and lipids in cells, causing damage to insect cells and affecting the normal development of insects. In order to avoid damage from excessive oxidative stress, insects have formed a complete antioxidant defense system mainly composed of antioxidant enzymes and small molecule antioxidants to prevent excessive damage from occurring. It is interesting that changes in ROS levels in cells can play completely different roles in regulating insect lifespan: for certain insects the accumulation of a large amount of ROS could lead to a shortened lifespan, while for some other insects the presence of high physiological levels of ROS could also induce diapause and prolong their lifespan. Studies on the regulatory mechanisms of ROS in insect lifespan have achieved a lot of progress in recent years. Therefore, in this article, we comprehensively reviewed the sources and influencing factors of insect ROS, the defense mechanisms mediated by ROS, and for the first time made a summary and outlook on the specific roles of ROS in regulating insect lifespan, so as to provide a reference for subsequent research on ROS-related topics.

 Sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) are a class of membrane proteins uniquely to insects, typically possessing two characteristic transmembrane domains, and are also an important member of the CD36 family. Currently, insect SNMPs have been classified into five subfamily types, namely SNMP1, SNMP2, SNMP3, SNMP4 and SNMP5, each exhibiting distinct expression patterns across different insect species. SNMP1 subfamily genes, which are expressed in the antennae and olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) of insects, have been extensively studied and confirmed to play a significant role in pheromone detection across various insect species. The widespread expression pattern of SNMP2 subfamily genes also suggests their role in olfaction and gustation. SNMP3 subfamily genes, which are specifically expressed in the midgut of lepidopteran insects, may function in digestion and immunity in insects. SNMP4 and SNMP5 subfamily genes which are unique to coleopteran insects, may be involved in a broader range of life activities in insects. Despite of the crucial role of SNMPs in insect olfactory system, the mechanism of action of SNMP1 with other receptor proteins has remained unclear. Additionally, research on the functions and mechanisms of action of the members of the other SNMP subfamilies especially in non-model insects remains limited. In this article, we summarized and discussed the diverse expression patterns of SNMP subfamily genes, various physiological and biological functions of SNMPs that may play in insect physiological activities, and the application of molecular biology, molecular genetics, heterologous cell expression systems, yeast two-hybrid, and other methods and technologies in the current functional study of insect SNMPs, providing references for future research on the function of insect SNMPs. Lastly, we put forward the following prospects of research focuses: (1) In-depth research on the relationship between SNMP1 and insect pheromones will contribute to the development of novel pheromone-based lures for pest control applications; (2) In the future, the use of artificial intelligence and protein structure analysis will aid in uncovering the mechanisms by which SNMPs interact with other receptor proteins to participate in odor recognition; and (3) Further research on other subfamilies of insect SNMPs in the realms of taste, digestion, immunity, and survival and development will not only enhance our understanding of the fundamental biological characteristics of insects but may also provide new strategies and methods for pest management.

【Aim】 This study aims to systematically identify and analyze the genes related to peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) and their splice variants in Apis mellifera, to explore the physicochemical properties and molecular characteristics of PGRP gene splice variants-encoding proteins, and to determine the expression profile of PGRP gene splice variants in response of adult workers of A. mellifera to Nosema ceranae infection, so as to offer the reference and basis for functional study on splice variants of PGRP genes of A. mellifera. 【Methods】Based on the obtained nanopore sequencing data from the midguts of the 8- and 11-day-old adult workers of A. mellifera, the previously identified all full-length transcripts were aligned to the Nr and KEGG databases by using the Blast tool to screen PGRP genes of A. mellifera and their splice variants, and RT-PCR was used to validate the authenticity of the sequences of five splice variants of PGRP genes randomly selected. Gffcompare software was utilized to align the sequences of the identified PGRP genes to the reference genome of A. mellifera, thus optimizing the gene structures. Astalavista software was employed to identify the types of alternative splicing (AS) events in PGRP genes, and AS events were then verified by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Related software was used to predict and analyze the physicochemical properties and molecular characteristics of the proteins encoded by the splice variants of PGRP genes. RT-qPCR was conducted to determine the relative expression levels of PGRP gene splice variants in the midguts of A. mellifera adult workers after inoculation with N. ceranae.【Results】 A total of four PGRP-associated genes (PGRP-3, PGRP-S2, PGRP-LC and PGRP-LB) and their 19 splice variants of A. mellifera were identified. RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing results confirmed the authenticity of expression and sequences of five splice variants (rna14029, ONT.6350.8, ONT.6350.10, rna24089, ONT.6350.7) of PGRP genes. The 5′ and 3′ ends of PGRP-3 (gene10434) were elongated by 8 and 1 055 bp,  respectively, while those of PGRP-S2 (gene10435) were elongated by 27 and 234 bp, respectively. The authenticity of AS events in PGRP-S2 was verified by RT-PCR. The splice variant ONT.6350.2-encoded protein had a molecular formula of C₉₆₆H₁₅₀₂N₂₇₂O₂₇₅S₇, an approximate molecular weight of 21 527.63 D, a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 8.94, an average hydrophilicity of -0.119, a signal peptide, a PGRP domain and no transmembrane domain. The protein encoded by the splice variant ONT.6350.6 had a molecular formula of C₈₄₁H₁₃₀₁N₂₄₃O₂₄₄S₅, an approximate molecular weight of 18 860.46 D, a theoretical pI of 9.14, an average hydrophilicity of -0.324, and no transmembrane domain and signal peptide. PGRP-S2 proteins from A. mellifera and A. cerana were clustered into a single clade on the phylogenetic tree. The expression level of the splice variant ONT.6350.2 in the midguts of adult workers inoculated with N. ceranaewas significantly upregulated at 2 and 4 d post inoculation and extremely significantly upregulated at 3 d post inoculation as compared with that in the midguts of A. mellifera adult workers uninoculated with N. ceranae in the control group. Additionally, the splice variant ONT.6350.6 had the same expression pattern as ONT.6350.2. Moreover, both ONT.6350.2 and ONT.6350.6 in the midguts of adult workers inoculated with N. ceranae exhibited an overall increased expression trend at 1－4 d post inoculation as compared with those in the midguts of A. mellifera adult workers uninoculated with N. ceranae in the control group. 【Conclusion】 This study optimized the structure of PGRP-3 and PGRP-S2 annotated on the A. mellifera reference genome. The splice variant ONT.6350.2-encoded protein is a potential secretary protein, whereas the splice variant ONT.6350.6-encoded protein is a putative intracellular protein. The homology of PGRP-S2 between A. mellifera and A. cerana is the highest. The expression of the splice variants ONT.6350.2 and ONT.6350.6 is activated in response of A. mellifera adult workers to N. ceranae infection.

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

-【Aim】Tuta absoluta is a newly invaded devastating pest on tomatoes in China, and poses a significant threat to tomato production. Olfactory behavior manipulation technique is an important component of the green control techniques of T. absoluta. By exploring the effects of the components of floral scents, tomato plant volatiles and volatiles from traditional food baits (fermented sugar water and sugar vinegar solution) on the behavior of T. absoluta, this study aims to provide a reference for the development of olfactory behavior manipulation technique for this pest. 【Methods】First, the electroantennogram (EAG) response experiments were carried out to assay the EAG responses of the female and male adults of T. absoluta to 24 compounds including nine compounds of floral scents ［linalool, methyl o-anisate, ethyl hexanoate, cis-jasmone, (-)-limonene, phenylacetaldehyde, β-myrcene, methyl salicylate and ethyl benzoate］, four components of tomato plant volatiles (octyl acetate, catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone), 11 volatile compounds of from traditional food baits (2-ethyltoluene, decanal, ethyl decanoate, 3-furaldehyde, 1, 2-diethylbenzene, ethyl heptanoate, ethyl octanoate, n-propylbenzene, ethyl nonanoate, benzaldehyde and 1, 4-diethylbenzene) at the doses of 1, 10， 100 and 1 000 μg. Then, the olfactory behavior responses were determined with Y-tube olfactometer to test the attractiveness of 12 compounds screened out by the above experiments with high EAG responses at the doses of 1, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg to the female and male adults of T. absoluta. Finally, the oviposition selection behavior was determined with cage experiments to test the oviposition attraction effects of six effective attractants screened out by the above tests on the female adults of T. absoluta. 【Results】 Twelve volatile compounds, including linalool（10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, decanal（1, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, methyl o-anisate（10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, octyl acetate（10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, 3-furaldehyde（1, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, ethyl heptanoate（10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, phenylacetaldehyde（10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, resorcinol（1, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, methyl salicylate（1, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, hydroquinone（1, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg）, ethyl benzoate（1, 10, 100 and 1 000 μg） and 1,4-diethylbenzene（100 and 1 000 μg） elicited high EAG responses in both female and male adults of T. absoluta. Results from the olfactometer bioassay indicated that six compounds including decanal(10 μg), ethyl heptanoate(10 and 1 000 μg), octyl acetate(100 μg), resorcinol(10 μg), methyl salicylate(1 000 μg), and ethyl benzoate(100 and 1 000 μg) had attraction effects on T. absoluta adults, with decanal(10 μg), ethyl heptanoate(10 and 1 000 μg), resorcinol(10 and 1 000 μg) and ethyl benzoate(100 and 1 000 μg) showing significant attraction to female or male adults, and decanal(10 μg) and ethyl benzoate(100 μg) exhibiting bisexual attraction effects at the same dose. Oviposition selection results demonstrated that decanal (10  μg), ethyl heptanoate (100 μg), octyl acetate (1 000 μg), resorcinol (10 μg), methyl salicylate (1 000 μg), and ethyl benzoate (1 000 μg) showed significant oviposition attractiveness to female adults of T. absoluta. 【Conclusion】 Six volatile compounds including decanal, ethyl heptanoate, octyl acetate, resorcinol, methyl salicylate and ethyl benzoate show significant attractive and oviposition stimulant activities to T. absoluta adults, and decanal and ethyl benzoate have the potential to be developed as bisexual attractants. These results provide references for the development of green control techniques for T. absoluta.

 【Aim】To clarify the types, morphology and distribution of the antennal sensilla of female and male adults of Anastatus orientalis, an indigenous parasitic natural enemy against Lycorma delicatula, and provide theoretical support for exploring the functions and olfactory mechanisms of various types of sensilla of A. orientalis.【Methods】The morphology and ultrastructure of the antennal sensilla on the female and male adults of A. orientalis were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).【Results】The antennae of adult A. orientalis are geniculate, and consist of scape, pedicel and flagellum. The mean adult antenna length is 1 710.53 μm in males and 1 638.67 μm in females. SEM observation revealed that there are seven types of sensilla on the antennae of adult A. orientalis, including Böhm’s bristles (BBs), sensilla trichodea (ST), sensilla chaetica (SCh), sensilla basiconica (SB, with subtypes SBI and SBII), sensilla placodea (SP), sensilla coeloconica (SCo) and sensilla auricillica (SAu). Among them, the SAu are unique to female adults, and the smell pore (SPo) was also found on the antennae of female adults.【Conclusion】There is typical sexual dimorphism phenomenon in the types and distribution feature of antennal sensilla between the female and male adults of A. orientalis. Different types of antennal sensilla have different morphology and distribution, and play different functions. This research suggests that the abundant antennal sensilla play an important role in the process of sensing environmental changes, finding mates and locating hosts. These results lay a foundation for research on the chemical communication mechanism and olfactory behavior differences of A. orientalis.

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

【Aims】 To clarify the morphological and biological characteristics of the tea weevil, Myllocerinus aurolineatus, so as to provide a scientific basis for the accurate identification and the development of green control technologies for this insect pest.【Methods】 M. aurolineatus larvae and adults were reared with field-collected soils and fresh tea branches, respectively, in the laboratory under (25±1) ℃. The main morphological characteristics of M. aurolineatus at various developmental stages were observed under light microscope. Field investigations were conducted to learn the migratory behavior of M. aurolineatus larvae in different soil layers of tea plantation, and the distribution pattern in soil upon pupation. The calling, mating and phototactic behaviors of M. aurolineatus adults were recorded and described with a combination of laboratory observation and behavior test.【Results】The freshly laid eggs of M. aurolineatus are creamy white and gradually turn light yellow. The fleshy larvae have no legs and are usually curved or shaped like the letter C. The naked pupa is milky white with an obvious mouthpart and a pair of wing buds. The mature adults are grayish-black and possess yellowish-green shiny scales and stripes on the sheath wings. And the body size of females is always slightly larger than that of males. M. aurolineatus overwinters in the larval stage in the soil layer of 20-30 cm in depth from the ground and its pupation peak occurs in mid-late April. For pupation, the mature larvae will migrate to the soil layer of 0-10 cm in depth from the ground, and the larvae and pupae in the soil layer of 0-5 cm in depth from the ground accounted for 75.83% of the population. M. aurolineatus adults usually mate from 16:00 to 4:00, and copulate in a “false male-above” position, in which the male sits on top of the female. The whole mating period lasts for 44-132 min, and the mating procedure consists of four stages including pre-copulation, copulation, insemination and post-copulatory mate guarding. In addition, both female and male adults of M. aurolineatus are strongly phototactic in the evening. 【Conclusion】In the present study, the main morphological characteristics of M. aurolineatus at various developmental stages have been clarified, and the vertical migrating behaviors of larvae in the soil of the tea plantation and the vertical distribution patterns in different soil layers during the peak period of pupation have been examined. In addition, the mating and phototactic behaviors of the adults have been preliminarily revealed. The results not only provide references for the accurate identification of M. aurolineatus, but also can give theoretical supports for the development of green control technologies.

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

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