【Aim】 This study aims to further understand the symbiotic relationship between auchenorrhynchan insects of the order Hemiptera and endosymbionts by investigating the diversity and functions of obligate and facultative symbiotic bacteria in bacteriomes, fat bodies and other related tissues of adult Tettigetta isshikii at the ultrastructural and genomic levels. 【Methods】 Field-collected female and male adults of T. isshikii were investigated to clarify the distribution of symbiotic bacteria Karelsulcia, Hodgkinia and Wolbachia in the bacteriomes, fat bodies, ovaries, spermathecae, salivary glands, conical segment, filter chamber and gut of female adults, and testes of male adults through transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Metagenomic sequencing, assembly and functions by genome annotation of symbiotic bacteria in the bacteriomes and fat bodies of female adults, and testes of male adults of T. isshikii were conducted. The phylogenetic relationships of Wolbachia in T. isshikii and other insects were determined using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference methods to determine the phylogenetic position of Wolbachia. 【Results】 The obligate symbiotic bacteria Karelsulcia and Hodgkinia are harbored in the bacteriomes of female adults of T. isshikii, and the facultative symbiotic bacterium Wolbachia, belonging to the supergroup F, was harbored not only in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the epithelial cells of testicular follicles but also in the nuclei of sperms of male adults and fat bodies of female adults. Genome annotation analysis revealed that genes of Karelsulcia and Hodgkinia were involved in the synthesis of essential amino acids and vitamins for the host cicada, while genes of Wolbachia were involved in riboflavin metabolism, heme pathway, and biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine. The duplication of Wolbachia occured within the nuclei of sperms, which ultimately may lead to the rupture of nuclei. Phylogenetic relationship revealed that this Wolbachia belongs to the F supergroup and was closely related to the Wolbachia harbored in other arthropods and nematodes. 【Conclusion】 This study clarified the potential nutritional functions of symbionts Karelsulcia and Hodgkinia in the bacteriomes of T. isshikii adults, and elucidated a unique phenomenon that Wolbachia may have both beneficial and detrimental effects for the host insects. The results of this study contribute to a further understanding of the symbiotic relationship and complex co-evolution between Cicadidae and symbiotic bacteria.

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】This study aims to explore the effects of exogenous juvenile hormone (JH) on the female ovarian development and transcription levels of the reproduction-key genes of Spodoptera frugiperda.【Methods】Polyclonal antibody was prepared after isolation and purification of vitelline protein of female S. frugiperda. The vitelline protein contents in the 7-8-day-old female pupae and 1-10-day-old female adults of S. frugiperda were determined using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The 5-day-old female pupae were treated with 25 μg/individual precocene, and the newly emerged female adults were supplemented with 100 μg/individual exogenous JH analogue methoprene. Subsequently, the preoviposition period, oviposition period, number of eggs laid per female and hatching rate were calculated. The 3-day-old female adults were dissected to observe the ovarian development, measure the ovarian length, and take photographs. Finally, the expression levels of genes of vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) in the 3-day-old female adults of each treatment were quantified using qPCR.【Results】The vitellin content of S. frugiperda increased first and then decreased as female adult emerged, reaching its peak in the fat bodies at 1-day-old and ovaries at 4-day-old. Precocene treatment resulted in a downregulation of the endogenous JH in S. frugiperda, leading to obvious impediment of ovarian development compared to the normally reared female adults as the blank control group. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the amount of ovarian eggs. However, exogenous supplementation of methoprene after the precocene treatment effectively restored normal ovarian development. The average ovarian length in the precocene treatment group was 39.89 mm, which was significantly shorter than that in the blank control group of 49.79 mm. The average ovarian length in the methoprene treatment group was 46.67 mm, and significantly longer than that in the precocene treatment group, but had no significant difference from that in the blank control group. The average number of eggs laid per female in precocene treatment group significantly decreased to 576.33 grains, as compared to that in the blank control group (1 128.37 grains), significantly decreased by 48.91%. The average number of eggs laid per female in the methoprene treatment group was 806.93 grains, which was significantly higher than that in the precocene treatment group. The expression levels of SfVg and SfVgR in female adults treated with precocene were significantly downregulated as compared to those in the blank control group, while methoprene significantly promoted the expression levels of SfVg and SfVgR.【Conclusion】The suppression of endogenous JH through precocene treatment significantly impeded female fecundity, hindered normal ovarian development, and reduced the transcription levels of SfVg and SfVgR in female adults of S. frugiperda. Conversely, exogenous JH supplementation effectively restored the female fecundity. This study further validates the crucial regulatory role of JH in the reproductive process of S. frugiperda and provides a theoretical foundation for future research on the regulatory mechanism of JH of female reproduction.

【Aim】 Aromia bungii Faldermann is a main wood borer of peach， apricot， plum and cherry in China. Dastarcus helophoroides (Fairmaire) is an important insect natural enemy of large-body longhorned beetles and has six different host-originated populations by now. This study aims to screen a suitable D. helophoroides population to control A. bungii. 【Methods】  The behavioral responses of adults of different populations of D. helophoroides to larval frass of A. bungii were assayed with Y-tube olfactometer. The control effects of different populations of D. helophoroides on A. bungii populations in the peach logs were also tested by releasing parasitoid adults under the semi-field conditions. 【Results】  D. helophoroides populations originated from Batocera horsfieldi and Monochamus alternatus were significantly attracted to larval frass of A. bungii， but other populations of D. helophoroides were not attracted to larval frass of A. bungii. Consecutive observation of the control effects in two years showed that D. helophoroides population originated from Anoplophora glabripennis caused the highest mortality of A. bungii (52.86%±5.97%). D. helophoroides populations originated from M. alternatus， B. horsfieldi， Massicus raddei， Apriona swainsoni caused the mortality rates of A. bungii of 35.14%±5.55%， 32.88%±5.50%， 26.09%±5.29% and 10.94%±3.90%， respectively. D. helophoroides population originated from Anoplophora chinensis did not cause higher mortality of A. bungii individuals than the control. 【Conclusion】 Based on the results it is suggested that three D. helophoroides populations originated from M. alternatus， B. horsfieldi and A. glabripennis could be chosen as the biological control agents of A. bungii.

【Aim】 Epacromius coerulipes (Ivanov) is one of the most widely distributed grassland locusts. However, there is a lack of genomic resources. In order to obtain genetic data of E. coerulipes, this study conducted the transcriptome sequencing and analysis. 【Methods】 De novo assembly of the transcriptome was conducted using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. 【Results】 In total, 63 033 unigenes with a mean length of 772 bp and an N50 length of 1 589 bp were obtained. Of these unigenes, 25 132(39.87%) unigenes were matched with the known proteins in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, as determined by BLAST search, with 24 841, 16 490, 11 558 and 8 013 unigenes assigned to Nr database, Swiss-Prot, Gene Ontology (GO) and Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), respectively. In KEGG database, a total of 7 218 unigenes were assigned to 218 known pathways. Among these, 189 unigenes were involved in metabolic pathways of xenobiotics or drugs. In-depth analysis of the data showed that 213 unigenes were identified as potentially involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics, and 29 unigenes were identified as encoding insecticide target proteins. In addition, 5 696 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected. 【Conclusion】 This study lays the foundation for further research on gene function analysis and molecular resistance mechanisms to insecticides in E. coerulipes.

【Aim】 This study aims to explore the physiological responses of silicon-treated rice plants to feeding stress by the white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera, so as to provide a theoretical foundation for the rational use of silicon fertilizer in controlling S. furcifera. 【Methods】 The plants of the susceptible rice variety TN1 were treated with two silicon application levels ［grown in nutrient solution added with sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O) at the concentration of 112 mg/L(Si+treatment group), and without addition of silicon (control group)］, then exposed to the feeding of the 3rd instar nymphs of S. furcifera. The contents of superoxide anion (O^-·₂), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the activities of antioxidant enzymes ［superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT)］ and defense enzymes ［phenylanlanine ammonialyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and lipoxygenase (LOX)］, and lignin content in rice leaf sheaths were measured at 0, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after feeding on the rice plants in the Si+ treatment group or the control group. 【Results】 Compared to the control group, the Si+ treatment group exhibited significant reductions in O^-·₂ content by 7.8%-17.9% in rice leaf sheaths during 12-72 h after S. furcifera feeding, in H2O2 content by 15.5%-43.1% in rice leaf sheaths during 12-96 h (except at 24 h) after S. furcifera feeding, and in MDA content by 15.1%-35.3% in rice leaf sheaths during 24-96 h after S. furcifera feeding. During 12-96 h (except at 72 h) after S. furcifera feeding, the CAT and SOD activities in rice leaf sheaths in the Si+ treatment group were significantly increased by 25.8%-44.8% and 21.4%-47.6%, respectively, as compared to those in the control group. During 12-72 h (except at 24 h) after S. furcifera feeding, the POD activities in rice leaf sheaths in the Si+ treatment group significantly increased by 19.1%-54.5%, as compared to those in the control group. During 12-72 h after S. furcifera feeding, the PAL and PPO activities in rice leaf sheaths in the Si+ treatment group were significantly elevated by 17.6%-70.8% and 16.7%-38.3%, respectively, as compared to those in the control group. During 12-96 h after S. furcifera feeding, the LOX activities in rice leaf sheaths in the Si+ treatment group significantly increased by 9.9%-105.4%, as compared to those in the control group. During 12-96 h (except at 48 h) after S. furcifera feeding, the lignin contents in rice leaf sheaths in the Si+ treatment group significantly raised by 12.5%-59.3%, as compared to those in the control group. 【Conclusion】 Silicon application enhances rice resistance to S. furcifera by reducing reactive oxygen species and MDA contents, as well as by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and defense enzymes, and the lignin content in rice leaf sheaths infested by S. furcifera.

【Aim】 This study aims to uncover the antioxidant defense mechanisms in Spodoptera liturae larvae infected by the fungus Nomuraea rileyi.【Methods】 We measured the changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) in the infected larvae of S. litura at different instars and compared the influences of different inoculation approaches including spraying method and dipping method on antioxidase activities in the infected larvae. 【Results】 The POD activity was not detected in both the infected larvae and the non-inoculated larvae (the control) of S. litura. The activities of SOD and CAT in the infected larvae were significantly higher than those in the control at the early stages of infection. However, the activities of SOD and CAT in the infected 2nd and 3rd instar larvae dropped sharply after reaching the peak at 16 h after inoculation. The antioxidase activities in the infected 4th and 5th instar larvae kept a high level for a long time and then turned lower than those of the control at 60-72 h after infection. The activities of SOD and CAT in the infected larvae which were inoculated with dipping and spraying methods were significantly higher than those of the control, and the dipping method had a greater effect on antioxidase activities than the spraying method in the 2nd and 3rd instar larvae, but there was no significant difference in the effects on the antioxidase activities in the 4th and 5th instar larvae between the two methods. 【Conclusion】 The antioxidase activities in S. litura larvae are greatly affected by the infection of N. rileyi. The activities of SOD and CAT increase first, and then decrease, and the trend of the change is closely related to the developmental stage of the larvae. The dipping method has a stronger influence on the SOD and CAT activities in the 2nd and 3rd instar larvae than on those in the 4th and 5th instar larvae when the body integument inoculation quantities are at the similar level.

According to the homologous amino acid sequences in Caenorhabditis elegans and other insects, the full length cDNA sequences of 3 glycosyltransferase genes (named as Pxbre-3, Pxbre-4 and Pxbre-5) were cloned by RT-PCR and RACE-PCR from the midgut of 4th instar larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. The open reading frames of these genes were 1 383 bp, 1 230 bp and 1 041 bp, respectively. The deduced coding products had 460, 409 and 346 amino acids, respectively. These genes were homologous to the bre genes of Caenorhabditis elegans and had the predicted membrane-spanning regions and conserved motifs known to play key catalytic roles in glycosyltransferases. Thus, the three genes are inferred to code glycosyltransferases in P. xylostella. The mRNA expression of these three genes and Pxbre-2 was detected in different developmental stages (larva, pupa, and adult) of P. xylostella by real-time quantitative PCR, and the expression level was higher in pupa and adult. These results provide an important basis for investigating the possible involvement of glycosylphingolipid in resistance to Cry toxins in P. xylostella.

【Aim】 The rearing host affects biological characteristics of Trichogramma. In order to know the differences between Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead reared on Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) eggs and reared on Chilo suppressalis (Walker) eggs in the control effect on Ch. suppressalis, and also the possibility of using Co. corcyra eggs as the alternative host of T. japonicum in the field, we observed the host preference and parasitization behavior of T. japonicum emerged from different rearing hosts, and investigated the effects of rearing host on the parasitization capacity of T. japonicum, so as to provide basic information for the control of rice borer with Trichogramma. 【Methods】 The host preference of T. japonicam reared on Co. cephalonica eggs (TjCc) and Ch. suppressalis eggs (TjCs), respectively, were observed in choice tests in the laboratory. The parasitization behavior and capacity of TjCc and TjCs on eggs of  Ch. suppressalisand Co. cephalonica, respectively, were investigated. 【Results】 TjCs preferred Ch. suppressalis eggs to Co.cephalonica eggs, while TjCc did not show preferences. The host searching time was not significantly affected by either rearing host or host for parasitization, and both the outside host examination time and ovipostion time were not significantly affected by rearing host. However, the outside host examination time of both TjCc and TjCs on Co. cephalonica eggs was significantly longer than that on Ch. suppressalis eggs. The parasitism rate (36.95%) on Ch. suppressalis eggs and the emergence rate (45.68%) of TjCs were lower, respectively, than those in other three combinations (TjCc-Cc, TjCc-Cs and TjCs-Cc) among which no significant differences were found. The longevity of emerged wasps was not significantly different among the four treatments. 【Conclusion】 The rearing host affects the host preference and parasitization capacity of T. japonicum, but does not affect the host searching ability and parasitization behavior of the wasp.

【 Aim 】 Circular RNA (circRNA) plays a key role in alternative splicing, transcription regulation and expression regulation of source genes. This study aims to analyze the quantity, variety, structural characteristics and function of circRNAs in the midgut of Apis mellifera ligustica workers, and to explore the regulatory function of circRNAs via constructing and analyzing regulatory networks. 【 Methods 】 A. m. ligustica workers were reared under laboratory conditions, and the midgut samples from 7 - and 10 - day - old workers were subjected to deep sequencing using circRNA - seq technology. CircRNAs were predicted from sequencing data after quality control using find_circ software. Source genes of these circRNAs were annotated to GO and KEGG databases to gain function and pathway annotations via BLAST. The target mRNAs of circRNAs and miRNAs were predicted with TargetFinder software, and the regulatory networks between circRNAs and miRNAs and between circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs were constructed and visualized using Cytoscape v.3.2.1software. The predicted circRNAs were validated by RT - PCR with the divergent and convergent primers designed. 【 Results 】 Sequencing of midgut samples from A. m. ligustica workers produced a mean of 136 463 071 clean reads, and for each sample over 136 779 122 anchor reads were obtained after removing rRNA. A total of 10 833 circRNAs were predicted, and their length ranged mainly from 15 to 1 000 nt. The types of these circRNAs were abundant, and the largest one was annotated to be exonic circRNA. The number of circRNAs distributed on chromosome 1 of Apis mellifera was the most and that distributed on chromosome 8 was the second. The source genes of circRNAs could be annotated to 45 GO terms including binding, cellular process, and cell, as well as 121 KEGG metabolic pathways including endocytosis, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosome, suggesting that circRNAs may play key roles in such biological processes as growth, development, metabolism, and cellular activity in the midgut of A. m. ligustica workers. Furthermore, the regulatory networks between circRNA and miRNA and between circRNA, miRNA and mRNA were constructed, and the analysis result demonstrated that partial circRNAs could bind microRNAs as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Finally, the true existence of randomly selected three circRNAs was validated by RT - PCR. 【 Conclusion 】 In this study, we predicted, analyzed, and verified circRNAs in the midgut of A. m. ligustica workers. Our findings provide the data of the quantity, variety, structural characteristics, roles, and regulatory network of circRNAs in the midgut, indicating that circRNAs can play roles in the developmental and immune defense processes in the midgut of A. m. ligustica workers through affecting source genes and acting as ceRNAs. This study lays a foundation for further studying the roles of circRNAs in the development and stress response of the midgut of A. m. ligustica.

 Aphids (superfamily Aphidoidea) are a group of globally distributed piercing-sucking insects, of which there are approximately 5 000 species. Some species such as cereal aphids, the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii, and the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae threaten agricultural and forestry production. Typically, aphids absorb sap from plant phloem that induces a reduction in crop photosynthate accumulation, and are capable of transmitting more than half of known plant viruses. Furthermore, parthenogenetic reproduction and wing dimorphism facilitate rapid expansion and habitat transfer for aphid population. The strong ecological adaptability of aphids is inextricably linked to the population outbreak and infestation. It remains challenging for developing precise and effective control technologies for aphids due to strong resistance to pesticides caused by short generation time and parthenogenetic reproduction of aphids, and the non-target pests for Bt crops. In recent years, Chinese scientists have made a series of breakthroughs in the aphid genome divergence, the regulation of wingform and reproductive plasticity, salivary protein-mediated mechanisms of feeding and virus transmission, and insect-microbe symbiotic co-adaptation, leading to the development of pest control technologies like RNAi-based breeding for aphid resistance and ecological control by natural enemies. In this article, we summarized the latest advancements in this field in China, outlined the core scientific contributions of included papers, and provided a forward-looking perspective on future research directions such as the functional analysis of salivary glands at the single-cell level, the mechanisms of non-persistent virus transmission, epigenetic regulatory networks, and pest control technologies based on insect-microbe symbiosis, aiming to provide theoretical and practical foundations for scientific research and aphid control.

【Aim】 To elucidate the effects of Cnidium monnieri on ladybird conservation and aphid control during the whole growth period of wheat and maize. 【Methods】 The occurrence amounts of ladybirds and aphids in wheat and maize fields with C. monnieri planted and the control with pure crops planted were systematically investigated and counted by visual observation throughout the year, and the spatio-temporal correspondence between ladybirds and aphids was clarified. 【Results】 Planting C. monnieri significantly increased the occurrence amounts of natural enemy ladybirds in wheat and maize fields, which in turn significantly reduced the occurrence amount of aphids. In 2020 and 2022, the peak numbers of ladybirds in wheat fields with C. monnieri planted were 25.33 and 9.00 individuals/m², respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control wheat fields (11.73 and 5.33 individuals/m², respectively). Concurrently, the peak total numbers of aphids in wheat fields with C. monnieri planted were 786.00 and 817.33 individuals/100 plants, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control wheat fields (932.67 and 1 133.33 individuals/100 plants, respectively). During the same period, the peak numbers of ladybirds in maize fields with C. monnieri planted were 77.53 and 109.33 individuals/100 plants, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control maize fields (50.67 and 77.33 individuals/100 plants, respectively). In 2020, no significant difference was shown in the peak number of Rhopalosiphum maidis in maize fields between treatment and the control. However, on one week after the peak period of R. maidis, the individual number of R. maidis per 100 plants in maize fields with C. monnieri planted was 2 209.33, significantly lower than that in the control maize fields (5 926.67). In 2022, the individual number of R. maidis per 100 plants in maize fields with C. monnieri planted was 13 533.30, significantly lower than that in the control maize fields (30 600.00). 【Conclusion】 Planting C. monnieri in wheat-maize rotation cropping system can conserve natural enemy ladybirds throughout the year, effectively suppressing the occurrence of wheat aphids and R. maidis, thereby exerting a good ecological pest control effect.

【Aim】 The camellia weevil,  Curculio chinensis Chevrolat, is an important pest attacking fruits of the oil tea  Camellia, an endemic genus to China, and causes tremendous fruit drop of its host plants. To reveal the oviposition strategy of  C. chinensis, we explored the relationships between oviposition activity of C.chinensis  and the traits of its host fruit. 【Methods】 During the most active oviposition season, 960 fruits of  C. meiocarpa  were collected randomly from an oil tea ( Camellia meiocarpa) farm. The number of punctures and clutch size of C. chinensis, as well as the weight, length and diameter of each fruit were measured, and the difference of fruit size among oviposition-punctured fruits, feeding-punctured fruits and non-damaged fruits was analyzed through one-way ANOVA (LSD), and the effect of fruit traits on feeding and oviposition activity was analyzed through linear regression model. A choice test of the pest on fruits size was carried out, and the difference of fruit size between selected and non-selected fruits was analyzed by paired-samples t test. 【Results】 Oviposition-punctured fruits of C. meiocarpa were significantly larger than feeding-punctured fruits, while the latters were significantly larger than non-damaged fruits in terms of weight, length, diameter, and volume ( P＜0.01). The number of punctures, clutch size and weevil parasitism rate were positively correlated with fruit size ( P＜0.01), suggesting that parental weevils prefer larger fruits to feed and oviposite. The female adults of C. chinensis showed obvious preference to larger fruits when the difference of fruit size between the two fruits tested was significant, and heavily damaged fruits were significantly larger than lightly damaged fruits in terms of length and diameter after infection by female adults of C. chinensis for 12 h. Independent of host fruit traits, C. chinensis laid one egg in each puncture hole. 【Conclusion】 C. chinensis adults prefer larger fruits to feed, which supports the optimal foraging theory. C. chinensis adults also prefer larger fruits to oviposite. The small clutch size would reduce intraspecific competition C. chinensis between offsprings and increase the probability of larval development, and thus they would be more likely to successfully exit from host fruits. We infer that the single egg laying behavior in C. chinensis is a riskspreading strategy, an adaptation toward limited food resource.

【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】To screen cellulose-degrading bacterial strains from the gut of Allomyrina dichotomus for constructing composite bacterial consortia and to investigate their degradation capacity for spent mushroom substrate (SMS), thereby providing theoretical and practical foundations for SMS waste management.【Methods】Composite bacterial consortia were constructed based on non-antagonistic relationships among six cellulose-degrading bacteria with high enzyme activity (Bacillus velezensis M24, Bacillus subtilis H12, H11, H4 and M33, and Bacillus siamensis M32) isolated and purified from the larval gut of A. dichotomus. The activities of four cellulases (filter paper enzyme, endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase) were determined, the optimal composite bacterial consortia was selected according to its enzymatic activity profile, and the culture time, inoculation amount and incubation temperature for the selected composite bacterial consortia were optimized. The structural changes in the spent mushroom substrate before and after degradation were observed through scanning electron microscope by differential weight method.【Results】The composite bacterial consortia M24∶H11 was constructed based on the enzymatic activities of filter paper enzyme, endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase (18.08, 69.37, 19.09 and 17.95 U/mL, respectively). The optimal culture time, inoculation amount and culture temperature of M24∶H11 were 2 d, 1% and 40 ℃, respectively. Following optimization, the activities of the four cellulases increased significantly by 1.98-2.16-fold. At 25 ℃ within 30 d, M24∶H11 showed a significantly higher SMS degradation rate (up to 38.04%) than individual strains, with the degradation rate increasing over time. The degradation by M24∶H11 effectively disrupted the SMS surface structure, increasing its contact area.【Conclusion】The larval gut-derived composite bacterial consortia M24∶H11 of A. dichotomus was constructed and optimized for enzyme production, with high efficiency in SMS degradation. This study offers novel technical insights and theoretical support for the efficient control of the edible fungi waste.

【Aim】This study aims to make clear the sublethal effects of the botanical insecticides azadirachtin and celangulin on Ostrinia furnacalis larvae and their effects on the activities of detoxification enzymes, so as to explore the detoxification mechanism of O. furnacalis on these two pesticides. 【Methods】The toxicity of azadirachtin and celangulin to the 3rd instar larvae of O. furnacalis in 72 h was analyzed by dipping method. The 3rd instar larvae of O. furnacalis were exposed to sublethal concentrations (LC₁₀, LC₂₀ and LC₄₀) of azadirachtin and celangulin for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h, and the activities of three main detoxification enzymes including glutathione S-transferase (GST), carboxylesterase(CarE) and cytochrome P450(CYP450) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 【Results】 TheLC₁₀, LC₂₀ and LC₄₀ values of azadirachtin against the 3rd instar larvae of O. furnacalis in 72 h were 0.352, 0.614 and 1.290 mg/L, respectively, and those of celangulin against the 3rd instar larvae of O. furnacalis in 72 h were 0.032, 0.086 and 0.321 mg/L, respectively. After the 3rd instar larvae of O. furnacalis were exposed to LC₁₀, LC₂₀ and LC₄₀ of azadirachtin, the GST activity was firstly inhibited, then induced, and finally inhibited, and 12-h exposure to LC₁₀ of azadirachtin had an induction effect on the GST activity. LC₁₀, LC₂₀ and LC₄₀ of azadirachtin mainly inhibited the activities of CarE and CYP450. After the 3rd instar larvae of O. furnacalis were exposed to LC₁₀, LC₂₀ and LC₄₀ of celangulin, the activities of GST and CarE were mainly inhibited, and the CYP450 activity was firstly inhibited and then induced, while 72-h exposure to LC₁₀ of celangulin had an induction effect on the CYP450 activity. 【Conclusion】Azadirachtin and celangulin can affect the detoxification metabolism of O. furnacalis, and the inhibition of azadirachtin and celangulin on the activities of GST, CarE and CYP450 in O. furnacalis is one of the reasons for their insecticidal activity, GST only plays a certain role in metabolism on low concentration (LC₁₀)  of azadirachtin and CYP450 only plays a certain role in metabolism on low concentration (LC₁₀)  of celangulin.

Apparent competition is a new type of indirect interaction between species that is different from resource-mediated competition. It is a phenomenon In which two species that share a natural enemy negatively affect each other’s abundance. It is now known that apparent competition is as important as resource-mediated competition, especially for phytophagous insects. There has been great progress in theoretical and experimental aspects of apparent competition over the last 10 years. This paper reviews recent studies on different aspects of apparent competition in insects, including the underlying concepts, experiments, theoretical models, mechanisms of interaction and coexistence etc. The application of apparent competition in pest control is discussed.

This study is the first attempt to combine gene sequences with morphological characters to provide a phylogenetic reconstruction of the subfamily Doryctinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Eighteen species belonging to 6 tribes 15 genera of the subfamily were involved, and 11 species of 11 genera belonging to 7 subfamilies of Braconidae were used as outgroups with Microgasterinae (Cotesia flavipes) used as “root” to testify the monophyletic nature of the subfamily. The DNA sequences of D2 region of 28S ribosomal DNA were downloaded from the GenBank. One hundred characters of morphology and anatomy were selected and analyzed in a cladistic manner for this study. The evolutionary relationships were investigated by comparing the results from molecular data alone or molecular data combined morphological characters, using two different analysis methods: maximum parsimony (MP) by PAUP* 4 . 0 and Bayesian inference by MrBayes 3 . 0B4. Base composition and ti/tv of 28S rDNA D2 regions were analyzed by PAUP* 4 . 0. The results showed that GC content of the 28S rDNA D2 gene sequences of subfamily Doryctinae ranged from 39 . 33% to 48 . 28%. Transversion frequency of sequence variable sites among species of Doryctinae was higher than that of transition. The subfamily Doryctinae was proved to be a well-defined naturally monophyletic group; within the subfamily, evidences were found to support that only tribe Siragrini was monophyletic group, and the other tribes, tribe Doryctini and tribe Hecabolini, were paraphyletic groups. There was no consistency between the topologies of phylogenetic trees generated by different analysis methods with different data, in accordance with the results of morphological and biological research of the subfamily, suggesting that more work should be done to resolve the phylogenetic relationships among genera and tribes of the subfamily Doryctinae.

Microsatellites are simple tandemly repeated sequence with repeat units of 1-6 bp in length. As genetic markers, microsatellites are widely dispersed in eukaryotic genomes. The advantages of microsatellites include high polymorphism, high abundance, co-dominance, selective neutrality and high reliability. There are three kinds of techniques to analyze microsatellites: repeat-sequence hybridization fingerprints, repeat-sequence primer PCR fingerprints and single-locus microsatellite PCR. The first two kinds belong to multiple-locus markers, and the last one is single-locus marker and generally named `microsatellite marker'. Up to now, 141 microsatellite loci were cloned from 14 aphid species, and primers for them were published, which provided abundant information for future studies. In addition, these primers probably work in closely related species. Conforming to Mendel's law, microsatellites were successfully used to speculate sex recombination in some species. Sexual and asexual lineages may coexist in a single aphid species. Microsatellites revealed that genetic diversities were generally higher in sexual lineages than in asexual lineages, but asexual lineages often exhibited heterozygote excesses and linkage disequilibrium. Microsatellites were also effective in studying migration of aphid. Low differentiations and high allelic frequency homogeneity were revealed in highly migratory aphids. The distribution of identical multilocus genotypes was directly used as an indicator of migration ambit. Until now, microsatellites have been rarely used in aphid study by domestic researchers in China. It has been proved that microsatellites are excellent genetic markers, so we expect to see more application of this kind of marker in aphid study.  

The aromatic nature of pine and cinnamon oils has established them as good adult repellents but their larvicidal efficacy against mosquitoes has not been explored much. Keeping this in view, laboratory studies were conducted to uncover the larvicidal potential of commercially available pine ( Pinus longifolia) oil and cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum) oil against the early 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, originating from Delhi, India. The larvicidal effects were investigated in terms of the larval mortality, behavioural and morphological changes, if any. Our studies revealed the larvicidal efficiency of both the oils against 4th instar larvae of Ae. aegypti, the pine oil proving to be more effective than the cinnamon oil. The LC ₅₀ and LC ₇₀ values exhibited by pine oil were 0.33093 mg/L and 0.54476 mg/L, respectively, while the values obtained with cinnamon oil were 0.63159 mg/L and 0.77736 mg/L, respectively. It was further observed that at LC ₉₀ the larvicidal potential of cinnamon oil surpassed that of the pine oil, exhibiting a value of 1.11879 mg/L as in comparison to 1.04915 mg/L shown by pine oil. The behavioural changes as excitation, restlessness, tremors, and convulsions followed by paralysis observed in the treated larvae suggest a probable effect of the oils on their neuromuscular system. Microscopic study of morphological alterations in the treated larvae revealed that most of their organs had a normal structural appearance as that of controls except the little internal shrinkage in anal gills leading to the structural deformity. This indicates the anal gills as the probable action sites of the oil extracts and dysfunction of the gills leading to larval mortality. The potential of oils as new types of larvicides for the control of mosquitoes are explored.

【Aim】 In order to explore the biological effects of diapause hormone by insect feeding, a fusion protein is designed to accelerate its transmembrane transport and overcome the degradation in insect digestive tract. 【Methods】 The diapause hormone from Clostera anastomosis L. (Cloan-DH) was over-expressed as a fusion protein with a transactivator of transcription (TAT) protein of HIV-1 and an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Escherichia coli BL21 cells expressing TAT-Cloan-DH-EGFP and EGFP were added to artificial diets respectively to rear the larvae of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar. Paraffin-embedded sections of the abdominal segments containing the midgut were collected from larvae fed with the artificial diets for 0, 8, 24, 48, 72 and 90 h, respectively. Then cellular transduction was evaluated by observing thin sections of gastric tissues to detect intracellular EGFP. 【Results】 After induction with 0.2 mmol/L IPTG at 37℃, the TAT-Cloan-DH-EGFP fusion protein was over-expressed and reached up to 18.1% of total cellular proteins mainly in inclusion bodies. Strong green-fluorescent signals of EGFP were detected in the inner layer of the midgut, muscle and cuticle sections of larvae fed with TAT-Cloan-DH-EGFP. It was found that the fluorescence intensity of EGFP increased with the quantity of the fusion protein uptake by the larvae. At 72 h after feeding the artificial diets containing TAT-Cloan-DH-EGFP, the fluorescence intensity of EGFP was up to the highest. 【Conclusion】 The results indicate that TAT-Cloan-DH-EGFP can transfer across intestine and enter other tissues by oral applications, and the quantity of transferred protein increases in proportion to the intake by the larvae.

Insects are closely associated with human production and life, and therefore entomological research has important theoretical significance and practical value. Insects are good materials to study biological questions because they are easily bred in a large number. The rapid development of molecular biology techniques has greatly promoted the process of entomological research. The success of the transcriptome sequencing and gene editing technologies has broken the boundary of the model species and the non-model species, providing techniques for the study of various important agricultural pests. We need to consider the important scientific questions according to the needs of production practice and the existing theories, promote entomological research progress by using various research methods and techniques, and clarify special scientific questions in the field of entomology and common scientific questions in the field of biology as well.  

【Aim】 This study aims to explore the biological characteristics and the expression of recombinant proteins in the cell line RIRI-PX1-C24 cloned from RIRI-PX1 cell line derived from Papilio xuthus. 【Methods】 The wild-type Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrosis virus (wt-AcMNPV) was used to infect the clonal strain RIRI-PX1-C24 and the parent cell line RIRI-PX1, and the viral susceptibility of the two cell lines were detected. The recombinant baculoviruses carrying three reporter genes, i.e., green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, β-galactosidase (Gal) gene, and secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) gene, were used to infect RIRI-PX1-C24 and RIRI-PX1. The expression levels of the three recombinant proteins between the two cell lines were detected at 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h after viral infection. The genetic similarity between RIRI-PX1-C24 and RIRI-PX1 were compared by using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. 【Results】 Both of the parent cell line RIRI-PX1 and the clonal strain RIRI-PX1-C24 could be infected by wt-AcMNPV, but RIRI-PX1-C24 was significantly more susceptible to wt-AcMNPV than RIRI-PX1. The recombinant GFP had significantly higher expression levels in RIRI-PX1-C24 than in RIRI-PX1. However, there were no significant differences in the expression levels of recombinant Gal protein and recombinant SEAP protein between RIRI-PX1-C24 and RIRI-PX1. The fingerprint analysis of RIRI-PX1-C24 and RIRI-PX1 using 10 ISSR primers generated four differential markers. The two cell lines had the genetic similarity levels ranging from 0 to 83.33%, indicating the difference in genotype. 【Conclusion】 This study has produced the clonal strain RIRI-PX1-C24 from the parent cell line RIRI-PX1 of P. xuthus by single cell cloning, which has a significantly enhanced expression level of recombinant GFP. The application value of RIRI-PX1-C24 needs further research.

【Aim】 Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) play important roles in resisting external environmental pressure in insects. This study aims to explore the functions of a small heat shock protein gene, sHSP19.8, in the growth and development of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, and its role in response to high temperature stress and insecticidal protein, so as to provide a foundation for further exploring its action mechanisms and controlling the cotton bollworm. 【Methods】 The full-length cDNA sequence of sHSP19.8 gene was cloned from H. armigera by RCR and RACE, and analyzed by bioinformatics software. The expression levels of sHSP19.8 gene in the 5th instar larvae of the Cry1Ac-susceptible cotton bollworm exposed to 40℃ for 1 h and 2 h and fed with the artificial diet containing 30 μg/mL Cry1Ac for 1 h and 2 h, respectively, were detected by qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, the expression patterns of sHSP19.8 gene in different developmental stages (1st-5th instar larva, pupa and adult) and tissues (foregut, midgut, hindgut, Malpighian tubules and cuticle) of the 5th instar larvae of the Cry1Ac-susceptible and resistant cotton bollworm were also assayed by qRT-PCR. 【Results】 The fulllength cDNA sequence of sHSP19.8 from H. armigera was obtained and named HaHSP19.8 (GenBank accession no.: XP_021195228.1). It is 608 bp in length with an open reading frame (ORF) of 528 bp, encoding 175 amino acids. The encoded protein has the typical α-crystallin domain (ACD). After induction by high temperature of 40℃ and 30 μg/mL Cry1Ac, HaHSP19.8 showed over-expression in the 5th instar larvae of the Cry1Ac-susceptible cotton bollworm. HaHSP19.8 was ubiquitously expressed in all the examined developmental stages and tissues of the 5th instar larvae of the Cry1Ac-susceptible cotton bollworm, with relatively higher expression levels in adults and the 5th instar larvae, and the cuticle, Malpighian tubules and midgut of the 5th instar larvae. However, HaHSP19.8 showed lower expression levels in all the examined developmental stages and tissues of the 5th instar larvae of the Cry1Ac-resistant cotton bollworm than in those of the Cry1Ac-susceptible cotton bollworm. 【Conclusion】 The results suggest that HaHSP19.8 may participate in the growth and development of the cotton bollworm to resist the environment stress, and may be involved in the resistance to Cry1Ac.

 【Aim】 Monolepta hieroglyphica is a polyphagous pest feeding on a large number of cultivated plant species. The aim of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and levels of genetic differentiation and gene flow among geographical populations of M. hieroglyphica distributed in South China, and to clarify the diversity and prevalence of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia in M. hieroglyphica geographical populations in South China. 【Methods】 The mitochondrial COII gene was used as genetic marker. The partial COII gene sequences in a total of 403 individuals from 14 geographical populations of M. hieroglyphica were amplified by PCR and sequenced. The haplotype diversity ( Hd), genetic differentiation coefficient ( F _st) and gene flow ( Nm) between populations were analyzed, and the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs neutrality tests were performed. Median-joining network and phylogenetic tree were constructed based on haplotype sequences. Wolbachia wsp gene was amplified by PCR to detect population infection rates, and the obtained wsp sequences were used for strain typing and phylogenetic analysis of Wolbachia. 【Results】 For all the 403 test individuals of M. hieroglyphica in this study, 23 COII haplotypes were observed and divided into two clusters in phylogenetic tree. The Hd of total population was 0.748, ranging from 0.394 to 0.782 within each population. The neutrality test results suggested that M. hieroglyphica populations followed the neutral evolution model and there was no evidence of population expansion in recent history. The values of F _st and Nm of total population were 0.2481 and 0.76, respectively. The AMOVA results showed that a high proportion (73.75%) of the total genetic variance attributed to variation within population. There was no significant correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance among populations ( R=0.2898, P=0.0640). The Wolbachia infection rates in the 14 geographical populations of M. hieroglyphica ranged from 92.59% to 100%, with an average infection rate of 97.60%. Six Wolbachia strains (named as wMhie1- wMhie6) were identified based on wsp sequences, and these strains all belong to the supergroup A, which is clearly distinguished from other representative stains and forms a unique cluster in the phylogenetic tree. 【Conclusion】 The genetic diversity of M. hieroglyphica populations distributed in South China is comparatively high. There is significant genetic differentiation among most populations and the gene flow is low among populations. No significant correlation exists between genetic differentiation and geographical isolation. High infection rates and diversity of Wolbachia exist in M. hieroglyphica populations in South China.

【Aim】 To confirm the effectiveness of electroporation-mediated functional analysis system in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. 【Methods】 siRNAs were synthesized for the target gene Wnt1 (Wingless), which is known to be involved in larval melanin coloration in B. mori. The day-3 4th instar larvae of B. mori were injected with Wnt1 siRNAs and subjected to electroporation as the treatment group (ERFA-RNAi) and those injected with Wnt1 siRNAs but without subjected to electroporation were used as the negative control group, the epidermis of the corresponding speckled area of the 5th instar larvae was dissected, and the relative expression level of Wnt1 in the epidermis was detected with real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) to verify the effect of electroporationmediated RNAi. The transposon vector pPIG-A3GR with the enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene (EGFP) and the red florescence protein (RFP) reporter gene (DsRed2) expression cassettes, was introduced into the 2nd instar larvae of B. mori by electroporation. After 72 h of normal rearing, the expression of EGFP and DsRed2 in the larvae was observed under a fluorescent stereo microscope, to verify the somatic transgenesis of the silkworm. 【Results】 After the introduction of Wnt1 siRNAs into the day-3 4th instar larvae of B. mori, the formation of a speckle pattern of the 5th instar larvae was prevented on the larval body surface, and the qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of Wnt1 in the epidermis of the 5th instar larvae was significantly decreased. The positive rate of somatic transgenic silkworm was 56.60%, and two fluorescent reporter genes EGFP and DsRed2 were continuously expressed in larval, pupal and adult stages. 【Conclusion】 Electroporation is an efficient technology for exploration of gene function in vivo, by efficiently introducing exogenous RNA or DNA into silkworm.

Eusociality is a major characteristic of ants (Formicidae), with apparent division of labor among individuals. They use complex cooperative strategies to protect their nests from predators, pathogenic microorganisms, and ant competitors, and to capture preys. Myrmicinae is the largest group of Formicidae, with 147 living genera. They mainly spray alkaloid-rich venom secretions for defense and hunting. In this article, the composition of defensive alkaloids of Myrmicinae ants and their distribution characteristics in different genera and species were reviewed, whose chemical structure mainly includes piperidine, pyridine, pyrrole, indolizidine, pyrrolizidine and fatty amine, and their function and application were summarized and prospected. Piperidine alkaloids are the typical characteristics of the venom of Solenopsis species, while pyrrolidine, pyrroline, and pyrrolizidine alkaloids predominate in the venom of M onomorium species. Indolizidine alkaloids are the major components of the venom secretion of Myrmicaria ants and Solenopsis thief ants. In addition, fatty amines are also components of the venom of Monomorium species. These venom alkaloids possess a variety of biological activities and have great application value in development of pesticides and biomedicines.

 【Aim】 To evaluate the attractiveness of three plant volatile compounds linalool, methyl jasmonate and geraniol to Thrips hawaiiensis and Orius strigicollis, so as to provide a basis for utilizing plant volatile compounds to attract O. strigicollis for controlling T. hawaiiensis in the field. 【Methods】 The attraction rates of linalool, methyl jasmonate and geraniol at the concentrations of 980, 10, 0.1 and 0.001 g/L to T. hawaiiensis adults, and the 5th instar nymphs and adults of O. strigicollis were tested, and the time effect of attraction and attraction rates of 980, 10 and 0.1 g/L geraniol to adults of T. hawaiiensis and O. strigicollis were determined using a Y-type olfactometer. The numbers of T. hawaiiensis and O. strigicollis adults attracted by 10 g/L geraniol were further determined in the field greenhouse condition. 【Results】 The attraction rates of methyl jasmonate at various test concentrations to T. hawaiiensis adults and the 5th instar nymphs of O. strigicollis were not significantly different from those of the control group (paraffin oil). Linalool at the concentration of 980 g/L showed significantly enhanced attraction rate to T. hawaiiensis adults but linalool at various test concentrations exhibited no significant change in the attraction rate to the 5th instar nymphs and adults of O. strigicollis compared with the control group. The attraction rate of pure geraniol (980 g/L) to T. hawaiiensis adults significantly increased, and those of high concentrations (10 and 0.1 g/L) of geraniol to O. strigicollis adults significantly increased but those of 10 and 0.1 g/L geraniol to O. strigicollis nymphs did not change significantly as compared with those in the control group. Geraniol at different concentrations had a significant time effect on the number of T. hawaiiensis and O. strigicollis adults attracted, and the number of adults attracted by 980 and 10 g/L geraniol were significantly higher than those attracted by geraniol at the other concentrations at 2 h after treatment. Regardless of whether the pepper seedlings were damaged by T. hawaiiensis adults or not, those treated with 980 and 10 g/L geraniol had significantly higher attraction rates to adults of O. strigicollis compared with the control (clean water). Treatment group spraying 10 g/L geraniol in the field greenhouses had no significant difference in the number of attracted adults of T. hawaiiensi in 5 h but had significantly increased number of attracted adults of O. strigicollis compared with the control group spraying clear water. 【Conclusion】 Three plant volatile compounds linalool, methyl jasmonate and geraniol have different attraction rates to T. hawaiiensis and O. strigicollis. Geraniol at the concentration of 10 g/L can effectively attract adult O. strigicollis within 5 h but can not significantly attract T. hawaiiensis. These results provide the theoretical basis and technical support for using geraniol to attract O. strigicollis for controlling T. hawaiiensis.

 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 address the issue of low transfering rate of sperm after artificial insemination of Apis cerana cerana and to extend the time during which inseminated queens lay fertilized eggs within the colony.【Methods】 A. c. cerana gynes at 7 d after eclosion were inseminated with 1, 3 and 5 μL of semen. For each dosage, there were treatment groups and control groups, with 5 gynes in each group. After insemination, a plastic device was immediately fitted onto the end of abdomen of queen in the treatment group, while no plastic device was fitted onto the end of abdomen of queen in the control group. After 24 h, the number of sperms in the spermatheca of each queen was counted. 【Results】Physical isolation via the fitted plastic device significantly improved the transferring rate of sperm of A. c. cerana to spermatheca after artificial insemination. It demonstrated a particularly notable advantage under low semen dosage, with the transferring rate of sperm increasing from approximately 11% under conventional artificial insemination to 43%. This effectively extended the time during which the queen laid fertilized eggs within the colony. The application of this method successfully elucidated the inheritance pattern of body color in A. c. cerana, demonstrating that body color is controlled by a pair of alleles, with yellow being dominant and black recessive. The three castes in the offspring resulting from the backcrossing of the heterozygous queen (F ₁) with the black drone exhibited a stable 1∶1 segregation ratio of body color, consistent with Mendelian inheritance. 【Conclusion】 The optimized sperm transfer method developed in this study significantly enhances the transferring rate of sperm of A. c. cerana from lateral oviduct to spermatheca in artificially inseminated queens, particularly under low semen dosage, such as single-drone insemination. This method can be successfully applied in the study of the inheritance pattern of body color, providing both a theoretical foundation and technical support for the selective breeding and germplasm conservation of A. c. cerana.

Spatial ecology has recently attracted more and more interest from a wide range of ecologists. The theory and methodology of metapopulation ecology is an important part in this field, with which a dramatic increase of publications has dealed in the recent two to three years. Several important monographs were also published. The case studies on the Glanville fritillary butterfly ( Melitaea cinxia L.) by Hanski et al., has been reviewed and combined with our own experience. By understanding the approaches being utilized, the type of data gathered, the ways to analyze the data, and the features of the results obtained, this paper seeks to analyze the actual meanings, features and the applied prospects of metapopulation theory and methodology.

A comparative study on the antennal sensilla of various forms of Myzus persicae is undertaken. Scanning electron microscopy revealed four kinds of antennal sensilla, campaniform sensillum, trichoid sensillum, primary and secondary rhinarium. A major difference between various forms of M. persicae lies in the abundance of secondary rhinaria. Male, gynopara and alate virginopara possess secondary rhinaria, ovipara, fundatrix and apterous virginopara have none. Nevertheless, male aphids have more numbers of secondary rhinaria than gynoparae and alate virginoparae, and the sensilla are found not only on the 3rd antennal segment, but also on the 4th and 5th segments of males. The role of antennal sensilla in chemical ecology of peach aphid and the differences between various forms of peach aphid in correlation to migration, host selecting and mating behavior are discussed, sexual dimorphism in the antennae of M. persicae is also discussed.

Distribution of Oxya chinensis was investigated in rice field and the result indicated that 1～3 instar nymphs mainly gathered on weeds around the field. When they grew up to 4～6 instars, the nymphs gradually dispersed into the field. The laboratory experiments showed that the LC ₅₀ of 5% Cascade ^® (IGR) against the grasshoppers was about 54.27 μg/mL. The optimum dosage for field spraying was estimated at 105 mL/hm ². When high density of the insect pest occurred, the integrated application of Nosema locustae and IGR was effective and more than 35.6% of the surviving grasshoppers were infected by N. locustae. This is a lowcost and sustainable measure with good prospects in practical application.

In this report, a preliminary isolation of AS from the brains of larvae, Mythimna separata, is described. The ASactivity material which can inhibit JH synthesis by CA occurs in the brains of last instar. The ability of brain extract to inhibit JH synthesis in vitro was tested by radiochemical assay. Using 1 brain equivalent, 51% inhibition of JH synthesis was achieved. If the brain extract was pretreated with trypsin, the inhibitory effect of the extract was greatly reduced. Assays of fractions from the reversalphase C18 column of HPLC separation showed that materials with AS activity were eluted between 5.2% to 28% methanol (fraction 1～20), and between 40% to 76% methanol (fraction 30～60). Assays of fractions 3, 5, 11, 40, 54 and 60 using 5 brain equivalents per pair of CA showed >50% inhibition of JH synthesis. Further purification of the fractions from the C18 column with allatostatic activity is in progress.

Progress achieved in the past two decades is reviewed in terms of following 5 aspects:①endocrine regulation of reproduction and development,②sensory functions and behavioral specialization,③dispersal and migration,④mechanism of insecticide resistance,and ⑤insect immunity.Reproductive diapause in 3 species of lady beetles due to deficiency in feeding on artificial diets,was partly mended by adding JH analogue ZR512 into the diets,which would promote vilellogenesis and ovary development.In eri silkworm it was found that both PTTH from the brain and ecdysone secreted by prothoracic glands were indispensable for normal development of the ovaries in pupal stage.In Bombyx mori,it was revealed that addition of phytogenous ecdysone into the food would promote RNA synthesis in the silk gland.The induction of trimolters by applying imidazole compounds such as KK-42 to the 3 _rd instar larvae of tetramolters,was investigated in the light of the altered action between corpora allata and PTTH secretion in the brain.Delay of MH peak and deficiency of JH were regarded as the cause resulting in trimolter formation.Progress in the studies on sensory function of chemical and visual receptors was achieved in the application of sex pheromones and plant secondary substances for pest control and to unveil the effect of periodic light change on behavioral response.Dispersal capacity of natural enemies of pest insects was studied for biological control,and migration of some mobile insects such as the moths of armyworm and rice leaf roller was studied to reveal the cause of their seasonal occurrence and damages to crops in different regions of the country.The resistance of some medical and agricultural insects to organic phosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides related to gene amplification and changes in sensitivity of the neural target sites to the insecticides,has been investigated and confirmatory results have been obtained.Due attention has been paid to insect immunity in relation to their organic adaptation to harsh environmental elements.

The fluorescent substance tracing method was used to quantitatively measure and analyze the damage to rice plants by the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera and the ability of the lycosid spider Pirata subpiraticus to control Sogatella furcifera during the two rice growth stages (the tasseling and maturing stage).The results show that the fluorescent substance content of the rice plant, Sogatella furcifera and Pirata subpiraticus obviously increased with increasing concentration of fluorescent substance from 20 mg/L to 50 mg/L to 100 mg/L respectively. During the tasseling stage, rice consumption by Sogatella furcifera was 0.0636 g per insect every 24 h, and the consumption of Sogatella furcifera by Pirata subpiraticus was 0.0336 g per spider every 24 h, equaling 6-7 planthoppers per day. During the maturing stage, rice consumption of Sogatella furcifera was 0.0115 g per insect every 24 h, and the consumption of Sogatella furcifera by Pirata subpiraticus was 0.0416 g per spider every 24 h, equaling 16 planthoppers per day. Comparing the two growth stages, the per gram fluorescent substance content of Sogatella furcifera and Pirata subpiraticus was significantly higher at the maturing stage than at the tasseling stage.

In order to evaluate biocontrol effect of an invasive pest, the fall webworm Hyphantria cunea, by the parasitoid Chouioia cunea (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), life tables of four generations of the pest were consecutively studied for two years in Yantai, Shandong Province. Two experimental sites were selected where the fall webworm was still a big problem but not so serious as some years ago. In one of the sites the parasitoid was released twice in each fall webworm generation , at the beginning and peak period of pupation, while the other site served as the control. The average data of observations for the 1st generations of the fall webworm in two years were combined to make one life table for the test site and the average data of the observations for the 2nd generation of fall webworm were used to make another life table. Similarly, the average data of observations from the control site were used to make two other life tables. The results show that the trend indexes of population ( I value) of 1st and 2nd generations of the fall webworm at the test site, 0.29 and 0.14 respectively, were significantly lower than that at the control site, 8.74 and 4.48 respectively. The pest population clearly declined at the test site and appeared to have been effectively controlled by the parasitoid.

The optimum reaction conditions, sensitivity to the inhibitor and the developmental changes of tyrosinase in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), were studied using time-driving dynamic method. The results showed that the optimum pH of tyrosinase is about 6.4; The OD ₄₂₀ values are linear with time from 0-2 min. When stored at 22℃ and 4℃, the prepared tyrosinase could keep its best activity for 12 h and 72 h, respectively; and while stored at -20℃, the tyrosinase could keep its activity for at least 7 days. The activity of tyrosinase in different developmental stages of P. Xylostella follows the order pharate pupa>4th instar larvae >pupa>1st－3rd instar larvae > adult. The I ₅₀ of phenyl thiourea (PTU) to the activity of tyrosinase from both the resistant and susceptible strains showed no obvious difference (1.1796 μmol/L and 1.2795 μmol/L, respectively).