【Aim】 The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of flonicamid on the predation ability of the 3rd instar larvae of Harmonia axyridis. 【Methods】 The residual film method was employed to observe and analyze the effects of exposure of the 3rd instar larvae of H. axyridis to 0.146 and 0.292 mg/mL of flonicamid on their predation ability on Aphis gossypii adults, including the predation amount, instantaneous attack rate, handling time and searching efficiency.【Results】 The predatory functional responses of the 3rd instar larvae of H. axyridis treated with 0.146 and 0.292 mg/mL of flonicamid to A. gossypii adults followed the type Ⅱ functional responses, which can be described by Holling’s disc equation. Compared with the control group treated with acetone, exposure of 0.146 and 0.292 mg/mL of flonicamid had negative impacts on the predation functional response parameters and searching efficiency of the 3rd instar larvae of H. axyridis， and the effects on the predation and searching ability became more significant with the increase of the concentration of flonicamid. In the control group, and treatment groups with 0.146 and 0.292 mg/mL of flonicamid, the instantaneous attack rates of the 3rd instar larvae of H. axyridis were 0.9260, 1.4451 and 2.1197, respectively, the maximum daily predation amounts were 392.62, 52.63 and 32.15 individuals, respectively, and the handling time was 0.0025, 0.0190 and 0.0311 h, respectively. 【Conclusion】 Exposure of the 3rd instar larvae of H. axyridis to flonicamid has negative impacts on their predation function on A. gossypii adults. Therefore, in order to better protect and utilize natural enemies, when implementing the prevention and control of A. gossypii using H. axyridis, consideration should be given to reducing or not using chemical pesticides.

【Aim】 This study aims to clarify the effects of S-methoprene on the ovarian development and expression of vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) genes in female adults of Cryptolestes ferrugineus. 【Methods】 The expression levels of CfVg and CfVgR in different developmental stages (egg, larva, pupa and adult) and different tissues (head, thorax, midgut and ovary) of female adults of C. ferrugineus were detected by RT-qPCR. The ovaries of C. ferrugineus were dissected at 1, 3, 5 and 7 d after exposure of the 3-day-old female adults to S-methoprene by topical drip method, and the changes of ovaries were observed. The length and width of ovarioles were observed and measured. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression levels of CfVg and CfVgR in female adults at 8, 16 and 24 h after S-methoprene treatment and in their ovaries at 24 h after S-methoprene treatment. 【Results】The expression levels of CfVg and CfVgR were weak in the egg stage, extremely low in the larval stage, increased rapidly after entering the pupal stage, and increased significantly in the adult stage of C. ferrugineus. CfVg and CfVgR were specifically highly expressed in the ovaries of female adults of C. ferrugineus, but lightly expressed in the other tissues such as the head and thorax of female adults of C. ferrugineus. After S-methoprene treatment, the ovarian development speed was significantly faster than that of the control group treated with anhydrous ethanol, and the length and width of ovarioles of C. ferrugineus increased with the treatment time. The length of ovarioles of C. ferrugineus at 5 d after S-methoprene treatment was significantly greater than that of the control group, but there was no significant difference in the length of ovarioles between treatment group and the control group at 7 d after S-methoprene treatment. The expression levels of CfVg and CfVgR in female adults of C. ferrugineus increased continuously with the extension of treatment time at 8, 16 and 24 h after S-methoprene treatment. Additionally, the expression levels of CfVg and CfVgR in the ovaries of C. ferrugineus at 24 h after S-methoprene treatment were significantly upregulated, as compared to those in the control group. 【Conclusion】 S-Methoprene can promote the ovarian development of C. ferrugineus adults and upregulate the expression levels of CfVg and CfVgR in the ovaries of female adults. Thus, CfVg and CfVgR may play an important role in S-methoprene regulating the ovarian development and vitellogenesis of C. ferrugineus.

【Aim】 To elucidate the biological function of serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 7 (SPINK7) and its immunorecognition mechanism of Bombyx mori against bacterial infestation. 【Methods】 Bioinformatics analysis of SPINK7 of B. mori was made followed by prokaryotic expression, and the secondary structure and heat resistance of SPINK7 were analyzed by circular dichroism. The tendency of SPINK7 to form aggregates was detected by non-reducing electrophoresis and Western blot. The 5th instar larvae of B. mori were infected by Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, and the expression levels of SPINK7 gene in hemocytes and fat bodies were detected by qPCR, and the SPINK7 content in serum was detected by Western blot. The inhibitory activities of SPINK7 against E. coli, S. aureus and Micrococcus luteus were analyzed by bacterial inhibition curves. The binding of SPINK7 to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide, and the binding of SPINK7 to E. coli, S. aureus and M. luteus were detected by immunofluorescence localization and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).【Results】 SPINK7 consists of three conserved Kazal structural domains, each of which contains six cysteines, forming three pairs of disulfide bonds. The secondary structure of SPINK7 is mainly α-helix, which is consistent with the typical secondary structure of Kazal structural domains, it is heat-resisting and remains structurally stable at 80 ℃. After induction by E. coli and S. aureus, SPINK7 formed a multimeric structure, and the expression levels of SPINK7 gene in hemocytes and fat bodies and the SPINK7 content in the serum of the 5th instar larvae of B. mori were significantly up-regulated, as compared with those of the phosphate buffer solution (PBS) control group. SPINK7 did not directly inhibit bacterial activity, and promoted bacterial aggregation by binding to bacterial PAMPs. 【Conclusion】SPINK7 is a Kazal-type immune-associated protein, whose expression is up-regulated and multimerized after bacterial infestation in B. mori, and helps hemocytes to aggregate bacteria and exert immune effect by recognizing and binding to bacterial PAMPs.

【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】 This study aims to explore the sublethal effects oflambda-cyhalothrin on Conogethes  punctiferalis, so as to provide a theoretical basis for its scientific application in field management of this pest. 【Methods】 The 48-h toxicity of lambda-cyhalothrin to the 3-day-old adults of C. punctiferalis was determined using the residual film method. Sublethal concentrations (LC₁, LC₅ and LC₁₀) of lambda-cyhalothrin were applied to the 3-day-old adults of C. punctiferalis, the adult longevity, fecundity and survival rate of the F₀ generation, and the larval and pupal duration, fecundity, hatching rate, pupation rate and emergence rate of the F₁ generation were observed and recorded. The age-stage, two-sex life table was constructed for the F₁ generation. 【Results】 Within 48-h exposure, the LC₁, LC₅ and LC₁₀ values of lambda-cyhalothrin against the 3-day-old adults of C. punctiferalis were 0.233, 0.601 and 0.995 mg/L, respectively. Exposure of the 3-day-old adults of C. punctiferalis to LC₁, LC₅ and LC₁₀ of lambda-cyhalothrin resulted in reductions in the average number of eggs laid per female by 5.56%, 24.55% and 51.06%, respectively. After the 3-day-old adults of C. punctiferalis were exposed to LC₁₀ of lambda-cyhalothrin, the adult longevity of the F₀ generation was significantly shortened by 1.60 d, and the oviposition period significantly decreased by 1.29 d, as compared to those in the control group exposed to acetone. The results for the F₁ population showed that, in the treatment groups with LC₁, LC₅ and LC₁₀ of lambda-cyhalothrin, the survival rates at the egg stage decreased by 8.70%, 13.75% and 30.38%, respectively, the average number of eggs laid per female decreased by 38.05%, 30.75% and 24.84%, respectively, and the survival rates at the pupal stage decreased by 2.70%, 13.87% and 27.68%, respectively, as compared to those in the control group. In addition, in the treatment groups with LC₁, LC₅ and LC₁₀ of lambda-cyhalothrin, the peak values of the age-specific reproductive rate (f_x) curve in the F₁ generation of C. punctiferalis decreased by 39.76%, 34.68% and 39.56%, respectively, and the pre-oviposition period, the peak of the female age-specific fecundity, intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and net rate of increase of the F₁ generation (R₀) were all significantly reduced as compared to those in the control group. 【Conclusion】 Sublethal concentrations of lambda-cyhalothrin significantly reduced the longevity and fecundity of the F₀ generation of C. punctiferalis, and also caused a significant decline in the number of eggs laid of the F₁ generation, thereby suppressing population growth. The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the scientific application of lambda-cyhalothrin in the management of C. punctiferalis.

【Aim】 To determine the toxicity of plumbagin (an important plant secondary substance from Chinese medicine Plumbago zeylanica) to the 2nd instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda and ascertain the sublethal effect of a sublethal concentration (LC₂₅) of plumbagin on the growth, development and detoxifying enzyme activities of the F₀ and F₁ generations of S. frugiperda. 【Methods】 The toxicity of plumbagin against the 2nd instar larvae of S. frugiperda (the 2nd day after ecdysis) was determined using insecticide incorporated artificial diet bioassay. After the 2nd instar larvae were exposed to LC₂₅ (0.343 mg/g) of plumbagin, the larval duration, pupation rate, pupal duration, female and male adult longevity, and number of eggs laid per female adult of the F₀ and F₁ generations of S. frugiperda were recorded, the age-stage, two-sex life table was constructed, and the activities of three detoxifying enzymes including carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP450) were determined at 24 h after treatment. 【Results】 The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) and LC₂₅ values of plumbagin against the 2nd instar larvae of S. frugiperda in 7 d were 0.607 and 0.343 mg/g, respectively. For the parental generation (F₀) of S. frugiperda, LC₂₅ of plumbagin significantly decreased the pupation rate by 25.13%, significantly shortened the female and male pupal duration by 1.29 and 1.08 d, respectively, significantly decreased the number of eggs laid per female by 47%, and significantly shortened the oviposition period and adult longevity by 1.75 and 1.19 d, respectively, compared to the vehicle control (0.1% acetone). For the offspring generation (F₁) of S. frugiperda, LC₂₅ of plumbagin only significantly shortened the mean generation time (T) by 0.91 d, compared to the vehicle control. LC₂₅ of plumbagin significantly induced the activities of the three detoxifying enzymes CarE, GST and CYP450 in the 2nd instar larvae of S. frugiperda after treatment for 24 h, which were increased to 1.28-, 1.30- and 1.42-fold as high as those in the vehicle control. 【Conclusion】 LC₂₅of plumbagin had obvious adverse effects on the growth, development and fecundity of the F₀ generation of S. frugiperda, and significantly increased the activities of the three detoxifying enzymes CarE, GST and CYP450 in the 2nd instar larvae after treatment for 24 h, which will be helpful for using the plant secondary substance plumbagin as one of potent biocontrol strategies for this pest.

【Aim】To explore the effects of artificial diet-based rearing technology on the growth, development and reproduction of Anoplophora glabripennis, to clarify the duration and reproductive parameters of A. glabripennis at different developmental stages, and to establish a system of indoor pass-on technology of A. glabripennis based on artificial diet, so as to provide basic data and technical support for the in-depth basic research on A. glabripennis and the development of new preventive and control technologies in the future. 【Methods】 The duration and mortality rates of different developmental stages of A. glabripennis reared on artificial diet were observed and counted. The effects of feeding different host plants (Salix babylonica and Acer negundo branches) on the adult longevity and number of eggs laid by female adult of A. glabripennis were observed and compared to clarify the feeding preference of A. glabripennis adults for different host plants, and to explore the host plant species suitable for indoor nutrient supplementation of A. glabripennis adults. The differences in the adult longevity and number of eggs laid per female of A. glabripennis of different sources (reared on artificial diet indoors and collected in the field) to evaluate the effects of different growing environments on the development and breeding biology of adult A. glabripennis. The pupal weight of A. glabripennis reared on artificial diet indoors and collected in the field was determined to clarify the effects of different growing environments on the pupal weight of A. glabripennis. 【Results】 Under the condition of the temperature 25 ℃, relative humidity of 60% and photoperiod of 16L∶8D, the egg duration of A. glabripennis was (10.39±0.09) d, and the entire larval duration was (153.78±5.93) d. The larval stage of A. glabripennis reared on artificial diet indoors was divided into five instars, and the 1st-5th instar larval duration was (18.28±0.23), (24.75±0.20), (33.30±0.27), (37.67±0.27) and (39.85±0.31) d, respectively. The pupal duration of A. glabripennis was (15.05±0.06) d, and the survival rates of various developmental stages were maintained at more than 90.0%. Nutrient supplementation with A. negundo branches significantly increased the number of eggs laid per female and adult longevity of A. glabripennis, with the average values of (112.97±3.64) grains, (39.90±4.69) d and (30.93±6.75) d, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of females with nutrient supplemention with S. babylonica branches ［(26.33±0.97) grains, (15.23±3.41) d and (15.50±4.35) d, respectively］. In comparison, there were no significant differences in the number of eggs laid per female and female and male adult longevity of A. glabripennis reared on artificial diet indoors ［(101.50±34.17) grains, (41.00±3.82) d, and (30.50±8.23) d, respectively］ and those collected in the field ［(94.25±18.59) grains, (38.63±6.12) d and (25.88±6.60) d, respectively］. In addition, the pupal weight of A. glabripennis reared on artificial diet indoors was (0.95±0.20) g, which was not significantly different from that collected in the field ［(0.93±0.12) g］. 【Conclusion】 The artificial diet rearing method in this study can not only greatly improve the survival rate of artificially bred A. glabripennis, but also achieve the indoor 2 generations/year pass.on rearing, which greatly shortens the breeding cycle of A. glabripennis, and can provide a stable source of test worms for the basic research of A. glabripennis, and lays a foundation for further development of new prevention and control technologies.

【Aim】This study aims to investigate the lethal effects of controlled atmosphere treatments with different concentrations of CO₂ on Blattella germanica, and the physiological responses of B. germanica to these controlled atmosphere treatments, and explore the influence of temperature on the insecticidal effect of the controlled atmosphere, so as to establish a theoretical reference for the economical and effective control of B. germanica. 【Methods】 The mortality rates of B. germanica at different developmental stages (1st-2nd instar nymphs, 3rd-4th instar nymphs, 5th-6th instar nymphs, and newly emerged female and male adults within 24 h) after exposure to controlled atmosphere with 40% or 50% CO₂ for 2 h, and male adults after exposure to controlled atmosphere with 30%-100% CO₂ for 1-5 h, and with 40% and 50% CO₂ for 2 h at 22, 26, 30 and 34 ℃ were recorded. Additionally, the trehalose content and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in male adults of B. germanica after exposure to controlled atmosphere with different concentrations of CO₂ for 3 h and with 40% CO₂ for different time were measured.【Results】 Under the controlled atmosphere with 40% or 50% CO₂, the mortality rates of B. germanica at different developmental stages at 2 h after treatment were ranked as follows: female adults≈1st-2nd instar nymphs>3rd-4th instar nymphs>5th-6th instar nymphs≈male adults. At the room temperature (26 ℃), controlled atmosphere treatments with 60% CO₂ resulted in a 100% mortality rate of B. germanica after 4-h treatment. Following exposure to the controlled atmosphere with varying concentrations of CO₂, the trehalose content in male adults of B. germanica initially decreased with the CO₂ concentration increasing, reaching the minimum (0.72 mg/g) at 80% CO₂ before rising again. As the CO₂ concentration in controlled atmosphere treatment increased and the treatment time extended, the activities of SOD and CAT in male adults of B. germanica initially rose and then declined, with the SOD activity significantly lower than that of the control group (the air treatment group). The activities of SOD, CAT and GST increased when male adults were exposed to the controlled atmosphere with the CO₂ concentrations below 40%, while decreased when male adults were exposed to the controlled atmosphere with the CO₂ concentrations above this threshold. The mortality rates of male adults of B. germanica at 2 h after exposure to controlled atmosphere with 40% CO₂ under 22, 26, 30 and 34 ℃ were continuously increased. 【Conclusion】Controlled atmosphere treatment with CO₂ exceeding 30% has a lethal effect on B. germanica, and the mortality rate of B. germanica is positively correlated with treatment time and temperature. Elevated CO₂ concentration or prolonged treatment time decrease the activities of protective and detoxification enzymes, thereby impacting the detoxification ability and metabolism of B. germanica. Exposure to CO₂ at the concentrations above 60% at room temperature for more than 4 h can cause a 100% mortality rate of B. germanica, providing effective treatment conditions for controlling B. germanica.

【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.

 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 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】 This study aims to explore the effects of altitude and seasonal changes on the composition and diversity of pollen-source plants of Apis cerana cerana. 【Methods】 Pollen-source plant DNA was extracted for PCR amplification targeting the ITS2 region by collecting the bee bread of A. c. cerana at various altitude gradients (500, 700, 900, 1 100 and 1 300 m) across different months (March, May, July, September and November) in Simian Mountain, Chongqing, southwestern China. Sequencing was performed using Illumina PE250 second-generation high-throughput sequencing technology. Bioinformatics methods were employed to analyze the composition, abundance and diversity of pollen-source plants of A. c. cerana. 【Results】 A total of 162 species belonging to 128 genera of 61 families across 30 orders were identified among the pollen-source plants of A. c. cerana in Simian Mountain, Chongqing, including 101 species of woody plants (accounting for 62.35%), 51 species of herbaceous plants (accounting for 31.48%) and 10 species of lianas (accounting for 6.17%). Among these pollen-source plants, the order Rosales exhibited the highest number of plant species (21), followed by Fagales and Astererales, which comprised 19 and 15 species, respectively. Analysis of the composition of pollen-source plants of A. c. cerana based on the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) indicated that there were 17 species of pollen-source plants accounting for over 1%, with the top five being Castanea seguinii (accounting for 18.9%), Eurya nitida (accounting for 11.3%), Rhus chinensis(accounting for 8.5%), Brassica oleracea (accounting for 6.3%) and Aralia chinensis (accounting for 5.3%). The results of alpha-diversity analysis showed that the diversity of pollen-source plants of A. c. cerana in Simian Mountain, Chongqing increased first and then decreased with the increase of altitude, and was the lowest in May and had no significant difference between the other months. 【Conclusion】 The pollen-source plant resources of A. c. cerana in the Simian Mountain region of Chongqing are abundant. The diversity of these pollen-source plants does not significantly vary by month, however, it exhibits a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing with altitudes. This study elucidates the characteristics of spatiotemporal variations in plant composition and diversity of pollen-source plants of A. c. cerana in Simian Mountain of Chongqing. The findings offer a novel perspective for further research and conservation efforts concerning A. c. cerana populations in this area, and provide valuable insights for local beekeepers in selecting appropriate apiary locations, ensuring a steady supply of pollen resources, enhancing honeybee survival rates, and ultimately increasing the yield of bee products.

【Aim】High-fat diet has been proven to induce various diseases such as hyperlipidemia, posing a threat to human health. This study investigated the effects of high-fat diet on the growth and development, economic traits, lipid metabolism and immune function of Bombyx mori by adding soybean oil to mulberry leaves, to evaluate the feasibility of using B. mori to construct a hyperlipidemia disease model for human health research. 【Methods】 The day-0 4th instar and day-0 5th instar larvae of B. mori were fed with high-fat diets (mulberry leaves treated with 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% soybean oil, respectively) until maturity. The body weight of various day-old larvae and the cocoon layer rate were measured. The triglyceride contents in the fat body and serum of the 5th instar larvae of B. mori fed with the mulberry leaves treated with 0.5% soybeal oil were detected using a triglyceride test kit. Oil red O staining was used to observe the morphological changes and average optical density values of lipid droplets. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to analyze the transcription levels of eight immune-related genes (BmCecD2, BmCecA, BmCecB, BmCecE, BmCec-CBM2-2, BmSpz1, BmDual and BmKayak) in the 5th instar larval fat bodies. 【Results】Compared with the control group (fed with regular mulberry leaves), high-fat diet (nulberry leaves treated with 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% soybean oil, respectively) significantly inhibited the body weight gain of B. mori larvae and significantly reduced the cocoon layer rate. Compared with the control, a high-lipid diet (mulbery leaves treated with 0.5% soybean oil) significantly increased the triglyceride content in the fat body and serum of the 5th instar larvae of B. mori, resulted in abnormal morphology of fat body and accumulation of lipid droplets, and significantly down-regulated the expression levels of the tested eight innate immune-related genes in the fat body of the 5th instar larvae. Among them, the expression levels of BmCecE, BmDual and BmKayak were down-regulated by more than 90%.【Conclusion】The high-fat diet leads to slow growth, delayed development, decreased economic traits, disrupted lipid metabolism and weakened immune regulatory function in B. mori. Among them, the increase in triglyceride content is similar to the physiological and pathological characteristics of human hyperlipidemia. This study provides a theoretical basis for constructing disease models using insects.

【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】 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.

【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.

 Aphids, a group of widely distributed piercing-sucking insects, rely on the symbiotic relationship with the primary endosymbiont Buchnera to acquire essential nutrients for survival and reproduction. During the long-term coevolution, aphids have developed specialized bacteriocytes to mediate nutrient exchange with Buchnera while avoiding immune activation. This intracellular symbiosis is maintained through vertical transmission dependent on endocytosis and exocytosis mechanisms, ensuring persistent infection of Buchnera within aphid populations. However, the stable nutrient supply in endosymbiotic environment leads to extensive genome degeneration in Buchnera. On the one hand, the systematic loss of genes related to redundant nutrient metabolism and environmental stress response has resulted in the loss of over 90% of the genes of Buchnera genomes, leading to drastic genome reduction. On the other hand, the physical barrier formed by bacteriocytes prevents Buchnera from acquiring new genes from external bacteria, at the same time, the absence of key genes involved in DNA repair leads to the loss of mutation repair ability. These factors collectively result in extreme AT content and continuous functional gene loss in the genome of Buchnera. The genomic degeneration of Buchnera compromises its metabolic functions, manifesting as reduced essential amino acid synthesis, loss of key genes involved in inorganic salt metabolism, and dysregulation of heat shock protein expression. These deficiencies accelerate aphid speciation and reduce their adaptability under heat stress. To compensate for these obligate symbiotic constraints, aphids employ strategies such as acquiring secondary symbionts or replacing primary symbionts. Some lineages have even evolved dual primary symbionts, alleviating adverse effect of genomic degradation through functional complementation. In this review, we summarized the evolutionary paradox in aphid- Buchnera symbiosis. Although the degeneration of Buchnera genome improved the efficiency of nutrient supply, it restricted the adaptation of aphid hosts to the environmental changes. We further proposed novel compensatory strategies developed by aphids to overcome obligate symbiotic constraints, offering new perspectives for understanding relationship between insects and endosymbionts, and laying theoretical foundations for aphid control strategies targeting symbionts.

【Aim】 Emamectin benzoate, a novel highly effective semi-synthetic antibiotic insecticide, is widely used for chemical control of Monochamus alternatus. This study aims to explore the sublethal effects of emamectin benzoate on the natural enemy insect, Sclerodermus alternatusi. 【Methods】The toxicity of emamectin benzoate to S. alternatusi adults was determined using the topical application method. Two sublethal doses, i.e. LD₁₀(0.813×10^－3 μg/individual) and LD₃₀(3.427×10^－3 μg/individual) of emamectin benzoate were applied to the female adults of S. alternatusi to observe the changes in the number of eggs laid per female adult of the F₀ generation, and the developmental duration, fecundity, survival rate, female and male adult longevity and other parameters of the F₁ generation. An age-stage, two-sex life table was constructed, and the Timing-MSChart software was utilized to predict the 60-d population dynamics of the F₁ generation after exposure of adults to LD₁₀ and LD₃₀ of emamectin benzoate.【Results】Compared with the blank control, both LD₁₀ and LD₃₀ of emamectin benzoate stress significantly inhibited the number of eggs laid per female of the F₀ generation and significantly reduced the survival rate of the F₁ generation of S. alternatusi. Exposure of S. alternatusi adults to LD₃₀ of emamectin benzoate significantly prolonged the egg duration of the F₁ generation and significantly shortened larval duration of the F₁ generation, and significantly prolonged the male adult longevity of the F₁ generation. Population parameters of the F₁ generation showed that exposure of S. alternatusi adults to LD₁₀ and LD₃₀ of emamectin benzoate significantly decreased the intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R₀), and finite rate of increase (λ) of the F₁ generation, and the treatment with LD₃₀ of emamectin benzoate significantly prolonged the mean generation time (T), compared with the blank control. Population dynamic predictions over 60 d revealed significant suppression of offspring populations of S. alternatusi by LD₁₀ and LD₃₀ of emamectin benzoate.【Conclusion】 Sublethal doses of emamectin benzoate markedly inhibited the survival rate and population growth of S. alternatusi offspring. Additionally, high-dose sublethal exposure to emamectin benzoate had no significant impact on the fecundity of female adult offspring, whereas low-dose sublethal exposure to emamectin benzoate significantly reduced the fecundity of female adult offspring. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the scientific application of emamectin benzoate in integrated pest management strategies in agriculture and forestry.

【Aim】In order to more systematically reveal the transmission mode of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) in the transmission vector Pentalonia nigronervos. 【Methods】Non-viruliferous P. nigronervos adults were allowed to acquire BBTV by feeding on infected plants of Musa acuminata AAA Groups, Cavendish cv. Baxi for 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h. Then the expression levels of coat protein (CP) genes in these P. nigronervos adults were detected using PCR and qPCR to determine the virus acquisition time of non-viruliferous P. nigronervos. The distribution of BBTV in various tissues within the digestive system of P. nigronervos adults was observed through immunofluorescence detection and in situ hybridization, and the presence of BBTV in the honeydew of P. nigronervos and in Solenopsis invicta adults fed on this honeydew was detected by PCR.【Results】The expression of BBTV CP gene could be detected in P. nigronervos adults at 6 h after virus acquisition. Fluorescent labeling result indicated that BBTV was predominantly located in the anterior midgut (specifically in epithelial cells and circular muscles), accessory salivary glands, and excretory ostium of P. nigronervos adults. In situ hybridization result confirmed the presence of BBTV in the foregut, anterior midgut (epithelial cells), and principal salivary glands of P. nigronervos adults. PCR result revealed that the fragments of all six genetic components of BBTV could be detected in the honeydew secreted by viruliferous P. nigronervos as well as in S. invicta adults fed on this honeydew. 【Conclusion】A portion of BBTV acquired by P. nigronervos from banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) infected banana plants is transmitted in a persistent-nonpropagative circulative manner within the salivary glands, foregut, anterior midgut (epithelial cells and circular muscles), and excretory ostium of P. nigronervos adults. Conversely, another portion of BBTV is eliminated from the body of P. nigronervos in the form of honeydew. This study enhances our understanding of BBTV distribution in its transmission vector P. nigronervos and further confirms that BBTV spreads in its vector in a persistent-circulative manner. These findings are crucial for advancing research on the virus transmission mechanisms in P. nigronervos and for developing effective disease prevention and control strategies.

 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.

【Aim】To elucidate the repellent activities of three plant-derived compounds neochamaejasmine A, thymol and azadirachtin against adult Tribolium confusum and their effects on its olfaction-related genes. 【Methods】 The relative electroantennogram (EAG) response values of T. confusum adults to 0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5 and 50 μg/μL neochamaejasmine A, thymol and azadirachtin were measured. The olfactory behavior responses of T. confusum adults to neochamaejasmine A, thymol and azadirachtin at the concentrations of 0.5, 5 and 50 μg/μL were studied by Y-tube olfactometer. Impregnated filter paper method was used to determine the repellent rates of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mg/L neochamaejasmine A, thymol and azadirachtin to T. confusum adults. Transcriptomes of the head of T. confusum adults treated with median lethal concentration (LC₅₀)(28.37 mg/L) neochamaejasmine A, LC₅₀(51.05 mg/L) thymol and LC₅₀(42.20 mg/L) azadirachtin were sequenced and comparatively analyzed using RNA-Seq. 【Results】The relative EAG response value of T. confusum adults was proportional to the concentrations of neochamaejasmine A, thymol and azadirachtin. At the maximum concentration of 50 μg/μL, neochamaejasmine A, thymol and azadirachtin resulted in the relative EAG response values of T. confusum adults of 1.61, 2.69 and 2.34 mV, respectively, and the selection rates of 86.48%, 73.89% and 78.33%, respectively. The repellent rates (74.67% and 80.82%, respectively) of 60 mg/L thymol to T. confusum adults were the highest at 2 and 4 h, and the repellent grades reached grades Ⅳ and Ⅴ, respectively. After treatment with thymol, neochamaejasmine A and azadirachtin, there were 569, 597 and 661 differentially expressed genes in the head transcriptomes of T. confusum adults, respectively, 412, 434 and 498 differentially expressed genes were annotated with GO function, respectively, and the differentially expressed genes were identified to 26, 33 and 32 KEGG pathways, respectively, compared with the control group. Thirteen, four and five olfaction-related genes with differential expression were found after treatment with thymol, neochamaejasmine A and azadirachtin, respectively. 【Conclusion】In this study, the repellent activities of the three plant-derived compounds to T. confusum adults were determined and the head transcriptome of T. confusum adults was sequenced. It is speculated that the differentially expressed genes may play an important role in T. confusum repelling the three plant-derived compounds.

【Aim】 To explore the toxic effect of star polycation (SPc)-mediated RNAi targeting the V-ATPase H subunit gene TcV-ATPase-H on female adults of Tetranychus cinnabarinus. 【Methods】TcV-ATPase-H of T. cinnabarinus was cloned by PCR. The expression levels of TcV-ATPase-H in T. cinnabarinus at different developmental stages (egg, larva, nymph and female adult) were detected using RT-qPCR. RNAi of TcV-ATPase-H in female adult of T. cinnabarinus was carried out via the leaf-disc method and nanocarrier-mediated method, respectively, and the corrected mortality rate was measured. Through strawberry pot experiments, the toxic effect of the combined application of dsTcV-ATPase-H/SPc with matrine on female adult of T. cinnabarinus on strawberry leaves was detected, the chlorophyll content in the apical new leaves of strawberries and the above-ground dry weight of strawberry plants were determined. At the same time, the toxicity of the combined application of dsTcV-ATPase-H/SPc with matrine to the non-target organism Neoseiulus californicus was measured by the slide-dipping method.【Results】 The cDNA sequence of TcV-ATPase-H of T. cinnabarinus was cloned. TcV-ATPase-H was expressed in the egg, larva, nymph and female adult of T. cinnabarinus, with the highest expression level in female adult and the lowest expression level in larva. Feeding dsTcV-ATPase-H to T. cinnabarinus by the leaf-disc method could effectively reduce the expression level of TcV-ATPase-H by 59% and caused the corrected mortality rate of female adult T. cinnabarinus to reach 37.99% at 72 h after feeding, which was significantly improved compared with the dsEGFP control group. Nanocarrier-mediated RNAi of TcV-ATPase-H could significantly reduce the expression level of TcV-ATPase-H by 20% and significantly increased the corrected mortality rate by 28.25% compared with non-nanocarrier-mediated RNAi. At the same time,the combined application of nanocarrier-mediated dsTcV-ATPase-H with matrine can significantly reduce the survival number of female adults of T. cinnabarinus and had a remarkable inhibitory effect on the population growth of T. cinnabarinus, but had no significant effect on the chlorophyll content in strawberry leaves, the above-ground dry weight of strawberry plants, or the mortality rate of N. californicus.【Conclusion】Nanocarrier-mediated dsTcV-ATPase-H enhances the inhibition of the expression of TcV-ATPase-H, improves the lethal effect on T. cinnabarinus, which provide a foundation for the development of RNA-based pesticides of dsV-ATPase-H encapsulated in nanomaterials.

Abstract: 【Aim】 To explore the differences in the eggshell structure among Frankliniella occidentalis eggs at different ages and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the differential sensitivity to spirotetramat through proteomic analysis.【Methods】 The 0-h and 24-h eggs were treated with 20 μL 4.5% sodium hypochlorite, and the difference of eggshell was compared at 90 s after treatment. The 0-h eggs, 24-h eggs and the above treated 24-h eggs were collected and treated with 14.43 mg/L spirotetramat, and the embryonic development was observed and the hatching rate was calculated at 24 h after treatment. A two-sex life table of the 24-h eggs was built to evaluate the effects of eggshell removal on the growth, development and reproduction. Moreover, label-free proteomics was employed to examine the differentially expressed proteins between the eggs of 0 h and 24 h. 【Results】 The eggshell of the 0-h egg was totally cracked and resulted in a loss of structural integrity of its contents, whereas the 24-h egg exhibited the development of a new endocuticle without any adverse effects on the survival rate of each developmental stage and fertility of adult females, at 90 s after sodium hypochlorite treatment. However, the 24-h eggs after removal of the eggshell were more sensitive to spirotetramat than the normal eggs. There were a total of 1 879 differentially expressed proteins between the 0-h and 24-h eggs of E. occidentalis, with 1 605 up-regulated proteins and 274 down-regulated proteins. Among the up-regulated proteins, five proteins were related to endocuticle formation including endocuticle structural glycoprotein SgAbd-8-like, endocuticle structural glycoprotein SgAbd-1-like, flexible cuticle protein 12-like, pupal cuticle protein 20-like, and endocuticle structural glycoprotein SgAbd-2-like in the 24-h eggs. Twelve up-regulated differentially expressed proteins were enriched in drug metabolism pathways. 【Conclusion】 There are differences in the eggshell structure between the 24-h and 0-h eggs, and new endocuticle formed beneath the eggshell of the 24-h eggs, further inhibiting the entry of spirotetramat into the egg and making different sensitivity between the 0-h and 24-h eggs, thereby supporting regular growth and development of F. occidentalis. Proteomic analysis result indicated that five cuticle proteins were significantly upregulated in the 24-h eggs compared with in the 0-h eggs. The up-regulation of these cuticle proteins may play a crucial role in the development of new endocuticle within the eggs. The results of this study provide novel insights into potential targets for the prevention and control of F. occidentalis.

 The issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among microorganisms is becoming increasingly severe and has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the top ten global public health challenges. Arthropods, including vector insects, are widely distributed and can move rapidly between environments. Current research indicates that the exoskeletons and guts of arthropods can carry a large number of microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), making them essential reservoirs and vectors for ARGs, and playing a significant role in the transmission of ARGs through the food chain. In this article, we reviewed the current knowledge of microbiome in arthropods as reservoirs of ARGs across different ecosystems, elucidated the pathways through which they acquire, carry and disseminate ARGs, and emphasize the importance of arthropods in the transmission of ARGs within the environmental-arthropod-human system, along with the associated health risks to animals, humans and ecosystems. Finally, the following prospects were proposed: (1) establishing a monitoring network and database of arthropod-associated ARGs; (2) developing a risk assessment and forecasting model for arthropod-associated ARGs by integrating big data and multi-source monitoring data; and (3) strengthening the prevention and control measures of arthropod-mediated transmission of ARGs in the context of globalization based on the “One Health” concept to reduce the threat to public health. This article will contribute to the management of health risks associated with ARGs and the formulation of public health policies.

【Aim】 The subsocial parasitoid wasp Sclerodermus guani exhibits typical parental care behavior that extends throughout its offspring development. This prolonged parental investment, while potentially reducing the parental future reproductive capacity, can effectively enhance the survival rate of the current offspring, thereby promoting population development. The trade-off between parental care and reproduction entails a strategic decision for the parasitoid wasp, balancing the production of more offspring against the care of a limited number of offspring. The plasticity in parental ovarian development serves as a crucial adaptive mechanism to ensure the reproductive benefits at the population level. This plasticity not only regulates the utilization rate of limited host resources by parents but also promotes the survival and development of their offspring. This study aims to clarify the dynamics of ovarian development in S. guani before, during and after parental care, so as to provide a scientific basis for elucidating the physiological mechanisms underpinning parental care and reproductive trade-offs in this species. 【Methods】 In the 2-day-old S. guani adult females parasitizing Monochamus alternatus hosts and engaged in host for oviposition (within 12 d post inoculation), we conducted regular dissections to assess various quantitative traits associated with ovarian development (ovarian length and width, ovarian index, basal egg length and width, and number of eggs) and abdominal changes (abdominal length and width, and abdominal index) of the female adults. We evaluated the degree of ovarian development and investigated the relationship between abdominal physogastry stages and ovarian development in female adults. Additionally, we compared and analyzed the dynamic changes of ovarian development of S. guani female adults under different physiological states during the parental caring process. 【Results】 The progression of ovarian development of S. guani was classified into five periods (five levels) based on ovarian coloration, yolk deposition status and egg maturity: transparent period (level Ⅰ), vitellogenesis period (level Ⅱ), egg maturation period (level Ⅲ), egg-laying period (level Ⅳ) and late egg-laying period (level Ⅴ). Corresponding to this process, a typical abdominal physogastry of female adults was observed, and could be divided into 5 stages: non-physogastric stage, early physogastric stage, physogastric stage, last physogastric stage and physogastry termination stage. Both abdominal and ovarian quantitative traits of female adults exhibited a pattern of increase followed by decrease, with the exception of basal egg length and width. Prior to parental care, the newly emerged female adults ［(virgin female without feeding, VF) and (mated females without feeding (MF)］ were devoid of eggs. However, following mating and feeding, ovarian development in female adults (mated females with feeding, MFF) became progressively evident, the ovarian length ［(2 871.31±80.17) μm］, ovarian width ［(405.91±29.14) μm］, ovarian index ［(1.19±0.09) mm²］, and the number of eggs ［mature eggs: (7.94±1.49) grains; immature eggs: (9.76±1.70) grains］ of the mated females in the early oviposition stage (MFEO) all reached maximum values. The ovarian length and width and ovarian index of females caring for eggs (FCE) were notably greater during the egg-caring stage compared to other caring developmental stages. Eggs were observed within the ovaries of females in various parental caring states, including FCE, females caring for early instar larvae (FCEIL), females caring for mature larvae (FCML), and females caring for late pupal cocoons (FCLPC), while females in other states did not exhibit egg-carrying behavior. A significant positive association was identified between the abdominal index and ovarian index of female adults throughout ovarian development. 【Conclusion】 The ovarian development in adult female S. guani is closely linked to its feeding and parental care behaviors. When provided with additional nutrients, the ovaries of the female parents initiate development. However, during the period of caring offspring of S. guani, the ovarian development in the parent females is suppressed, despite of their reproductive potential. This mechanism ensures that parental care is prioritized to optimize the survival and development of the offspring S. guani.

【Aim】This study aims to identify the key genes involved in the two-phase change in Oedaleus asiaticus, and to explore the molecular mechanisms of two-phase change.【Methods】The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) algorithm was used to analyze the GO and KEGG-enriched pathways of the key modules and to mine the core genes in the transcriptome of the 3rd instar nymphs of O. asiaticus coding on the day-1, 3, 5 and 7 of phase change after rearing with high-density treatment (150 individuals/cage).【Results】A total of 20 expression modules were constructed by analyzing 19 326 unigenes of O. asiaticus using WGCNA. Blue module with relatively high expression levels of transcription factors (TFs) was identified as the key module. There were 119 TFs and 25 family genes in the five core modules. Among them, the phase change-related gene modules were Royalblue, Purple, Red, Grey60 and Brown, from which six core genes JHAMT, JHEH, PHA, TAT, IbHPPD and DDC were mined for the phase change in O. asiaticus. The GO and KEGG-enriched pathways of the key modules mainly included metabolic processes, cellular processes and catalytic activities, and ubiquitin-mediated protein hydrolysis pathway, RNA transporter pathway and biosynthesis of GPI-anchored proteins. The phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism pathways have a well-connected and shared aspartate aminotransferase gene. 【Conclusion】 In this study, the co-expression modules of many key genes were identified by using WGCNA method， and the connectivity between genes could further illustrate the network interactions between genes, laying the foundation for the in-depth discovery of unique phase change-related genes and exploring the mechanism of phase change in O. asiaticus.

【Aim】 This study aims to ascertain the feeding suitability of Taxodium distichum and Metasequoia glyptostroboides to Hyphantria cunea, by determining the performance of growth, development and population parameters of H. cunea when feeding on T. distichum and Me. glyptostroboides, as well as during host switching at different instars. 【Methods】 H. cunea larvae were reared on leaves of three host plants including Morus alba, T. distichum, Me. glyptostroboides (labeled as Ma, Td and Mg, respectively), and the host shift groups consisted of the 2nd, 4th and 5th instar larvae that were shifted from Mo. alba leaves to T. distichum leaves (labeled as Td2, Td4 and Td5, respectively), and the 4th instar larvae were shifted from Mo. alba leaves to Me. glyptostroboides leaves (labeled as Mg4). The growth and development performance and fecundity of H. cunea in various groups were observed and determined, and then the age-stage, two-sex life table was constructed. 【Results】 H. cunea displayed high adaptability on Mo. alba and T. distichum leaves. The larval duration of H. cunea in the Td group (33.38 d) was significantly longer than that in the Ma group (28.41 d), and the pupal duration and adult longevity of both genders in the Td group were significantly shorter than those in the Ma group. The larval duration of H. cunea in the Td2 group (34.22 d) were longer than that in Td4 and Td5 groups (33.19 and 28.92 d, respectively). The pupal duration and adult longevity of H. cunea of both genders in the three host-shift groups Td2, Td4, and Td5 were significantly longer than those in the Td group. The pupal weight and number of eggs laid per female adult of H. cunea in the Ma group were significantly greater than those in the Td group. The average numbers of eggs laid per female of H. cunea in the different age host-shift groups (Td2, Td4, and Td5) were greater than that in the Td group and less than that in the Ma group. The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ) and net reproductive rate (R₀) in the Ma group were significantly higher than those in the Td group. The life table parameters of test insects transferred from Mo. alba leaves to T. distichum leaves in the host-shift groups were between those in the Ma group and the Td group. Early instar larvae of H. cunea on Me. glyptostroboides leaves were unable to complete their life history. The Mg4 group in which the 4th instar larvae were from Mo. alba leaves and then shifted to Me. glyptostroboides leaves had significantly longer larval duration by 6.10 d than the Td4 group in which the 4th instar larvae were shifted to T. distichum leaves (Td group). The Mg4 group had shown the presence of the 8th instar larvae of H. cunea, but the female and male pupal duration in the Mg4 group was the shortest. The female and male pupal weight and the average number of eggs laid per female of H. cunea in the Mg4 group were also significantly smaller than those in the other groups. All the life table and population parameters in the Mg4 group were the lowest. 【Conclusion】 H. cunea showed high adaptability to T. distichum, and the lower the age at host shift, the developmental indexes of H. cunea were closer to those fed on T. distichum. The indoor rearing test showed that Me. glyptostroboides could not be used as a suitable host plant for H. cunea, but the edge dispersal populations may have developed adaptation to Me. glyptostroboides, and have expanded hosts during their spread to southern China.

 Mutualism between microorganisms and animals plays a crucial part in the adaptation and evolution of hosts. Phloem-feeding aphids engage in intimate symbiotic associations with a variety of symbionts. Many aphid species cause enormous damage to crops, fruit trees, forest trees and medicinal plants, and some of them are important worldwide quarantine pests. Studies on aphid symbionts will advance our knowledge of symbiotic relationships between organisms and provide theoretical guidance for green pest management. Almost all aphid species harbour the primary symbionts to supply nutrients such as essential amino acids and vitamin B lacking in their diets. Secondary symbionts are closely related to the ecological adaptation of aphids. In this review, we outlined the species, tissue localization, transmission modes, and functions of aphid symbionts, and systematically summarized the species composition of symbiont communities in different groups of Adelgidae, Phylloxeridae and Aphididae. To date, most studies on aphid symbiont diversity have focused on different biotic and abiotic factors influencing the symbiont community structure, including aphid species, biological characteristics, evolutionary history, host plants, geographical distribution, and environmental factors (e.g., temperature). In the future, research should undertake extensive surveys of symbiont diversity across a greater variety of aphid taxa, enhance attention to gut symbionts, explore the relative contributions of stochastic and deterministic processes in the assembly of aphid symbiont communities, identify core symbionts and their biological functions, and focus on the potential application of key symbionts in RNAi-based biopesticides, so as to facilitate the development of efficient and environmentally friendly aphid pest management strategies.

【Aim】 To clarify the adaptation of different geographic populations of Leguminivora glycinivorella to the temperature changes by determining the activities of the key enzymes involved in respiratory metabolism in mature larvae of different geographic populations of this insect in response to temperature.【Methods】The activities of the key enzymes involved in respiratory metabolism, including 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase (GAPDH), 3-phosphoglycerol dehydrogenase (GDH), 3-hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (HOAD), citrate synthase (CS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), in mature larvae of four geographic populations of L. glycinivorella from Du′an, Guangxi, Zunyi, Guizhou, Suzhou, Anhui and Changchun, Jilin at the temperatures of 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30 ℃, respectively, by using biochemical methods. The correlations between the ratio of GAPDH activity to HOAD activity and the geographic latitude and altitude were analyzed. 【Results】The activities of five key enzymes involved in respiratory metabolism in mature larvae of L. glycinivorella of different geographic populations were significantly different at different temperatures. Among them, the ratio of GAPDH activity to HOAD activity was significantly correlated with the geographic latitude and altitude where the populations were located, and the ratio of GAPDH activity to HOAD activity in L. glycinivorella mature larvae was positively correlated with the geographic latitude and the geographic latitude superimposed with altitude-converted latitude at 18 ℃, with their regression curves fitted with the quadratic polynomial regression models y=-0.1312+0.0313x-0.0003x² and y=1.0905-0.0391x+0.0007x², respectively. The ratio of GAPDH activity to HOAD activity in L. glycinivorella mature larvae was negatively correlated with geographic latitude and altitude-converted latitude superimposed with geographic latitude at 21 ℃, with their regression curves fitted the quadratic polynomial regression models y=-0.1350-0.0568x-0.0010x² and y=0.8334-0.0002x-0.0002x², respectively. The ratio of GAPDH activity to HOAD activity in L. glycinivorella mature larvae was also negatively correlated with geographic latitude and geographic latitude superimposed with altitude-converted latitude at 24 ℃, with their regression curves fitted the quadratic polynomial regression models y=0.9268+0.0973x-0.0015x² and y=1.3423-0.0215x+0.0006x², respectively.【Conclusion】 Among different geographic populations, there are differences in carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism and the level of glycolysis. L. glycinivorella mature larvae can adapt to the changes in ambient temperature by regulating the intensity of respiratory metabolism, and the utilization of energy substances in their respiratory metabolism and their ability to adapt to ambient temperature are closely related to the geographic latitude and altitude of the environment in which they live.

【Aim】 This study aims to identify the chemosensory protein (CSP) genes, analyze their spatiotemporal expression profiles in Monochamus saltuarius, and clarify the ligand binding characteristics of antennae-enriched CSPs with the main volatile compounds of the host Pinus tabulaeformis, so as to provide a basis for developing CSP-based molecular targets for green prevention and control. 【Methods】Based on the transcriptome data of M. saltuarius, the CSP genes and their expression profiling were identified and analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Phylogenetic analysis of CSPs from M. saltuarius and other coleopteran insects based on amino acid sequences was performed using the neighbor-joining method. The expression abundance of CSP genes in the 4th instar larvae fed on different host plants (Pinus koraiensis and P. tabulaeformis) and adults of different sexes of M. saltuarius were analyzed based on the TPM (tags per million) values of CSP genes in the reported transcriptomes of M. saltuarius. The expression levels of CSP genes in different tissues of adults (antenna, head, throax, abdomen, wing and leg) of M. saltuarius were detected by qRT-PCR. The binding characteristics of the recombinant MsalCSP1 with six major volatile compounds (D-limonene, myrcene, 3-carene, α-pinene, β-pinene and camphene) of P. tabulaeformis were assayed by prokaryotic expression and fluorescence competitive binding assay. 【Results】A total of 16 CSP genes (MsalCSP1－16) were identified from the transcriptome data of M. saltuarius. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 12 CSPs were clustered into 10 homologous groups with the CSPs of Monochamus alternatus, indicating the similar evolutionary relationship. Transcriptome analysis showed that six CSP genes were expressed in both the larval and adult stages, and there were differences in the expression levels of the six CSP genes in the 4th instar larvae fed on different host plants and adults of different sexes. qRT-PCR results showed that MsalCSP1 and MsalCSP5 were specifically highly expressed in the adult antennae, MsalCSP13 and MsalCSP15 were highly expressed in the head, MsalCSP11 was highly expressed in the wing, MsalCSP3 and MsalCSP13 were highly expressed in the leg. The fluorescence competitive binding assay result indicated that the recombinant MsalCSP1 had strong binding abilities with six major volatile compounds (D-limonene, myrcene, 3-carene, α-pinene, β-pinene and camphene) of P. tabulaeformis, with the binding constant (K_i) values of 0.87, 0.70, 0.91, 0.85, 1.09 and 0.70 μmol/L, respectively.【Conclusion】A total of 16 CSP genes of M. saltuarius were first identified in this study, and their expression characteristics were also clarified across the 4th instar larvae and various adult tissues. It is speculated that MsalCSP1 highly expressed in the adult antennae plays an important role in locating host plants.

【Aim】This study aims to integrate the evolutionary characteristics of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in mosquitoes and their expression patterns in the salivary glands to reveal the adaptive changes throughout their evolutionary process. 【Methods】 We retrieved the genomes and genes of four kinds of AMPs, including gambicin, attacin, cecropin and defensin, from 10 mosquito species (four species from Culicinae and six species from Anophelinae) in VectorBase to improve the gene bank of AMPs in mosquitoes. Subsequently, we constructed phylogenetic tree of AMPs using the maximum likelihood method. Gene duplication and gene deletion were examined using Notung v2.9.1.5 based on the phylogenetic trees of AMPs. Collinearity of AMP genes was assessed using MCScanx. The selection pressure on each AMP gene was analyzed using HyPhy v.2.5.62. We utilized publicly available transcriptomic data of the salivary glands to systematically analyze the expression patterns of these AMP genes in the salivary glands. 【Results】There were noticeable differences in the types and numbers of AMP genes across mosquito species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AMP genes clustered by their taxonomic origin (Culicinae and Anophelinae), suggesting conserved amino acid sequences, as corroborated by the selection pressure test. AMP genes in mosquitoes exhibited multiple gene duplications and gene deletions potentially corresponding to shifts in host feeding behaviors. Collinearity analysis result indicated that most AMP genes are located within collinear blocks, suggesting the conservation of AMP genes in mosquitoes. Integrating the expression patterns of AMP genes in the salivary glands with gene evolution and selection pressure, we hypothesized that a branch of cecropin may have undergone functional gain. 【Conclusion】Our study highlights the adaptability of AMP genes in mosquitoes, suggesting their close relationship with host selection and pathogen infection. The evolutionary traits and expression patterns of AMPs in mosquitoes enhance their survival strategies and underscore their role as key factors in disease vectoring ability. These findings provide new insights into the molecular adaptations of mosquito immune systems and their implications for pathogen transmission.

【Aim】 Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a kind of anti-stress proteins that are rapidly produced when organisms are under adverse environmental conditions, which can help them survive in adverse environments. This study aims to explore the mechanism of Hsp90AB in the growth and development of Anopheles sinensis under insecticide stress and in the deltamethrin resistance, laying a foundation for further study of the mechanism of Hsp90AB and the prevention and control of An. sinensis. 【Methods】 Based on the transcriptome and genome data of An. sinensis, the full-length cDNA sequence of AsHsp90AB was cloned by using RT-PCR and analyzed by bioinformatics. The expression profiles of AsHsp90AB in both deltamethrin-susceptible strain (WX-LS) and deltamethrin-resistant strain (WX-LR) at different developmental stages (egg, 1st-4th instar larvae, female pupa, male pupa, female adult and male adult), and in different female adult tissues (salivary gland, midgut, Malpighian tubules, fat body, integument and ovary) of An. sinensis were detected by RT-qPCR. The 4th instar larva and 3-day-old female adult of WX-LS of An. sinensis were stressed with the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀)(0.0016 mg/L) of deltamethrin using the larval immersion method (baseline susceptibility assay) and the WHO contact bioassay method (0.05% deltamethrin-coated bottles), respectively, and the expression level of AsHsp90AB was detected by RT-qPCR. After the AsHsp90AB silence by RNAi with microinjection method in WX-LR female pupa, the expression level of AsHsp90AB was detected by RT-qPCR. The median knockdown time (KT₅₀), knockdown rate and survival rate of female adult treated with deltamethrin by 0.05% deltamethrin-coated bottles via the WHO contact bioassay method at 48 after RNAi were observed and calculated. 【Results】 The full-length cDNA sequence 2 678 bp of AsHsp90AB (GenBank accession no.: PP405608) in An. sinensis was cloned, with an open reading frame of 2 154 bp in length encoding 718 amino acids. The predicted theoretical molecular weight and isoelectric point of AsHsp90AB were 81.65 kD and 4.94, respectively. AsHsp90AB has the characteristic motif of the Hsp90 family and contains the MEEVD motif as a cytoplasmic type. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AsHsp90AB of An. sinensis clustered together with the Hsp90s from Anopheles and then with the Hsp90s from Culex, indicating that they were closely related. AsHsp90AB was expressed during the whole developmental stage in both WX-LS and WX-LR, and was highly expressed in adult males and the ovaries of adult females of WX-LS. AsHsp90AB exhibited high expression in the 4th instar larva and the highest expression level in female adult antennae of WX-LR. The expression levels of AsHsp90AB in the 4th instar larva and 3-day-old female adult of WX-LS of An. sinensis after exposure to deltamethrin stress were upregulated by 1.37-fold-2.61-fold and 1.91-fold-2.58-fold, respectively, while that in the knocked down female adult was downregulated by 72.51%. The expression of AsHsp90AB in female pupa of WX-LR of An. sinensis was inhibited by RNAi and its expression level significantly decreased at 24, 48 and 72 h after RNAi by 44.00%, 61.09% and 55.95%, respectively, as compared with that in the dsEGFP control group. The female adult of WX-LR of An. sinensis injected with dsAsHsp90AB began to be knocked down at 10 min after 0.05% deltamethrin-coated bottle treatment, while that in the dsEGFP control group began to be knocked down at 30 min after 0.05% deltamethrin-coated bottle treatment. The knockout rate gradually increased during 1 h of 0.05% deltamethrin-coated bottle treatment, and the knockout rates of the two groups were significantly different. The KT₅₀ value of female adult in the dsEGFP control group was (50.000±1.667) min and that in the dsAsHsp90AB treatment group was (30.000±0.600) min. The survival rate of female adult of WX-LR of An. sinensis after 0.05% deltamethrin-coated bottle treatment and transferred to the recovery bucket for 24 h after recovery was significantly increased by 24.5% as compared with that in the dsEGFP control group. 【Conclusion】 AsHsp90AB was highly expressed in WX-LR of An. sinensis, and the mortality of An. sinensis under the application of deltamethrin was increased when AsHsp90AB was silenced. This study provides a valuable reference for the potential function of AsHsp90AB in the growth and development as well as the deltamethrin resistance of An. sinensis.

【Aim】This study aims to investigate the potential microbial risk factors, including pathogenic bacteria and related antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), viruses, parasites and fungi carried by arthropod vectors based on public databases, and assess their potential threat to public health, so as to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of disease prevention and control strategies. 【Methods】 A total of 698 gut metagenomic samples, derived from 29 arthropod species across 15 countries worldwide, were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database of America. Bacterial community structure was profiled using Metaphlan with the mpa_v30_CHOCOPhlAn_201901 reference database. Pathogenic bacteria were identified by aligning reads against the information of marker genes of disease-related microorganisms (DRMs) in public database using Bowtie2, applying the filtering criteria of >50% coverage and a minimum of 3 marker genes per species. ARGs were screened by aligning reads against the ResFinder database using Bowtie2 (coverage >90%), followed by abundance quantification. A co-occurrence network was then constructed using Gephi (v0.10.1). Viral identification was performed by aligning reads against the DRMVirus 2.0 database using Bowtie2, with a coverage of >90%. Fungi and parasites were identified by aligning sequencing reads against a custom-built NCBI mitochondrial genome database (from which host and plant sequences were excluded) using Bowtie2, requiring >50% coverage. All statistical analyses and data visualizations were conducted using R packages, including but not limited to ggplot2, MicrobiotaProcess and Psych. 【Results】 The study revealed the presence of diverse potential pathogenic microorganisms and resistance factors in the arthropod vector samples. Regarding eukaryotes, no parasite sequence was detected in any samples. However, fungi were identified in 26 samples (accounting for 3.72%), including five species that were listed as Category Ⅲ pathogenic fungal species in China’s List of Pathogenic Microorganisms Transmissible to Humans: Candida parapsilosis, Candida subhashii, Cladophialophora bantiana, Fusarium spp. and Lichtheimia hongkongensis, accounting for 0.43%, 0.14%, 0.29%, 0.29% and 0.14%, respectively. At the bacterial level, 134 samples (19.20%) contained sequences identified as pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria, covering 69 bacterial genera. Species with higher detection rates included Enterobacter cancerogenus (7.88%), Klebsiella oxytoca (6.16%) and Escherichia albertii (5.30%). Furthermore, ARGs were widespread and diverse, with 3 109 types identified in total. Tetracycline resistance genes exhibited the highest detection rate (53.58%), and ARG profiles varied significantly between different regions. For instance, the detection rate for tetracycline resistance genes in Switzerland samples reached 94.44%, whereas in Chinese samples, the detection rates for tetracycline and aminoglycoside ARGs were 61.34% and 60.50%, respectively. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated strong associations between certain bacterial genera and ARGs. For instance, the genus Raoultella was identified as a potential host for multiple ARGs (such as fosA and blaPLA-6A), and fosA may be transmitted via mobile genetic elements (MGEs). In the viral screening, a total of 20 viruses were detected. Of these, Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) had the highest detection rate (13.90%) and was prevalent in bee colonies from China and Switzerland, with the detection rates of 19.12% and 11.11%, respectively. 【Conclusion】 The results of this study underscore the critical potential role of arthropod vectors in the global dissemination of pathogens and ARGs, highlighting the importance of continuous surveillance and effective control measures for public health risk management.

【Aim】 This study aims to explore the effects of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) infection on the aphid resistance of watermelon plants, with a focus on the roles of leaf epidermal resistance, mesophyll tissue resistance, and phloem resistance in regulating CMV-melon aphid (Aphis gossypii) interactions. 【Methods】 The differences in leaf epidermal resistance, such as the density of trichomes, wax content and stomatal number of the CMV-infected (CMV+) and CMV-non-infected (CMV-) watermelon plants were observed with microscope. The differences in the salicylic acid (SA) content, callose content, callose synthase activity and relative expression levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene ClPAL, pathogenesis-related protein gene ClPR, and callose synthase gene ClCalS7 in the leaves of CMV+ and CMV- watermelon plants were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), biochemical method, fluorescence spectrophotometry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively. Furthermore, the impact of CMV infection on the aphid fitness was determined by comparing the numbers of A. gossypii on the CMV+ and CMV- watermelon plants and analyzing their feeding behaviors via electrical penetration graph (EPG) in the laboratory. 【Results】 There were no significant differences in the leaf epidermal structural traits of CMV+ and CMV－ watermelon plants, including wax content in leaves, trichome number per mm² on the abaxial leaf surface and stomatal number per mm² on the abaxial leaf surface. However, CMV infection activated the SA pathway of watermelon plants, causing a 1.09-fold increase in SA content and a 4.77-fold up-regulation of the expression level of ClPR in watermelon leaves. CMV infection also increased the callose content in watermelon leaves by 2.51-fold and callose synthase activity by 3.07-fold, and significantly upregulated the expression level of ClCalS7 by 3.19-fold, respectively. Further experiments showed that CMV infection significantly reduced the number of A. gossypii by 46.14% and shortened the total duration of phloem feeding by 38.78%, while increased the number of potential drop (pd) waveform events by 54.30% and prolonged the total duration of saliva secretion by 31.48%. 【Conclusion】 Taken together, we speculated that CMV infection inhibited the feeding and population growth of A. gossypii by activating the SA signaling pathway and enhancing the callose deposition of watermelon plants, rather than altering the leaf epidermal structural traits. These findings revealed the key resistance pathways in regulating CMV-watermelon plant-melon aphid interactions, providing a scientific basis for understanding their co-evolutionary mechanisms and developing integrated management strategies against CMV and aphids.

【Aim】 As the main factors, the amplitude of temperature fluctuation and the change of population density affect life history traits and population dynamics of insects, and have received widespread attention. Previous studies have shown that there is a complex and significant interaction between temperature and population density, but most studies focus on constant temperature, which cannot reflect the effects of actual temperature changes in nature on insect populations. Therefore, we focused on Rhopalosiphum padi as one of major wheat pests worldwide in this study and explored the effects of temperature amplitudes and population density on the life history traits and population parameters of R. padi through the indoor simulation of field temperature fluctuations and population density. 【Methods】R. padi nymphs newly born within 4 h were treated under the conditions of different temperature amplitudes［(22±0), (22±6) and (22±12) ℃］ and population densities (1, 2, 4 and 8 individuals/tube), the development, survival, longevity and fecundity were observed daily, and the population parameters such as intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate and generation time were calculated. 【Results】 At the low population density (1 individual/tube), compared with the constant temperature ［(22±0) ℃］, high temperature amplitude (22±12) ℃ prolonged the nymphal duration by 1.24 d, reduced the adult fecundity (total number of offspring produced per adult) by 19.1 individuals/adult, and decreased the intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate by 0.10 d-1and 18.7, respectively, and prolonged the generation time by 1.86 d. Under the constant temperature ［(22±0) ℃］, compared with the low population density (1 individual/tube), the high population density (8 individuals/tube) reduced the adult fecundity by 24.2 individuals/adult, and the intrinsic rate of increase, net reproductive rate and generation time by 35.3 d-1, 0.05 and 0.22 d, respectively. As population density increased, the high temperature amplitude ［(22±12) ℃］ exerted a stronger inhibition effect on the nymphal development, intensively shortened the adult longevity, and intensively reduced the intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate. However, high population density not only reversed some of the adverse effects of high temperature amplitude on the fecundity but also enhanced the nymphal survial. 【Conclusion】 The results of this study show the complex effects of temperature amplitude and population density on the life history traits and population dynamics of R. padi, suggesting that previous insect survival models based on constant temperature cannot accurately describe the real status of insects under temperature variations in nature. The results will improve the accuracy of predicting and forecasting the population dynamics of field pests and formulating control strategies under climate change.

【Aim】To explore the feasibility and theoretical basis of using sex pheromone and floral scent trapping as monitoring methods for Loxostege sticticalis adults. 【Methods】The developmental status of female ovaries and male testes of L. sticticalis moths trapped by sex pheromone, floral scent and net catching were investigated, dissected and analyzed in the field, and the relationships between the egg quantity, number of trapped moths and the number of field survey populations, and the migration status were analyzed. 【Results】The testes of male moths of L. sticticalis were closely related to the day-old age, and the regression equation was y=1.289-0.1288x+0.003516x2. Field experiments conducted in Kangbao, Hebei during 2020-2023, revealed that when sex pheromone traps successfully captured male moths, the mating rates of female moths were 66.7%-100%, and the proportions of level Ⅳ ovaries were 44.1%-95.4%. When the male moths could not be trapped, the mating rates of female moths were 0%-30.3%, and the level Ⅳ ovaries accounted for 0%-3.6%. From June 12 to June 22, 2024, the average mating rate of female moths trapped by floral scent (94.3%±2.3%) was significantly higher than that of female moths trapped by net catching (76.2%±5.3%) in Dashimen Town, Hexigten Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. There was no difference in the average number of matings between female moths trapped by floral scent and by net catching. The number of egg grains remaining in the ovaries of female moths trapped by floral scent was (169.8±15.4), which was significantly lower than the that of female moths trapped by net catching (267.9±20.7). The average testicular volume of the male moths caught by sex pheromone trapping was the largest ［(0.21±0.01) mm³］, followed by that trapped by net catching ［(0.19±0.02) mm³］, and that trapped by floral scent was the smallest ［(0.15±0.01) mm³］. The number of L. sticticalis adults trapped by sex pheromone and floral scent was closely related to their physiological state. Adults attracted by sex pheromone were male moths searching for mates, while those caught by floral scent trapping were female moths which have mated and laid part of eggs, as well as male moths which have mated. Therefore, male moths of the immigrant population and local breeding population of L. sticticalis were sensitive and had strong responses to sex pheromones, while the ovarian development level of female moths of the emigrant population was low, and the corresponding male moths were immature, and had no olfactory behavioral response to sex pheromones and floral scent. This relationship was verified by multiple field experiments in different seasons in Kangbao, Hebei and Hexigten Banner, Inner Mongolia from 2020 to 2024. 【Conclusion】 The combination of sex pheromone trapping and floral scent trapping can help determine the physiological state of L. sticticalis and estimate its migratory status and population dynamics of the next generation in the field.

【Aim】 To ascertain the resistance levels of the field populations of Rhopalosiphum padi from the Guanzhong Region of Shaanxi Province, nothwestern China to five pyrethroid insecticides and analyze the correlations between the mutation frequencies of the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene (the target gene of pyrethroid) of various field populations and resistance levels. 【Methods】Nine field populations of R. padi were collected from the Guanzhong Region of Shaanxi Province during April-June in 2023 and 2024 and the susceptibility of the apterous adults to five pyrethroid insecticides (bifenthrin, permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethyrin and fenvalerate) was tested by leaf-dipping method. PCR was used to detect the types and frequencies of VGSC gene mutation of various field populations of R. padi. The correlation between the mutation frequency and the resistance level (resistance ratio, RR) was analyzed. 【Results】Bioassay results revealed that the apterous adults of various field populations of R. padi exhibited varying degrees of resistance to five pyrethroid insecticides. The apterous adults of the population collected from Xingping County, Xianyang City in 2023 (XP-2023) showed the highest resistance levels to type Ⅰ pyrethroid insecticides (bifenthrin and permethrin), with the RRs of 76.1 and 52.3, respectively. The apterous adults of the populations collected from Fufeng County, Baoji City in 2024 and 2023 (FF-2024 and FF-2023) and the population collected from Liquan County, Baoji City in 2023 (LQ-2023) showed the highest resistance levels to type Ⅱ pyrethroid insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin and fenvalerate), with the RRs of 60.7, 97.5 and 42.6, respectively. Detection of VGSC gene mutations revealed that, except for the populations collected from Wugong County, Xianyang City and Qishan County, Baoji City, respectively, in 2023 (WG-2023 and QS-2023), all the field populations carried heterozygous mutation (M918L) in the VGSC gene, with the mutation frequencies ranging from 5.0% to 47.5%. The mutation frequency of M918L was significantly correlated with the level of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. 【Conclusion】The M918L heterozygous mutation in the VGSC gene is significantly correlated with the resistance levels of the field populations of R. padi to pyrethroid insecticides, indicating that this target mutation plays an important role in the resistance of the field populations of R. padi to these insecticides. It is recommended to minimize or avoid the use of pyrethroid insecticides in field control of R. padi and to continuously monitor the resistance levels of field populations.

【Aim】This study aims to define the flight potential of female and male adults of Agrotis ipsilon at different day-old ages and its effect on their reproduction and longevity, so as to provide basic data for the accurate prediction, and effective prevention and control of A. ipsilon. 【Methods】The flight capacities of the 1-12-day-old adults of A. ipsilon and the impact of tethered flight of adults at different day-old ages on the reproduction and longevity of A. ipsilon adults after 12-h tethered flight were determined in the laboratory using flight mill data collecting system.【Results】Both female and male adults of A. ipsilon at the 3-8-day-old exhibited strong flight capacities, with significant differences in the flight duration, flight speed and flight distance across ages. The 3-day-old female adults achieved the longest flight duration (9.77 h), the 6-day-old female adults had the furthest flight distance (34.35 km) and the 7-day-old female adults had the fastest flight speed (3.75 km/h). However, the 8-day-old male adults displayed the longest flight duration (11.34 h), the furthest flight distance (38.71 km) and the fastest flight speed (3.40 km/h). After tethered flight, the pre-oviposition periods of the 1-6-day-old female adults of A. ipsilon were significantly prolonged, while the number of eggs laid per female declined with the flight age increasing, as compared to those of the untethered flight control. After tethered flight, the oviposition period of female adults of A. ipsilon displayed a dynamic pattern, initially decreased, then increased, and subsequently decreased again. The 3-day-old adults of A. ipsilon after tethered flight had the longest oviposition period, which showed no significant difference from that of the untethered control, while the oviposition periods after tethered flight of adults at the other day-old ages were significantly shorter than that in the untethered control. Compared to the untethered control, tethered flight of adults at the 1-day-old had no significant effect on the female adult longevity of A. ipsilon, but tethered flight of adults at the 2-6-day-old significantly shortened the female adult longevity, and tethered flight of adults at the 1-6-day-old significantly shortened the male adult longevity. The period of first oviposition (PFO) of A. ipsilon adults was inhibited after tethered flight of adults at the 1-4-day-old, whereas no significant change in the PFO was observed after tethered flight of adults at the 5- and 6-day-old as compared to those in the untethered. 【Conclusion】 Both female and male adults of A. ipsilon possess strong flight capabilities. Flight exerts a certain inhibitory effect on their reproduction and longevity, in other words, the long-distance migration of A. ipsilon comes at the cost of reproduction and longevity, with the impact increasing as the age increases.

【Aim】In recent years, extreme weather events have increased markedly in frequency in China and globally, with many regions experiencing substantially prolonged periods of elevated summer temperatures. During field surveys, we unexpectedly discovered a rare wild yellow morph of Acyrthosiphon pisum, but its biological characteristics remain uncharacterized. This study aims to investigate the ecological adaptability and survival risks of this novel color morph of A. pisum under intensified climate change, with the goal of providing a theoretical foundation for elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms of A. pisum and informing future population management and biological control strategies.【Methods】The competitive abilities of the wild yellow morph of A. pisum against those of the red and green morphs of A. pisum on three host plants (Vicia faba, Vicia sativa, and Medicago sativa) were first compared, and the starvation tolerance of apterous viviparous adults across all the three morphs of A. pisum under conditions of food deprivation were evaluated. The three color morphs of A. pisum were subsequently subjected to repeated high-temperature stress (35 ℃ for 2 h per day until adult stage) beginning at the 1st instar nymphal stage, and the changes in their population decline rates and fecundity were detected at the adult stage. Finally, the predation risk of the 3rd instar nymphs of each color morph of A. pisum by adult female Coccinella septempunctata was assessed, and the color differences (ΔE) between the body surfaces of the 3rd instar nymphs of various morphs of A.pisum and the leaves of V. faba leaves were analyzed.【Results】The yellow morph of A. pisum showed significantly lower competitive abilities than the red and green morphs of A. pisum on V. faba and M. sativa, but occasionally attained a competitive advantage over the red morph of A. pisum on V. sativa. Compared with the other color morphs of A. pisum, the yellow morph of A. pisum demonstrated greater starvation tolerance. After heat shock treatment (35 ℃ for 2 h per day), the numbers of aphids produced by the yellow morph of A. pisum in 6 d on its native host V. sativa and the high-nutrient host V. faba were 23.83 and 31.67 individuals, respectively, which represented relatively low values as compared with those of the other two morphs of A. pisum. Specifically, these values were lower than those observed in the green morph of A. pisum on V. sativa and the red morph of A. pisum on V. faba (28.67 and 41.67 individuals, respectively). In contrast to its disadvantage in fecundity, the yellow morph of A. pisum exhibited population decline rates of 32.78% and 26.11% on V. sativa and V. faba, respectively, after heat shock treatment, both of which were lower than those recorded for the red morph of A. pisum (67.22% and 38.89% on V. sativa and V. faba, respectively) and the green morph of A. pisum (44.43% and 42.22% on V. sativa and V. faba, respectively). The color difference (ΔE) between the body surfaces of the 3rd instar nymphs of the yellow morph of A. pisum and the leaves of V. faba was 52.26, significantly greater than those between the body surfaces of the 3rd instar nymphs of the red morph of A. pisum and the leaves of V. faba (37.69), and between the body surfaces of the 3rd instar nymphs of the green morph of A. pisum and the leaves of V. faba (17.76). The yellow morph of A. pisum was more vulnerable to predation by C. septempunctata adults, with the population decline rates exceeding 49.00%.【Conclusion】The yellow morph of A. pisum exhibits distinct ecological adaptation strategies. Although the yellow morph of A. pisum is disadvantaged in competition and more vulnerable to predation, its enhanced starvation tolerance and thermal resistance may provide a fitness advantage under increasingly frequent extreme weather events.