Insects最新文献

The larvae and damage symptoms of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and Cnaphalocrocis patnalis exhibit a high degree of similarity, which often leads to confusion between the two species. This has posed challenges for research on their population dynamics and the development of effective control measures. To better understand their morphological and damage characteristics, population dynamics, species identification based on COI gene fragments, and potential future distribution, a searchlight trap monitoring program was conducted for C. medinalis and its closely related species C. patnalis across four sites in Longhua, Haitang, and Yazhou districts in Hainan Province from 2021 to 2023. The MaxEnt model was utilized to predict the potential global distribution of both species, incorporating known occurrence points and climate variables. The trapping results revealed that both species reached peak abundance between April and June, with a maximum of 1500 individuals captured in May at Beishan Village, Haitang District. Interannual population fluctuations of both species generally followed a unimodal pattern. Genetic analyses revealed distinct differences in the mitochondrial COI gene fragment, confirming that C. medinalis and C. patnalis are closely related yet distinct species. The population peak of C. patnalis occurred slightly earlier than that of C. medinalis, and its field damage was more severe. Infestations during the booting to heading stages of rice significantly reduced seed-setting rates and overall yield. Model predictions indicated that large areas of southern Eurasia are suitable for the survival of both species, with precipitation during the wettest month identified as the primary environmental factor shaping their potential distributions. At present, moderately and highly suitable habitats for C. medinalis account for 2.50% and 2.27% of the global land area, respectively, whereas those for C. patnalis account for 2.85% and 1.19%. These results highlight that climate change is likely to exacerbate the damage caused by both rice leaf-roller pests, particularly the emerging threat posed by C. patnalis. Overall, this study provides a scientific basis for invasion risk assessment and the development of integrated management strategies targeting the combined impacts of C. medinalis and C. patnalis.

Continuous human-mediated introduction of colonies and queens promotes genetic introgression and reshapes the genetic diversity and structure of local honeybee populations. According to reports, multiple non-native honeybee colonies and queens have been introduced into the DL region, leading to continuous genetic introgression. Here, we assessed the effects of continuous introgression on indigenous Apis cerana in the DL region using mtDNA and genome-wide SNP markers. We sequenced the mitochondrial tRNA ^leu-COII from 217 individuals sampled at 7 DL sites and identified 26 haplotypes defined by 18 polymorphic sites. The ΦST values indicated no internal differentiation within the Apis cerana populations in the DL region. Phylogenetic, network, ABBA-BABA test, and f3 statistic suggested introgression from both northern and southern sources. The f4-ratio indicates that approximately 16% of the ancestry in the DL group is derived from the Aba group. Genetic diversity varied widely within the DL region (Hd: 0.2907-0.8220; π: 0.0009-0.0038; K: 0.3140-1.3980), indicating different stages of introgression. The genetic structure within the DL group appears to be unstable, necessitating long-term monitoring of evolutionary processes and genetic diversity dynamics in A. c. cerana for further insights.

Drosicha corpulenta (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) is a major polyphagous pest affecting street and garden trees in arid regions of northern China, causing increasing damage in newly developed cities like Cocodala, Xinjiang. This study was conducted from 2024 to 2025 to investigate this pest's life cycle, key damage periods, and spatial distribution in seven host plants, focusing on nymph emergence, female soil entry, and overwintering egg distribution. The results show that D. corpulenta has one generation per year, which overwinters as eggs. Nymphs emerge in early March, and male pupation occurs from mid-April to early May. Females mate after the third molt in early to mid-May and enter the soil to lay eggs from late May to early June, with consistent timing over two years. The suitability of the host varied significantly: Platanus × hispanica was the most preferred, with the highest daily nymph emergence of 840.8 individuals in 2024 and 1196.0 in 2025, followed by Prunus padus and five other plant species (Populus spp., Fraxinus chinensis, Styphnolobium japonicum, Pinus spp., and Malus spectabilis). Female soil entry reached a maximum on 23 May (979.8 individuals^-1 day^-1) and gradually decreased with increasing distance from the trunk. Overwintering eggs showed no obvious azimuthal bias, but were mainly concentrated near the trunk (0-30 cm) and in shallow soil (0-10 cm; 179.8 eggs per 100 g composite soil sample per sampling point), decreasing sharply in number with distance and depth. Both Taylor's power law and Iwao's regression confirmed the aggregated distribution. This study identifies key phenological stages, highly susceptible hosts, and the near-trunk shallow soil layer as critical for oviposition and overwintering and provides a basis for precise monitoring and targeted control in urban green spaces.

Juniperus przewalskii Komarov, an endemic conifer in the high-altitude mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, develops its cones in a synergistic manner with the oligophagous pest Megastigmus sabinae Xu et He (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), forming a highly specialized interaction system. However, the physiological adaptation mechanisms underlying this interaction remain unclear. Feeding by M. sabinae larvae significantly induced defense responses in J. przewalskii cones. During the early instars (2nd~3rd) of M. sabinae larvae, infested J. przewalskii endosperms upregulated protein content (48.91%; 3rd instar), significantly enhanced peroxidase (POD) activity (71.10%; 2nd instar), and specifically enriched coumarins and cinnamaldehyde derivatives (2nd instar) to increase M. sabinae larvae metabolic costs. In later instars (4th~5th) of M. sabinae larvae, the infested endosperms downregulated starch content (29.69%; 4th instar), increased phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity (57.34%; 4th instar), and accumulated steroid derivatives to suppress larvae development. Conversely, M. sabinae larvae demonstrated unique adaptive strategies: maintaining high levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST) as an antioxidant defense system during early instars and upregulating the level of digestive enzymes in later stages to overcome host multi-layered defenses. Juniperus przewalskii counters pest infestation through dynamic nutrient modulation, temporal activation of protective enzymes, and a multi-layered chemical defense network. The adaptation of M. sabinae larvae appears to involve the developmental regulation of detoxification and digestive enzyme levels. This study provides novel insights that enrich coevolution theory in alpine ecosystems.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a serious vector-borne disease affecting humans and dogs, posing major public health challenges in endemic regions. Control efforts often target sandfly vectors, whose larvae and pupae develop in soil. Environmental management, such as removing organic matter, reducing moisture, and pruning vegetation, aims to limit breeding sites and reduce sandfly populations. This study evaluated the impact of integrated interventions on sandfly behavior in priority areas for VL control in Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. The control strategy combined environmental management, canine surveys, and educational actions across seven local work areas (LWAs). Between 2019 and 2021, CDC-type light traps were installed in intra- and peridomiciliary settings at twelve properties in LWA 5. Spatial risk analysis for canine transmission was conducted in LWAs 3 and 5 using a Generalized Additive Model, with results presented as spatial odds ratios. Vector prevalence was analyzed using negative binomial regression compared to historical municipal data. Intervention coverage averaged 52.91% of visited properties (n = 15,905), ranging from 48% to 76.8% across LWAs. Adherence to environmental management exceeded 85%. Of the 150 sandflies collected, 98.67% were Lutzomyia longipalpis and 1.33% Nyssomyia neivai. A 6% reduction in vector density was observed compared with historical data, although this difference was not statistically significant. Spatial risk varied among LWAs, indicating heterogeneous transmission levels. These findings suggest that integrated environmental and educational interventions may contribute to reducing vector density and that identifying priority areas tends to support surveillance and the effectiveness of disease control actions.

Słowiński National Park is one of the 23 national parks in Poland and one of the two situated on the Baltic Coast in the country. It was established in 1967 to protect the most valuable ecosystems: coastal lakes, marshes, peat bogs, meadows, forests, and, above all, the dune belt of the Łebska Spit with its unique moving dunes. We aimed to 1. determine the species diversity and structure of thrips assemblages in the most important biotopes of the Park; 2. determine the geographical distribution and food preferences of thrips species; and 3. determine which environmental factors influence the diversity of insect assemblages and which thrips species distinguish these assemblages. The method used in the quantitative research was based on the use of a scoop method; it was supplemented by qualitative research (shaking branches of trees and searching for insects on their host plants). The studies were carried out in 1991 and 1999-2001 in fourteen plant associations. A total of 90 thrips species (nearly 40% of the Polish fauna) were recorded, including 71 in quantitative and 74 in qualitative samples. The study also revealed a significant correlation between the thrips assemblage composition and the following environmental factors: soil moisture, light intensity, general nutrient availability, and soil salinity. In addition, the thrips species with the most significant impact on assemblage composition were identified. The relatively high number of species found, including Taeniothrips zurstrassenii Zawirska, a species new to science, and others rarely recorded in Poland, highlights the value of the SNP habitat diversity in maintaining high Thysanoptera diversity.

Platynota stultana is a Nearctic moth of economic importance for many crops in North America. It is a quarantine pest in Europe, where Mediterranean regions, with warm climates similar to those of the moth's native range, are at risk of invasion. To date, the species is established only in Spain. It has been reported sporadically in Italy, but it is unknown whether these were transient findings or the result of an establishment. In this study, the presence of P. stultana in the Campania region, Southern Italy, was recorded. Adults of both sexes were found in different locations and in two consecutive years, suggesting that the species is established. Sequencing the COI gene identified three haplotypes of P. stultana, suggesting possible multiple introductions. The two most numerous haplotypes were identical to haplotypes from Florida. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the P. stultana clade splits into two subclades. The Italian haplotypes are all grouped into the same subclade. Our data suggest that P. stultana is expanding its range of invasion into Southern Italy, where, due to global warming, it may find increasingly favorable conditions and become an economic pest. A monitoring plan is required to allow timely implementation of control measures.

Caves are characterized by unique abiotic conditions such as limited light, and they therefore support distinct faunal assemblages that often include endemic species. Due to light limitations, photoautotrophic organisms are absent from many subterranean food-webs, which therefore predominantly rely on allochthonous nutrient sources. For this reason, hypogean habitats are expected to display lower assemblage diversity than that seen in epigean ecosystems. Bat guano, a major source of allochthonous nutrients in caves, varies substantially in composition based on its origin-whether it is produced by frugivorous or by insectivorous bats-and on its deposition site within the cave. This study examines how allochthonous nutrient sources and zones within caves influence arthropod diversity and assemblage composition. We found that both the type of allochthonous nutrient source and cave characteristics strongly affect the composition of arthropod assemblages. Our results show that caves harboring frugivorous bat colonies have a lower abundance of flies than caves with either insectivorous bat colonies or no bat colonies. Moreover, caves without bat colonies were seen to have low species richness of both detritivores and predators compared to caves housing either frugivorous or insectivorous bats. Additionally, species diversity and assemblage composition differed substantially between the twilight and dark zones of the caves. These findings demonstrate that allochthonous nutrient sources, the ecological zone, and the microhabitat within the cave are key drivers of arthropod assemblage composition and diversity. This study advances our understanding of cave ecology and underscores the importance of conserving diverse cave types for protecting their unique arthropod diversity.

Understanding patterns and mechanisms of species diversity is one fundamental issue in biogeography and ecology. As a critical region for biodiversity, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP) still has unclear distribution patterns and drivers for cryptic, understudied taxa such as Curculionoidea. Here, we collected the distribution data of Curculionoidea on the QXP to analyze their diversity patterns and influencing factors, and compiled a DNA barcode dataset to uncover cryptic diversity. This comprehensive dataset encompasses 671 Curculionoidea species across 223 genera, demonstrating a level of diversity that surpasses that of certain vertebrate groups. We also observed an unbalanced biogeographic pattern of diversity, with a concentration of species in the eastern and southern regions and a scarcity in the northern and central areas of QXP. Further analysis showed that the elevation range is the most important factor influencing the diversity of Curculionoidea. In addition, based on 1147 COI-5' barcode sequences from 217 species, we found that 11 morphological species may contain cryptic species based on DNA barcode datadset. Our findings significantly enhance the current understanding of cryptic biodiversity patterns among understudied taxa in the QXP, while simultaneously highlighting persistent knowledge gaps in characterizing the plateau's full ecological complexity.

Embryonic diapause, a state of developmental arrest in silkworm (Bombyx mori) eggs, poses a challenge for year-round sericulture. While physical stimuli like corona discharge can effectively terminate diapause, the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly the initial events, remain poorly understood. This study employed an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach to analyze silkworm eggs within 48 h after corona treatment. Our time-series analysis revealed that the Hippo and Wnt signaling pathways were specifically activated as early as 1 h post-treatment, preceding the previously reported FoxO pathway response. We identified two temporally distinct gene clusters within the Hippo pathway, including immediate-early genes (e.g., Dachs_17/25/29, Ft_10) and late-phase effector genes, coordinating the exit from cell cycle arrest. Concurrently, the Wnt pathway was rapidly initiated, marked by the sustained upregulation of key regulators Notum and Pontin52, suggesting its role in unlocking the cell cycle. We propose a synergistic model wherein corona discharge triggers the concurrent, early activation of Hippo and Wnt signaling, which collectively reprogram the cell cycle and reinstate the developmental trajectory by promoting proliferation and suppressing apoptosis. These findings provide crucial insights into the initial molecular events of diapause termination, identifying Hippo and Wnt pathways as master regulators in transducing the physical corona stimulus into a developmental signal.