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Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Jiawen Du

,

Yinwei You

,

Fangzheng Yue

,

Xiao Xu

,

Yimulati Nulakeman

,

Yasen Shali

,

Michel Lecoq

Abstract: More than 100 species of grasshoppers have been documented in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, several of which cause serious damage to pasturelands and negatively affect animal husbandry. Aspergillus oryzae XJ-1, a fungal pathogen of locusts and grasshoppers, has previously shown pathogenic activity against locusts and grasshoppers in crop field, but its efficacy in natural grasslands has not yet been evaluated. To assess its potential for grasshopper management in grasslands, we conducted infection assays, field-cage experiments and field trials in Xinjiang, China, from 2024 to 2025. Infection assays indicated that A. oryzae XJ-1 could infect 7 grasshopper species: Calliptamus italicus (Itanlian locust), C. barbarus, Oedipoda miniata, Oedaleus decorus, Sphingonotus coerulipes, Notostaurus albicornis, and Gomphocerus sibiricus. In field-cage experiments, cumulative mortality rates of O. miniata and C. barbarus reached 73.3 ± 8.8% and 76.7 ± 6.7%, respectively 20 days after inoculation with A. oryzae XJ-1 at 106 conidia mL-1. In field trials, grasshopper population reduction rates in treated plots reached 84.9 ± 4.3% and 59.7 ± 4.6% at 15 days after treatment with 3 × 1012 conidia ha-1 in Huocheng County in 2024 and 2025, respectively. In Bole County in 2025, the reduction rate reached 79.6 ± 4.8% at 5 days after treatment using the same dosage. These results suggested that A. oryzae XJ-1 has potential as a biological control agent against several grasshopper species in the grasslands of the Xinjiang region.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Wanyan Jiang

,

Lijun Cai

,

Tianyi Yang

,

Jiafu Zhang

,

Qi Zhao

,

Meixiang Wu

Abstract: The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, is a globally distributed species that feeds on lignocellulose and causes substantial economic losses annually. Current control strategy heavily relies on chemical pesticides, raising concerns about environmental impacts associated with their overuse. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a plant-derived pesticide, has demonstrated significant insecticidal activity. However, its effects on key physiological and biochemical systems in C. formosanus remain poorly understood. In particular, its impact on antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD), detoxification enzymes such as carboxylesterase (CarE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and neural enzymes (e.g., acetylcholinesterase, AChE) has not been systematically investigated. Transcriptome data were used to predict coding sequences (CDSs) of antioxidant, detoxification, and neural enzymes, followed by phylogenetic analysis. C. formosanus was treated with AITC at LC₅₀ for 24 h, and enzyme activities and gene expression levels were assessed. Molecular docking was performed to evaluate interactions between AITC and the five enzymes. AITC exposure significantly increased the activities of all six enzymes. Gene expression analysis revealed differential regulation across enzyme families, with notable upregulation of AChE and several CarE, SOD, POD, and GST genes. Docking analysis indicated favorable binding affinity to target enzymes (binding energy < -1.2 kcal/mol). These findings suggest that AITC induces coordinated enzymatic and transcriptional responses in C. formosanus, providing insight into its mode of action and supporting its potential as a botanical termiticide with low environmental impact.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Pablo Ormeño-Arriagada

,

Cristopher Jiménez

,

Ramón Arias Gilart

,

Daniel Ramírez

,

Karen Yañez

Abstract: Honeybee population decline poses a serious threat to global biodiversity and agricultural productivity, underscoring the need for continuous and non-invasive hive monitoring solutions. In particular, early detection of queen absence is critical for maintaining colony viability. This study investigates the effectiveness of machine learning and deep learning models for acoustic-based queen-presence detection using short-duration hive audio recordings. Audio data collected from multiple sources were processed to extract spectrogram, Mel-spectrogram, and Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient features, which were evaluated using classical ML classifiers and convolutional neural networks. Experimental results indicate that MFCC-based representations consistently outperform spectrogram-based features across segment lengths, achieving higher accuracy and greater stability. The best performance was obtained with Mel features using convolutional neural networks for short segments and gradient-boosted models for longer windows. These findings demonstrate that brief acoustic segments are sufficient for reliable classification, supporting real-time monitoring under noisy field conditions. The proposed approach offers a scalable and low-cost framework for precision beekeeping and contributes to sustainable beekeeping through early, automated anomaly detection. The proposed framework supports real-time, low-cost deployment scenarios, enabling scalable precision apiculture solutions.

Review
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Richard García Domínguez

,

María D. López-Belchí

,

Nolberto Arismendi

,

Marisol Vargas

Abstract: Pollen constitutes the primary source of proteins, amino acids, lipids, sterols, vitamins, and minerals for honey bees. However, not all pollen types provide the same resources or have the same biological value. Its chemical composition changes according to botanical origin, geographic location, and environmental conditions. This variability can influence metabolism, the immune system, oxidative balance, and the ability to resist or tolerate infections. This article examines the available evidence on the relationship between pollen chemical quality and the dynamics of Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) infection in Apis mellifera. The analysis is approached from molecular, physiological, ecological, and seasonal perspectives. Current findings suggest that more diverse and higher-quality pollen diets are generally associated with greater colony survival and improved health status, although their effects on viral load are more heterogeneous and context-dependent. In some studies, pollen intake is linked to a reduction in DWV, while in others the viral load remains stable, but bees survive longer or show better health indicators. These differences suggest that pollen may act not only by enhancing resistance to the virus but also by increasing tolerance to infection-associated damage. The potential role of pollen bioactive compounds, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids, is also discussed. Nevertheless, evidence of direct antiviral action of these compounds in bees remains limited, as many proposed mechanisms derive from other organisms. This synthesis provides an integrative perspective on pollen nutrition and its relevance for colony resilience against viral infections.

Review
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Guoxia Liu

,

Botong Sun

,

Wei Fan

,

Shousong Yue

,

Qiuxia He

,

Jean-François Picimbon

Abstract: The gut, brain, fat body, wing, epidermis, corpora allata, salivary gland, pheromone gland, prothoracic gland, and many other tissues are not included in the olfactory/chemosensory function. However, they are the tissues where CSPs are most prevalent, with the exception of the antennae and legs. In part-1, we proposed renaming the "chemosensory protein (CSP)" family to "4-Cysteine Soluble Proteins (4CSPs)" in order to avoid designating a protein present in hemolymph or eggs as chemosensory. In part-2, we broaden the report's focus from ubiquitous tissue distribution to potential intracellular functions in order to bolster our idea. We go over our studies on insecticide resistance, the Mp10 story in aphids, and other systems relevant to lipid transport and immunity. Most of the data gradually tilt toward the non-chemosensory features of 4CSPs, and this adds even more evidence to support those aspects. We provide a second review (part-2) and analysis that shows a stronger association between 4CSPs and mucins, translation initiation factors, and proteins belonging to the actin complex family. This is yet another compelling evidence that the benefits of renaming "chemosensory proteins" far outweigh the drawbacks, when taking tissue distribution and intracellular localization into account.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Helin Chan

,

Muye Niu

,

Zhi Huang

,

Xiujuan Liu

,

Jiancheng Zang

Abstract: This study describes a new species of the family Caliscelidae (Hemiptera) from the Xizang region of China—Peltonotellus lasaensis sp. nov. Through integrated morphological examination (including external morphology and genitalia dissection) and mitochondrial gene (COI) sequence analysis, the taxonomic status of this species was determined. Morphological results reveal that the male aedeagus terminates in valvular lobes, with ventral processes comprising a pair of spinous projections. In females, the type IX arcuate process bears approximately 15 ridge teeth on the dorsal margin, a feature that distinctly differentiates it from congeners. Molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a substantial genetic divergence (K2P = 16.5%) between the new species and its closest relative, Peltonotellus sp. (MW928530.1), far exceeding the species-level threshold (< 2%). Additionally, the new species formed a monophyletic clade with high bootstrap support (>97%) in the maximum likelihood tree. This study represents the first record of Caliscelidae in the high-altitude regions of Xizang (3 650–3 800 m), thereby enriching the diversity data of Hemiptera in Asia and providing valuable insights into the biogeography of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Review
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Torben K. Heinbockel

,

Vonnie D. C. Shields

Abstract: Most plant-based essential oil repellent products currently available on the market utilize a "green" approach based on the volatile properties of essential oils. In general, these essential oils contain terpenes, terpenoids, or phenylpropanoids that can be used to either (1) eliminate a human's scent through a process called odor masking, or (2) interfere with an insect's ability to detect a person's scent through interaction with both olfactory receptors and odorant binding proteins. Additionally, many of the essential oil blends that have been developed have been shown to exhibit antimicrobial properties. The primary draw-back to using essential oil-based repellents is that their protection times vary widely, and typically last only a short period of time due to the volatile nature of the active ingredients, as well as differences in concentration and formulation among products. Encapsulation, nano-delivery systems, and rationally designed blend combinations are being proposed as potential methods to delay the release of the essential oil active ingredients, thus extending the duration of effectiveness of the repellent product. Since essential oils represent complex mixtures, there is a possibility that resistance to the repellent active ingredients could develop differently than it would for single-active agents. However, before such resistance can be assessed, the repellents must undergo extensive safety evaluations, along with standardized efficacy assessments against Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved repellent products, and ultimately, field trials must be conducted in areas where the repellents will be used to prevent vector-borne diseases. In addition to conducting these evaluations, the repellents must comply with existing state and federal pesticide regulations.

Review
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Karim Debache

Abstract: The yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor), is increasingly considered a promising protein and lipid source for circular bioeconomy strategies in food and feed. Interest is driven by the need to diversify protein supplies and reduce environmental footprints, but feasibility depends on safety, regulation, and scalable operating conditions. Alongside industrial systems, low-input models adapted to arid conditions have been proposed, yet evidence remains heterogeneous and context-dependent. This review covers developments between 2020 and 2025, a period that coincides with accelerated EU novel food assessments and a rapid expansion of applied research on processing, safety, and valorization, with a focus on scientific progress and regulatory approvals such as those issued by EFSA in Europe. Several new applications have emerged, including enzymatic hydrolysates, lipid recovery, and the extraction of chitosan from exuviae. Uses now span animal nutrition, biodegradable materials, and bioactive food ingredients. Life-cycle assessments often report lower greenhouse gas emissions and land use than conventional livestock, but outcomes are sensitive to energy inputs, feed substrates, and system boundaries. Key constraints include variable frass composition, allergenicity and cross-reactivity risks, regulatory and compliance constraints, and mixed consumer acceptance. For research, priority needs include longer-term safety datasets and field-relevant validation of bioactive claims beyond in vitro assays. For policy and industry, priorities include harmonised criteria for substrate safety and traceability, and transparent supply-chain controls that enable reproducible quality at scale.

Review
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Weidson Plauter Sutil

,

Antonio Ricardo Panizzi

,

Adeney de Freitas Bueno

Abstract: The crop system of soybean (summer)—maize or other cereals (fall/winter) succession has been adopted widely in the Neotropics. It inadvertently provides food in sequence to stink bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), forming green bridges, which favor their outbreaks. Attempts to control these outbreaks, usually consists of chemical control on isolated crop scenarios. Analyzing the literature available, it is possible to conclude that stink bugs must be managed having a broader and more holistic perspective, taking the whole landscape into consideration, rather than the usual individualized perspective. Multidisciplinary recommendations should include insect pests plus weed and disease controls, crop harvest, sowed cultivars or varieties, and neighboring vegetation (cultivated or native) for effective stink bug management. In conclusion, during the first crop season, stink bugs should be controlled only in the reproductive stage of soybean (from R3 to R6 plant development stage), when population is equal or higher than ET (2 stink bugs.m−1). Biologicals should be used instead of chemicals whenever possible. When ET is surpassed at R7 or R8, more tolerant maize varieties (fast growing) should be sowed in the second crop season with the adoption of seed treatment. Always, grain losses during harvest and the presence of weeds must be avoided at the end of soybean season. Additionally, chemical insecticides sprayings on maize might still be necessary if Diceraeuss spp. outbreaks equal or surpass three insects.m−1 during maize early stages. This more precise and less impactful management of the agroecosystem will promote more sustainable and resilient management of these polyphagous pests.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Maria Lucia Cocato

,

Eduardo Gianini Abimorad

,

Leandro Lopes Borges

,

Daniela Castellani

,

Pietro Ragozzino-Paulino

,

Jorge Eduardo de Souza Sarkis

Abstract: Insect meals are promising alternatives to conventional protein sources in aquafeeds, but comparative evidence in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing an insect-free control diet with larvae meals from Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, haematological profile, and resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae in juvenile Nile tilapia. Fish were fed isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets for 82 days: a control diet without insect meal and diets containing 100 g kg⁻¹ dry matter of T. molitor, H. illucens, or a 1:1 mixture. Growth performance and somatic indices were not affected by dietary treatment. Lipid digestibility remained high and similar among diets, whereas protein digestibility differed among diets and insect ingredients. Erythrocyte and total leukocyte counts were unchanged, but neutrophil and lymphocyte proportions differed among treatments. After intraperitoneal challenge with S. agalactiae, cumulative mortality was numerically lower in fish fed T. molitor or H. illucens than in the control group, although survival curves did not differ significantly. These findings indicate that both insect meals can be included at 10% in juvenile Nile tilapia diets without impairing growth, while influencing protein digestibility and leukocyte distribution.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Bin Xue

,

Xin Huang

,

Di Yang Huang

,

Jing Yun Wu

,

Tong Le Lei

,

Jing Jin Bao

,

Shu Yi Zhao

,

Xue Deng

,

Ming Zhou

,

Wei Shen

+2 authors

Abstract: Among the various insects used in animal foodstuff, Hermetia illucens is regarded as an effective converter of organic wastes including food waste, crop straw, vinasse, rice and wheat bran, human and animal feces. Based on the tremendous potential of converting organic waste into renewable resources, such as food and feed ingredients, extensive research on H. illucens has recently been conducted. The salinity of the foodstuff is a crucial factor to consider for the larval growth and nutrient accumulation of H. illucens, as they live and feed in it. To realize the efficient reuse of food wastes, the effects of salinity (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) in food wastes on the fecundity of H. illucens were researched by way of TWO-SEX life table computer software in laboratory, and the prepupa nutrients (ash, protein, fat, and mineral composition) was also determined with the method of Soxhlet extractor, muffle furnace, and Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the intrinsic rate of increase (r) of H. illucens in control (0.1199 d-1) was greatest and significantly more than those of 3% (0.1110 d-1), 4% (0.1076 d-1) and 5% (0.0989 d-1) treatments by way of affecting the nutritional intake of H. illucens larva. The ash proportion of H. illucens prepupa in the control group was least and significantly less than those in 3%, 4%, and 5% treatments. In addition, the content of crude fat in control was greatest and significantly greater than those in 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% treatments. The content of crude protein in control was also significantly more than those in all other treatments. Furthermore, the content of some fat acids and amino acids was also significantly affected by the foodstuff salinity. Because of the better reproductive performance and more nutrient component, the feedstuff with lower salinity was more suitable to feed H. illucens larvae, which result was conducive to producing H. illucens prepupa used as animal feeds and biodiesel material in large-scale use.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Li-Fang Cheng

,

Yu-Liang Xiao

,

Cheng Zhang

,

Jia-Ke Zhang

,

Yu-Xin Li

,

Tong-Yin Xie

,

Qing Zhao

Abstract: Invasive alien species threaten agricultural and natural ecosystems security. Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), a globally recognized quarantine pest of honeybees, poses severe threats to colony health and apicultural sustainability. Whereas Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser, 1955), an entomopathogenic nematode, exhibits biocontrol potential agent of this pest. This study used MaxEnt and CLIMEX models to predict the global potential distribution under different climate change scenarios. Result indicate that temperature and precipitation are the core environmental factors that constrain their distribution. Under current climatic conditions, both models demonstrate that suitable habitats for A. tumida is primarily located in South America, southern Africa, and South Asia, whereas S. carpocapsae exhibits a broader, spread almost globally. Notably, CLIMEX predicts a more extensive suitable range than the MaxEnt model for two species. MaxEnt predict result indicate suitable habitat of A. tumida expansion into North America, Europe and central Australia, while S. carpocapsae is expected to expand to Asia, North America, and Africa. Under both the A1B and A2 climate scenarios, the highly suitable habitat for both pests decreases significantly, whereas moderately and marginally increases markedly. Collectively, the results provide key scientific basis and decision-making support for the precise prevention and control of invasive pests.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Samuel Piquer-Esteban

,

Vicente Pérez-Brocal

,

Rebeca Domínguez-Santos

,

Amparo Latorre

,

Carlos García-Ferris

,

Andrés Moya

Abstract: Cockroaches display a double symbiosis: an obligate intracellular one with Blattabacterium cuenoti, and a complex extracellular intestinal non-vertically transmitted microbiota, that may be affected by horizontally transmitted factors. Four experiments using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analyzed the microbiota of the hindgut and feces of adult cockroaches to understand the influence of the environment, feces, and host genetic background on hindgut microbiota acquisition and development. We observed that sample type, rearing conditions, and host influenced microbiota composition. Furthermore, the induction of germ-free cockroaches placed in non-sterile conditions had a greater impact on microbiota than rearing conditions, also showing that in absence of fecal inputs the cockroach gut microbiota is strongly diminished. Moreover, when exploring fecal microbiota differences between three cockroach species, the greatest divergence was found between Periplaneta americana and Blattella germanica, with Blatta orientalis being placed in an intermediate position. Therefore, P. americana was selected for fecal transplantation on B. germanica. This transplantation experiment indicates that host species clearly influence intestinal bacterial selection, limiting full integration of donor-derived communities. Overall, these results suggest that beyond other factors the host species had the strongest influence on shaping the cockroach gut microbiota.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Alan Lee Knight

,

Esteban Basoalto

Abstract: Field trials were conducted to define several parameters associated with adding LEDs to monitoring traps for codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.), using both a sex pheromone lure (PH1X) and a non-pheromone lure (CM4K). Traps with LEDs emitting at a peak of 395 nm with 1,000 – 2000 mW/m2 were the most effective. Lights with greater intensities caught similar numbers of CM, and significantly more non-targets. Adding the UV-A lights did not increase moth catches early in the season with either the PH1X or CM4K lures. However, UV-A LEDs when used with these two lures significantly increased total moth catch 7- and 3-fold in July – August, respectively. The addition of the UV-A LEDs allowed CM4K-baited traps to perform significantly better in previously limiting situations, such as in weedy orchards and in pear relative to apple. Distance from the light source is a key factor affecting light energy. Irradiance dropped >90% at 15 cm which is the distance from the lure to the entrance of a standard delta trap. A smaller trap (7.5 cm radius) had a 4-fold greater irradiance at its entrance and caught greater numbers of non-targets but not CM than delta traps without LEDs.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Pannapak Urairut

,

Yash Munnalal Gupta

,

Somjit Homchan

Abstract: As global food security challenges intensify, edible crickets are increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative protein source; however, genomic resources for commercially important species remain limited, restricting evolutionary inference and the development of robust tools for farm management. In this study, we sequenced and assembled new complete mitochondrial genomes of Gryllus bimaculatus and Teleogryllus mitratus from commercial farms in Thailand using high-throughput Illumina sequencing, achieving high coverage depths of 32,391× and 63,258×, respectively. The circular mitochondrial genomes were 15,955 bp and 16,046 bp in length and exhibited the typical insect mitochondrial gene complement of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs), with strong AT bias. Selective pressure analyses indicated pervasive purifying selection across all mitochondrial PCGs (ω < 1), while episodic diversifying selection was detected in cox1, cox3, cytb, and nad5, while atp8 displayed a comparatively elevated ω. Codon usage analyses revealed a strong preference for AT-ending codons, with leucine codons showing the highest bias. Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated protein-coding and ribosomal RNA genes recovered well-supported relationships within Gryllidae. Collectively, these farm-derived mitogenomes provide practical foundations for molecular species authentication, population monitoring, and comparative analyses relevant to breeding and traceability, and they nominate candidate mitochondrial genes for future work on environmental adaptation and performance under farming conditions.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Sergio Méndez-Cardona

,

Juliana A. Morales-Monje

,

Alejandro Lopera-Toro

,

Adrian Forsyth

,

Alexandra J. Bauer

,

Olivia R. Magaletta

,

Panpim Thongsripong

,

Olga L. Cabrera-Quintero

Abstract: Phlebotomine sand flies, vectors of Leishmania parasites, remain poorly studied in southeastern Peru, a region with a high burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Using modified UV light traps, we surveyed sand fly assemblages across four habitat types at Manu Biological Station during the wet season (March–May 2023): secondary forest, Guadua bamboo forest, fruit crop plots, and peridomicile habitats. A total of 2,641 sand flies representing 32 species were collected, with females comprising 74.5% of captures. Habitat type was the primary driver of assemblage composition, with minimum nightly temperature as the strongest environmental correlate. Sand fly abundance was highest in secondary forest (n = 921) and peridomicile habitats (n = 836), where assemblages were dominated by Nyssomyia shawi, a generalist species also captured indoors. Although Guadua bamboo forests harbored lower total abundance (n = 386), potential vector species comprised 92% of the assemblage compared to 42–86% in other habitats, and communities exhibited greater evenness. These findings suggest that expanding bamboo forests may pose an underrecognized risk for CL transmission. Additionally, peridomicile assemblages consisted largely of generalist species overlapping with adjacent forested habitats, indicating potential pathways for sylvatic-to-peridomestic spillover. Our findings underscore the importance of habitat-specific assemblage structure and vector dominance in shaping spatially heterogeneous transmission risk and highlight the need for habitat-targeted surveillance strategies in dynamic Amazonian landscapes.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Zainab Saeed

,

Usman Khalique

,

Farrah Zaidi

,

Muhammad Zahid

,

Bibi Hajra

,

Khush Bakht Latif

,

Syeda Hira Fatima

,

Syed Jawad Ahmad Shah

Abstract: Annually, global crop harvest significantly declines due to various pest attacks. Their effective management is crucial for sustainable agricultural productivity. Native entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have been recognized as the most promising microbiological control agents against these pests. The present study aimed to isolate locally occurring entomopathogenic fungi and assess their efficacy against the serious noctuid pest, H. armigera, under laboratory conditions. EPF was explored in cultivated soil from crops of two distinct agro-ecological zones (plains and foothills) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Using the Galleria baiting technique, fungal isolates were recovered from collected soil samples. Upon identification, these isolates belonged to 4 different EPF species, viz., Nomuraea rileyi, Aspergillus parasiticus, A. niger, and A. flavus. Results revealed that soils from the foothills exhibited a comparatively higher percentage distribution of isolates than those from the plains. Aspergillus niger was the most abundant fungal species in various localities and crops. The pathogenicity of four isolated species was assessed against H. armigera at three concentrations (1x106, 1x107 and 1x108 conidia/mL). Results revealed that the H. armigera larvae were found to be susceptible to all tested EPF species, particularly at high concentration levels. M. rileyi was the most effective, causing the highest percent mortality and exhibiting the lowest percentage of pupal recovery and adult emergence, followed by Aspergillus species. Probit analysis showed that M. rileyi was highly virulent, with the lowest LC50 and LT50 values. This study reveals the potential of M. rileyi to serve as an effective biocontrol agent in integrated pest management strategies against H. armigera, and as a promising candidate for bio-pesticide product development. The use of EPF agents will ensure the production of healthier organic crops by eliminating insecticide residue and resistance problems.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Ping Zhao

,

Chen Meng

,

Syeda Wajeeha Gillani

,

Xueli Lu

,

Xi Jia

,

Meng Wang

,

Yu Bai

,

Yiru Song

,

Hongyan Hou

,

Yiqiang Li

+2 authors

Abstract: In China, the enormous gap between domestic soybean supply and increasing consumption necessitates large-scale soybean imports. The use of cultivated soybean (Glycine max) leaves as feed for the edible insect Clanis bilineata tsingtauica further reduces crop yields, posing a threat to national soybean production security. To address this issue, this study evaluated wild soybean (Glycine soja) as a potential alternative feed source. Comparative analyses examined the nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of G. max (cv. Qihuang34) and laboratory-preserved G. soja germplasm, together with their effects on larval growth performance, nutritional composition, and associated microbiota. G. soja leaves exhibited significantly higher crude fat (5.61% vs. 2.17%), ash (11.07% vs. 9.62%), neutral detergent fiber (23.75% vs. 21.00%), calcium (4.05 g/kg vs. 3.41 g/kg), and phosphorus (2.52 g/kg vs. 2.38 g/kg) than G. max, alongside lower trypsin inhibitor levels (P< 0.01) despite higher phytic acid content (P< 0.05). Fifth-instar larvae reared on G. soja leaves achieved a 12.9% increase in body weight (6.846 g vs. 6.066 g), higher crude protein (672.14 g/kg vs. 555.02 g/kg), total soluble sugar (21.27 mg/g vs. 8.96 mg/g), and soluble protein (26.35 mg/g vs. 24.71 mg/g), but lower crude fat (187.44 g/kg vs. 205.82 g/kg, P< 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed distinct phyllosphere microbial communities, with G. soja enriched in diverse taxa (e.g., Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria) and G. max dominated by Firmicutes. Corresponding differences were observed in larval gut microbiota, with positive correlation analyses suggesting potential microbe transfer from G. soja leaves to larval guts. Overall, G. soja represents a promising alternative feed for C. bilineata, reducing competition with soybean grain production and supporting sustainable insect farming.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Gaetan LeClair

,

Peter Mayo

Abstract: Insect attractant lures come in many formats, one of which utilizes tapered rubber sleeve stoppers, normally utilized to seal laboratory glassware openings. Their cup-shape top happens to be ideal to pipet a solution within this cavity, and, through permeation, load quantities of active ingredients. The expansion or swelling of the rubber facilitates the permeation of the active within its matrix, a role that dichloromethane performs well. Dichloromethane is also favored due to its volatility and broad chemical compatibility. However, this solvent is possibly on the verge of retirement, which would mean finding alternatives. It was found that several other common laboratory solvents could serve as replacement, and of those tested, tetrahydrofuran outperformed dichloromethane in terms of overall volume uptake and swelling. When loading the septum/sleeve with larger amounts of active, a full soaking methodology can disperse the active throughout the rubber sleeve as well as reduce labor requirement since batches can be processed compared to manually pipetting a solution to individual sleeves.

Article
Biology and Life Sciences
Insect Science

Raisa Sukhodolskaya

,

Igor Solodovnikov

,

Teodora Teofilova

,

Vladimir Langraf

,

Alexander Borisovskiy

,

Sergey Luzyanin

,

Alexander Ruchin

,

Dominic Stočes

,

Anatoliy Anciferov

,

Roman Gorbunov

+4 authors

Abstract: The study was based on a large database of morphometric measurements of the ground beetle Carabus granulatus. It was compiled between 2006 and 2025 and includes over 10,000 individuals of this species, captured in 14 major regions of Russia and Western Europe. Beetles were captured with Barber traps across a spectrum of anthropogenic impacts—urban areas, suburbs, agricultural lands, and natural biotopes. They were then transported to the Institute of Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan, where they were measured using a unified method for six linear traits. SSD was assessed using two methods. Using the standard Lovich formula, SSD for all traits was significantly higher, on average in all six traits, in beetle populations from suburban areas. Application of the second method, RMAII, showed that the slope of the regression curve is generally higher in females, indicating greater sensitivity of Carabus granulatus females to environmental factors. At the same time, a comparison of the results obtained by the aforementioned methods did not support the thesis that SSD increases with beetle size. The curves for SSD variability in both urban and non-urban populations were sawtooth-shaped. This conclusion may be due to the fact that the variability of both structural traits and SSD for them is not described by a monotonic curve. This necessitates studying the variability of SSD in other ground beetle species (or genera) using the same data set and a unified methodology.

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