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Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a natural host for the Helicoverpa-Chloridea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) pest complex. The species Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) was responsible for significant yield losses in several crops after its detection in Brazil. The morphology of its larval stage resembles common Heliothinae species, making pest control decisions difficult. The overall lack of studies on the Heliothinae associated with tomatoes in Brazil and the establishment of H. armigera in the country plus their recent outbreaks supported our investigation about the relative importance of the insects from the Helicoverpa-Chloridea complex in this vegetable crop. A nationwide survey was carried out across fresh-market and processing tomato fields. Molecular analyses targeting a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene and their sequence analyses indicated the presence of a pest complex, comprising the introduced species H. armigera and the indigenous species, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and Chloridea virescens (Fabricius). The Harm 1 haplotype of H. armigera was identified as the predominant Heliothinae pest infesting fresh-market tomatoes. The New World species Chloridea subflexa (Guenée) as well as the exotic Solanaceae-specific species Helicoverpa assulta (Guenée) were not found in our survey. Additional larvae surveys in processing tomato fields during 2013/2014 in Central Brazil also indicated H. armigera as the most abundant Heliothinae species (95%) together with H. zea (4.75%) and C. virescens (0.25%). The occurrence of distinct Helicoverpa species (which are potentially capable of interbreeding) indicates that novel crop management strategies will be necessary in order to minimize damages caused by this pest complex in tomatoes.

The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is a widespread lepidopteran pest found in various crops worldwide. This highly polyphagous species, commonly found both in the Old and New World, has caused significant economic damage as an invasive agricultural pest in Brazil since 2013. The goal of the present study is to provide a detailed morphological assessment of adults and immature stages of H. armigera, as this species is often confused with H. zea (Boddie), a congeneric species that is native to the New World. The biology data were acquired during four full life cycles, and observations on general behavior, nocturnal habits of larvae and adults, and sensitivity of larvae to humidity were recorded. Larval chaetotaxy differs between the first and the remaining instars, which bear L2 on the meso- and metathorax and L3 on A3 through A6, along with conspicuous chalazae and longitudinal bands. Important morphological characters of this species include the following: eggs with four micropylar openings, lined with 12 cells arranged in the shape of a rosette; pupa adecticous and obtect, with prominent spiracles; adults with the distal antennomere striate. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism in the number of setae on the frenulum and spines on the prothoracic leg. Illustrations of the critical morphological features of this species are provided.

Helicoverpa and Heliothis species include some of the world's most significant crop pests, causing billions of dollars of losses globally. As such, a number are regulated quarantine species. For quarantine agencies, the most crucial issue is distinguishing native species from exotics, yet even this task is often not feasible because of poorly known local faunas and the difficulties of identifying closely related species, especially the immature stages. DNA barcoding is a scalable molecular diagnostic method that could provide the solution to this problem, however there has been no large-scale test of the efficacy of DNA barcodes for identifying the Heliothinae of any region of the world to date. This study fills that gap by DNA barcoding the entire heliothine moth fauna of Australia, bar one rare species, and comparing results with existing public domain resources. We find that DNA barcodes provide robust discrimination of all of the major pest species sampled, but poor discrimination of Australian Heliocheilus species, and we discuss ways to improve the use of DNA barcodes for identification of pests.

The Heliothinae complex in Argentina encompasses Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), and Chloridea virescens (Fabricius). In Tucumán, the native species H. gelotopoeon is one of the most voracious soybean pests and also affects cotton and chickpea, even more in soybean-chickpea succession cropping systems. Differentiation of the Heliothinae complex in the egg, larva, and pupa stages is difficult. Therefore, the observation of the adult wing pattern design and male genitalia is useful to differentiate species. The objective of this study was to identify the species of the Heliothinae complex, determine population fluctuations of the Heliothinae complex in soybean and chickpea crops using male moths collected in pheromone traps in Tucuman province, and update the geographical distribution of H. armigera in Argentina. The species found were H. gelotopoeon, H. armigera, H. zea, and C. virescens. Regardless of province, county, crop, and year, the predominant species was H. gelotopoeon Considering the population dynamics of H. gelotopoeon and H. armigera in chickpea and soybean crops, H. gelotopoeon was the most abundant species in both crops, in all years sampled, and the differences registered were significant. On the other hand, according to the Sistema Nacional Argentino de Vigilancia y Monitoreo de Plagas (SINAVIMO) database and our collections, H. armigera was recorded in eight provinces and 20 counties of Argentina, and its larvae were found on soybean, chickpea, sunflower crops and spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides). This is the first report of H. armigera in sunflower and spiny plumeless thistle in Argentina., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of America.)

Odorant receptors (ORs) play an important role in insects to monitor and adapt to the external environment, such as host plant location, oviposition-site selection, mate recognition and natural enemy avoidance. In our study, we identified and characterized OR12 from three closely-related species, Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa assulta, Heliothis virescens, sharing between 90 and 98% of their amino acids. The tissue expression pattern analysis in H. armigera showed that HarmOR12 was strongly expressed both in male and female antennae, but not in other tissues. Functional analysis performed in the heterologous Xenopus expression system showed that all three OR12 were tuned to six structurally related plant volatiles. Electroantennogram recordings from male and female antennae of H. armigera closely matched the data of in vitro functional studies. Our results revealed that OR12 has a conserved role in Heliothinae moths and might represent a suitable target for the control of these crop pests.

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) is among the most voracious global pests of agriculture. Adults of this species were identified recently in northern Argentina by dissection of male genitalia. In this work, a rapid and simple molecular tool was designed to distinguish H. armigera from the morphologically similar indigenous bollworms Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar), regardless of the life stage. Amplification of partial COI gene with a new primer pair, and subsequent digestion with endonuclease HinfI, yielded different RFLP profiles for the three main Helicoverpa pests currently present in South America. The method was validated in Helicoverpa specimens collected across Argentina, whose identity was further corroborated by COI sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The data reported here constitute the first molecular confirmation of this pest in the country. The survey revealed the occurrence of H. armigera in northern and central Argentina, including the main soybean- and maize-producing area., (© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Three Palaearctic species of the Heliocheilus translucens species-group are reviewed. One new species, H. tengri Volynkin & Matov, sp. n. is described from West Mongolia, southwestern part of Mongolian Altai Mts. The adults, male and female genitalia are illustrated.

Heliothine moths (Lepidoptera: Heliothinae) include some of the world's most devastating pest species. Whereas the majority of nonpest heliothinae specialize on a single plant family, genus, or species, pest species are highly polyphagous, with populations often escalating in size as they move from one crop species to another. Here, we examine the current literature on heliothine host-selection behavior with the aim of providing a knowledge base for research scientists and pest managers. We review the host relations of pest heliothines, with a particular focus on Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), the most economically damaging of all heliothine species. We then consider the important question of what constitutes a host plant in these moths, and some of the problems that arise when trying to determine host plant status from empirical studies on host use. The top six host plant families in the two main Australian pest species (H. armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera Wallengren) are the same and the top three (Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Malvaceae) are ranked the same (in terms of the number of host species on which eggs or larvae have been identified), suggesting that these species may use similar cues to identify their hosts. In contrast, for the two key pest heliothines in the Americas, the Fabaceae contains approximately 1/3 of hosts for both. For Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), the remaining hosts are more evenly distributed, with Solanaceae next, followed by Poaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, and Rosaceae. For Heliothis virescens (F.), the next highest five families are Malvaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Scrophulariaceae. Again there is considerable overlap in host use at generic and even species level. H. armigera is the most widely distributed and recorded from 68 plant families worldwide, but only 14 families are recorded as a containing a host in all geographic areas. A few crop hosts are used throughout the range as expected, but in some cases there are anomalies, perhaps because host plant relation studies are not comparable. Studies on the attraction of heliothines to plant odors are examined in the context of our current understanding of insect olfaction, with the aim of better understanding the connection between odor perception and host choice. Finally, we discuss research into sustainable management of pest heliothines using knowledge of heliothine behavior and ecology. A coordinated international research effort is needed to advance our knowledge on host relations in widely distributed polyphagous species instead of the localized, piecemeal approaches to understanding these insects that has been the norm to date.

DNA barcode analysis of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) could not differentiate between the species of the Schinia volupia (Fitch, 1868) complex including S. volupia, S. masoni Smith, S. fulleri (McElvare, 1961); S. sanrafaeli Opler, 2004; S. miniana (Grote, 1881); and S. biforma Smith, 1906. Genitalic characters could only differentiate S. biforma from the S. volupia complex. Based on forewing color and pattern, larval host plant utilization, and geographic distribution, S. volupia, S. sanrafaeli, S. fulleri, and S. miniana are recognized as valid species and S. masoni is considered a new synonym of S. volupia. Schinia volupia, S.fulleri, S. sanrafaeli, S. miniana, and S. biforma are diagnosed and described. A variety of adult images are presented to show the range of variation among these species. Male and female genitalia of all included taxa are illustrated. Host plant utilization is discussed and illustrated. Distribution maps for examined specimens are provided.

In 2006 the U.S. National Park Service initiated a long term study of the Lepidoptera at White Sands National Monument, Otero County, New Mexico. Schinia pogueisp. n., described here, was discovered in 2007, the second year of the study. The male and female adult moths and genitalia are illustrated.

Schinia psamatheasp. n. is described from the southern coastal plain in Georgia and the East Gulf coastal plain in Florida and Alabama in habitats associated with sandy soil or dunes. Adult males and females and their genitalia are described and illustrated. Schinia psamathea is compared to Schinia saturata (Grote).

The lack of a readily accessible roster of nuclear genes informative at various taxonomic levels is a bottleneck for molecular systematics. In this report, we describe the first phylogenetic application of the sequence that encodes the enzyme dopa decarboxylase (DDC). For 14 test species within the noctuid moth subfamily Heliothinae that represent the previously best-supported groupings, a 690-bp fragment of DDC resolved relationships that are largely concordant with prior evidence from elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1 alpha), morphology, and allozymes. Although both synonymous and nonsynonymous changes occur in DDC substantially more rapidly than they do in EF-1 alpha, DDC divergences within Heliothinae are below saturation at all codon positions. Analysis of DDC and EF-1 alpha in combination resulted in increased bootstrap support for several groupings. As a first estimate of previously unresolved relationships, DDC sequences were analyzed from 16 additional heliothines, for a total of 30 heliothine species plus outgroups. Previous relationships based on DDC were generally stable with increased taxon sampling, although a two- to eightfold downweighting of codon position 3 was required for complete concordance with the 14-species result. The weighted strict consensus trees were largely resolved and were congruent with most although not all previous hypotheses based on either morphology or EF-1 alpha. The proposed phylogeny suggests that the major agricultural pest heliothines belong to a single clade, characterized by polyphagy and associated life history traits, within this largely host-specific moth subfamily. DDC holds much promise for phylogenetic analysis of Tertiary-age animal groups.

Background: The Oriental tobacco budworm, Helicoverpa assulta, a specialist herbivorous insect that exclusively feeds on plants of the Solanaceae family, causes considerable damage to crops, such as tobacco and hot pepper. The absence of a genome sequence for this species hinders further research on its pest management and ecological adaptation., Results: Here, we present a high-quality chromosome-level genome of a Korean strain of H. assulta (Pyeongchang strain, K18). The total assembly spans 424.4 Mb with an N50 length of 14.54 Mb and 37% GC content. The assembled genome (ASM2961881v1) comprises 31 chromosomes, similar to other congeneric generalist species including H. armigera and H. zea. In terms of genomic assembly quality, the complete BUSCOs and repeat content accounted for 98.3% and 33.01% of the genome, respectively. Based on this assembly, 19 485 protein-coding genes were predicted in the genome annotation. A comparative analysis was conducted using the identified number of protein-coding genes in H. armigera (24154) and H. zea (23696). Out of the 19 485 predicted genes, 137 genes in 15 orthogroups were found to have expanded significantly in H. assulta, while 149 genes in 95 orthogroups contracted rapidly., Conclusion: This study revealed specific gene expansions and contractions in H. assulta compared to those in its close relatives, indicating potential adaptations related to its specialized feeding habits. Also, the comparative genome analysis provides valuable insights for the integrated pest management of H. assulta and other globally significant pests in the Heliothinae subfamily. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Combined use can be an effective measure to improve pest control by viruses and parasitic wasps. However, not all combinations of natural enemies show improved effects. Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) and Campoletis chlorideae Uchida are two important natural enemies of Helicoverpa armigera. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of C. chlorideae and HearNPV against H. armigera larvae and the impact of HearNPV on C. chlorideae., Results: The combination of HearNPV and C. chlorideae exerted increased mortality on H. armigera when C. chlorideae parasitized larvae one day after infection with HearNPV. C. chlorideae could distinguish between HearNPV-infected and noninfected larvae. Besides influencing host selection of C. chlorideae, HearNPV infection had negative effects on the development and reproduction of C. chlorideae. The developmental time of C. chlorideae was significantly prolonged and the percentage of emergence and adult eclosion of C. chlorideae was lower in infected hosts. The adult wasps were also smaller in body size, and female adults had fewer eggs when they developed in virus-infected hosts., Conclusions: HearNPV combined with C. chlorideae could improve the efficacy of biological control against H. armigera. The results provided valuable information on the importance of timing in the combined use of HearNPV and C. chlorideae for the biological control of H. armigera. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Helicoverpa armigera is a highly polyphagous species that causes huge losses to agricultural and horticultural crops worldwide. In the cotton industry, H. armigera, including the Australian subspecies Helicoverpa armigera conferta, is largely managed using genetically modified crops that express insecticidal toxins, such as Cry1Ac. Resistance to Cry1 proteins occurs and, in some cases, is mediated by changes to HaCad1, a gene that encodes the midgut protein cadherin. Around the world, numerous resistance-associated polymorphisms have been identified in the HaCad1 gene of H. armigera, but Cry1Ac resistance is rare in the Australian subspecies. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to disrupt the cadherin gene in H. armigera conferta and characterised the resulting phenotype with bioassays and transcriptomics., Results: Compared to the parental strain, the newly generated HaCad1 knockout strain is 44-fold and 16-fold more resistant to Cry1Ac and Cry1A.105, respectively, while wild-type and knockout insects were equally insensitive to Cry1F., Conclusion: The disruption of the HaCad1 gene causes Cry1Ac resistance in Australian H. armigera conferta. However, Cry1Ac resistance remains rare in Australian field populations suggesting that Australia's approach to pest management in cotton has prevented widespread Cry1Ac resistance. © 2024 CSIRO. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 CSIRO. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Furanocoumarins are a class of chemical compounds with phototoxic properties. For herbivores, efficient detoxification of such defense compounds is the prerequisite to feed successfully on furanocoumarin-containing plants. The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is a very important polyphagous pest in agriculture, but how it copes with toxic furanocoumarins in some of its host plants is not well understood. Given that cytochrome P450s are well known for their capacity in xenobiotic metabolism, this study attempted to explore the potential roles of cytochrome P450s in furanocoumarin transformation in this pest. Our data showed that two linear structures (psoralen and xanthotoxin) could be metabolized by three recombinant CYP9A enzymes, but no detectable depletion was observed for the linear one with the 8-dimethylallyloxy substituent on the coumarin moiety (imperatorin) and the angular furanocoumarin (angelicin). Initial epoxidation of the double bond connecting C2' and C3' of the furano ring following by cleavage of the epoxidated furan ring, leading to the formation of more soluble, less reactive and nonphotosensitizing metabolites, was identified as a common mechanism of linear furanocoumarin metabolism using a quadrupole/time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometry interfaced with a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. Our data demonstrated that multiple P450s were involved in the detoxification of linear furanocoumarins in the cotton bollworm. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the biochemical basis of adaptation to plant defense chemicals in this economically important pest., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), threatens many crops. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton has been planted to control this severe pest in northern Xinjiang, China. In 2021 and 2022, we monitored the activity densities of H. armigera males using sex pheromone traps in Bt cotton and non-Bt maize fields. We assessed how much of the population variation of cotton bollworm in the fields within the Bt cotton planting area could be explained by (i) landscape composition [including the proportion of Bt cotton among total area of host crops (cotton, maize, wheat and vegetables)], (ii) landscape configuration (patch density - i.e. the number of patches within a given area) across 0.5-2.0 km scales, or (iii) the population density of the previous pest generation., Results: Cotton bollworm activity-density exhibited two distinct peaks annually (mid- to late May and mid-July each year), with the number of males caught during the second peak significantly and positively correlated with the first peak's numbers. The suppressive effect of the proportion of Bt cotton in the landscape on bollworms was more pronounced at larger scales, and patch density had a significant positive effect on bollworm activity density., Conclusions: These findings support (i) the promotion of Bt cotton in northwestern China has reduced and suppressed the occurrence of cotton bollworms at the landscape scale and (ii) the importance of controlling spring populations for effective summer outbreak management, and (iii) that cotton bollworm control should be coordinated at a large scale across multiple crop fields. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious polyphagous pest of various field and horticultural crops. A complete knowledge on the morphological features of antennal sensory structures is essential for efficient semiochemical-based control methods. The external structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in male and female adults of H. armigera were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Eight distinct morphological types of sensilla were identified in both sexes: sensilla trichodea, sensilla basiconica, sensilla auricillica, sensilla coeloconica (multiporous), sensilla chaetica (uniporous), sensilla styloconica, sensilla squamiformia, and Böhm sensilla (aporous) in varying numbers and distribution along the length of the antennae. Of these sensilla, the most widespread are sensilla trichodea and sensilla basiconica on the antennae of both sexes. Female antennae have comparatively greater number of sensilla trichodea than male antennae. Among eight types of sensilla, sensilla basiconica, auricillica, styloconica type II, squamiformia, and Böhm sensilla were identified and reported for the first time in H. armigera. Sexual dimorphism in H. armigera was mainly detected as the variations in sensilla shape, numbers, and distribution of each type of sensilla. The sexual difference was observed in the numbers of sensilla coeloconica, chaetica, styloconica, and squamiformia per flagellomere. The possible functions of these sensilla were discussed in view of previously reported lepidopteran insects. The findings provide fundamental information on the morphology and distribution of antennal sensory structures in H. armigera. It would be useful for further detailed studies on physiological and behavioral function of each sensillum type and helpful for formulating related pest control methods., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The invasion of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) into the New World has made it possible for this pest to hybridize with a native American species, H. zea (Boddie), under natural conditions. We investigated the viability and development of hybrids of these two Helicoverpa species. We reared the parental species and evaluated crosses between H. armigera males and H. zea females and vice versa, two intercrosses between hybrids, and eight backcrosses between hybrids and parental species. We estimated the length of immature stages, fecundity, survival, sex ratio, and heterosis., Results: Although hybridization occcurred, with heterosis during the development of immatures, reproductive incompatibilities also were observed between the parental species and between hybrids from subsequent crosses. The interspecific crosses between hybrids and backcrosses confirmed the possibility of introgression events and their perpetuation in field populations. The results indicate that hybridization events are favored at high population levels, while at low population levels the 'species identities' will be maintained., Conclusions: The possibility of interspecific gene flow and its perpetuation through successive crosses and backcrosses suggests several recommenations for management. Populations of both species should be maintained at an equilibrium level to reduce the chance of interspecific crosses, which are presumably more likely to occur during pest outbreaks. The existence of hybridization and resistance to different active pesticide ingredients should be monitored. All practices related to managing the resistance of these pests to chemical and biological insecticides should be systematized to reduce the chance of selecting for resistant individuals., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: The Old-World bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), was recently documented attacking cotton and soybean plants in Brazil; however, restricted basic knowledge on host plant interactions and landscape use in Brazil have limited the effectiveness of control measures. In this study, we evaluated the suitability of different crops commonly cultivated in Brazil as hosts for H. armigera and H. zea, and examined their contribution to the establishment and size of H. armigera and H. zea field populations. We also estimated the proportions of H. armigera and H. zea moths that used cotton, noncotton C 3 plants, and C 4 plants as hosts in four regions in Brazil through the length of the cropping season., Results: Viability of H. armigera larvae was highest on cotton (46.1%), followed by millet (39.5%), sorghum (31.2%), soybean (24.2%), and maize (21.1%). Noncotton C 3 hosts served as the major source of H. armigera moths in all regions evaluated, and C 4 hosts were a source of H. armigera mainly in regions where winter maize is typically cultivated. H. armigera moths that used cotton plants as natal hosts were observed during the reproductive stage of the crop mainly in the state of Bahia. Only C 4 host plants were a consistent source of H. zea moths, primarily when maize was in the reproductive stage. H. armigera individuals were the main species infesting cotton and soybean fields while H. zea individuals were the main species infesting maize ears., Conclusions: Regional differences in the host use and population dynamics of H. armigera among the regions evaluated may be attributed to variation in alternative host utilization (crops, noncrops, and weeds) and the possible occurrence of facultative diapause and or migration., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The first detection of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil pointed to a gloomy future for South American agriculture in the 2012/2013 harvest, and insecticide sales increased exponentially during 2013 and 2014. However, after this outbreak, the population of this insect returned to manageable levels. This study documents data on H. armigera moth collection using light traps during the outbreak in two locations: (a) western region of the state of Bahia, including population levels of H. armigera and main noctuid pests during the big outbreak (February and March 2013); (b) Federal District, including monthly data for five growing seasons (July 2012-June 2017). During the outbreak, an average of 527.3 moths were collected per trap (cotton crop, March) in the western region of Bahia each night, while the maximum average in the Federal District was 75.4 moths (January). The number of moths decreased in the following growing seasons, and in October 2016, the maximum number was 2.8 moths per trap. Aspects related to the variations of H. armigera and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) populations, including the study of phenology and relationship with climatic factors and Oceanic Niño Index, were analyzed and discussed. All aspects are approached to contribute to the management of lepidopteran pests, especially H. armigera, in the productive systems of the Brazilian Cerrado.

Background: Biogenic metallic and oxide metal nanoparticles have potential as alternatives for several current problems in agriculture, such as the control of caterpillars which cause huge losses in the production of important crops. In the present study, capped and uncapped silver, iron oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized from the filtrate of Beauveria bassiana and evaluated in regard to physico-chemical characteristics, capping composition, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and biological activity on Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera frugiperda caterpillars., Results: A difference in the physico-chemical parameters of the capped and uncapped nanoparticles was observed, with larger aggregation and lower stability of the uncapped. In regard to the study of the capping, the presence of functional groups of biomolecules as well as the activity of B. bassiana hydrolytic enzymes were observed. Cytotoxic effects on the tested cell lines were not observed and DNA damage levels increased with more intense effects of the uncapped nanoparticles. In regard to the biological activity against Noctuidae pests, the uncapped and capped iron oxide, and uncapped titanium dioxide nanoparticles occasioned higher mortality (76%, 60% and 51%, respectively) but no differences in LC 50 were recorded. Moreover, sublethal effects were reported on Helicoverpa armigera whereas Spodoptera frugiperda showed low susceptibility to the nanoparticles., Conclusion: The results demonstrate that biogenic metallic and oxide metal nanoparticles might show promising effects for the control of caterpillars which cause damage on important agricultural crops. Further investigations are necessary to understand the mechanisms of action and optimize the biological activity of these new nanomaterials. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Maize is one of the world's most important crops, so its stable production and supply is crucial for food security and socioeconomic development. The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is one of the major pests in maize. We evaluated the control effect of a bio-bait, an adult attractant, combined with insecticide, a 'toxicant-infused bait', on H. armigera populations in maize fields, as well as the impact on crop yield and quality through large-scale field applications in Hebei Province, China over a period spanning 2019 to 2021., Result: The number of male and female H. armigera adults killed by strip application ranged from 1 to 37 and 4 to 36 per strip, respectively, of which female moths were 53%. Following the application of toxicant-infused bait, we observed a significant reduction in the populations of eggs and larvae, with the average adjusted decrease range from 58% to 63% for eggs and from 34% to 62% for larvae. The application of toxicant-infused bait also resulted in a notable reduction in the proportion of damaged maize plants, with an adjusted decline rate ranging from 59% to 69%. Concurrently, we observed an increase in yield by 4% to 8%. The concentration of aflatoxin in harvested maize grains was significantly reduced from an initial level of 1.24 to 0.1 ug/kg., Conclusion: By applying toxicant-infused bait, there was a significant reduction in the population of H. armigera adults and their offspring, resulting in an improved yield and quality of maize. Toxicant-infused bait has great application potential in the integrated pest management of H. armigera. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: The common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), is one of the most widespread and destructive polyphagous pests in tropical and subtropical Asia. S. litura has evolved resistance to different insecticides, including diamide insecticides. Here, we identified a ryanodine receptor (RyR) mutation (I4728M) associated with target site resistance to diamides in a field-collected population of S. litura. The contribution of this mutation to diamide resistance was investigated through establishing a near-isogenic resistant strain of S. litura., Results: The ND21 population of S. litura, collected from Ningde, Fujian province of China in 2021, exhibited 130.6-fold resistance to chlorantraniliprole compared to the susceptible NJ-S strain. S. litura RyR mutation I4728M, corresponding to Plutella xylostella RyR I4790M, was identified in the ND21 population. SlRyR I4728M mutation of ND21 was introgressed into a susceptible background strain (NJ-S) with marker-assisted backcrossing. The introgressed strain named ND21-R, which was homozygous for the mutant 4728M allele, shared about 94% of the genetic background with the NJ-S strain. ND21-R strain showed moderate levels of resistance to two anthranilic diamides (19.1-fold to chlorantraniliprole, 19.7-fold to cyantraniliprole) and the phthalic diamide flubendiamide (23.4-fold). Genetic analysis showed that chlorantraniliprole resistance was autosomal, incompletely recessive and tightly linked with SlRyR I4728M mutation in the introgressed ND21-R strain of S. litura., Conclusion: Identification of the I4728M mutation and its contribution to diamide resistance in S. litura will help develop allelic discrimination assays for resistance monitoring and guide resistance management practices for diamides in S. litura. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Soybean is considered one of the important crops among legumes. Due to high nutritional contents in seed (proteins, sugars, oil, fatty acids, and amino acids), soybean is used globally for food, feed, and fuel. The primary consumption of soybean is vegetable oil and feed for chickens and livestock. Apart from this, soybean benefits soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen through root nodular bacteria. While conventional breeding is practiced for soybean improvement, with the advent of new biotechnological methods scientists have also engineered soybean to improve different traits (herbicide, insect, and disease resistance) to fulfill consumer requirements and to meet the global food deficiency. Genetic engineering (GE) techniques such as transgenesis and gene silencing help to minimize the risks and increase the adaptability of soybean. Recently, new plant breeding technologies (NPBTs) emerged such as zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9), which paved the way for enhanced genetic modification of soybean. These NPBTs have the potential to improve soybean via gene functional characterization precision genome engineering for trait improvement. Importantly, these NPBTs address the ethical and public acceptance issues related to genetic modifications and transgenesis in soybean. In the present review, we summarized the improvement of soybean through GE and NPBTs. The valuable traits that have been improved through GE for different constraints have been discussed. Moreover, the traits that have been improved through NPBTs and potential targets for soybean improvements via NPBTs and solutions for ethical and public acceptance are also presented., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The mechanism of sex pheromone reception in the male cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera has been extensively studied because it has become an important model system for understanding insect olfaction. However, the pathways of pheromone processing from the antenna to the primary olfactory center in H. armigera have not yet been clarified. Here, the physiology and morphology of male H. armigera olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) were studied using single sensillum recording along with anterograde filling and intracellular recording with retrograde filling. OSNs localized in type A sensilla responded to the major pheromone component cis-11-hexadecenal, and the axonal terminals projected to the cumulus (Cu) of the macroglomerular complex (MGC). The OSNs in type B sensilla responded to the behavioral antagonist cis-9-tetradecenal, and the axonal terminals projected to the dorsomedial anterior (DMA) unit of the MGC. In type C sensilla, there were 2 OSNs: one that responded to cis-9-tetradecenal and cis-11-hexadecenol with the axonal terminals projecting to the DMA, and another that responded to the secondary pheromone components cis-9-hexadecenal and cis-9-tetradecenal with the axonal terminals projecting to the dorsomedial posterior (DMP) unit of the MGC. Type A and type B sensilla also housed the secondary OSNs, which were silent neurons with axonal terminals projected to the glomerulus G49 and DMP. Overall, the neural pathways that carry information on attractiveness and aversiveness in response to female pheromone components in H. armigera exhibit distinct projections to the MGC units., (© 2022 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

To elucidate the evolutionary relationships of the major lineages within the moth family Nolidae, we analysed a molecular dataset comprising eight independent gene regions (6.4 kbp), cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) from the mitochondrial genome, and elongation factor-1α (EF-1α), ribosomal protein S5 (RpS5), carbamoylphosphate synthase domain protein (CAD), cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and wingless genes from the nuclear genome, using parsimony and model-based evolutionary methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference). Our analyses revealed a well-resolved phylogenetic hypothesis, again recovering the six previously recognized families within Noctuoidea (i.e. Oenosandridae, Notodontidae, Euteliidae, Erebidae, Nolidae and Noctuidae), and monophyly of the quadrifid Noctuoidea (i.e. Euteliidae, Erebidae, Nolidae and Noctuidae). The family Nolidae is diagnosed and characterized by two synapomorphies from morphology: construction of a ridged boat-shaped cocoon that bears a vertical exit slit at one end; and two other morphological character states: elongation of the forewing retinaculum into a bar-like or digitate condition and possession of a postpiracular counter-tympanal hood. We present a new phylogenetic hypothesis for Nolidae consisting of eight strongly supported subfamilies, two of which are erected here: Diphtherinae, Risobinae, Collomeninae subfam. nov., Beaninae subfam. nov., Eligminae, Westermanniinae, Nolinae and Chloephorinae. Where we are able, each monophyletic lineage is diagnosed by morphological autapomorphies and within each subfamily, monophyletic tribes and subtribes are circumscribed, most of which are also diagnosable by morphological apomorphies. We also describe two new taxa: Gelastocerini trib. nov. and Etannina subtrib. nov. The Neotropical subfamily Diphtherinae, here newly circumscribed, is considered to be the plesiomorphic sister lineage to the rest of Nolidae. Diphtherinae are characterized by loss of the proximal pair of metatibial spurs in males and by the presence of a frontal tubercle, which is presumably associated with a derived strategy of emergence from the cocoon., (© The Willi Hennig Society 2012.)

Chloridea subflexa and Chloridea virescens are a pair of closely related noctuid species exhibiting pheromone-based sexual isolation and divergent host plant preferences. We produced a novel Illumina short read C. subflexa genome assembly and an improved C. virescens genome assembly, which offer opportunities to study the genomic basis for evolutionarily important traits in this lepidopteran family with few genomic resources. We then examined the feasibility of reference-assisted assembly, an approach that leverages existing high quality genomic resources for genome improvement in closely related taxa and applied it to our Heliothine genomes. Our work demonstrates that reference-assisted assembly has the potential to enhance contiguity and completeness of existing insect genomic resources with minimal additional laboratory costs. We conclude by discussing both the potential and pitfalls of reference-assisted assembly according to the intended downstream assembly application., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, is a worldwide polyphagous pest, causing huge economic losses in vegetable, cotton and corn crops, among others. Owing to long-term exposure to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins, evolution of resistance has been detected in this pest. As a conservative and effective neurotransmitter, dopamine (DA) has an important role in insect growth and development. In this study, we investigated the regulatory functions of DA and its associated non-coding RNA in metamorphosis in H. armigera., Results: Expression profiles indicated that DA and DA pathway genes were highly expressed during larval-pupal metamorphosis in H. armigera. RNA interference and pharmacological experiments confirmed that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopa decarboxylase, vesicular amine transporter and DA receptor 2 are critical genes related to the development of H. armigera from larvae to pupae. We also found that miR-14 and miR-2766 targeted the 3' untranslated region to post-transcriptionally regulate HaTH function. Application of miR-2766 and miR-14 antagomirs significantly increased levels of HaTH transcripts and proteins, while injection of miR-2766 and miR-14 agomirs not only suppressed messenger RNA and protein levels of HaTH, but also resulted in defective pupation in H. armigera., Conclusion: These results suggest that DA deficiency inhibits larval-pupal metamorphosis in H. armigera. Potentially, DA pathway genes and their microRNAs could be used as a novel target for H. armigera management. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Ionotropic receptors (IRs) were first found in Drosophila melanogaster, and derive from ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), which are implicated in detecting acids, ammonia, amine, temperature and humidity. Although IRs are involved in sensing acid odors in a few insects, such as D. melanogaster, Aedes aegypti, and Manduca sexta, the function of IRs in Helicoverpa armigera is still unknown. IR8a was confirmed to be a co-receptor associated with acid detection. From the results of phylogenetic analysis, HarmIR8a displayed high similarity compared to homologs in D. melanogaster, M. sexta, and A. aegypti, suggesting that HarmIR8a might have a consistent function as a co-receptor for acid detection. In this study, clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-mediated genome editing was implemented to knockout HarmIR8a for in vivo functional analysis. Electrophysiological and behavioral assays were performed to compare the differences between HarmIR8a knockout mutants and wild type individuals. From electroantennogram (EAG) analysis, we found that wild type H. armigera adults could detect short-chain carboxylic acids. In addition, wind tunnel experiments showed that 1% acetic acid attracted wild type H. armigera adults. However, acid sensing and attraction were reduced or abolished in the HarmIR8a knockout mutants. Our data suggest that HarmIR8a is important for H. armigera to detect short-chain carboxylic acids and mediate attraction behavior to acetic acid., (© 2021 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Insect herbivores can regulate their food intake by mixing food sources with different nutrient content, but face the resulting challenge of ingesting various plant secondary metabolites. How insects deal with toxins in a complex nutrient environment is unclear. Here we investigated the influence of a classic plant secondary metabolite, allyl glucosinolate (sinigrin), and its hydrolyzed product allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), on the development of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) when fed on diets with different protein-to-carbohydrate (p : c) ratios. We also examined the effects of these toxins on larval biochemistry, by chemically analyzing the frass produced by insects feeding on the different diets. As expected, AITC had a greater negative effect than sinigrin on H. armigera life-history traits. However, AITC at low concentration appeared to have a positive effect on some traits. Both sinigrin and AITC-induced detoxification activity in the gut, and the reaction was related to diet protein concentration. High-protein diets can provide the required free amino acid, especially cysteine, needed for the detoxification process. The nutrient content of the diet influences how plant secondary metabolites are handled, and the use of artificial diets in experiments investigating the metabolic fate of plant secondary compounds needs to be carefully evaluated., (© 2021 The Authors. Insect Science published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Gossypol is a toxic sesquiterpene dimer produced by cotton plants which deters herbivory by insects and vertebrates. Two highly reactive aldehyde groups contribute to gossypol toxicity by cross-linking herbivore proteins. We identified another consequence of consuming gossypol in two insect pests of cotton: increased amounts of fatty acid-amino acid conjugates (FACs). Eight different FACs in the feces of larval Helicoverpa armigera and Heliothis virescens increased when larvae consumed artificial diet containing gossypol, but not a gossypol derivative lacking free aldehyde groups (SB-gossypol). FACs are produced by joining plant-derived fatty acids with amino acids of insect origin in the larval midgut tissue by an unknown conjugase, and translocated into the gut lumen by an unknown transporter. FACs are hydrolyzed back into fatty acids and amino acids by an aminoacylase (L-ACY-1) in the gut lumen. The equilibrium level of FACs in the lumen is determined by a balance between conjugation and hydrolysis, which may differ among species. When heterologously expressed, L-ACY-1 of H. armigera but not H. virescens was inhibited by gossypol; consistent with the excretion of more FACs in the feces by H. armigera. FACs are known to benefit the plant host by inducing anti-herbivore defensive responses, and have been hypothesized to benefit the herbivore by acting as a surfactant and increasing nitrogen uptake efficiency. Thus in addition to its direct toxic effects, gossypol may negatively impact insect nitrogen uptake efficiency and amplify the signal used by the plant to elicit release of volatile compounds that attract parasitoids., (© 2021 The Authors. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based bioinsecticides and transgenic plants expressing proteins with insecticidal activity (Cry and Vip) have been successfully used in several integrated pest management programs worldwide. Lepidoptera comprise some of the most economically important insect pests of the major agricultural crops. In this study, the toxicity of 150 Bt strains was evaluated against Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) larvae. Eight strains (426, 520B, 1636, 1641, 1644, 1648, 1657 and 1658) showed high insecticide activity against H. armigera and were therefore tested against Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner), Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker), Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), and Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) larvae. Our results showed that most of the Bt strains were also toxic to these lepidopteran species. The biochemical and molecular analyses of these strains revealed that they had a similar protein profile; however, their cry and vip gene contents were variable. In addition, the median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of the selected strains indicated that the strains 1636, 1641, and 1658 were the most effective against H. armigera, showing LC 50 values of 185.02, 159.44, and 192.98 ng/cm 2 , respectively. Our results suggest that the selected Bt strains have great potential to control the lepidopteran pests H. armigera, A. gemmatalis, D. saccharalis, S. cosmioides, and C. includes., (© 2021. Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.)

The soybean technology MON 87701 × MON 89788, expressing Cry1Ac and conferring tolerance to glyphosate, has been widely adopted in Brazil since 2013. However, pest shifts or resistance evolution could reduce the benefits of this technology. To assess Cry1Ac soybean performance and understand the composition of lepidopteran pest species attacking soybeans, we implemented large-scale sampling of larvae on commercial soybean fields during the 2019 and 2020 crop seasons to compare with data collected prior to the introduction of Cry1Ac soybeans. Chrysodeixis includens was the main lepidopteran pest in non-Bt fields. More than 98% of larvae found in Cry1Ac soybean were Spodoptera spp., although the numbers of Spodoptera were similar between Cry1Ac soybean and non-Bt fields. Cry1Ac soybean provided a high level of protection against Anticarsia gemmatalis, C. includens, Chloridea virescens and Helicoverpa spp. Significant reductions in insecticide sprays for lepidopteran control in soybean were observed from 2012 to 2019. Our study showed that C. includens and A. gemmatalis continue to be primary lepidopteran pests of soybean in Brazil and that Cry1Ac soybean continues to effectively manage the target lepidopteran pests. However, there was an increase in the relative abundance of non-target Spodoptera spp. larvae in both non-Bt and Cry1Ac soybeans., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), and the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), are two major polyphagous lepidopteran pests of cultivated crops. They develop various levels of resistance to many frequently applied broad-spectrum insecticides. Here, the larval susceptibilities of a laboratory population and six field-collected populations per pest from Hunan Province, China to three insecticides were determined using a standard leaf-dipping method in the laboratory. Field-plot trials were conducted to verify the control efficacies of broflanilide 100 g L -1 suspension concentrate (SC), chlorantraniliprole 5% SC and emamectin benzoate 5.7% water-dispersible granule, against H. armigera and S. exigua larvae using foliar sprays in 2013 and 2019., Results: Variations among H. armigera and S. exigua field populations in their susceptibility levels to the three insecticides were observed in Linli, Yueyang and Changsha counties from 2013 to 2019. They were still high susceptibility to broflanilide only, but developed low and/or moderate levels of resistance to chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate. In addition, broflanilide at 25 g ha -1 provided an excellent control efficacy of 81.92% to 96.46% against these pests during the 3-14-days period after treatment in both years, whereas chlorantraniliprole at 50 g ha -1 and emamectin benzoate at 4.5 g ha -1 exhibited significantly decreased efficacies, which were consistent with their corresponding toxicity levels., Conclusions: These results suggest that broflanilide should be an important new tool for the effective control of diamide- and avermectin-resistant H. armigera and S. exigua. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Successfully locating a host plant is crucial for an insect herbivore to feed and/or oviposit. However, locating a host within a complex environment that may contain an array of different plant species is a difficult task. This is particularly the case for polyphagous herbivores, which must locate a host within environments that may simultaneously contain multiple suitable and unsuitable hosts. Here we review the mechanisms of host selection used by polyphagous herbivores, as well as exploring how prior experience may modify a generalist's response to host cues. We show that recent research demonstrates that polyphagous herbivores have the capacity to detect both common cues from multiple host species, as well as specific cues from individual host species. This creates a paradox in that generalists invariably rank hosts when given a choice, a finding at odds with the "neural limitations" hypothesis that says generalist insect herbivores should not have the neural capacity to identify cues specific to every possible host. To explain this paradox we propose a model, akin to parasitoid host location, that postulates that generalist herbivores use different cues sequentially in host location. We propose that initially common host cues, associated with all potential hosts, are used to place the herbivore within the host habitat and that, in the absence of any other host cues, these cues are sufficient in themselves to lead to host location. As such they are true "generalist" cues. However, once within the host habitat, we propose that the presence of a smaller group of cues may lead to further host searching and the location of preferred hosts: these are "specialist" cues. This model explains the current conflict in the literature where generalists can respond to both common and specific host-plant cues, while also exhibiting specialist and generalist host use behavior under different conditions., (© 2019 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

Tomato plants host various herbivores, including the Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), recently introduced into South and Central America. It is a harmful pest for tomato crops, damaging mainly the flowers and fruits. The assessment of losses and the establishment of economic injury level (EIL) and economic threshold (ET) are core steps toward establishing a control program. We determined losses caused by H. armigera on processing tomato and estimated EIL/ET values. Trials were run during two growing seasons using tomato plants caged in the field. The field cage experiment consisted of six densities of H. armigera second instar larvae (0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 larvae per row meter) at two infestations periods spaced 15 d apart with the first infestation done 90 d after transplanting. The larvae were placed individually on the third upper fully developed leaf. The number of healthy and damaged fruits, size, and weight of the fruits were measured. Yield losses as a function of infestation of 1-24 larvae per row meter ranged from 4 to 34% and resulted in a yield reduction of 1.22-12.77 kg per row meter. The EIL ranged from 1.41 to 1.72 and from 2.11 to 2.58 larvae per row meter of plants in 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons, respectively. Helicoverpa armigera causes significant reduction of tomato yield. These EIL values will enable better control decision-making in processing tomato., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Maladaptive behaviors reflecting a "bad" choice of habitat or resource have been widely documented; however, their persistence is often difficult to interpret. The potter wasp Delta dimidiatipenne constructs mud cells, in each of which it lays a single egg and places several caterpillars to feed its offspring. Preliminary observations indicated that a portion of these caterpillars were already parasitized and contained the offspring of the gregarious parasitoid Copidosoma primulum. As a result, the offspring of the potter wasp often failed to develop. To characterize the distribution, frequency and consequences of this intriguing phenomenon, we surveyed potter wasp nests throughout the Negev Desert. Evidence for parasitized caterpillars (mummies) was found in ~85% of the sampled sites, in ~20% of previous years' nest cells and in ~70-80% of the same year's cells. The survival and pupal mass of the potter wasp offspring were negatively associated with the presence and number of parasitized caterpillars inside the cells. We concluded that the collection of parasitized caterpillars by D. dimidiantipenne is frequent and costly. The persistence of this behavior may result from limited discrimination ability against parasitized prey by female potter wasps, or by their limited ability to exhibit choosiness under field conditions.

Backgroud: Volatile terpenes can act as ecological signals to affect insect behavior. It has been proposed that the manipulation of terpenes in plants can help to control herbivore pests. In order to investigate the potential pest management function of (E)-β-caryophyllene in cotton plants, the (E)-β-caryophyllene synthase gene (GhTPS1) was inserted into Gossypium hirsutum variety R15 to generate overexpression lines., Results: Four GhTPS1-transgenic lines were generated, and GhTPS1 expression in transgenic L18 and L46 lines was 3-5-fold higher than in R15 plants. The transgenic L18 and L46 lines also emitted significantly more (E)-β-caryophyllene than R15. In laboratory bioassays, L18 and L46 plants reduced pests Apolygus lucorum, Aphis gossypii and Helicoverpa armigera, and attracted parasitoids Peristenus spretus and Aphidius gifuensis, but not Microplitis mediator. In open-field trials, L18 and L46 plants reduced A. lucorum, Adelphocoris suturalis and H. armigera, but had no significant effects on predators., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that L18 and L46 plants reduce several major hemipteran and lepidopteran cotton pests, whereas, two parasitoids P. spretus and A. gifuensis, were attracted by L18 and L46 plants. This study shows that overexpressing GhTPS1 in cotton may help to improve pest management in cotton fields. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Heliothine larvae, especially early instars, are difficult to identify, and determinations sometimes rely on indirect information such as origin and host data. The introduction of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) into the New World has undermined the reliability of host and origin data to identify intercepted Helicoverpa larvae, and suspect Heliothinae/Helicoverpa larvae intercepted at U.S. ports of entry are now screened for H. armigera and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) using molecular methods. Here, we analyze heliothine larvae intercepted during 2014-2106 to identify nontargets and evaluate morphological characters traditionally used to separate taxa. In total, nine species were identified, with Chloridea virescens (Fabricius) making up the bulk of interception records. The majority of heliothine suspects originate from Mexico and Peru on pigeon pea, chickpea, tomatillo, pea, and corn. Helicoverpa armigera is commonly intercepted from Peru on pea. Chloridea virescens is recorded from every country where interceptions were identified for this study except Guatemala and is found on multiple hosts. Identification issues and specific host/origin associations are discussed in detail., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2019.)

Processionary moths belong to a group of about 100 species well known for their social behaviour and their urticating systems. The genus Thaumetopoea s.l. includes about 15 species and has been divided into three genera (Helianthocampa, Thaumetopoea s.s., and Traumatocampa) in the last revision, based on key morphological features of the adults and on the host plants of the larvae. We performed a total evidence approach to resolve the phylogeny of the genus Thaumetopoea s.l., analysing all valid taxa included in this group, plus a broad array of close relatives. Thaumetopoea was monophyletic and supported by several apomorphies. Further subclades corroborated by synapomorphies were identified. Our phylogeny suggests that Thaumetopoea must be regarded as a single genus. The mapping of key life history traits on the total evidence tree allowed us to sketch a plausible identikit of the Thaumetopoea ancestor and to track the evolution of the genus. The ancestor originated in the eastern Mediterranean area, and used broadleaved host plants. Subsequently, a switch to conifers occurred, just once, in a large subclade. The ancestor pupated in the soil, like several current species, but in a few taxa this trait was lost, together with the related morphological adaptations., (© The Willi Hennig Society 2016.)

© The Willi Hennig Society 2010. ABSTRACT: Phylogenetic relationships of 18 genera of the swallowtail subfamily Papilioninae, four genera of Parnassiinae, and the monobasic Baroniinae are inferred based on 94 morphological characters and 5616 bp DNA from seven genes (16S, COI, COII, ND1, ND5, EF-1 alpha and wingless). Bayesian likelihood analyses show that Baroniinae are the sister of a clade comprising Parnassiinae and Papilioninae. Four Papilioninae tribes are recognized, Leptocircini, Teinopalpini, Papilionini and Troidini, with Leptocircini being the sister of the remaining tribes. Meandrusa and Teinopalpus are sister taxa and comprise the tribe Teinopalpini, which is the sister of a clade comprising Papilionini and Troidini. The tribe Troidini (pipevine swallowtails) comprises two subtribes: Battina (including only Battus) and Troidina. The endemic Madagascan genus Pharmacophagus is consistently placed as the sister to the remaining Troidina. The non-Pharmacophagus Troidina are tentatively divided into a Neotropical lineage and an Australasian lineage. Dispersal-vicariance analyses indicate that past dispersal events are most important for explaining current distribution patterns of Papilionidae. However, the division of the non-Pharmacophagus Troidina into a Neotropical lineage and an Australasian lineage is possibly due to the final break-up of southern Gondwana. A fossil-calibrated relaxed Bayesian molecular clock analysis confirms that the ages of the lineages fit this scenario. The basal lineages leading to the current subfamily-level diversity of Papilionidae probably arose around the K/T boundary. Analyses of larval host-plant relationships within Papilionidae show very little phylogenetic pattern. However, Aristolochiaceae-feeding apparently evolved independently in non-Parnassiini parnassiines and Troidini., (© The Willi Hennig Society 2010.)

Studies in the lab have demonstrated that evaluating the effect of soil moisture and other variables is essential for understanding the importance of environmental factors influencing the Heliothinae pupal stage, but simulated field studies are conducted infrequently. We compared the pupation of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under saturated and unsaturated conditions across 3 distinct soil types (coarse sand, high organic muck, and fine-textured clay) and observed adult emergence, as well as pupal depth and weight. The interaction between soil type and moisture had a significant effect on adult emergence. Fewer adults emerged from dry fine-textured clay soil than from dry coarse sand and high organic muck. However, there was no effect of soil type and no interaction between soil and moisture on pupal depth. Soil moisture was the primary driver of pupal depth, suggesting prepupae use moisture to mediate their position within the pupal chamber. In addition, pupal weight was unrelated to soil type, moisture, or their interaction. Our study demonstrates that soil moisture can be a greater driver of H. zea pupation than soil type, but additional observations are necessary to understand the mechanism by which moisture impacts pupation., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Heliothinae soil pupation is understudied despite the key role this life stage plays in their development. Many Heliothinae are important agricultural pests and understanding the interplay of environment and pupation is important to optimize pest management tactics oriented toward pupae. We studied the impact of three soil types (coarse sand, high organic muck, and fine-textured clay) on Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) in-season and overwintering pupal survivorship, diapause, depth, and weight in at two locations (North and South Carolina). We introduced wild-collected (in-season) and laboratory-reared (over the winter) infestations of H. zea larvae to each of the three soils and later excavated pupae. In-season and over the winter pupal survivorship was lower in fine-textured clay soils than in coarse sand or high organic muck. In addition, pupal depth and weight, in-season and over the winter, varied significantly by soil type. In general, depth was the shallowest, and pupae weight was lower when recovered from fine-textured clay soils. Finally, diapausing characteristics varied significantly by location and year, likely impacted by differing environmental conditions. Our results suggest that fine-textured clay soils negatively impact Heliothinae pupation and may be suppressing populations in areas with these soil types., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The mitochondrial genetic markers are considered useful tools for discrimination between more closely related lepidopteran taxa. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of mitochondrial (mt) 16 s rRNA gene in the determination of the taxonomic position for two moth species within Ditrysia clade. Maximum likelihood analysis has indicated a well-supported dendrogram based on the Tamura-Nei model for the recovered lepidopterans. The mt 16 s rRNA query sequences from 24 species within seven families were analyzed. This analysis and bootstrap confidence revealed two major clades representing Glossata suborder within Lepidoptera, with a close relationship of Noctuoidea + (Pyraloidea (Hesperioidea + Papilionoidea)). The subfamily Heliothinae forming a sister group with Risobinae (Noctinae + Hadeninae). In addition, there is a clear observation about the close relation between Phycitinae + Galleriinae within Pyraloidea and Cyrestinae + Limenitidinae within Papilionoidea. The present study supported that the Helicoverpa and Meroptera species are the first accounts of these genera inhabiting Saudi Arabia., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Macdunnoughia hybrida is a polyphagous herbivorous moth within the family Noctuidae. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of M. hybrida . This mitogenome was 15,382 bp long and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and two ribosomal RNA unit genes (rRNAs). Except for cox1 started with CGA, all other PCGs started with the standard ATN codons. Most of the PCGs terminated with the stop codon TAA, whereas cox1 , cox2 and nad4 end with the incomplete codon T--. The whole mitogenome exhibited heavy AT nucleotide bias (80.7%). Gene order was conserved and identical to most other previously sequenced Noctuidae. Phylogenetic analysis positioned M. hybrida in a well-supported clade with Diachrysia nadeja and three Ctenoplusia species. The relationships (Catocalinae + (Plusiinae + (Acronictinae + (Heliothinae + (Amphipyrinae + (Hadeninae + Noctuinae)))))) were supported within Noctuidae., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

This study reports a new Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) isolated from Heliothis peltigera (Denis & Schiffermuller), collected in the vicinity of Adana, Turkey. Infection was confirmed by tissue polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. Results showed that dead H. peltigera larvae contain Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus. Thus, the isolate was named as HearNPV-TR. Microscopy studies indicated that occlusion bodies were 0.73 to 1.66 μm in diameter. The nucleocapsids are approximately 184 × 41 nm in size. The genome of HearNPV-TR was digested with KpnI and XhoI enzymes and calculated as 130.5 kb. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HearNPV-TR has close relation with the H. armigera SNPV-1073 China isolate. The Kimura analysis confirmed that the isolate is a variant of H. armigera NPV. Bioassays were performed using six different concentrations (1 × 10 3 to 1 × 10 8 occlusion bodies (OBs)/mL) on 2nd instar larvae of H. peltigera, H. armigera, Heliothis viriplaca, Heliothis nubigera. LC 50 values were calculated to be 9.5 × 10 3 , 1.9 × 10 4 , 8.6 × 10 4 and 9.2 × 10 4 OBs/mL within 14 days, respectively. Results showed that it is a promising biocontrol agent against Heliothinae species., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST: none declared, (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s).)

Ctenoplusia albostriata is a pest of composite plants such as Calendula officinalis L. and Dahlia pinnata . In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of C. albostriata . This mitogenome was 15,284 bp long and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA unit genes (rRNAs). Gene order was conserved and was found to be identical to most other previously sequenced Noctuidae. The whole mitogenome exhibited heavy AT nucleotide bias (80.9%). Except for cox1 started with CGA, all other PCGs started with the standard ATN codons. Most of the PCGs terminated with the stop codon TAA, whereas cox1 , cox2 and nad4 end with the incomplete codon T--. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the mitogenome of C. albostriata was similar to C. agnata and C. limbirena , and the subfamily Plusiinae was close to Acronictinae, Heliothinae, Amphipyrinae, Noctuinae, and Hadeninae., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

The Cry1Ac protein is the most active insecticidal toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to members of the heliothinae subfamily in Lepidoptera, which includes some of the most devastating pests of corn and cotton worldwide. However, there are wide discrepancies in susceptibility among members of this subfamily in the US. Specifically, susceptibility to Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa zea (Hz) is >100-fold lower when compared to Heliothis virescens (Hv) larvae. The biochemical properties and Cry1Ac protoxin processing activity of gut digestive fluids from larvae of Hz and Hv were compared to test their role in differential susceptibility to Cry1Ac. Comparatively lower protease activity, associated with slower Cry1Ac proteolytic processing, was detected in digestive fluids of Hz compared to Hv. Moreover, Cry1Ac toxin processed by Hz digestive fluids displayed significantly lower toxicity in vitro against cultured insect cells compared to toxin activated by Hv proteases. These data support a contributing role for gut proteases in differential susceptibility to Cry1Ac in heliothine larvae., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Intraspecific variation in ecologically important traits is a cornerstone of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. The evolution and maintenance of this variation depends on genetic architecture, which in turn determines responses to natural selection. Some models suggest that traits with complex architectures are less likely to respond to selection than those with simple architectures, yet rapid divergence has been observed in such traits. The simultaneous evolutionary lability and genetic complexity of host plant use in the Lepidopteran subfamily Heliothinae suggest that architecture may not constrain ecological adaptation in this group. Here we investigate the response of Chloridea virescens, a generalist that feeds on diverse plant species, to selection for performance on a novel host, Physalis angulata (Solanaceae). P. angulata is the preferred host of Chloridea subflexa, a narrow specialist on the genus Physalis. In previous experiments, we found that the performance of C. subflexa on P. angulata depends on many loci of small effect distributed throughout the genome, but whether the same architecture would be involved in the generalist's adoption of P. angulata was unknown. Here we report a rapid response to selection in C. virescens for performance on P. angulata, and establish that the genetic architecture of intraspecific variation is quite similar to that of the interspecific differences in terms of the number, distribution, and effect sizes of the QTL involved. We discuss the impact of genetic architecture on the ability of Heliothine moths to respond to varying ecological selection pressures.