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Capa peptides are of great importance for both understanding the control of salt balance by neuropeptides and revealing the mechanisms of response to cold stress. Presently, research on the physiological function of neuropeptides typically includes identifying and analysing specific receptors and their interactions. Given their role in osmotic balance and the importance of cold tolerance, this study attempted to identify the sequence and function of Capa peptide receptors (CapaRs) in Dendroctonus armandi and to prove that CapaRs play an important role in the cold stress responses. In this study, two full‐length cDNAs encoding more than 400 amino acids of Dendroctonus armandi Capa peptide receptor genes (DaCapaRs) and their sequence features were identified using bioinformatic analysis methods. The alignment of DaCapaRs with homologous proteins from other species indicated that the most similar are Dendroctonus ponderosae Capa peptide receptors. The expression of DaCapaRs was high in December and in the larvae, adults and head and midgut of Dendroctonus armandi. In addition, with decreasing temperatures and long‐term exposure to cold conditions, the expression of DaCapaRs increased markedly when the temperature was 4 to –10°C. RNA interference analysis demonstrated that DaCapaRs play an important role in the cold tolerance of overwintering larvae and indicated that a reverse interaction occurs between DaCapaRs and aquaporins. The results showed that DaCapaRs play an essential role in understanding the neuropeptide regulation of cold tolerance in overwintering Dendroctonus armandi larvae and that it can assist in understanding adaptive evolution of Dendroctonus armandi and its relationship with the ecological environment of the Qinling Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Bark beetles rely on detoxifying enzymes to resist the defensive terpenoids of their host trees. Research on carboxylesterases (CarEs) has focused on their multiple functions in the metabolic detoxification of pesticides and plant allelochemicals, drug resistance, and juvenile hormone and pheromone degradation. RESULT: We identified eight new CarE genes in the Chinese white pine beetle (Dendroctonus armandi) and carried out bioinformatics analysis on the deduced full‐length amino acid sequences. Differential transcript levels of CarE genes were observed between sexes; within these levels, significant differences were found among the different development stages, and between insects fed on the phloem of Pinus armandi and exposed to five stimuli [(−)‐α‐pinene, (−)‐β‐pinene, (+)‐3‐carene, limonene and turpentine] at 8 and 24 h. CONCLUSION: Transcription levels of CarE genes suggest some relationship with the detoxification of terpenoids released by host trees. The functions of bark beetle esterase are mainly in hydrolyzing the host chemical defense and degrading odorant molecules during host selection and colonization. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry The functions of bark beetle esterase are mainly to hydrolyze the host chemical defense and degrade odorant molecules during host selection and colonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]