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Abstract Given the growing interest in manipulating microbiota to enhance the fitness of mass-reared insects for biological control, this study investigated the impact of an artificial diet on the microbiota composition and performance of Orius strigicollis. We compared the microbiota of O. strigicollis fed on an artificial diet and moth eggs via culturing and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Subsequently, we assessed life history traits and immune gene expression of O. strigicollis fed on the artificial diet supplemented with Pantoea dispersa OS1. Results showed that microbial diversity remained largely unaffected by the artificial diet, with similar microbiota compositions in both diet groups. OS1, a minor member of the microbiota but significantly enriched in bugs fed on the artificial diet, improved nymphal survival rates and shifted adult longevity-reproduction life history in females. Additionally, OS1 supplementation elevated the transcription of antimicrobial peptide diptericin. According to population parameters, the group receiving OS1 only during the nymphal stage showed higher population growth potential compared to the group supplemented across all life stages. These findings reveal the resilience of O. strigicollis microbiota under distinct dietary conditions and highlight the potential of using natural symbionts and specific supplementation regimes to improve Orius rearing for future biocontrol programs.

Abstract Mosquito-borne diseases kill millions of people each year. Therefore, many innovative research and population control strategies are being implemented but, most of them require large-scale production of mosquitoes. Mosquito rearing depends on fresh blood from human donors, experimentation animals or slaughterhouses, which constitutes a strong drawback since high blood quantities are needed, raising ethical and financial constraints. To eliminate blood dependency and the use of experimentation animals, we previously developed BLOODless, a patented diet that represents an important advance towards sustainable mosquito breeding in captivity. BLOODless diet was used to maintain a colony of Anopheles stephensi for 40 generations. Bloodmeal appetite, fitness, Plasmodium berghei infectivity, whole genome sequencing and microbiota were evaluated over time. Here we show that BLOODless can be implemented in Anopheles insectaries since it allows long-term rearing of mosquitoes in captivity, without a detectable effect on their fitness, infectivity, nor on their midgut and salivary microbiota composition.

Predacious insects have rarely been implemented for biological pest control in open-field cultivation in Japan, partly because they may be readily dispersed from crops. The Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is an indigenous natural enemy of aphids in Japan. In recent years, technology for establishing lady beetles on plants using an artificial diet has been advanced for greenhouse cultivation. In open-field cultivation, however, there are problems such as deterioration of food quality due to environmental conditions, and this technology has yet to be put to practical use. Flight-controlled adults of the lady beetle are commercially available as 'Tentrol' and are utilized for aphid control in Chiba Prefecture. In this study, the effects of a gummies-like diet developed for flight-controlled adults of the lady beetle were examined in laboratory and outdoor experiments. The laboratory findings showed that the gimmies-like diet is more persistent than two commercial diets as food for the beetle. In the outdoor experiment, the diet had a significant effect on retaining the beetles in stocks of eggplants. These results indicate that use of the diet together with flight-controlled lady beetles may be an effective aphid control method in open-field cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The current rise of new innovative tools for mosquito control, such as the release of transgenic mosquitoes carrying a dominant lethal gene and Wolbachia-based strategies, necessitates a massive production of mosquitoes in the insectary. However, currently laboratory rearing depends on vertebrate blood for egg production and maintenance. This practice raises ethical concerns, incurs logistical and cost limitations, and entails potential risk associated with pathogen transmission and blood storage. Consequently, an artificial blood-free diet emerges as a desirable alternative to address these challenges. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a previously formulated artificial blood-free diet (herein referred to as BLOODless) on Anopheles gambiae (An. gambiae s.s.; IFAKARA) gonotrophic parameters and fitness compared with bovine blood. Methods The study was a laboratory-based comparative evaluation of the fitness, fecundity and fertility of An. gambiae s.s. (IFAKARA) reared on BLOODless versus vertebrate blood from founder generation (F0) to eighth generation (F8). A total of 1000 female mosquitoes were randomly selected from F0, of which 500 mosquitoes were fed with bovine blood (control group) and the other 500 mosquitoes were fed with BLOODless diet (experimental group). The feeding success, number of eggs per female, hatching rate and pupation rate were examined post-feeding. Longevity and wing length were determined as fitness parameters for adult male and female mosquitoes for both populations. Results While blood-fed and BLOODless-fed mosquitoes showed similar feeding success, 92.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 89.7–94.9] versus 93.6% (95% CI 90.6–96.6), respectively, significant differences emerged in their reproductive parameters. The mean number of eggs laid per female was significantly higher for blood-fed mosquitoes (P

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), is a global vector of dengue, chikungunya and zika viruses. With extreme adaptability of survival as diapause eggs, this mosquito has invaded and established in temperate climatic zones. The diapause eggs are specially programmed to overcome the harsh winter conditions in temperate habitats. In the laboratory, diapausing females are reared from early larval instars under short‐day conditions (21°C and 16D:8 L photoperiods). Aedes albopictus is normally fed on Guinea pigs for the rearing of diapause mosquitoes which requires ethical approval from the animal use committee and costly arrangements. Therefore, the present study was conducted to find whether bovine serum albumin protein (10%) with sucrose (5%) solution (SAP‐10) offered through a membrane‐free feeding system would result in an alternative diet for the production of diapause eggs in comparison to blood‐feeding. This feeding system shows a considerable rate of engorgement of diapausing females under short‐day conditions and produced 30.8 diapause eggs/female in comparison to blood‐feeding on a guinea pig (40.9 eggs/female). The diapause rate of viable eggs for the SAP‐10 diet (95.28%) was similar to the blood‐feeding (96.32%). The findings suggest that the present diet feeding system is a promising tool for the rearing of diapause Ae. albopictus mosquitoes under short‐day conditions. Further studies are suggested to evaluate the physiological and developmental aspects of mosquitoes reared on the diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identified a single diet formulation that can be used for three Diabrotica species including southern (SCR), western (WCR), and northern corn rootworm (NCR) by evaluating the performance of these pests on specialized diets (F9800B diet for SCR, WCRMO-2 diet for WCR, and NCRMO-1 diet for NCR) and a larval diet (F9772 diet) widely used for lepidopteran species. After 10 days of rearing, the WCRMO-2 diet yielded better or equal larval growth and development of all three rootworm species compared to other diets. For SCR larvae, the WCRMO-2 diet outperformed other diets. Larval fresh weight, percent molt to 2nd instar, and percent molt to 3rd instar on the WCRMO-2 diet were 12-fold, 2.7-fold, and 14- fold increases, respectively compared to that of the F9800B diet. Significantly more SCR larvae survived on theWCRMO-2 diet (98.9%) than on the F9800B diet (90.6%). The WCRMO-2 diet supported WCR and NCR larvae equal to the NCRMO-1 diet and better than other diets. The F9772 diet was the worst diet of all examined species. The availability of a universal diet (theWCRMO-2 diet) for the three Diabrotica species would facilitate research programs to monitor resistance development and develop new control tactics targeting these important pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current rise of new innovative tools for mosquito control, such as the release of transgenic mosquitoes carrying a dominant lethal gene and Wolbachia-based strategies, necessitates a massive production of mosquitoes in the insectary. However, currently laboratory rearing depends on vertebrate blood for egg production and maintenance. This practice raises ethical concerns, incurs logistical and cost limitations, and entails potential risk associated with pathogen transmission and blood storage. Consequently, an artificial blood-free diet emerges as a desirable alternative to address these challenges. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a previously formulated artificial blood-free diet (herein referred to as BLOODless) on Anopheles gambiae (An. gambiae s.s.; IFAKARA) gonotrophic parameters and fitness compared with bovine blood. Methods: The study was a laboratory-based comparative evaluation of the fitness, fecundity and fertility of An. gambiae s.s. (IFAKARA) reared on BLOODless versus vertebrate blood from founder generation (F0) to eighth generation (F8). A total of 1000 female mosquitoes were randomly selected from F0, of which 500 mosquitoes were fed with bovine blood (control group) and the other 500 mosquitoes were fed with BLOODless diet (experimental group). The feeding success, number of eggs per female, hatching rate and pupation rate were examined post-feeding. Longevity and wing length were determined as fitness parameters for adult male and female mosquitoes for both populations. Results: While blood-fed and BLOODless-fed mosquitoes showed similar feeding success, 92.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 89.7–94.9] versus 93.6% (95% CI 90.6–96.6), respectively, significant differences emerged in their reproductive parameters. The mean number of eggs laid per female was significantly higher for blood-fed mosquitoes (P < 0.001) whereas BLOODless-fed mosquitoes had significantly lower hatching rates [odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95% CI 0.14–0.22, P < 0.001]. Wing length and longevity were similar between both groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of the BLOODless diet as a viable and ethical alternative to vertebrate blood feeding for rearing An. gambiae s.s. This breakthrough paves the way for more efficient and ethical studies aimed at combating malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: This study presents the initial findings on how rice cultivation impacts water quality and the microbial community structure in ponds where mandarin fish are being fed an artificial diet. The results indicated that rice cultivation plays a significant role in reducing nutrient salt levels in the water, thus regulating the overall aquatic environment. Furthermore, the cultivation of rice has been found to alter the composition of microbial communities in the water, leading to a decrease in diversity and affecting the abundance of bacteria involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus metabolism. The study identified Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Deinococcus-Thermus as the dominant bacterial phyla in ponds where mandarin fish are being fed an artificial diet. Additionally, it was observed that Proteobacteria showed a particular preference for proliferation in the aquatic environment with rice cultivation on the water surface. These results provide a valuable foundation for the potential application of aquaculture practices involving mandarin fish fed an artificial diet and rice floating beds. The culture of mandarin fish using artificial feed has been gaining increasing attention in China. Ensuring good water quality in the ponds is crucial for successful aquaculture. Recently, the trial of pond-based rice floating beds (PRFBs) in aquaculture ponds has shown promising results. This research assessed the impact of PRFBs on the microbial community structure and overall quality of the aquaculture pond, thereby enhancing our understanding of its functions. The results revealed that the PRFB group exhibited lower levels of NH4+-N, NO2−-N, NO3−-N, TN, TP, and Alk in pond water compared to the control group. The microbial diversity indices in the PRFB group showed a declining trend, while these indices were increasing in the control group. At the phylum level, there was a considerable increase in Proteobacteria abundance in the PRFB group throughout the culture period, suggesting that PRFBs may promote the proliferation of Proteobacteria. In the PRFB group, there was a remarkable decrease in bacterial populations related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus metabolism, including genera Rhodobacter, Rhizorhapis, Dinghuibacter, Candidatus Aquiluna, and Chryseomicrobium as well as the CL500_29_marine_group. Overall, the research findings will provide a basis for the application of aquaculture of mandarin fish fed an artificial diet and rice floating beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tobacco Science & Technology is the property of Tobacco Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Display omitted] • Silkworm excrement compost demonstrates high nutritional value with low heavy metal. • Silkworm excrement compost harbors rich eco-beneficial microbes. • K. pneumoniae and B. licheniformis synergistically contribute to plant production. • K. pneumoniae and B. licheniformis enhance animal production by degrading tannic acid. • K. pneumoniae and B. licheniformis play multifunctional role in recycling ecosystems. Sericulture has become widespread globally, and the utilization of artificial diets produces a substantial quantity of silkworm excrement. Although silkworm excrement can be composted for environmentally friendly disposal, the potential utility of the resulting compost remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of this unique compost and screen for eco-beneficial microbes, providing a new perspective on microbial research in waste management, especially in sustainable agriculture. The low-concentration compost application exhibited a greater plant growth-promoting effect, which was attributed to an appropriate nutritional value (N, P, K, and dissolved organic matter) and the presence of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) within the compost. Encouraged by the "One Health" concept, the eco-benefits of potent PGPB, namely, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus licheniformis , in sericulture were further evaluated. For plants, K. pneumoniae and B. licheniformis increased plant weight by 152.44 % and 130.91 %, respectively. We also found that even a simple synthetic community composed of the two bacteria performed better than any single bacterium. For animals, K. pneumoniae significantly increased the silkworm (Qiufeng × Baiyu strain) cocoon shell weight by 111.94 %, which could increase sericulture profitability. We also elucidated the mechanism by which K. pneumoniae assisted silkworms in degrading tannic acid, a common plant-derived antifeedant, thereby increasing silkworm feed efficiency. Overall, these findings provide the first data revealing multiple beneficial interactions among silkworm excrement-derived microbes, plants, and animals, highlighting the importance of focusing on microbes in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, effective and economically cheaper method for mass rearing of the brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee was developed using both modified artificial diet fortified with brinjal powder and natural diet - potato. A comparison of the various biological parameters such as egg incubation period, larval period, larval weight (12-day old), pre-pupal period, pupal period, pupal weight (1-day old), adult longevity, fecundity, oviposition period and sex ratio of different life stages of the test-insect were studied for both the food sources in this investigation. The larval and pupal periods on natural (potato) diet were 14.58± 1.51 and 6.7± 1.22 days respectively, with a mean fecundity of 165.55± 36.26 per female and a mean life cycle of 26.91days. The larval and pupal period of shoot and fruit borer reared on modified diet were 15.97± 1.24 and 6.25± 1.23 days respectively with a mean fecundity of 149.45± 25.83 per female and a mean life cycle of 25.26 days. Provision of a suitable site for adult mating and oviposition was attained by designing a separate mating chamber along with a suitable egg laying substratum. Thus, an easy and economical rearing technique could successfully support the rearing to six generations of target-insect in laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect farming is gaining attention as a promising area for exploring probiotic bacteria, which can benefit both insect health and various industries. Silkworm farming is a key industry in Thailand; however, challenges such as disease susceptibility and optimising growth require innovative solutions for sustainable practices. Our study addresses this by assessing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in native Thai silkworm faeces, which accumulate as natural by-products during the rearing process. We conducted biochemical tests, including those for catalase, haemolytic activity, bile salt tolerance, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and cell surface hydrophobicity, along with taxonomic classification. Out of 102 isolates, eight potential probiotics were selected, with five showing strong probiotic traits like acid and bile salt tolerance and cell surface hydrophobicity, enhancing gut survivability. These isolates also displayed antagonistic activity against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Safety assessments confirmed their safety, with no haemolytic activity and sensitivity to antibiotics like chloramphenicol and amoxicillin. These LAB isolates (SP04, SP06, SP44, SP64, and SP67), identified as Enterococcus faecalis strain NBRC 100481, show promise as in vitro probiotics for silkworm rearing, calling for further in vivo evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Captive breeding and reintroduction are crucial to the conservation of endangered species and restoring their populations in the wild. Previous research has primarily focused on behavioral changes and adaptations in captive-bred animals prior to release; few studies have examined changes in reproductive traits and postnatal development in captivity. The Chinese pangolin, Manis pentadactyla, is Critically Endangered because its population has substantially declined in the wild due to poaching for sale in the traditional medicine and luxury food markets. Nevertheless, success in captive breeding in Taiwan may provide a pathway to the recovery of wild populations. This study combined records on captive individuals and field observations on wild Chinese pangolins over a period from 1997 to 2023 to determine (i) mating season, (ii) birth timing, (iii) body mass and total length of newborns, and (iv) postnatal growth patterns prior to weaning. The present study suggests that mating and birth timings for captive Chinese pangolins are not seasonal, as they are in the wild. Captive-born infants are significantly longer and heavier at birth than wild-born infants. Remarkably, captive-born pangolins also experience more rapid weight gain, nearly doubling in size compared with their wild counterparts by 25 weeks of age, even before they are weaned. This rapid growth is likely attributable to the high nutritional content of captive diets. This study suggests artificial feed formulas should be aligned more closely with wild pangolins’ diets to reduce the risk of obesity. Additionally, reproductive parameters and postnatal growth rates in Chinese pangolins cannot be based on observations of captive individuals alone; wild populations must also be considered. We conclude that Chinese pangolins exhibit physiological flexibility in reproduction and growth in response to environmental changes, providing insights for captive pangolin management and reintroduction programs.

Simple Summary: The silkworm is an economically important insect, and the popularity of artificial feed has promoted the development of the sericulture industry. However, the improvement of feed efficiency remains a challenge. This study used metabolomics-based methods to analyze the differences in silkworm cocoons and hemolymph between the mulberry-leaf group and the artificial-feed group. It was found that the concentration of amino acids was significantly higher in the mulberry-leaf group than in the artificial-diet group. In a comparison of the effects of different concentrations of valine on silkworms fed the artificial diet, it was found that the food intake of the 2% and 4% valine groups was significantly lower than that of the 0% valine group, but the cocoon-production efficiency was significantly improved. This study demonstrates that valine is an important amino acid that can regulate feed efficiency, providing a new direction for the improvement of artificial feed. Artificial silkworm diets significantly impact farm profitability. Sustainable cocoon production depends on the continuous improvement of feed efficiency to reduce costs and nutrient losses in the feed. This study used metabolomics to explore the differences in silkworm cocoons and hemolymph under two modes of rearing: an artificial diet and a mulberry-leaf diet. Nine metabolites of silkworm cocoons and hemolymph in the mulberry-leaf group were higher than those in the artificial-diet group. Enrichment analysis of the KEGG pathways for these metabolites revealed that they were mainly enriched in the valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis and degradation pathways. Hence, the artificial silkworm diet was supplemented various concentrations of valine were supplemented to with the aim of examining the impact of valine on their feeding and digestion of the artificial diet. The results indicated that valine addition had no significant effect on feed digestibility in the fifth-instar silkworm. Food intake in the 2% and 4% valine groups was significantly lower than that in the 0% valine group. However, the 2% and 4% valine groups showed significantly improved cocoon-production efficiency, at 11.3% and 25.1% higher, respectively. However, the cocoon-layer-production efficiencies of the 2% and 4% valine groups decreased by 7.7% and 13.9%, respectively. The research confirmed that valine is an effective substance for enhancing the feed efficiency of silkworms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial diets for silkworms overcome the seasonal limitations of traditional rearing methods with fresh mulberry leaves. However, the current wet artificial diets, steamed at high temperatures, are not favored by silkworms, and they are cumbersome and challenging to preserve. These conditions adversely affected the development of artificial diet-based sericulture production. In this study, we disinfected dry powder diets with radiation and added distilled water without steaming before use. Then, the nutritional value of finished diets and their impact on silkworm development was assessed. Compared with steamed diets, nonsteamed diets were more attractive to silkworms. Chemical assays showed significantly more essential nutrients for silkworms, including l -ascorbic acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and urease in nonsteamed diets than in steamed diets. Feeding fifth-instar silkworm larvae with nonsteamed diets significantly improved the ammonia utilization efficiency of the diet and increased the cocoon shell rate and diet/silk protein conversion efficiency by 5.9% and 13.3%, respectively. When fed with nonsteamed diets, the abundance of aerobic microorganisms in silkworm intestines increased and the abundance of pathogenic bacteria decreased. Furthermore, the vitality of the silkworm, measured by the dead worm cocoon rate, significantly improved by 16.90%. In summary, preparing sterile wet diets without high-temperature steaming effectively improved the nutritional value of the diet and enhanced silkworm growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syrphine hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphinae) are important predators of aphids in agricultural crops. While the use of flowering plants to enhance their efficacy is well established, recent research has developed an artificial diet for adult hoverflies consisting of a sugar solution and pollen in a dispenser. To ensure that the artificial diet is suitable to support hoverfly reproduction, a comparative analysis was conducted between a natural diet of flowering buckwheat plants versus an artificial diet consisting of artificial flowers (including honey solution and pollen), complemented by a sugar solution disperser. The study evaluated the fecundity, fertility, oviposition period, egg hatchability, and overall lifespan of the American hoverfly, Eupeodes americanus (Wiedemann 1830). The results indicate that the artificial diet does not negatively impact the reproductive parameters of E. americanus when compared to the buckwheat-based diet. Consequently, artificial diets emerge as a promising and more convenient alternative to flowering plants to support hoverflies in biological control strategies and for their mass rearing in research facilities and commercial insectaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient rearing is necessary for the successful biological control of pests. The braconid wasp, Microplitis manilae, is a natural solitary parasitoid of larval Spodoptera frugiperda. However, the effect of the host diet on the parasitism success of M. manilae on S. frugiperda larvae remains unclear. Here, we determined the parasitism rate, oviposition, eclosion rate, developmental period and offspring sex ratio of M. manilae parasitizing S. frugiperda fed with fresh corn leaves or an artificial diet. M. manilae parasitizing the corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae exhibited a significantly higher parasitism rate (40%), oviposition (62.50 eggs/female) and eclosion rate (81.38%) than the wasp parasitizing the artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae (22%, 38.33 eggs/female, and 58.73%, respectively). Furthermore, M. manilae parasitizing the corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae exhibited a significantly shorter developmental period (16.35 days) and lower sex ratio (1.17) than the wasp parasitizing the artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae (18.00 and 2.15 days, respectively). Overall, M. manilae exhibited better parasitic success on corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae than on artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae. Therefore, using fresh corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda is the most suitable strategy for mass‐rearing M. manilae for pest biocontrol. Our findings suggest M. manilae as an effective biocontrol candidate for controlling S. frugiperda in corn fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of biological control methods, the predatory ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) has been widely used for pest control in agricultural production. Appropriate shelf-life management strategies could synchronize H. axyridis production with pest outbreaks, finally improving the effectiveness of biological control. Herein, we preliminarily explored whether an artificial diet could optimize the shelf-life management of H. axyridis. We compared the survival rate, nutrition accumulation, reproductive development, juvenile hormone (JH) related-gene expression levels, and stress resistance gene expression levels between aphid-fed and artificial diet-fed H. axyridis females. The results revealed that H. axyridis females maintained a high survival rate after being fed an artificial diet for 60 days, whereas the survival rate of aphid-fed females decreased. Continuous feeding of the artificial diet caused H. axyridis females to enter a diapause-like state, which was characterized by low JH levels, high triglycerides and trehalose accumulation, ovarian development inhibition, decreased Vgs expression levels, and increased stress resistance gene expression levels. This diapause-like state could be promptly recovered upon transferring to an aphid diet. These results indicate that the artificial diet could manipulate the reproductive development status of H. axyridis and lay the foundation for its shelf-life management.

The three major macronutrients – proteins (P), carbohydrates (C), and lipids (L) – constitute the fundamental nutrient niche. In order to meet their nutritional requirements, organisms need to assess their nutritional state, select suitable foods, and regulate the amount of food eaten. The objective of this study was to determine whether larval nutrition could have a differential effect on female and male survival and fecundity by manipulating the P:C:L ratios in diet environments. We manipulated food availability during the larval stages, subjecting the larvae to food regimes with different P:C:L ratios. Upon adult emergence, we examined the fecundity, fertility, survival, and longevity of the various larval nutrition treatments. We then assessed the reproductive performance (fecundity and egg hatching) under an ad libitum food regime. We found that the concentration of macronutrients in the larval hemolymph indicates that the P:C:L ratio in the larval diet affects the assignment of macronutrients, and this effect is carried over to males and females differently. A larval diet with high carbohydrate content affects the carryover of macronutrients and male and female fitness. According to the life‐history traits, an adult that emerged from a larva with high lipid content in the hemolymph could suggest better health status. Insects with high cold tolerance have high body lipids content. Interactions between lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins suggest that their relative ratios must be taken into consideration in the design and improvement of artificial diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology is the property of Chinese Journal of Applied Entomology, Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: Artificial diets are one of the most critical components in insect mass-rearing facilities worldwide. Research on artificial diets to rear pestiferous tephritid flies dates back to the 1950s but is still a topic of great relevance, as fruit flies represent one of the ten most important pests of fruit in temperate and tropical regions of the world. In the past 15 years, much research has been performed to develop liquid- or gel-based diets more closely resembling the rearing environment a wild fruit fly larva experiences inside a fruit in nature. To identify new gelling agents that could perform better than already established ones such as agar and carrageenan, we assessed the performance of calcium alginate, a gelling agent widely used in the food industry, that had not been tested in the case of fruit fly mass rearing. We also examined larval density in gel diets as a critical factor that affects insect-rearing systems. Our results show that agar and carrageenan diets outperformed calcium alginate diets broadly and that the effects of larval density depended on the gel type used. We believe that the applications of calcium alginate in tephritid rearing should be analyzed in more depth in future studies. Research on larval rearing and nutrition of tephritid flies on artificial diets is key for the sterile insect technique. Here, we examined the effects of the type of gel (calcium alginate, agar, or carrageenan), at varying percentages in artificial diets for the polyphagous pest Anastrepha ludens, on the physicochemical and nutritional traits of the diets, and the effects of the type of gel, the gel content and the larval density (larvae/g of diet) used in production, quality parameters for mass-reared tephritids, diet removal (an indirect estimation of diet consumption), and nutritional traits of flies. Regardless of the gel content, calcium alginate diets were firmer and more resistant to penetration than the agar and carrageenan diets. The larval recovery, pupation, pupal weight, and flight ability of A. ludens were lower in calcium alginate diets than in agar and carrageenan diets. Diet removal was higher in calcium alginate diets; however, low levels of ammonium and high levels of uric acid in excretions from larvae on these diets suggest an alteration in protein metabolism. The firmness and penetration resistance characteristics of calcium alginate diets may have limited movement and feeding of larvae, but this could be overcome by the collective feeding of large groups of larvae. Our findings provide insights into the mechanism governing gel-diet rearing systems for A. ludens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insects in the order Hymenoptera can produce males from unfertilised eggs. However, unfertilised eggs require a specific signal to become 'activated' and start development. Manually activating eggs is advantageous for numerous fields of research, especially for insect pest management, but has not been conducted for many hymenopteran species. The invasive woodwasp, Sirex noctilio Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), is a hymenopteran pest of pine plantations. In this study, we developed a novel egg activation protocol for S. noctilio, allowing eggs dissected from a female wasp to develop further into larvae after activation. These first instar larvae were subsequently reared on an artificial diet. Optimal conditions for the development of activated eggs were determined, which involved treatments with the fungal symbiont of S. noctilio, Amylostereum areolatum (Russulales: Amylostereaceae). The presence of the fungus did not benefit egg development in an artificial laboratory environment. This study forms the basis for new research on S. noctilio that may not only refine our understanding of aspects involving its cryptic lifestyle but also aid in the development of next-generation pest management strategies. In addition, closely related insect species may benefit from the developed protocols. Egg activation is a cellular transition of an arrested mature oocyte into a developing embryo through a coordinated series of events. Previous studies in Hymenoptera have indicated that mechanical pressure can induce egg activation. In this study, we developed the first egg activation protocol for the haplodiploid insect pest, Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae), from two climatically different regions in South Africa to demonstrate the broad applicability of the method. In addition, activated eggs were exposed to three treatments involving water, pine sawdust, and the fungal symbiont of S. noctilio, Amylostereum areolatum (Russulales: Amylostereaceae), to determine if the symbiotic fungus is a requirement for egg development in an artificial laboratory environment, as the symbiotic fungus has been hypothesised to be necessary for egg and early larval development in a natural environment. A rearing protocol was developed for the first instar larvae using a modified Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) artificial diet. A significant difference between the mean survival rates of activated eggs from the two different regions was observed. Amylostereum areolatum was shown to be unnecessary for egg survival and adversely affected egg eclosion in an artificial laboratory environment. The maximum larval survival duration on the artificial diet was 92 days. The egg activation and rearing protocol developed in this study enables opportunities for research on the physiology, ecology, symbioses, and genetics of S. noctilio, which can be exploited for new genetic pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A baculovirus, belonging to the group Nucleopolyhedrosis Vims (flytaNPV), which has been identified and characterized that infects Hyposidra talaca larvae is a major tea pest in NE-India. A semi-synthetic artificial diet was developed for mass rearing H. talaca, using dried powders of tea leaf and seeds, along with other ingredients. The artificial diet successfully completed the life cycle and was comparable to the natural diet in terms of growth, development, and egg laying. The prepared semi synthetic artificial diet is ample enough for mass culture of H. talaca, to shore up one of the IPM component using the baculovirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is one of the five disastrous pests in the world with an economical significance. The guava germplasm resilient to fruit fly is not reported worldwide to date. The utilization of RNA interference (RNAi) approach can offer a promising alternative for fruit fly management in guava. The goal of our investigation is to evaluate the efficiency of dsRNA expression based on Escherichia coli used in B. dorsalis management by addressing its two indispensable genes, fatty acid elongase (NOA) and Vacuolar‐type H+‐ATPases D (v‐ATPase D). An artificial diet having E. coli strain HT115 (DE3) containing BdNOA, Bdv‐ATPase D dsRNA fed to maggots resulted in deformities with drastic mortality in treated adults, emerged pupae and maggots. The deformity together with total mortality in B. dorsalis was recorded at maximum as 74.66% and 64.20% in bacteria expressing dsRNAs of BdNOA and Bdv‐ATPase D, respectively, at 700 μL as compared to 350, 200 μL treatments. Severe deformities were reported such as underdeveloped abdomen, absence of wings, legs and inadequate eclosion along with suppressed target gene expression in B. dorsalis. This investigation thus provides a potential RNAi‐based pest management by targeting two key genes through feeding dsRNA‐expressing bacteria in B. dorsalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower nectar, a sugar‐rich solution containing amino acids as major secondary solutes, is the primary energy source for bees. Proline is one of the most abundant protein nectar amino acids, showing several effects on bee physiology. Mason bees are outstanding pollinators, often preferred to Apis mellifera for pollination of fruit trees. Among them, Osmia cornuta (Latreille) is one of the most successfully managed species on a commercial scale. In this work, the effects of 10 mM proline‐enriched diet administration on O. cornuta feed consumption, survival, behaviour and haemolymph amino acid composition were investigated. Feed intake was higher for the proline diet, while survival rate was not affected. Behaviour was affected only in the senescence of the mason bees with a reduction in locomotor activity induced by proline intake. Proline diet also affected the haemolymph amino acid composition, decreasing concentration of tyrosine, methionine, leucine and phenylalanine after 10 days of feeding. These results were discussed in relation to the potential involvement of proline in oxidative stress in insects and proline's ability to be converted to other amino acids. Further investigations are necessary to better understand the molecular mechanisms of proline effects on locomotion and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bees are often fed by beekeepers with supplemented artificial diets. The formulation of an integrative diet for honey bee colonies able to prevent nutritional deficiencies is yet to be found. In this work, the effects of fat-enriched diet (coconut oil) administration in newly emerged and forager bees were tested. Fat supplementation in the honey bee diet determines an increase in newly emerged bees' survival in the short term and an increase in fat content. Further investigations to evaluate the use of such a supplement food to prevent the fat loss of weak families during winter are desirable. Searching for artificial diets positively affecting the survival, immune and antioxidant systems of honey bees is one of main challenges occurring in beekeeping. Among nutrients, lipids play a significant role in insect nutrition as structural components in cell membranes, energy sources and reserves, and are involved in many physiological processes. In this context, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of 0.5% and 1% coconut oil-enriched diet administration on newly emerged and forager bees survival rate, feed intake, immune system, antioxidant system and both fat and vitellogenin content. In newly emerged bees, supplementation with 1% coconut oil determined a decrease in feed consumption, an increase in survival rate from the 3rd to 14th day of feeding, a short-term decrease in phenoloxidase activity, an increase in body fat and no differences in vitellogenin content. Conversely, supplementation with 0.5% coconut oil determined an increase in survival rate from the 3rd to 15th day of feeding and an increase in fat content in the long term (i.e., 20 days). Regarding the forager bee diet, enrichment with 0.5% and 1% coconut oil only determined an increase in fat content. Therefore, supplementation with coconut oil in honey bee diets at low percentages (0.5 and 1%) determines fat gain. Further investigations to evaluate the use of such supplement foods to prevent the fat loss of weak families during winter are desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Coccinella septempunctata (L.) is an important predator in fighting against aphids on edible crops and vegetables. However, to establish a successful mass-rearing technique, it is crucial to determine the optimal diets for larvae, pupae, and adults in terms of fecundity, longevity, and ingredient ratios. The current study aims to learn more about the biology of ladybird beetle using both artificial and natural food components. Results This study tested six different ratios of natural and artificial diets, ranging from a natural aphid diet to a variety of artificial diets containing protein hydrolyzate, casein protein, honey, dry aphids, yeast, and agar. The results showed that the natural diet (D1) produced from aphids showed approximately 290.2 eggs, while artificial diets D2 and D4 produced 56.5 and 40.2 eggs, respectively. The effect of different diets on the longevity of different life stages was also tested. The minimum longevity of egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages were recorded for D1 and D4. Furthermore, the maximum percentage emergence of larval, pupal, and adult stages was observed for D1 and D2. D6 produced the longest adult duration, with a maximum of 84.60 days. However, there was no significant difference in sex ratio among the various diet components. Conclusions In conclusion, the results suggest that artificial diets are essential for sustaining C. septempunctata cultures in laboratories, especially during periods when natural prey is scarce. The most effective and efficient mass-rearing approach would be to provide both natural and artificial foods simultaneously. These findings may have significant implications for the development of biological control strategies for aphids in agriculture.

The culture of mandarin fish using artificial feed has been gaining increasing attention in China. Ensuring good water quality in the ponds is crucial for successful aquaculture. Recently, the trial of pond-based rice floating beds (PRFBs) in aquaculture ponds has shown promising results. This research assessed the impact of PRFBs on the microbial community structure and overall quality of the aquaculture pond, thereby enhancing our understanding of its functions. The results revealed that the PRFB group exhibited lower levels of NH4+-N, NO2−-N, NO3−-N, TN, TP, and Alk in pond water compared to the control group. The microbial diversity indices in the PRFB group showed a declining trend, while these indices were increasing in the control group. At the phylum level, there was a considerable increase in Proteobacteria abundance in the PRFB group throughout the culture period, suggesting that PRFBs may promote the proliferation of Proteobacteria. In the PRFB group, there was a remarkable decrease in bacterial populations related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus metabolism, including genera Rhodobacter, Rhizorhapis, Dinghuibacter, Candidatus Aquiluna, and Chryseomicrobium as well as the CL500_29_marine_group. Overall, the research findings will provide a basis for the application of aquaculture of mandarin fish fed an artificial diet and rice floating beds.

Insect farming is gaining attention as a promising area for exploring probiotic bacteria, which can benefit both insect health and various industries. Silkworm farming is a key industry in Thailand; however, challenges such as disease susceptibility and optimising growth require innovative solutions for sustainable practices. Our study addresses this by assessing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in native Thai silkworm faeces, which accumulate as natural by-products during the rearing process. We conducted biochemical tests, including those for catalase, haemolytic activity, bile salt tolerance, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and cell surface hydrophobicity, along with taxonomic classification. Out of 102 isolates, eight potential probiotics were selected, with five showing strong probiotic traits like acid and bile salt tolerance and cell surface hydrophobicity, enhancing gut survivability. These isolates also displayed antagonistic activity against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Safety assessments confirmed their safety, with no haemolytic activity and sensitivity to antibiotics like chloramphenicol and amoxicillin. These LAB isolates (SP04, SP06, SP44, SP64, and SP67), identified as Enterococcus faecalis strain NBRC 100481, show promise as in vitro probiotics for silkworm rearing, calling for further in vivo evaluation.

Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) is one of the important pests of great economic significance causing serious fruit and vegetable damage in tropical and subtropical areas of the world occurs. This study aimed to investigate the effect of high fat diet on various physiological traits of females and a shift of sex ratios in favour of males to benefit biological control of this pest species. B. dorsalis individuals were collected from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Punjab and the effect of coconut oil-based artificial diets differing in their relative levels of fat (5%, 10% and 20%) on stage-specific development, survival, hatchability were analysed at 21 °C, 65% Relative Humidity. The male: female (M/F) sex-ratios from individuals emerging from each of these diets were also scored. The findings of the study showed that B. dorsalis larvae and adults were able to survive on all three diets, although the stage-specific development and survival varied with High Fat Diet (HFD) concentration. Diet with 20% fat concentration showed most delayed development relatively to 10% and 5% concentration diet. The laboratory test showed that ingestion of fat significantly increased the development time (egg-larvae-pupae to adult) and caused increased mortality in pre-adult stages. A decrease in percentage pupation and adult emergence was also observed. Moreover, the data showed a significant shift in M/F ratios for regular food, HFD 5%, and HFD 10% with 46.7%, 45.7%, and 45.9% respectively and all female biased. Only HFD 20% produced male biased ratio of 74.4%. Adults fed on 20% HFD produced significantly fewer eggs as well as reversed the male: female sex ratio from 1:1.28 to 2.9: 1. The HFD diet elicited a higher adult lipid content, lower pupal production, adult emergence, and longer development, significantly affecting physiology of fruit flies. Field efficacy trials showed significant results with bait trap method and significantly increased the fruit yield by 51.09 Kg/tree as compared to the control. Hence, the present study illustrated the potential of HFD which can be exploited in integrated pest management strategies for capturing fruit fly pests of economic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coccinella septempunctata (L.) is an important predator in fighting against aphids on edible crops and vegetables. However, to establish a successful mass-rearing technique, it is crucial to determine the optimal diets for larvae, pupae, and adults in terms of fecundity, longevity, and ingredient ratios. The current study aims to learn more about the biology of ladybird beetle using both artificial and natural food components. Results: This study tested six different ratios of natural and artificial diets, ranging from a natural aphid diet to a variety of artificial diets containing protein hydrolyzate, casein protein, honey, dry aphids, yeast, and agar. The results showed that the natural diet (D1) produced from aphids showed approximately 290.2 eggs, while artificial diets D2 and D4 produced 56.5 and 40.2 eggs, respectively. The effect of different diets on the longevity of different life stages was also tested. The minimum longevity of egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages were recorded for D1 and D4. Furthermore, the maximum percentage emergence of larval, pupal, and adult stages was observed for D1 and D2. D6 produced the longest adult duration, with a maximum of 84.60 days. However, there was no significant difference in sex ratio among the various diet components. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results suggest that artificial diets are essential for sustaining C. septempunctata cultures in laboratories, especially during periods when natural prey is scarce. The most effective and efficient mass-rearing approach would be to provide both natural and artificial foods simultaneously. These findings may have significant implications for the development of biological control strategies for aphids in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect artificial diets are not only an important tool for mass rearing, nutritional research, and maintaining laboratory colonies but also for studying insect‐plant interactions. For herbivorous insects able to sequester plant toxins, feeding and sequestration assays based on artificial diet allow for the investigation of physiological, ecological, and evolutionary questions which may be difficult to study using real plants representing complex chemical environments. We developed a simple artificial diet, consisting of sunflower meal pressed into pills, for the milkweed bugs Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas) and Spilostethus saxatilis (Scopoli) (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), which are capable of sequestering cardenolides and colchicum alkaloids, respectively. We assessed insect performance, suitability of the diet for sequestration assays, and its shelf life. Compared to sunflower seeds which are widely used as a laboratory maintenance diet for milkweed bugs, no differences were found in terms of weight development, presence of deformities, speed of development, or mortality. Importantly, after feeding O. fasciatus and S. saxatilis sunflower pills enriched with crystalline ouabain (cardenolide) or colchicine (colchicum alkaloid), respectively, sequestration was observed in both species. Moreover, as a prerequisite to test ecological hypotheses, our method allows for adequate concentration control and homogenous distribution of toxins across the diet. Under relatively warm conditions (27 °C and 60% r.h.), the new diet was stable for up to 10 days when used for feeding assays with adult bugs. Therefore, studies focusing on the role of plant toxins in predator–prey interactions and plant defense, but also insecticide research could benefit from using this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To improve the optimal content ratio of artificial dietfor adults of Coccinella septempunctata. [Methods] An artificial diet for adult was optimized by using an orthogonal design. Shrimp, pollen, lard, and honey were selected as the key factors, and their effects on adult weight gain, preoviposition, survival, egg production and incubation were assessed. [Results] The results showed that an increased shrimp content of 22.53% in the diet could increase weight gain, survival and egg production. Increased pollen content of 3.76% improved both survival and egg production, and shortened preoviposition. A lard content of 4.69% increased survival, and egg production and hatchability. A honey content of 6.89% could promote egg production and hatching rate of adult. The survival rate and hatchability of C. septempunctata fed the optimized diet were higher than that fed the basal diet (P>0.05), and the weight gain and fecundity of female adults were significantly increased (P<0.05), which were 128.15% and 122.15% higher than that fed the basal diet, respectively. The weight gain of female adults fed the optimized diet were higher than that fed the aphids (P>0.05); and the survival rate, fecundity and hatchability of female adults were reduced, which were 94.44%, 63.97% and 88.30% lower than that fed the aphids, respectively. [Conclusion] Compared with the basic diet, the artificial diet optimized by orthogonal design was suitable for feeding ladybird adults, which increased body weight, shortened preoviposition, and improved survival rate, egg production and hatching rate. Compared with aphid feeding, the survival rate, egg production and hatchability were reduced, the optimized diet needs further improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To develop a better artificial diet for Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and thereby improve the captive rearing of this pest. [Methods] Six different artificial diets (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) were fed to S. exigua larvae, and their effects on larval mortality and adult egg production, as well as differences their utilization rate and nutritional indicators, were compared. [Results] Larvae fed formula 3 had the lowest mortality, the highest utilization rate and adult egg production. [Conclusion] Formula 3, which was mainly comprised of rabbit pellets and wheat germ, can improve the cost-effectiveness of rearing S exigua in captivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrosternum arabicum Wagner (Hem: Pentatomidae) is an important pest, due to its qualitative and quantitative damage in pistachio orchards. Different diets have been used to breed this insect, but it has not been possible to rear this pest permanently. In this research, using an artificial diet, the nutritional importance of the main substances in a conventional natural diet, sunflower seeds and peanuts were investigated. At first, three diets D1-D3 were tested in which the amount of sunflower seed and peanut butter was modified. After comparison of fecundity parameters in a completely random design it was found that with increasing the amount of sunflower butter in the artificial diet, the intrinsic rate of population increase (rm) changed significantly, so that this index had a significant difference between D3 and D2, which had only sunflower seed and peanut butter respectively. In the second experiment with increasing sunflower butter in D4 and feeding on the conventional diet without peanut seeds, (rm) and the net reproductive rate (Ro), reached their highest value (0.111±0.006) and (114±17.253) in the case of the sunflower seed-green bean diet respectively which showed significant difference with all diets. In addition to Acrosternum arabicum, several other bugs can also be grown with the sunflower seed-green bean diet. The highest value of rm was related to Peribalus sp. The nymphs of the Sunnpest grew well and turned into full-fledged insects by feeding on this diet. It was discussed that sunflower seeds may have special properties for this group of insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study focused on developing an artificial diet for rearing the cocoa pod borer, a pest insect that affects cocoa plants. The researchers compared the success rates of two diets, MM1 and MM4, jointly developed by Mars Wrigley and the Malaysian Cocoa Board. They analyzed the nutritional composition of the diets and their effects on the overall development and success rates of the cocoa pod borer. The modifications made to the MM1 diet resulted in the latest MM4 version. The results showed significant improvements in all stages of the cocoa pod borer development, including increased egg hatching rates, larval development, pupation success rates, and adult emergence. The duration of larval and pupal development was also reduced. The findings suggest that the MM4 diet could be a viable method for laboratory rearing of the cocoa pod borer. This research contributes to the understanding of insect diet development and provides practical implications for pest management strategies in the field. The development of artificial diets for the cocoa pod borer Conopomorpha cramerella, a major pest of cocoa plants, has undergone significant advancements. In this study, we present the success rates of two diet formulations, MM1 and MM4, which have been progressively improved. Nutritional composition analysis revealed that the MM1 diet differed from the natural host, cocoa pods, in several aspects, including protein, carbohydrate, and vitamin C content. To address these differences, modifications were made to the diet compositions, leading to the MM4 diet version. These modifications resulted in improved diet quality and reduced contamination, leading to enhanced success rates in all stages of C. cramerella development. Larval development, pupation success rates, and adult emergence rates were significantly higher in the MM4 diet compared with the MM1 diet. Moreover, the duration of larval development and pupal stage decreased, while adult longevity increased with the MM4 diet. The overall development success of diet-reared insects from egg to adult was comparable with that of insects reared on cocoa pods. However, the cocoon formation, body length and fresh weight of the adults reared on the artificial diets were lower than those reared on cocoa pods. This diet formulation provides a promising approach for laboratory rearing of C. cramerella and opens avenues for further research and mass-rearing initiatives to mitigate the impact of this pest on cocoa production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silkworms (Bombyx mori) reared on artificial diets during all instars have the advantages of simplicity and efficiency, year-round production, and reduced risk of poisoning. However, low silk yield remains a challenge, limiting its industrial application. To address this issue, the spinning behavior, nutrient absorption, and transcriptomics of silkworms were investigated. Compared with silkworms reared on mulberry leaves during all instars, those fed with artificial diets showed significantly lower cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell rate, and silk gland tissue somatic index at the end of the fifth instar (P < 0.01). The spinning duration and crawling distance of silkworms reared on artificial diets were also significantly lower than those reared on mulberry leaves (P < 0.01). Regarding nutrient absorption, the dietary efficiency indexes of silkworms fed with artificial diets were significantly lower than those fed with mulberry leaves, except for the efficiency conversion of digesta to cocoon (P < 0.01). Further RNA-Seq analysis revealed 386 differentially transcribed genes between the 2 groups, with 242 upregulated and 144 downregulated genes. GO enrichment analysis showed that differential transcriptional genes were mainly enriched in organic acid metabolism, oxidation–reduction, and drug catabolism. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that differential transcriptional genes were mainly enriched in genetic information processing and metabolism pathways. Our findings provide new insights into the silk secretion and can serve as a reference for future research and application of silkworms fed with artificial diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of artificial diet provides the possibility of continuous mass- rearing of insects throughout the year. In current research, life- table parameters of Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) on six different diets under laboratory condition (temperature 25 ± 1 °C, 60±5% RH, and 16:8 hours (light: dark) were investigated. Diets include 1) modified version of the diet of Brinton et al. (1969), 2 and 3) modified versions of the diet of Bathon (1981), 4) diet of Fukova et al. (2005), 5) apple, and 6) apple leaf. The results showed that development time of codling moth were longest (51.17 days) with diet one and shortest (48.01 days) with diet six, respectively. The results of the tests also showed that the larval duration, the pupal duration on male, and the adult longevity in both, female and male, had significant differences. The longest pre-oviposition (2.01d) and oviposition (7.21d) periods were found on diet six and five, respectively. The females that fed on diet four (141.2 egg/female) and six (91.3 egg/female) in the larval period produced the highest and lowest eggs, respectively. The highest growth index of all life stages of codling moth was obtained by feeding the diet four. The population parameters indicated that all diets will display growth under the studied conditions, being the mean generation time (T) significantly shorter when using diet four (46.14 days) than others. Based on the preadult and adult results pointing to diet four being a more efficient diet, as well as the fecundity values provided by this diet, suggest that diet four could be improved and used as an alternative to a natural diet shortly.