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ABSTRACT Salivary proteins secreted by phytophagous insects play pivotal roles in plant–insect interactions. A salivary protein RpSP27, from the stinkbug Riptortus pedestris, a devastating pest on soybean, was selected for studying due to its ability to induce cell death and activate immune responses in plants. RpSP27 localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and triggered reactive oxygen species burst. Virus‐induced gene silencing assays showed RAR1 plays an essential role in RpSP27‐induced cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. Expression analyses revealed that RpSP27 is predominantly expressed in R. pedestris salivary glands. RNA interference‐mediated silencing of RpSP27 in R. pedestris significantly reduced insect survival rates and altered feeding behavior by decreasing the formation of salivary sheaths on soybeans and reducing probing and feeding duration. Furthermore, the silencing of RpSP27 in R. pedestris mitigated the staygreen syndrome in soybeans, characterized by delayed senescence and pod abnormalities. This study elucidated the role of RpSP27 in the interaction between R. pedestris and soybean, presenting a potential target for pest management strategies to protect soybean crops from the detrimental effects of R. pedestris feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular mechanisms of plant responses to phytophagous insect eggs are poorly understood, despite their importance in insect–plant interactions. This study investigates the plant defense mechanisms triggered by the eggs of whitefly Bemisia tabaci, a globally significant agricultural pest. A transcriptome comparison of tobacco plants with and without eggs revealed that whitefly eggs may activate the response of defense-related genes, including those involved in the salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway. SA levels are induced by eggs, resulting in a reduction in egg hatching, which suggests that SA plays a key role in plant resistance to whitefly eggs. Employing Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression, virus-induced gene silencing assays, DNA–protein interaction studies, and bioassays, we elucidate the regulatory mechanisms involved. Pathogenesis-related proteins NtPR1-L1 and NtPR5-L2, downstream of the SA pathway, also affect whitefly egg hatching. The SA-regulated transcription factor NtWRKY70a directly binds to the NtPR1-L1 promoter, enhancing its expression. Moreover, NtPR1-L1 promotes callose deposition, which may impede the eggs' access to water and nutrients. This study establishes the SA-WRKY70-PR-callose axis as a key mechanism linking plant responses and defenses against whitefly eggs, providing new insights into the molecular interactions between plants and insect eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of a plant rhizosphere system enriched with beneficial microbes (BMs) can efficiently help plants defend against phytophagous insects. However, our comprehensive understanding of this approach is still incomplete. In this review, we methodically analyzed the progress made over the last decade, identifying both challenges and opportunities. The main methods for developing a BMs‐enriched rhizosphere system include inoculating exogenous BMs into plants, amending the existing soil microbiomes with amendments, and utilizing plants to shape the soil microbiomes. BMs can assist plants in suppressing phytophagous insects across many orders, including 13 Lepidoptera, seven Homoptera, five Hemiptera, five Coleoptera, four Diptera, and one Thysanoptera species by inducing plant systemic resistance, enhancing plant tolerance, augmenting plant secondary metabolite production, and directly suppressing herbivores. Context‐dependent factors such as abiotic and biotic conditions, as well as the response of insect herbivores, can affect the outcomes of BM‐assisted plant defense. Several challenges and opportunities have emerged, including the development of synthetic microbial communities for herbivore control, the integration of biosensors for effectiveness assessment, the confirmation of BM targets for phytophagous insect defense, and the regulation of outcomes via smart farming with artificial intelligence. This study offers valuable insights for developing a BM‐enriched rhizosphere system within an integrated pest management approach. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversity of phytophagous insects is often attributed to the success of land plants in the framework of ecological speciation. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain host plant driven insect diversification in a phylogenetic context and have mostly been explored using Lepidoptera. We posit that Miridae are a great system to examine these hypotheses because they are one of the largest primarily phytophagous insect families and include many species with narrow host repertoire. Focusing on the species‐rich Phylinae (>2700 spp.), we generate the most taxon‐rich phylogeny published to date and for the first time estimate divergence times and trace the evolution of host plant associations across the group. Focusing on two clades of oak‐associated phylines, we further examine if diversification in these insects and their hosts coincided or if the insects tracked their hosts. We find that Phylinae diverged from their orthotyline sister group before the end of the Cretaceous, tribal‐level taxa diversified throughout the Paleogene, and diversification within genera mostly occurred in the Neogene. Host plant repertoire reconstructions at the family level show transitions from stenophagy to polyphagy are more common than the reverse. We reconstructed the ancestral phyline host as ambiguous, followed by Asterales throughout most of the deep splits. Species‐level divergences in the two oak‐associated clades coincide with those in oaks, a pattern is that is consistent with the hypothesis that these plant bugs may have cospeciated with their hosts. Our study shows that Phylinae are a suitable system to further test hypotheses on ecological speciation of plants and insects but will require more robust phylogenetic hypotheses of the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution is a serious global environmental issue. It threatens human and ecological health. Heavy metals can accumulate in the soil over extended periods and inevitably transfer through the food chain to herbivorous insects and their natural enemies, leading to various adverse effects. This study aimed to investigate the stress responses and biochemical metabolic changes of aphids and one of aphids' predators, ladybugs, under cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) stress by constructing a food chain of Vicia faba L., Megoura crassicauda, and Harmonia axyridis. The results showed that aphids and ladybugs had a notable accumulation of Cd2+ and Pb2+. Insects can adapt to heavy metal stress by regulating their energy metabolism pathways. Glycogen content in the first filial generation (F1) aphids decreased significantly, glucose content in the second filial generation (F2) to the fourth filial generation (F4) adult aphids significantly increased, and trehalose content in the F1 adult aphids increased significantly. Moreover, the relative expression levels of trehalase (TRE) and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) in the F1 adult aphids were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the expression levels of TPS genes in the second filial generation to the fifth filial generation (F2 to F5) aphids decreased, suggesting that insects can resist heavy metal stress by regulating trehalose metabolism. The fertility of female aphids in all treatment groups was reduced compared to the control group. Additionally, the relative expression level of vitellogenin (Vg) was down-regulated in all aphid generations except the F1 aphids. There was interaction between heavy metal concentration and aphid generation, and it significantly affected the number of aphids' offspring and the expression of the aphid Vg gene. The developmental duration of the ladybugs from the second to fourth instars was prolonged, and the weight decreased significantly from the prepupa to the adult stages. These results contribute to understanding the effects of Cd2+–Pb2+ accumulation on phytophagous insects and higher trophic levels' natural enemies, laying the foundation for protecting natural enemies and maintaining ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In highly specialised phytophagous insects, important insights on phylogeny of the involved insect group can be often inferred from the evolutionary history of their host plants, and vice-versa, as in the case for a new, peculiar species of pollen beetles, recently discovered in Central China (Hubei Province). This new species is described herein as Teucriogethes huangae Liu & Audisio, sp. nov., and information on its ecology and systematic position is provided. The new species, associated as larvae with a strongly isolated member of the genus Teucrium L. (Lamiaceae), T. ornatum Hemsl., exhibiting a problematic taxonomic position, represents in turn an isolated and morphologically rather aberrant taxon in its lineage, probably the largest in size (2.2–2.8 mm), and the first endemic representative of its genus in the whole Eastern Palaearctic. An updating of the taxonomic assessment of members of Teucriogethes and on possible evolutionary relationships with their larval host plants, based on an integrative taxonomy approach, is finally presented. A key to identification of all known species is also introduced. ZooBank: Pollen beetles of the genus Teucriogethes (Meligethinae) are strictly associated with the flowers of germanders, Teucrium (Lamiaceae). We analysed and described a new species, Teucriogethes huangae , recently discovered in Central China, associated as larvae with a strongly isolated member of Teucrium , T. ornatum. The new species occupies an isolated position inside Teucriogethes revealed by combining both morphological and molecular analyses, as well as bionomical data. This paper provides a significant contribution to many important evolutionary and taxonomical aspects of Teucriogethes. (Image credit: Meike Liu, Simone Sabatelli and Paolo Audisio.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel host plants are incorporated into the diets of phytophagous insects when females oviposit and juveniles feed and survive on them. A change in diet, however, can have morphological consequences. We recently found a population of the leaf‐footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae), a historical cactus specialist, living and feeding on Cirsium thistle. We also found adults breeding and males using their enlarged hind legs (i.e., weapons) in male–male combat on thistle. When we compared this thistle population with a population feeding on cactus, we found that both populations had similar body and weapon sizes as well as weapon composition. However, the population living on thistle had longer mouthparts than the population found on cactus, although this difference only occurred at larger body sizes. This difference in adult mouthpart size is likely a result of the juvenile rearing environment (i.e., thistle or cactus). However, genetic differences may also affect this trait. Our results provide some interesting avenues for future research (e.g., a reciprocal transplant experiment) in a species with a recent host range expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psyllids, or jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea), are a group of small phytophagous insects that include some important pests of crops worldwide. Sexual communication of psyllids occurs via vibrations transmitted through host plants, which play an important role in mate recognition and localization. The signals are species‐specific and can be used to aid in psyllid taxonomy and pest control. Several hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism that generates these vibrations, of which stridulation, that is, friction between parts of the forewing and thorax, has received the most attention. We have investigated vibrational communication in the European pear psyllid species Cacopsylla pyrisuga (Foerster, 1848) using laser vibrometry and high‐speed video recording, to directly observe the movements associated with signal production. We describe for the first time the basic characteristics of the signals and signal emission of this species. Based on observations and analysis of the video recordings using a point‐tracking algorithm, and their comparison with laser vibrometer recordings, we argue that males of C. pyrisuga produce the vibrations primarily by wing buzzing, that is, tremulation that does not involve friction between the wings and thorax. Comparing observed signal properties with previously published data, we predict that wing buzzing is the main mechanism of signal production in all vibrating psyllids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Aphis gossypii Glover is a prevalent phytophagous insect that inflicts significant damage on cucumber plants. Recent studies have provided insights into plant communication and signal transduction within conspecifics. However, understanding of the effect of these communication mechanisms on adjacent cucumbers and their resident aphids, especially in the context of an aphid infestation, is still in its early stages. RESULTS: Utilizing a partitioned root configuration, a tendency for aphids to gather on nearby cucumber leaves of non‐infested plants was observed. Furthermore, neighboring plants near aphid‐infested cucumber plants showed a reduction in aphid reproduction rates. Concurrently, these plants exhibited a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, along with enhanced defensive and antioxidant enzymatic responses. Analysis of the microbial community in the rhizosphere showed significant differences in species composition among the samples. Among these, the bacterial families Microbacteriaceae and Rhizobiaceae, along with the fungal species Leucocoprinus ianthinus and Mortierella globalpina, exhibited increases in their relative abundance in cucumber seedlings located near aphid‐infested plants. Significantly, this study unveiled robust correlations between dominant microbial phyla and physiological indicators, primarily associated with aphid resistance mechanisms in plants. CONCLUSION: The results show that aphid‐infested cucumber plants trigger oxidative stress responses in adjacent seedlings through complex interplant communication mechanisms. In addition, these plants cause changes in the composition of the rhizospheric microbial community and the physiological activity of neighboring plants, consequently boosting their natural resistance to aphids. This study provides essential theoretical foundations to guide the development of sustainable strategies for managing cucumber aphids. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate change and excessive anthropogenic pressure, the adverse effects of pests in agrocenoses are increasing, leading to considerable losses of crop production and economic damages. During the growing season, it is necessary to conduct phytosanitary monitoring to identify and control the number, spread, and intensity of pests, followed by determining the level of danger and developing relevant plant protection measures. For this, from 2008 to 2022, the species composition of pests in aubergine plantations in open ground conditions in the central part of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was studied. The study was conducted using conventional entomological methods. In aubergine plantations, 73 species of phytophagous insects from 25 families of 8 orders were found, which accounted for 93% of the pest structure, 2 species of mites (3%), 2 species of nematodes (3%), and one species of slugs (1%). The species diversity of insect phytophages was represented by insects from the orders: Coleoptera (20 species from 6 families), Lepidoptera (19 species from 5 families), Homoptera (14 species from 3 families), Diptera (9 species from 4 families), Orthoptera (5 species from 4 families), Thysanoptera (3 species from 1 family), Hemiptera (2 species from 1 family), Hymenoptera (1 species from 1 family). Among the ticks, the greatest damage was caused by the red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch.), which on average was inhabiting 10-50% of the area. The average number of Tetranychus urticae Koch. was 8.5 specimens/plant, with up to 35-44% damage, which exceeded the EWP by 3.5-4.4 times. The colonisation of aubergine areas by naked slugs was not significant (up to 12%), but plant damage reached 10-14%. Among the insect phytophages, the largest area of plantations was infested with the Colorado potato beetle, larvae of the maybeetle, and gnawing scoops, which averaged 35-100%. The most harmful during the growing season were the Colorado potato beetle and the European mole cricket

The highly variable 'leafscapes' of plants across the world represent billions of square metres of mite habitat. The phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae), an extremely species-rich group of mostly generalist predators, are providers of ecosystem services for humanity worth many hundreds of millions of dollars annually by helping suppress phytophagous mites and insects in forests, agro-ecosystems, shade-houses and home gardens. In this study, the phytoseiid mite assemblages on the leaves of four species of common tree species, namely oak (Quercus cerris var. cerris), poplar (Populus deltoides, P. nigra) and walnut (Juglans regia), were compared. The three data sets used were generated in three independent seasonal studies in Samsun Province, Türkiye, between 2018 and 2022. In total, mite species in 18 families, including 15 families on walnut, were recorded. Nineteen phytoseiid species in 13 genera, Amblydromalus, Amblyseius, Euseius, Kampimodromus, Neoseiulella, Neoseiulus, Paraseiulus, Phytoseius, Transeius, Typhlodromina, Typhlodromips, Typhlodromus and Typhloseiulus, were collected. Only Eusieus amissibilis was collected from all three tree genera, whereas 14 species were collected from only one tree genus. Shannon diversity and Jaccard similarity indexes were calculated for mite families and phytoseiid genera and species. Potential reasons for the observed differences in the phytoseiid assemblages on the different host trees are explored in depth. In the 'big picture', global biodiversity, likely including many undescribed phytoseiid species, is threatened by widespread habitat degradation and destruction, especially in the tropics, and accelerating climate change, and rapidly stopping them is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between phytophagous insects and plants is a central aspect of food webs and ecosystem functioning. The introduction of new species into an environment can have significant impacts on the food web of a native ecosystem. In many cases, there is a lack of knowledge on the biology and feeding behavior of invasive species prior their introduction and in the invaded regions. Gut content analyses of insects have provided valuable information on the host spectrum of insects. However, current approaches are time‐consuming and costly. Here, we describe a new molecular gut content analysis (GCA) approach using the Oxford Nanopore (ONT) Flongle sequencing platform to characterize the plant DNA present in the gut of the highly polyphagous insect species Halyomorpha halys. We demonstrate that this technique efficiently amplifies and correctly identifies plant DNA in a mock community. We performed a feeding experiment to determine the sensitivity of this approach and to assess how long the plant DNA can be detected. All plants used in the feeding experiment were correctly identified and detected after 56 days. Surprisingly, we also detected various plant genera that were not included in the feeding experiment and thus were likely ingested months before the experiment. Our study suggests that the GCA using the ONT Flongle sequencing platform represents a rapid and cost‐efficient diagnosis of the dietary preferences, host range, and the diversity of consumed plant species of pest insects with high precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphagy is an adaptative strategy allowing species to develop and survive on multiple diets. Phytophagous insects can be exposed to sub-optimal resources, as host plants vary in nutritional quality. Some insects may rely on symbiotic bacteria to better utilize less favorable substrates. The invasive fruit fly Drosophila suzukii is a highly successful pest worldwide. The use of ripening and ripe fruits, a niche neglected by other drosophilids, and its polyphagy may have contributed to its global spread. The role of D. suzukii's Wolbachia strain (wSuz) remains unconfirmed, although a mutualistic role has been hypothesized via virus protection or dealing with abiotic stress. In some insect species, Wolbachia acts as a nutritional mutualist. This study explored the role of wSuz in D. suzukii adaptation to fluctuating diet regimes. To simulate a diet shift, we used Wolbachia-infected and uninfected flies, maintained on a corn-based (low-starch) or a grape-based (high-starch) diet for at least 10 generations. Then, we placed individuals from each line on one or the other diet for 30 days. The effects of Wolbachia and the diet treatments were assessed by quantifying female fecundity, egg-to-adult development time and survival, and offspring mass. The presence of Wolbachia positively affected female fecundity and offspring mass after a diet shift. Wolbachia also increased survival during larval development regardless of the diet, supporting its mutualistic role. Our results underline the role of wSuz on D. suzukii diet tolerance and performance. A better understanding of the role of symbionts in invasive species could help to improve management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical signals have an important role in the survival of many animals and are essential for the exploration of the resources available in their habitat. All phytophagous insects, including dipterans, use diverse chemical compounds released by plants as olfactory signals to locate their hosts. Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a generalist fly that uses numerous plants as hosts. In this study, we evaluated the attractiveness of extracts from six plants commonly used as ornamental and medicinal plants in the southern region of Mexico. When the flies were exposed to Piper auritum Kunth (Piperaceae) extract, we observed a stimulating‐attracting effect, especially on females, whereas the other five extracts showed no significant differences from their respective controls. In addition, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis of the P. auritum extract revealed 11 compounds, where safrole and methyl eugenol (ME) showed the highest concentrations of all the compounds found. ME has been shown to attract flies, mainly males of the genus Bactrocera. In this case, we found a stronger effect on female D. suzukii, indicating a potential effect of ME as a kairomone that mainly stimulates the attraction behavior of females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations of age‐based food conversion and utilization efficiencies in phytophagous insects are very few. Studies examining the effects of age, sex and mating status on biochemical assimilation of macronutrients by phytophagous insects are scarce as well. Hence, we designed the present study to evaluate the combined effect of age, sex and mating status on food consumption and utilization efficiencies, and the assimilation of macronutrients by the Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), on the invasive weed, Parthenium hysterophorus Linnaeus (Asterales: Asteraceae). We hypothesized that mated adults would consume and utilize more food than unmated adults, that assimilation of nutrients by old adults would be lower than young adults and that females would consume and utilize food more efficiently than males. However, our results revealed that as adults aged, their food consumption and utilization efficiencies decreased, and they assimilated less proteins and glucose in their body. Despite that, their mean body biomass and assimilation of triglycerides increased. While mated adults had higher food utilization efficiencies and increased assimilation of triglycerides and glucose, unmated adults assimilated more proteins. Females had higher food consumption rates and increased assimilation of nutrients, whereas males had higher food conversion efficiencies and growth rates. Furthermore, middle‐aged adults had higher food utilization efficiencies and they assimilated more nutrients than young and old adults. Our results therefore suggest compensatory feeding in adults of Z. bicolorata with ageing. We also recommend the release of more numbers of mated middle‐aged females to control P. hysterophorus in agro‐ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Spider community composition changed during the rice growing season. • The rice field development generally decreased the number of horizontal web-building spiders and captured detritivorous prey. • Species identity and species traits of spider as well as environmental factors affect prey capture by web-building spiders. Understanding the effects of microhabitat changes on arthropod predator communities and their prey in agroecosystems is essential for field management and biocontrol. Few studies have investigated the trait composition of web-building spider communities in rice ecosystems. Here, we examined how temporal changes during the rice field development affect the abundance and traits of orb-web spiders, and how these effects consequently influence captured prey number and prey composition in irrigated rice ecosystems in southern Thailand. We used structural equation models to evaluate direct and indirect, spider-mediated effects of rice field development on captured prey numbers in each different guild. We found that the number of horizontal web-building spiders decreased during the rice field development, whereas there was no significant change in number of vertical web-building spiders. The number of captured detritivorous insects was positively related to the numbers of horizontal and vertical web-building spiders, while phytophagous insects and others were positively related only to the numbers of vertical web-building spiders. Moreover, the prey number captured by vertical web-building spiders seems to be indirectly increased through the decreasing number of horizontal web-building spiders in the late rice season. A fourth-corner analysis showed that spider species identity, spider traits (web type, web height and web diameter), vegetation height, and water level generally influenced the prey captured by web-building spiders. Horizontal web-building spider species with lower web placement during the flooding phase captured high numbers of detritus-feeding insects, while vertical web-building spider species with higher web placement captured high numbers of rice pests, predators and others. Our results suggest that the field development acted as an environmental factor that determined the species identity and traits of web-building spider communities. The findings of this study can help to predict the ecosystem services provided by the web-building spider community in rice ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During decision-making, animals may use either innate or plastic behaviours. This has been suggested to be important for generalist phytophagous insects where females need to assess a large range of cues during host plant selection for oviposition. To facilitate the choice, generalists may thus use innate preference hierarchies among host plants combined with phenotypic plasticity based on earlier host experience, but if populations differ in whether they rely on innate or plastic factors during decision-making is not well-known. Females from an Egyptian population of the polyphagous moth Spodoptera littoralis has previously been found to shift preference between plants in their innate preference hierarchy depending on larval host plant experience. We studied the innate preference hierarchy for three host plants (cotton, cabbage and cowpea), and whether the hierarchy shifts based on larval host plant experience, in a Northern range margin population (Italy) and a core population (Kenya) of S. littoralis, to see if and how these traits vary across populations. In addition, we studied larval performance on the three host plants in all three populations. The Italian and Kenyan populations had different innate preference hierarchies, and both hierarchies differed from the hierarchy that has previously been found in the Egyptian population. Furthermore, the host plant selection of ovipositing females was affected by larval diet in the Italian and Kenyan population, but the larval host plant experience did not completely shift the preference hierarchy as in the Egyptian population. This indicates that not only host plant preference per se, but also phenotypic plasticity during host plant selection can vary between populations. We further found that the populations responded differently to larval diet for some performance traits. However, it was only the Italian population that showed indications of any link between preference and performance, as they had slower development on their least preferred host plant. Overall, preference divergence between populations seems not to be driven by local variation in larval performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological plasticity may be induced by altering host plants and commonly it is sex‐specific in phytophagous insects. It is hypothesized that stress in insects caused by a host shift leads to morphological changes and developmental destabilization, which may be identified by fluctuating asymmetry. We performed reciprocal transplant experiments in eight replicated populations of the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) adapted to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae) as its ancestral host and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L., Fabaceae) as a suboptimal host. Using methods of geometric morphometrics we assessed the effects of the short‐ and long‐term host shift on size and shape variation of beetles of both sexes. We also tested the hypothesis that fluctuating asymmetry is lower when the beetles develop within seeds of the ancestral host. Our results showed that females respond more plastically related to their body size and shape of the abdomen, particularly during a short‐term host shift, suggesting that females have a greater importance in maintaining the population on a new host. The level of fluctuating asymmetry is lowest in males that have evolved for generations on bean indicating that they have the most canalized development, so we suggested that symmetry in A. obtectus is maintained by sexual selection. Even if the beetles are adapted to a suboptimal host over many generations, they stabilize their development after returning to the ancestral host. Our work indicates that host shifts may change morphological aspects of the beetles in a sex‐specific manner and consequently influence their developmental trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytophagous insects differ in their degree of specialization to their host plants. It ranges from monophagous or oligophagous species that can only develop on a single host plant, or family of host plants, to extremely polyphagous species that can develop on plants from many distinct botanical families. The aim of this study was to compare the larval performance and adult preference of a highly generalist species, the Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and a highly specialist species, the breadfruit fruit fly (B. umbrosa) among several fruits covering both species' host range. (i) larval performance was tested on 16 fruit species, and (ii) a female preference was tested on a subset of five fruit species. In addition, (iii) a field survey was carried out on 11 fruit species. B. umbrosa infested only Artocarpus fruits in the field. Accordingly, B. umbrosa larvae survived and developed only on fruits belonging to the Artocarpus genus. Female B. umbrosa did not lay their eggs on non‐Artocarpus fruits, except Terminalia catappa. Female B. tryoni, on the other hand, made little selection between the fruits tested, and its larvae developed on 13 of the 16 fruit species tested. The larval performance of both species, adjusted when tested by female preference, predicted in large part the fruit infestation in the field. These data are essential to better estimate invasion risk where the species are not established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike majority of generalist predators of soft-body phytophagous insects, the giant ladybeetle predator, Anisolemnia dilatata (Fabricius), is a specialist predator of woolly aphids of bamboo plants in parts of tropical Asia. This predator has a long development time and reproductive duration. This study investigated through a field-cum-laboratory approach how a predator optimizes its reproductive and generational timing in bamboo habitats with patchy resources of woolly aphids. Results revealed that the giant ladybeetle females produced 69.20% of total eggs in the high prey density phase (mean ± SEM: 52.52 ± 9.65 aphids/leaf), comprising an average of 11 weeks out of the prey population cycle of 38 weeks. However, gravid females initiated egg-laying at a minimum average prey density of 16.35 aphids/leaf. Females chose narrow and thin parts of bamboo plants for depositing egg batches at a minimum distance of 21.05 cm and a maximum of 46.95 cm from the nearest aphid colony. Such behaviour is unique in aphidophagous predators directed at avoiding egg predation from actively growing conspecific or heterospecific larvae that continue to feed aphids after cessation of egg-laying in the declining phase of the population when prey resources become scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproduction is known to be energetically and physiologically costly. Consequently, individuals in good condition are assumed to invest substantial resources in reproduction, while those in poor condition are unable to do so. This is particularly relevant in insects, where reproduction is a nutrient-limited process for males and females and is largely related to their energy reserves. Lepidopteran phytophagous insects are an ideal model to evaluate how larval nutrition affects adult reproductive strategies, because larval host plant is considered a key determinant of the adult phenotype and the performance of both males and females. We studied a capital breeder moth species, the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana), to investigate how male energy reserves, body condition and reproductive traits might influence female reproductive output, using different host plants as a means of obtaining different male quality. We found that the host cultivar for the larvae strongly influenced the energy reserves of male adult moths, affecting their body condition and ultimately their reproductive potential through the content of spermatophores they transfer to females at mating. Moreover, males having different levels of energy reserves may alter the allocation of energy between their body condition and spermatophore size and composition, supporting the idea that organisms can buffer the effect of nutritional constraints by changing allocation to different fitness-related traits. Females also seem to be able to adjust latency to oviposition accordingly. These results have important implications for understanding the population dynamics of this moth species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant peptidase inhibitors have evolved to play a strong defensive role toward phytophagous insect pests. Peptidase inhibitor was partially purified from Psoralea corylifolia seeds of leguminaceae family by ammonium sulphate precipitation (20–80%) followed by dialysis with inhibitory activity against 64–72 h old larvae of Bactrocera cucurbitae. Different concentrations of the inhibitor (200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm) had a deleterious effect on the growth and development of the melon fruit fly larvae. The larval period, pupal period, and the total development period prolonged significantly, while percentage pupation and percentage adult emergence were drastically reduced. Nutritional indices viz. Mean Relative Growth Rate (MRGR) and Food Assimilated (FA) with respect to control were significantly lowered in treated larvae than in control. The inhibitory effect of peptidase inhibitor partially purified from P. corylifolia seeds increased significantly with an increase in the concentration of the inhibitor. It was also active against different strains of bacteria. These results show the potential of peptidase inhibitor partially purified from P. corylifolia seeds in insect pest control which can be used for improving plant protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybeans are a valuable crop in many countries of the world. To obtain stable yields, it is necessary to consider the activities of arthropods, both beneficial and destructive. The results of this study indicate high biodiversity. Most of the insects that feed on soy are polyphagous. In the years favorable for their development, omnivorous pests pose a serious threat to soybeans. The species composition of arthropods on soybeans of the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories of the Russian Federation during the years of the study was represented by 212 species (210 species of insects and 2 species of mites), including 101 species of phytophagous insects, which accounted for 48.5% of the total fauna and 109 species of entomophagous insects (51.7%). Most of the entomophages were parasitic Hymenoptera belonging to such families as Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Aphidiidae, Eurytomidae, Ormyridae, Pteromalidae, Encyrtidae, Eupelmidae, Eulophidae, Elasmidae, Scelionidae, Platygastridae, and Chrysididae. The most numerous phytophagous insects damaging soybeans belonged to the Hemiptera order (34 out of 101 species of phytophages). The Lepidoptera order in the soybean agrocenosis was represented by 28 species (13.4% of the total fauna and 28.0% of the destructive fauna). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Spodoptera frugiperda is a significant global agricultural pest, particularly fond of maize. In agroecosystems, the interactions among plants, phytophagous insects, and their natural enemies form a complex web at three trophic levels, with volatile compounds playing a pivotal role in these interactions. Phytophagous insects utilize plant volatiles as chemical cues to accurately identify and locate their hosts. Furthermore, herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) act as critical chemical messengers and play an essential role in mediating interactions across the three trophic levels. These interactions include inducing defense mechanisms in neighboring plants, attracting natural enemies to help suppress pest populations, or directly producing repellent substances to deter pests. Oral secretions (OS) play a vital role in this interaction, acting as a critical signaling conduit that modulates plant responses. In this study, the major agricultural pest S. frugiperda was examined, with the GOX gene targeted as a molecular focus. The findings indicate that the GOX gene influences HIPV emission in maize, providing valuable insights into plant–insect interaction mechanisms and laying a foundation for innovative plant protection strategies. The intricate relationships between plants and insects are essential for understanding ecological dynamics. Among these interactions, HIPVs serve as a pivotal defense mechanism. Our findings reveal the highly conserved nature of the GOX gene within the Lepidoptera order, highly expressed in the salivary glands of S. frugiperda, and its role in mediating maize's defense responses. Notably, salivary GOX activity expression significantly decreases subsequent gene knockout. The presence of GOX in the saliva of S. frugiperda significantly modulates the emission of HIPVs during maize consumption. This research delineates that GOX selectively inhibits the emission of certain green leaf volatiles (GLVs) while concurrently enhancing the release of terpene volatiles. This study unveils a novel mechanism whereby S. frugiperda utilizes GOX proteins in OS to modulate volatile emissions from maize, offering fresh perspectives on the adaptive evolution of phytophagous insects and their interactions with their preferred host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate change and excessive anthropogenic pressure, the adverse effects of pests in agrocenoses are increasing, leading to considerable losses of crop production and economic damages. During the growing season, it is necessary to conduct phytosanitary monitoring to identify and control the number, spread, and intensity of pests, followed by determining the level of danger and developing relevant plant protection measures. For this, from 2008 to 2022, the species composition of pests in aubergine plantations in open ground conditions in the central part of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine was studied. The study was conducted using conventional entomological methods. In aubergine plantations, 73 species of phytophagous insects from 25 families of 8 orders were found, which accounted for 93% of the pest structure, 2 species of mites (3%), 2 species of nematodes (3%), and one species of slugs (1%). The species diversity of insect phytophages was represented by insects from the orders: Coleoptera (20 species from 6 families), Lepidoptera (19 species from 5 families), Homoptera (14 species from 3 families), Diptera (9 species from 4 families), Orthoptera (5 species from 4 families), Thysanoptera (3 species from 1 family), Hemiptera (2 species from 1 family), Hymenoptera (1 species from 1 family). Among the ticks, the greatest damage was caused by the red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch.), which on average was inhabiting 10-50% of the area. The average number of Tetranychus urticae Koch. was 8.5 specimens/plant, with up to 35-44% damage, which exceeded the EWP by 3.5-4.4 times. The colonisation of aubergine areas by naked slugs was not significant (up to 12%), but plant damage reached 10-14%. Among the insect phytophages, the largest area of plantations was infested with the Colorado potato beetle, larvae of the maybeetle, and gnawing scoops, which averaged 35-100%. The most harmful during the growing season were the Colorado potato beetle and the European mole cricket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since a significant proportion of plant matter is consumed by herbivores, a necessary adaptation for many phyllosphere microbes could be to survive through the guts of herbivores. While many studies explore the gut microbiome of herbivores by surveying the microbiome in their frass, few studies compare the phyllosphere microbiome to the gut microbiome of herbivores. High‐throughput metabarcode sequencing was used to track the fungal community from milkweed (Asclepias spp.) leaves to monarch caterpillar frass. The most commonly identified fungal taxa that dominated the caterpillar frass after the consumption of leaves were yeasts, mostly belonging to the Basidiomycota phylum. While most fungal communities underwent significant bottlenecks and some yeast taxa increased in relative abundance, a consistent directional change in community structure was not identified from leaf to caterpillar frass. These results suggest that some phyllosphere fungi, especially diverse yeasts, can survive herbivory, but whether herbivory is a key stage of their life cycle remains uncertain. For exploring phyllosphere fungi and the potential coprophilous lifestyles of endophytic and epiphytic fungi, methods that target yeast and Basidiomycota fungi are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought events are expected to limit crop productivity in the context of current climate change. Drought is also likely to affect multitrophic interactions such as those involving plants, phytophagous insects and their natural enemies. We designed a two-phase experiment to test the effect of water availability and fertilizer treatment on the interaction between maize, the fall armyworm and its nucleopolyhedrovirus pathogen. Plants grown in soil with high irrigation and mineral fertilization had the highest shoot and root dry weight. Furthermore, plant nitrogen levels were higher in plants with fertilization and a low irrigation scheme compared to other treatments. Low irrigation of maize plants reduced virus-induced mortality of armyworm larvae. Insects did not feed on plants with high irrigation and without fertilization. We conclude that water stress and plant nutrition can affect virus performance and thereby affect the efficiency of biological control and pest management, especially as water and nutrient limitation will likely increase under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using molecular (COI , Cytb , H3 , wg , 12S, 16S, and 28S) and morphological data (61 characters of adults and immatures), the phylogenetic relationships of the 20 nominal genera of Liviinae were analysed, and the monophyly of the subfamily was tested relative to the other two subfamilies of Liviidae. The analyses of the molecular, morphological, and combined datasets provided similar results with a strong or moderate support in the molecular and combined analyses for the subfamilies of Liviidae and two clades in Liviinae given tribal rank (Liviini and Paurocephalini stat. rev.). Three of the six previously recognized genera were confirmed as monophyletic (Aphorma , Camarotoscena , and Livia) and three were shown to be polyphyletic: Diclidophlebia s.l. (Diclidophlebia s.s. , Haplaphalara stat. rev. Klyveria Burckhardt, Serbina and Malenovský, gen. nov. Melanastera Serbina, Malenovský, Queiroz and Burckhardt, gen. nov. and Woldaia stat. rev.), Paurocephala s.l. (Liella Burckhardt, Serbina and Malenovský, gen. nov. and Paurocephala s.s.), and Syntomoza s.l. (Anomoterga stat. rev. and Syntomoza s.s.). The new generic definitions require 38 new and eight revived combinations, including the transfer of two species to other families. All genera of Liviinae are diagnosed and keys are provided for their identification. A checklist of world Liviinae is supplemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coccinellidae is a diverse and species-rich family that includes predaceous, phytophagous and mycophagous insects, which are significant to agriculture. This study aimed to estimate the diversity of coccinellids and document their associated prey in agricultural fields of northern Kerala, India and to generate DNA barcodes for the species collected during the study. Twenty-seven species under seven tribes were reported in this study, which includes three phytophagous, two mycophagous and 22 predaceous beetles. The information on prey species and/or host plants of the beetles are given furnished. Diversity indices of coccinellids across different agroecological zones and crops of northern Kerala were estimated. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences of 18 species were generated and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Coccinellini was recorded as the predominant tribe of Coccinellidae in northern Kerala. High hills were found to be the most diverse agroecological zone for Coccinellidae, whereas plantation crops and vegetables were the most diverse crop ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA barcoding is used to identify cryptic species, survey environmental samples, and estimate phyletic and genetic diversity. Armored scale insects are phytophagous insects and are the most species-rich taxa in the Coccoidea superfamily. This study developed a DNA barcode library for armored scale insect species collected from southern China during 2021–2022. We sequenced a total of 239 specimens, recognized as 50 morphological species, representing two subfamilies and 21 genera. Sequencing analysis revealed that the average G + C content of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence was very low (~18.06%) and that the average interspecific divergence was 10.07% while intraspecific divergence was 3.20%. The intraspecific divergence value was inflated by the high intraspecific divergence in ten taxa, which may indicate novel species overlooked by current taxonomic treatments. All the Automated Barcode Gap Discovery, Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning, Taxon DNA analysis and Bayesian Poisson Tree Process methods yielded largely consistent results, indicating a robust and credible species delimitation. Based on these results, an intergeneric distance threshold of ≤ 5% was deemed appropriate for the differentiation of armored scale insect species in China. This study establishes a comprehensive barcode library for the identification of armored scale insects, future research, and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In interactions between plants and herbivorous insects, the traits enabling phytophagous insects to overcome chemical defenses of their host plants have evolved multiple times. A prominent example of such adaptive key innovations in herbivorous insects is nitrile specifier proteins (NSPs) that enabled Pierinae butterflies to colonize Brassicales host plants that have a glucosinolate–myrosinase defense system. Although the evolutionary aspects of NSP-encoding genes have been studied in some Pierinae taxa (especially among Pieris butterflies), the ancestral evolutionary state of NSP s is unclear due to the limited genomic information available for species within Pierinae. Here, we generate a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of Leptosia nina , a member of a small tribe, Leptosiaini. L. nina uses as its main host Capparaceae plants, one of the ancestral hosts within Pierinae. By using ∼90-fold coverage of Oxford Nanopore long reads and Illumina short reads for subsequent polishing and error correction, we constructed a final genome assembly that consisted of 286 contigs with a total of 225.8 Mb and an N50 of 10.7 Mb. Genome annotation with transcriptome hints predicted 16,574 genes and covered 98.3% of BUSCO genes. A typical NSP gene is composed of three tandem domains found in Pierinae butterflies; unexpectedly, we found a new NSP -like gene in Pierinae composed of only two tandem domains. This newly found NSP -like gene in L. nina provides important insights into the evolutionary dynamics of domain and gene duplication events relating to host-plant adaptation in Pierinae butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an analytical review of the current state of population biology research of the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. and its closest congeners. It focuses on the specific features of adult reproductive behavior that are formalized as evolutionary stable strategies and alternative reproductive tactics ensuring effective use of environmental resources by the populations within the species' distribution range. The strategies and tactics are considered both at the level of the effects of environmental factors contributing to their implementation and at the level of the results of their implementation. Specific examples are discussed that show the importance of studying these strategies and tactics for pest control. The available material also reveals the importance of studying the Ostrinia spp. population biology for elaboration of their taxonomy. In particular, the European populations of O. scapulalis and O. nubilalis demonstrate a complicated system of reproductive relations, with persistent barriers of sexual isolation formed in some cases and panmixis maintained in others; in this way, the integral biological system retains its high adaptive potential within the range. As a result, the insects varying within a wide range of morphological, genetic, behavioral, and ecological properties form an integral population system of O. nubilalis sensu lato, a complicated taxonomic continuum within which O. nubilalis sensu stricto and O. scapulalis can be distinguished as semispecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The release of cyanide from cyanogenic precursors is the central core of the plant defences based on the cyanogenesis process. Although cyanide is formed as a coproduct of some metabolic routes, its production is mostly due to the degradation of cyanohydrins originating from cyanogenic glycosides in cyanogenic plants and the 4-OH-ICN route in Brassicaceae. Cyanohydrins are then hydrolysed in a reversible reaction generating cyanide, being both, cyanohydrins and cyanide, toxic compounds with potential defensive properties against pests and pathogens. Based on the production of cyanogenic-derived molecules in response to the damage caused by herbivore infestation, in this review, we compile the actual knowledge of plant cyanogenic events in the plant–pest context. Besides the defensive potential, the mode of action, and the targets of the cyanogenic compounds to combat phytophagous insects and acari, special attention has been paid to arthropod responses and the strategies to overcome the impact of cyanogenesis. Physiological and behavioural adaptations, as well as cyanide detoxification by β-cyanoalanine synthases, rhodaneses, and cyanases are common ways of phytophagous arthropods defences against the cyanide produced by plants. Much experimental work is needed to further understand the complexities and specificities of the defence–counter-defence system to be applied in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opuntia ficus-indica has always interacted with many phytophagous insects; two of them are Dactylopius coccus and D. opuntiae. Fine cochineal (D. coccus) is produced to extract carminic acid, and D. opuntiae, or wild cochineal, is an invasive pest of O. ficus-indica in more than 20 countries around the world. Despite the economic and environmental relevance of this cactus, D. opuntiae, and D. coccus, there are few studies that have explored volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from the plant–insect interaction. The aim of this work was to determine the VOCs produced by D. coccus and D. opuntiae and to identify different VOCs in cladodes infested by each Dactylopius species. The VOCs (essential oils) were obtained by hydrodistillation and identified by GC-MS. A total of 66 VOCs from both Dactylopius species were identified, and 125 from the Esmeralda and Rojo Pelón cultivars infested by D. coccus and D. opuntiae, respectively, were determined. Differential VOC production due to infestation by each Dactylopius species was also found. Some changes in methyl salicylate, terpenes such as linalool, or the alcohol p-vinylguaiacol were related to Dactylopius feeding on the cladodes of their respective cultivars. Changes in these VOCs and their probable role in plant defense mechanisms should receive more attention because this knowledge could improve D. coccus rearing or its inclusion in breeding programs for D. opuntiae control in regions where it is a key pest of O. ficus-indica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To produce insights into the nature of butterfly communities in Belize and potential strategies for their conservation, we analyzed a data set of 31,539 occurrences representing 1047 species of butterflies. Most species in Belize are rarely encountered and 23% are known from one or two occurrences. Conversely, a few species (2%) are disproportionately abundant (19% of occurrences). Chao 1 and 1st-order Jackknife species richness estimates indicate a minimum of 101.6 ± 17.5 and 169.7 ± 24.9 additional species (respectively) in Belize. Most of the "missing species" are Lycaenidae, Riodinidae and Hesperiidae, groups that are difficult to identify and which have ecological traits that decrease detectability in the field. Seasonal and geographic weather patterns related to precipitation structure butterfly communities in the country. Species richness (alpha-diversity) is correlated to both average monthly temperature and precipitation for most, but not all families. During the dry season, both species numbers and densities are low, but both increase abruptly with the onset of rains. There are significant beta-diversity community differences between seasons (rainy and dry) as well. Precipitation decreases dramatically from south to north across the country and Chao 1 and rarefication estimates indicate that species richness is highest in southern Belize and declines northward corresponding with regional patterns of precipitation. Likewise, the three southern districts of Belize support significantly different butterfly communities (beta-diversity) than do the three northern districts. Implications for insect conservation: Because climate change will disrupt the status quo as ecological communities respond to changes that influence drought stress, actions that ensure that ecological connectivity is maintained or restored across ecological gradients, especially as reflected by precipitation patterns, will be critical for conserving butterfly and other phytophagous insect communities in Belize as communities respond to climate disruption. We make geographically explicit recommendations for conservation action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) predicts that alien plant species are unsuitable hosts for native phytophagous insects. However, the biotic resistance hypothesis (BRH) predicts that generalist herbivores may prefer an alien plant over their common host plant. In this study, we have tested these two hypotheses by comparing the potential colonization of the invasive Pontic rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L.) versus the common rearing host plants by two generalist aphid species (Aphis fabae and Myzus persicae). We assessed (i) the probing behavior using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique and (ii) survival and fecundity in Petri dishes. RESULTS: The results showed the inability of A. fabae and Myzus persicae to immediately colonize R. ponticum. Despite their ability to feed on this invasive plant, the two aphid species hardly survived and poorly reproduced. CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with the ERH, since R. ponticum appeared as an unsuitable host for native phytophagous insects. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum tuberosum L. is susceptible to 40 different virus species and 2 viroids. To prevent plant viruses from spreading in field conditions, it is necessary to have reliable data on the species composition of plant reservoirs of viral infection, the total activity of insect vectors, and possible ways of virus transmission in a particular territory of seed material production. Attention should be paid to the factors that facilitate and hinder the disease development in crops and to disease symptoms in different potato varieties. Manifestations of viral infections were monitored on every plant from the sample at the stages of initial growth, bud formation, and flowering and before the removal of potato haulms. Insects were collected using standard entomological method. The total RNA was isolated employing commercial kits for the extraction of nucleic acids from plant material “PhytoSorb” (Syntol Llc) and the benchtop automated extraction instrument KingFisher Flex (ThermoScientific) with magnetic particles. Plant viral infection was observed to accumulate if potato planting material was not renewed. The tested potato plants contained mixed viral infection, which consisted of viruses from mosaic group: PVY, PVX, PVM, PVS PVA, as well as PSTVd and PLRV. Without the renewal of seed potatoes, the concentration of plant viruses in an agroecosystem rises and causes secondary infections in potato plants. The research identified the main insect-vectors in the agroecosystem of potato fields: insects from genera Cicadella, Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata, Dolycoris baccarum, Mythimna separata, Lygus pratensis, and Rhopalosiphum padi. Many wild weeds serve as fodder plants for insect vectors facilitating the accumulation of plant viruses in agroecosystems. It was established that perennial weeds were the main plant reservoirs of dangerous viral infections, e.g. Sonchus arvensis and Taraxacum officinale. We determined that Trifolium pratense typus L., Chenopodium album L., Plantago major L., Barbarea vulgaris W.T. Aiton, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. were the reservoirs of PVY. All these factors can lead to an epiphytotic situation.

The article presents the results of research on the impact of Sawadaea bicornis (Wallr.) Miyabe on the state of photosynthetic apparatus in Acer platanoides L. seedlings using a technique of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (ChlF) measurement, which at the present time can be implemented through the use of biosensors. The research was conducted in September 2022 in the territory of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. To diagnose a violation of the native chlorophyll photosynthesis in fresh leaves of A. platanoides, a portable fluorometer 'Floratest' was used (the selected spectral range for fluorescence intensity measurement was 670-800 nm). The research was carried out on fresh leaves of Norway maple seedlings both not unaffected and affected with powdery mildew. Analysis of the data obtained indicates a high sensitivity of the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence induction to damage by the disease regardless of environmental conditions of local growth of A. platanoides seedlings. The high informativeness of induction changes in chlorophyll fluorescence in the structural organisation of chloroplasts in Norway maple leaves determined by the parameters Fo, Fm, Fv, Fv/Fо, Fv/Fm, (Fm - Fst)/Fst, (Fp - Fо)/Fv was revealed. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using the studied chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to detect severe stress in Norway maple seedlings caused by powdery mildew exposure when the fungus affects more than 50% of the leaf blade area. It is further necessary to conduct dynamic studies throughout the growing season to determine the effectiveness of using these parameters to detect mild stress in the early stages of infection.

Divergent host specialization by phytophagous insects is often detected as local adaptation and is thought to have played an important role in their diversification even within an ecological specialist. The phytophagous ladybird beetle Henosepilachna niponica Lewis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) predominantly depends on thistles (Cirsium spp., Asteraceae). The distribution of H. niponica occupies multiple areas dominated by different thistle species. This implies the possibility of the occurrence of host‐associated divergent specialization of H. niponica. In this study, we investigated the pattern of host‐use ability of three allopatric H. niponica populations (Aomori, Iwate, and Yamagata) on three thistle species – Cirsium alpicola Nakai, Cirsium nipponicum (Maxim.) Makino, and Cirsium tonense Nakai – under laboratory conditions. The results displayed asymmetric local adaptation by the beetles. The adults and larvae of the Aomori population showed sufficient acceptance and performance on C. nipponicum and C. tonense, the hosts of the Iwate and Yamagata populations, respectively. On the other hand, the Iwate and Yamagata populations fed small amounts of and performed poorly on C. alpicola, the host of the Aomori population. In contrast, the adults from all the populations clearly preferred feeding on C. nipponicum or C. tonense to C. alpicola. We concluded that the small but significant population differentiation and asymmetric local adaptation by beetles to congeneric host plant species could be a sign of the earliest stage of population divergence by divergent natural selection, given that these divergences will act as 'immigrant inviability' and 'habitat isolation' at least asymmetrically when these populations come into contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemiptera insects exhibit a close relationship to plants and demonstrate a diverse range of dietary preferences, encompassing phytophagy as the predominant feeding habit while a minority engages in carnivorous or haematophagous behaviour. To counteract the challenges posed by phytophagous insects, plants have developed an array of toxic compounds, causing significant evolutionary selection pressure on these insects. In this study, we employed a comparative genomics approach to analyse the expansion and contraction of gene families specific to phytophagous insect lineages, along with their adaptive evolutionary traits, utilising representative species from the Hemiptera order. Our investigation revealed substantial expansions of gene families within the phytophagous lineages, especially in the Pentatomomorpha branch represented by Oncopeltus fasciatus and Riptortus pedestris. Notably, these expansions of gene families encoding enzymes are potentially involved in hemipteran-plant interactions. Moreover, the adaptive evolutionary analysis of these lineages revealed a higher prevalence of adaptively evolved genes in the Pentatomomorpha branch. The observed branch-specific gene expansions and adaptive evolution likely contribute significantly to the diversification of species within Hemiptera. These results help enhance our understanding of the genomic characteristics of the evolution of different feeding habits in hemipteran insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The host plants and the symbiotic relationship between bacteria and herbivorous insects play important roles in the population differentiation of phytophagous insects. However, current studies have paid limited attention to the connection between host-related differentiation and symbiotic bacterial communities in phytophagous insects. This study constructed phylogenetic trees using 58 Aphis odinae samples collected from different host plants and analyzed the symbiotic bacterial communities of samples from five commonly occurring host plants. The results indicate a partial correlation between differentiation related to host plants and the symbiotic bacterial communities in A. odinae, providing insights into the microevolutionary process between bacterial symbionts and insects. Host plants play a vital role in insect population differentiation, while symbiotic associations between bacteria and insects are ubiquitous in nature. However, existing studies have given limited attention to the connection between host-related differentiation and symbiotic bacterial communities in phytophagous insects. In this study, we collected 58 samples of Aphis odinae from different host plants in southern China and constructed phylogenetic trees to investigate their differentiation in relation to host plants. We also selected aphid samples from the five most preferred host plants and analyzed their symbiotic bacterial composition using Illumina sequencing of the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The phylogeny and symbiotic bacterial community structure of A. odinae populations on different host plants showed that samples from Triadica sebifera (Euphorbiaceae) had a consistent presence of Wolbachia as the predominant secondary symbiont and suggested the possibility of undergoing differentiation. Conversely, although differentiation was observed in samples from Rhus chinensis (Anacardiaceae), no consistent presence of predominant secondary symbionts was found. Additionally, the samples from Heptapleurum heptaphyllum (Araliaceae) consistently carried Serratia, but no host differentiation was evident. In summary, this study reveals a partial correspondence between symbiotic bacterial communities and host-related differentiation in A. odinae. The findings contribute to our understanding of the microevolutionary influencing the macroevolutionary relationships between bacterial symbionts and phytophagous insects. The identification of specific symbionts associated with host-related differentiation provides valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of insect-bacteria interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants and insects are engaged in a tight relationship, with phytophagous insects often utilizing volatile organic substances released by host plants to find food and egg-laying sites. Using plant volatiles as attractants for integrated pest management is vital due to its high efficacy and low environmental toxicity. Using naturally occurring plant volatiles combined with insect olfactory mechanisms to select volatile molecules for screening has proved an effective method for developing plant volatile-based attractant technologies. However, the widespread adoption of this technique is still limited by the lack of a complete understanding of molecular insect olfactory pathways. This paper first describes the nature of plant volatiles and the mechanisms of plant volatile perception by insects. Then, the attraction mechanism of plant volatiles to insects is introduced with the example of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. Next, the progress of the development and utilization of plant volatiles to manage pests is presented. Finally, the functions played by the olfactory system of insects in recognizing plant volatiles and the application prospects of utilizing volatiles for green pest control are discussed. Understanding the sensing mechanism of insects to plant volatiles and its utilization will be critical for pest management in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We model the spatiotemporal dynamics of a community consisting of competing weed and cultivated plant species and a population of specialized phytophagous insects used as the weed biocontrol agent. The model is formulated as a PDE system of taxis–diffusion–reaction type and computer-implemented for one-dimensional and two-dimensional cases of spatial habitat for the Neumann zero-flux boundary condition. In order to discretize the original continuous system, we applied the method of lines. The obtained system of ODEs is integrated using the Runge–Kutta method with a variable time step and control of the integration accuracy. The numerical simulations provide insights into the mechanism of formation of solitary population waves (SPWs) of the phytophage, revealing the factors that determine the efficacy of combined application of the phytophagous insect (classical biological method) and cultivated plant (phytocenotic method) to suppress weed foci. In particular, the presented results illustrate the stabilizing action of cultivated plants, which fix the SPW effect by occupying the free area behind the wave front so that the weed remains suppressed in the absence of a phytophage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aglais urticae (Lepidoptera, Nymphalid) is a common butterfly distributed in temperate regions worldwide. The nettle Urtica cannabina (Urticaceae) is key to the survival of the small tortoiseshell, which provides its primary food source. This species is also a toxic plant listed in the Chinese Flora Atlas database, as it has poisonous roots and leaves. However, the phytophagous insect has evolved different adaptations against the plant′s defense system. This study aims to identify the genes linked to feeding strategies and adaptations of Aglais urticae's larval feeding preference and detoxifying mechanism, and it may serve as an approach to help us understand the molecular process of its in vivo detoxification and find its related genes. Overall, these results provide the basis for future work on the detoxification and development of phytophagous insects by identifying the detoxification mechanism of A. urticae and their development-related genes in holometabolous insects. Herbivorous insects and host plants have developed a close and complex relationship over a long period of co-evolution. Some plants provide nutrients for insects, but plants' secondary metabolites also influence their growth and development. Urtica cannabina roots and leaves are poisonous, yet Aglais urticae larvae feed on them, so we aimed to clarify the mechanism enabling this interaction. At present, studies on the detoxification mechanism of the A. urticae are rare. In our study, first, we used the A. urticae larval odor selection behavior bioassay and choice feeding preference assay to analyze the feeding preferences of A. urticae on its host plant, U. cannabina. Next, we used transcriptome sequencing to obtain the unigenes annotated and classified by various databases, such as KEGG and GO. In this study, we found that U. cannabina could attract A. urticae larvae to feed via scent, and the feeding preference assay confirmed that larvae preferred U. cannabina leaves over three other plants: Cirsium japonicum, Cannabis sativa, and Arctium lappa. The activity of detoxifying enzymes GST and CarE changed in larvae that had consumed U. cannabina. Furthermore, through transcriptomic sequencing analysis, 77,624 unigenes were assembled from raw reads. The numbers of differentially expressed genes were calculated using pairwise comparisons of all life stages; the expression of detoxification enzyme genes was substantially higher in larvae than in the pupal and adult stages. Finally, we identified and summarized 34 genes associated with detoxification enzymes, such as UDP-glucose 4-epimerase gene, 5 Glutathione S-transferase genes, 4 Carboxylesterase genes, 4 Cytochrome P450 genes, 10 ATP-binding cassette genes, 4 Superoxide dismutase, and Peroxidase. Moreover, we identified 28 genes associated with the development of A. urticae. The qRT-PCR results were nearly consistent with the transcriptomic data, showing an increased expression level of four genes in larvae. Taken together, this study examines the correlation between A. urticae and host plants U. cannabina, uncovering a pronounced preference for A. urticae larvae toward host plants. Consistent with RNA-seq, we investigated the mechanism of A. urticae's interaction with host plants and identified detoxification-related genes. The present study provides theoretical support for studying insect adaptation mechanisms and biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (BPH) is a main rice pest in China and many other Asian countries. In the control of BPH, the application of insect-resistant rice has proven to be quite effective. Secondary metabolites are essential weapons in plants' defense against phytophagous insects. Studies have found that differences in the content of secondary metabolites play a crucial role in determining whether rice exhibits resistance or susceptibility to BPH. Simultaneously, symbionts are essential to the BPH. Nevertheless, there is limited research on the impact of secondary metabolites on the symbionts within BPH. Therefore, investigating the influence of secondary metabolites on both BPH and their symbionts is significant for the control of BPH. In this experiment, newly emerged female adults of BPH were fed artificial diets containing 10 different secondary metabolites. The results indicated that methyl jasmonate had inhibitory effects on the survival rate, weight gain, and reproductive capacity of BPH. Using qPCR methods, it was discovered that the number of symbiotic fungi (Ascomycetes symbionts) within BPH significantly decreased under methyl jasmonate stress. In conclusion, this experiment has preliminarily revealed the inhibitory effects of methyl jasmonate on BPH and its symbionts, demonstrating its potential for controlling BPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphids are among the phytophagous insects causing the greatest economic losses. This study was carried out to evaluate the diversity and abundance of aphids in two tomato crops grown in an open field in two localities situated at Tizi-Ouzou (North Algeria). The aphid's inventory was carried out using yellow traps. 926 winged aphids were trapped, representing 55 species. The aphid fauna recorded was divided into 4 subfamilies, 6 tribes and 31 genera. The aphid's diversity trapped in Zahra variety field was higher with 41 species, compared to 29 species in Zin 45 variety field, with one species recorded for the first time in Algeria, namely Semiaphis dauci (Fabricius, 1775). The density and diversity of aphids differed from one field to another depending on climatic factors and the availability of host plants. Direct observations on plants allowed the identification of three aphid species, namely Aphis fabae Scopoli, 1763 Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 and Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of research on the impact of Sawadaea bicornis (Wallr.) Miyabe on the state of photosynthetic apparatus in Acer platanoides L. seedlings using a technique of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (ChlF) measurement, which at the present time can be implemented through the use of biosensors. The research was conducted in September 2022 in the territory of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. To diagnose a violation of the native chlorophyll photosynthesis in fresh leaves of A. platanoides, a portable fluorometer 'Floratest' was used (the selected spectral range for fluorescence intensity measurement was 670-800 nm). The research was carried out on fresh leaves of Norway maple seedlings both not unaffected and affected with powdery mildew. Analysis of the data obtained indicates a high sensitivity of the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence induction to damage by the disease regardless of environmental conditions of local growth of A. platanoides seedlings. The high informativeness of induction changes in chlorophyll fluorescence in the structural organisation of chloroplasts in Norway maple leaves determined by the parameters Fo, Fm, Fv, Fv/Fo, Fv/Fm, (Fm - Fst)/Fst, (Fp - Fo)/Fv was revealed. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using the studied chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to detect severe stress in Norway maple seedlings caused by powdery mildew exposure when the fungus affects more than 50% of the leaf blade area. It is further necessary to conduct dynamic studies throughout the growing season to determine the effectiveness of using these parameters to detect mild stress in the early stages of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Geranium pratense L. (Meadow Crane's‐Bill). The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland : distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history and conservation.Geranium pratense is a perennial gynodioecious forb of neutral grassland. In Britain and Ireland, it is particularly abundant on roadside verges, railway embankments, the margins of watercourses and woodland rides. It is generally intolerant of grazing and is absent or scarce in livestock‐grazed grassland. Geranium pratense is widespread in England, Wales and Scotland but is scarce in Ireland. It has an extensive native range in Europe and Asia, extending eastwards to Russia, north‐western China and Mongolia. It has been widely introduced to new sites within its native range and has been introduced to Canada, the USA and New Zealand.Geranium pratense usually occurs on free‐draining soils but also infrequently where drainage is impeded. The soils are often nutrient‐rich and weakly acidic to weakly alkaline. The underlying geology is usually non‐acidic sedimentary rocks or superficial deposits.Geranium pratense is protandrous and is pollinated by various insects of the orders Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera, particularly bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Eleven species of phytophagous insect have been recorded on G. pratense in Britain and Ireland.Geranium pratense has little or no capacity for vegetative spread. Primary seed dispersal is ballistic and seeds may be flung over distances of up to several metres. The species has a transient seed bank, that is germination typically takes place in the winter and spring after seed production, after the physically dormant seeds have become permeable. Seedling establishment is higher in vegetation‐free gaps than in undisturbed grassland vegetation.There has been no significant change in its distribution between the late 1950s and 2019, although since 2000, it has expanded its range, mainly via introductions, in northern and western Scotland, west Wales and in Ireland. Alien sites have increased markedly since the 1960s due to introductions from wildflower seed sowing and spread from gardens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals across various animal species communicate their presence to conspecifics. Especially phytophagous and parasitoid insects with their brood developing on limited resources rely on chemical cues, such as host-marking pheromones, to reduce intraspecific competition. Bark beetles are phytophagous insects with some species being economically and ecologically relevant forest pests. Several of them use the volatile compound verbenone to inhibit attraction and reduce intraspecific competition. However, in the Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus (L.), temporal emission patterns did so far not quite support the putative function of verbenone as an indicator of densely colonised host trees. More importantly, it is currently unclear how well verbenone emission is actually related to colonisation density and thus intraspecific competition. Here, we inoculated Norway spruce logs with I. typographus at two defined colonisation densities in the greenhouse and measured the emission of verbenone and its precursors α-pinene and verbenol over time. Verbenone emission was 3–7 times greater from colonised logs compared to decaying logs without beetles during the major part of larval development. Furthermore, our data supports the quantitative hypothesis, that the termination of attack on a tree is mediated by a cessation of the release of verbenol and continuous emission of verbenone. The latter is most likely a passively produced host-marking cue reflecting the actual density of conspecifics since per-beetle emission was unaffected by colonisation density. These findings shed new light on the regulation of bark beetle mass aggregations, which are currently causing previously unseen economic damages in temperate forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Batocera horsfieldi Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) has a wide host range, attacking nearly 100 tree species, and has become a devastating native forestry pest in China. Studies of various phytophagous insect attractants have shown that plant volatiles can be used as effective bait while minimizing the cost and labor of manual control. In this study, we searched for key plant-derived volatile attractants for B. horsfieldi by extracting and evaluating volatile components of host plants using beetle electrophysiological responses and Y-tube behavioral experiments. We provide a theoretical framework for the green control of the beetle. Following infestation by phytophagous insects, changes in the composition and relative proportion of volatile components emitted by plants may be observed. Some phytophagous insects can accurately identify these compounds to locate suitable host plants. We investigated whether herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) generated by herbivory on Pistacia chinensis Bunge (Sapindales: Aceraceae) might be semiochemicals for the host location of Batocera horsfieldi Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). We performed two-choice bioassays (indoor darkroom, inside cages) on plants damaged by adult feeding and intact control plants. Volatiles from these plants were then collected and identified, and the response of adult antennae to these compounds was tested via electroantennography (EAG). The behavioral responses of B. horsfieldi to these compounds were finally assessed using a Y-tube olfactometer. Host plant choice tests show that B. horsfieldi prefers feeding-damaged P. chinensis over healthy trees. In total, 15 compounds were collected from healthy and feeding-damaged P. chinensis, 10 of which were shared in both healthy and feeding-damaged P. chinensis, among which there were significant differences in the quantities of five terpenes, including α-pinene, β-pinene, α-phellandrene, D-limonene, and β-ocimene. In EAG assays, the antennae of B. horsfieldi adults responded strongly to (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, β-ocimene, 3-carene, γ-terpinene, D-limonene, myrcene, and α-phellandrene. The antennae of B. horsfieldi adults responded in a dose–response manner to these compounds. Y-tube behavioral experiments showed that four compounds attracted mated females ((Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, β-ocimene, 3-carene, and α-phellandrene), two compounds ((Z)-3-hexen-1-ol and α-phellandrene) attracted males, and adults of both sexes avoided D-limonene. Feeding bioassays showed that (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol and β-ocimene could promote the feeding of B. horsfieldi and that D-limonene inhibited this response. These results could provide a theoretical basis for developing attractants or repellents for B. horsfieldi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]