New Advances in Insect Chemical Adaptation

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest and Vector Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 4832

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Interests: xenobiotic adaptation; arthropod structural biology; RNAi-based pest control
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Guest Editor
Department of Entomology and MOA, Key Laboratory of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Interests: toxicology; chemical ecology; biological pest control

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Guest Editor
Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Interests: structure biology; protein biochemistry; chemical ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the most evolutionally successful metazoans on earth, insects have developed remarkable adaptation to chemical signals and environmental stressors through perceiving and differentiating various chemical stimuli, mediating redox homeostasis, xenobiotic detoxification, host plant location, and developing resistance to pesticides. Recent advantages in molecular, genomics, genetics, epigenetics, protein chemistry, metabolomics, and chemical ecology significantly enhance our understanding of the intricate mechanisms and adaptive strategies in insect chemical adaptation. The aim of this Special Issue is to offer a comprehensive exploration of the latest breakthroughs in comprehending insect chemical adaptation. Exploring a multidisciplinary approach, we seek to consolidate knowledge that not only enriches our scientific understanding of these adaptive processes but also holds practical significance for precision pest management and the conservation of beneficial insect species.

Dr. Fang (Rose) Zhu
Dr. Shuqian Tan
Dr. Timothy Walther Moural
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • host–pathogen interactions
  • insect-mediated plant defense
  • biological pest control
  • pesticide resistance
  • plant secondary metabolites
  • xenobiotic adaptation
  • RNAi-based pest control
  • neurotoxicology
  • olfaction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 8273 KiB  
Article
Utilizing Star Polycation Nanocarrier for the Delivery of miR-184 Agomir and Its Impact on the Life History Traits of the English Grain Aphid, Sitobion avenae
by Cong Zhang, Guohua Wei, Linyuan Wu, Yunhui Zhang, Xun Zhu, Austin Merchant, Xuguo Zhou, Xiangying Liu and Xiangrui Li
Insects 2024, 15(6), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15060459 - 19 Jun 2024
Viewed by 625
Abstract
The investigation of genetics-based biopesticides has become a central focus in pesticide studies due to their inherent advantages, including species specificity, environmental safety, and a wide range of target genes. In this study, a mixture of miR-184 agomir and nanomaterial star polycation (SPc) [...] Read more.
The investigation of genetics-based biopesticides has become a central focus in pesticide studies due to their inherent advantages, including species specificity, environmental safety, and a wide range of target genes. In this study, a mixture of miR-184 agomir and nanomaterial star polycation (SPc) was used to treat the nymphs of the English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.). The life parameters of the aphids at various developmental stages were analyzed using an age–stage two-sex life table to assess the effect of miR-184 agomir on the experimental population. The results indicated that miR-184 agomir had a significant negative effect on four key life parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase, the finite rate of increase, the net rate of increase, and the mean generation time. The population prediction revealed a substantial reduction (91.81% and 95.88%) in the population size of S. avenae at 60 d after treatment with miR-184 agomir, compared to the control groups. Our findings suggest that the miR-184 agomir has the potential to reduce the survival rate and mean longevity of S. avenae, highlighting its potential as a promising candidate for the development of an effective genetics-based biopesticide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Insect Chemical Adaptation)
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18 pages, 15723 KiB  
Article
Discovery of Novel Potential Insecticide-Resistance Mutations in Spodoptera frugiperda
by Yuhao Cai, Huilin Chen, Mengfan Hu, Xuegui Wang and Lei Zhang
Insects 2024, 15(3), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15030186 - 11 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1631
Abstract
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a worldwide agricultural pest that invaded China in 2018, and has developed resistance to multiple insecticides. The evolution of insecticide resistance is facilitated by mutations of target genes responsible for conferring resistance. In this study, amplicon [...] Read more.
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a worldwide agricultural pest that invaded China in 2018, and has developed resistance to multiple insecticides. The evolution of insecticide resistance is facilitated by mutations of target genes responsible for conferring resistance. In this study, amplicon sequencing analyzed 21 sites in six resistance genes. In addition to known mutations, unknown variants were also found, including novel variants: F290C (ace-1 gene, 0.1% frequency), I1040T/V (CHSA gene, 0.1% frequency), A309T (GluCl gene, 0.1% frequency), and I4790T/V (RyR gene, 0.1% frequency). Additionally, molecular docking was employed to investigate the impact of the aforementioned new mutations on insecticide binding to proteins. The analyses indicated that the binding abilities were reduced, similar to the resistance mutations that were reported, implying these novel mutations may confer transitional resistance. This study may provide a foundation for understanding the functions of these novel mutations in the evolutionary processes that drive the emergence of insecticide resistance in this invasive species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Insect Chemical Adaptation)
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16 pages, 1880 KiB  
Article
Mapping and Characterization of Target-Site Resistance to Cyclic Ketoenol Insecticides in Cabbage Whiteflies, Aleyrodes proletella (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
by Viola Müller, Frank Maiwald, Gudrun Lange and Ralf Nauen
Insects 2024, 15(3), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15030178 - 6 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2035
Abstract
Cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella L., is an invasive hemipteran pest of cruciferous plants, particularly field brassica crops. Its importance has been increased over the last decade, particularly in European countries. The control of cabbage whiteflies largely relies on the application of synthetic insecticides, [...] Read more.
Cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella L., is an invasive hemipteran pest of cruciferous plants, particularly field brassica crops. Its importance has been increased over the last decade, particularly in European countries. The control of cabbage whiteflies largely relies on the application of synthetic insecticides, including tetronic and tetramic acid derivatives such as spiromesifen and spirotetramat (cyclic ketoenol insecticides), acting as insect growth regulators targeting acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). In 2019, reduced efficacy against cabbage whiteflies of ketoenol insecticides at recommended label rates has been reported. Subsequently we collected field samples of A. proletella in different European countries and confirmed the presence of ketoenol resistance in laboratory bioassays. Reciprocal crossing experiments revealed an autosomal dominant trait, i.e., heterozygotes express a fully resistant phenotype. Transcriptome sequencing and assembly of ACC variants from resistant strains revealed the presence of an ACC target-site mutation, A2083V, as previously described and functionally validated in Bemisia tabaci (A2084V in A. proletella). Next, we employed a molecular genotyping assay to investigate the geographic spread of resistance and analyzed 49 populations collected in eight European countries. Resistance allele frequency was highest in the Netherlands, followed by Germany. Finally, we provide a proposal for the implementation of appropriate resistance management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Insect Chemical Adaptation)
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