Plutella Xylostella Research Articles

Unraveling Key Amino Acid Residues Crucial for PxGSTs1 Conferring Benzoylurea Insecticide Resistance in Plutella xylostella.

The widespread use of benzoylurea insecticides (BUs) has led to significant resistance issues in various agricultural pests. Previous studies have demonstrated that the overexpression of sigma glutathione S-transferase 1 (PxGSTs1) can confer resistance to novaluron in Plutella xylostella; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study investigates the role of glutathione S-transferase PxGSTs1 in mediating resistance to BUs in P. xylostella. Using a combination of RNA interference and transgenic Drosophila models, we demonstrated that the overexpression of PxGSTs1 significantly contributes to the resistance against BUs. Functional assays revealed that PxGSTs1 binds to these insecticides with varying affinities. Structural analysis through homology modeling and molecular docking identified the importance of hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking in resistance mechanisms. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed the critical role of Ser65 and Tyr97 in these interactions. Our findings provide a molecular basis for the development of novel BUs and inform strategies for managing BU resistance in P. xylostella.

Studies on the synthesis, crystal structures, biological activities and molecular docking of novel natural methylxanthine derivatives containing piperazine moiety.

A series of novel methylxanthine Mannich base derivatives containing substituted piperazine groups were synthesized through Mannich reaction. The structures of these new compounds were confirmed by NMR, HRMS or elemental analyses, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Bioassay results showed that some of the compounds exhibit favorable fungicidal and insecticidal potentials. Particularly, compounds IIk, IIq, IIs and compounds If, IIk against Physalospora piricola and Rhizoctonia cerealis, respectively, were comparable with Azoxystrobin and Chlorothalonil; compound Ik exhibited higher potency than Triflumuron against Plutella xylostella L., suggesting its potential as a lead compound for further development in insecticidal applications. Despite possessing weak herbicidal activities, the target compounds, especially the methylxanthine S-Mannich base derivatives I displayed remarkable inhibitory activities toward ketol-acid reductoisomerase (KARI); compounds Ib, If, and Ik which had Ki values of 2.41-8.08 µmol/L can be novel potent KARI inhibitors for deeper exploration. The SARs were analyzed in detail. The molecular docking studies on the highly active inhibitors with KARI provided possible binding modes between inhibitor and the target enzyme. The physicochemical parameter predictions indicated that compounds Ik, IIk, IIq and IIs have "druglike structure" features. The research results in this article may bring a new inspiration to the extensive explorations on new methylxanthine derivatives in pesticide area.

Fitness Costs in Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Resistant to Lufenuron, A Chitin-Synthesis Inhibitor Insecticide

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is the main pest of Brassicas crops worldwide, and its recorded resistance to 101 active ingredients indicates it is difficult to control. The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that P. xylostella has fitness costs associated with its resistance to lufenuron, a chitin-synthesis inhibitor insecticide. Thus, concentration–mortality bioassays were performed for susceptible (REC-S), resistant (BZR-R) populations, their progenies F1 and F1′, and one established population without selection pressure (BZR-Rns) after four generations. A fertility life table was used to assess the biological performance of the REC-S and BZR-R. BZR-Rns of P. xylostella. The larval stage, longevity, and survival differed between populations. The reproductive rate (R0) was significantly lower in the F1 (♀R × ♂S) (28.19) and F1′ (♀S × ♂R) (34.06) progenies compared with their parents, but not with the relaxed BZR-Rns (39.39). The mean generation time (T), intrinsic rate of population growth (rm), and doubling time (DT) differed between REC-S and progenies, with fitness of 0.52 and 0.64 for F1 and F1′, respectively. Overall, the results suggest that the resistance of P. xylostella to lufenuron is stable and that low fitness costs appear to be associated with resistance to lufenuron, although heterozygotes showed lower fitness than their parents. Strategies such as preserving refuge areas, rotation of modes of action, etc., are essential for resistance management and prolonging the efficacy of control agents; this highlights the importance of integrated insecticide resistance management.

Discovery of Enantiopure (S)-Methoprene Derivatives as Potent Biochemical Pesticide Candidates.

(S)-Methoprene has been widely applied as a powerful biochemical pesticide to control disease vectors and other pestiferous arthropods of economic importance. As a juvenile hormone analogue, many products based on (S)-methoprene are developed and commercialized in the USA, Europe, and elsewhere. However, the agricultural use of (S)-methoprene and its analogues remains underexplored. Here, based on an intermediate derivatization strategy and structural modification, a series of enantiopure (S)-methoprene derivatives were designed for their expected bioactivity against two crop-threatening pests. Six compounds showed more than 2-fold stronger inhibition of emergence against Plutella xylostella than (S)-methoprene, among which one that was designated as B2 showed even superior activity to the conventional chemical pesticide and biopesticide with IE50 of 0.02 mg/L. Nine compounds exhibited over 2-fold higher bioactivity against Aphis craccivora growth than (S)-methoprene. The physicochemical property evaluation and toxicological test showed that the potent (S)-methoprene derivatives were low toxic to the nontarget organism and the environment. Molecular docking studies further demonstrated that the high bioactivity of B2 may be partially attributed to its great affinity for binding to juvenile hormone receptors of P. xylostella. The current study suggests that B2 is a biochemical pesticide candidate with potency to be developed as a new agrochemical for lepidopteran control.

Synthesis of novel meta-diamide compounds containing pyrazole moiety and their insecticidal evaluation

Abstract A novel series of meta-diamide compounds incorporating a pyrazole moiety (2a–2v) were designed and synthesized based on cyproflanilide. Their structures were validated through 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS analyses. These compounds were evaluated for their insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella, Mythimna separate, Tetranychus cinnabarinus, and Nilaparvata lugens. Most of the title compounds exhibited good activity against N. lugens at 400 mg/L. Compound 2k demonstrated potential for further optimization as an insecticidal lead, thereby extending the application of meta-diamide compounds in the field of sucking mouthparts.

Novel "Phenyl-Pyrazoline-Oxadiazole" Ternary Substructure Derivatives: Synthesis, Insecticidal Activities, and Structure-Activity Relationship Study.

In recent years, isoxazole insecticides or parasiticides targeting the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor, such as fluralaner or fluxametamide, featured a novel chemical structure and exhibited potent insecticidal activity with no-cross resistance. Thus, many research institutes have tried to modify the structures of these agents to find a new insecticide. Previously, the majority of researchers stuck to the "phenyl-isoxazole-phenyl" structure, making modifications only to other components. In this study, the "phenyl-isoxazole-phenyl" ternary motif was modified for the first time based on bioisosterism theory. A series of new derivatives carrying pyrazoline and 1,3,4-oxadiazole moieties were designed and synthesized to investigate their insecticidal activities against the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Preliminary bioassay data showed that some of the target compounds exhibited good insecticidal activities against P. xylostella and S. frugiperda. Especially, compound A21 showed insecticidal activity against P. xylostella (LC50 = 1.2 μg/mL) better than commercial insecticide ethiprole (LC50 = 2.9 μg/mL) but worse than parasiticide fluralaner (LC50 = 0.5 μg/mL). Similarly, compound A21 exhibited insecticidal activity to S. frugiperda (LC50 = 13.2 μg/mL) better than commercial insecticide fipronil (LC50 = 78.8 μg/mL) but worse than fluralaner (LC50 = 0.7 μg/mL). Compound A21 could serve as a potential lead compound to control P. xylostella and S. frugiperda. The three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship model revealed that the further introduction of an electron-donating group in the 2- or 3-site may increase the insecticidal activity of A21. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the hydrogen bond of A21 and receptor was important for the binding receptor. This study has identified a new substructure called "phenyl-pyrroline-oxadiazole" instead of the previously known "phenyl-isoxazole-phenyl" substructure, offering a useful guide for the design of novel insecticide molecules.

Improved Ensemble Model for Insecticide Recognition by Incorporating Insect Toxicity Data.

Pesticide molecules, such as insecticides, play a critical role in modern agricultural production. Traditional pesticide development methods are often inefficient and expensive, while data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have emerged as a useful tool to facilitate drug discovery. However, currently available commercial pesticide data is limited, which makes the trained models unsatisfactory in terms of performance and generalization. From a domain knowledge perspective, insect toxicity data were incorporated to improve the insecticide recognition of AI models. Compared to the models trained with the original data set, the new models performed better in the external validation, and their generalization was more desirable. In addition, by integrating different types of individual models, we obtained an ensemble model with better performance. Based on this, an online platform was developed to provide researchers with free access to insecticide screening (https://dpai.ccnu.edu.cn/InsectiVS/). Finally, two potential insecticide molecules with insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella were successfully identified in a real-world scenario. In conclusion, this idea connects the fields of AI and agricultural chemistry and is expected to have wide application in pesticide research.

Design, Synthesis, and 3D-QASR of Oxazoline Derivatives Containing an S-S Moiety as Potential Acaricide.

To mitigate the detrimental effects of agricultural pest mites on crop yield, an active substructure splicing strategy was employed to modify etoxazole by introducing an S-S moiety. The target products were obtained efficiently via a bilateral disulfurating reagent (DSMO), which was developed by our group. The leaf dip method was used to evaluate the activities of the designed target compounds against the eggs and larvae of the spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus). Most of the target compounds exhibited good efficacy in controlling the larvae and eggs of T. cinnabarinus. Based on these results, a three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) model was established to guide the construction of compound 7l. Notably, compound 7l exhibited a better activity against T. cinnabarinus eggs (LC50 = 0.0035 mg/L) compared to etoxazole (LC50 = 0.2990 mg/L). Greenhouse bioassays indicated that compound 7l exhibits excellent acaricidal activity against egg of T. cinnabarinus, which is better than the etoxazole at 1.0 mg/L. Additionally, some of the compounds showed inhibitory effects against Dickeya zeae (D. zeae), Xanthomonas campestris pv campestris (Xcc), Xanthomonas oryzae pvoryza (Xoo), and Xanthomonas oryzae pvoryzicola (Xoc). Furthermore, compounds 7l not only exhibited relatively potent against Plutella xylostella activities (LC50 = 24.0 mg/L) but also had low toxicity (LC50 > 11.0 μg/bee) to Apis mellifera. In conclusion, the current experimental results suggest that oxazoline derivatives containing an S-S moiety have the potential to serve as lead compounds for the development of novel acaricide agents.

Rapid evasive behaviors of diamondback moth larvae against ants

Abstract Larvae of the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) wriggle vigorously backward when physically stimulated. To explore whether this behavior is effective against ant attacks on their host plants with three-dimensional structures, we experimentally observed DBM larval movements and consequences thereof when attacked by Formica japonica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) ants on the upper and lower surfaces of host plant leaves. On the upper surfaces of leaves, DBM larvae wriggled backward in response to ant attacks, and most larvae hung from leaf edges by spinning silk threads. On the lower surfaces of leaves, DBM larvae did not wriggle backward but immediately hung from the lower surface in response to attacks. No ants were able to pursue hanging larvae. We conclude that wriggling backward by DBM larvae belongs to a sequence of evasive movements against ant attacks on upper leaf surfaces. To our knowledge, this is the first report of combined wriggling and hanging behaviors by Lepidopteran larvae that are effective against ants in three-dimensional habitats.

Regional changes of maximum dose insecticide responses in diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) populations from Georgia and Florida, USA.

Maximum dose bioassays were conducted to assess the efficacy of multiple registered active ingredients for diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), control in Georgia and Florida from 2021 to 2023 as a follow-up to an earlier study. Low efficacy (<40% mortality) was recorded for the highest labeled rate of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki strain ATBS-351 in Georgia, as well as chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, and cyclaniliprole in Georgia and Florida. The active ingredients with the highest efficacy (>80% mortality) in both states were naled, emamectin benzoate, and spinetoram. Independent analysis of data by state indicated that the efficacy of bifenthrin, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, tolfenpyrad, and methomyl was higher in Florida populations than in Georgia populations. In addition, a comparison of these data to a recent DBM maximum dose survey in the same region suggested that these DBM populations have rapidly developed high levels of resistance to cyantraniliprole and cyclaniliprole. This work provides growers in the region with a recent ranking of insecticide efficacy that documents the loss of control for certain active ingredients, which assists pest managers in the planning of ongoing insecticide rotations for DBM resistance management.

Development and assessment of Nirgundi-Chakramardha biopesticide against Diamondback Moth on Cabbage

Introduction: The global population is rapidly approaching 9.7 billion by 2050, with Africa and Asia playing significant roles in this growth. This surge necessitates increased crop production, highlighting the importance of effective pest control to ensure food security. India, facing an annual crop loss of about 30% due to pests and diseases, emphasizes the urgency of maintaining ecological balance in natural ecosystems. The diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella L.) poses a substantial threat to cruciferous plants globally, causing severe yield losses of 50–80% in infested cabbage. Addressing this challenge is crucial for minimizing crop losses and securing successful harvests. Our study aimed to analyze the emergence and abundance of small, medium, and large-sized larvae before and after applying treatments. Materials and Methods: A study with five treatments, including Nirgundi-chakramardha biopesticide and a control (Cypermethrin), was conducted. Each treatment was replicated four times, and the entire experiment was set up using a randomized block design. Results: After chemical application, all treatments displayed significant differences. The biopesticide in our study produced notable results within trial groups. Notably, the control group exhibited excellent results compared to the other treatments. Conclusion: The Nirgundi-chakramardha Biopesticide exhibited insecticidal activity against Diamondback moth pests, specifically targeting medium-sized larvae. Although not statistically significant compared to the control group, its efficacy in pest control, especially during the larval stage, indicates its potential as a viable pest management option. Further research and optimization could improve its effectiveness in combating Diamondback moth infestations.

Management of diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (L.) by bio-pesticides and botanicals

Management of diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (L.) by bio-pesticides and botanicals

Prediction, Design, Synthesis, Insecticidal Activities of Polysubstituted Pyridine Anthranilic Amide Derivatives

Based on the predicted structure, a series of polysubstituted pyridine compounds containing 5-(furan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamido were designed and synthesized. These compounds were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 19F NMR and HRMS. The results of the bioassays indicated that certain compounds exhibited promising activities against Mythimna separata and Plutella xylostella. It is noteworthy that compound I-6 exhibited 47% insecticidal activity at a concentration of 0.01 μg/mL, which reached the same activity level as chlorantraniliprole (CHL).Moreover, the cytotoxicity experiment showed compound I-26 demonstrated 50% larvicidal activity against M. separata at 10 μg/mL. Moreover, the toxicity of I-26 (IC50 0.007365 μg/mL) was superior to that of CHL (IC50 1.059 μg/mL). Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to predict the binding positions of the compounds, which demonstrated a good correlation between their insecticidal activities and their binding values. Finally, DFT calculations and molecular docking were employed to refine the binding sites of the ryanodine receptors in M. separata with CHL and I-24. The research laid a foundation for the innovation of RyR insecticides in the future.

Chlorantraniliprole resistance associated with diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) outbreaks in Arizona Brassica crops.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), isone of the most important insect pests of Brassica crops worldwide. In October 2016, outbreaks of an invasive P. xylostella population and unexpected control failures occurred on broccoli and cauliflower crops throughout all vegetable-growing regions in Arizona. Nineteen populations of Plutella xylostella were collected from 2016 to 2021 from various commercial cauliflower fields in Yuma and Scottsdale, Arizona, and from experimental broccoli plots at the University of Arizona, Yuma Agricultural Center (UAYAC), Yuma, Arizona. Populations collected from the commercial cauliflower fields had been transplanted with seedlings produced in a local Yuma nursery in 2016 and Salinas, CA in 2017 to 2018, whereas experimental broccoli plots were direct seeded. These populations were evaluated for their susceptibility to chlorantraniliprole, spinetoram, emamectin benzoate, and cyantraniliprole. In this study, field rate laboratory bioassays, serial dilution laboratory bioassays, and field efficacy spray experiments were performed. The field rate laboratory bioassay results showed that spinetoram, emamectin benzoate, and cyantraniliprole remained effective at controlling P. xylostella, but chlorantraniliprole did not control P. xylostella at the field rate. Additionally, serial dilution bioassays confirmed significant levels of cyantraniliprole and chlorantraniliprole resistance in the P. xylostella populations collected from transplanted cauliflower fields. However, the results of the multiyear/growing-seasons study monitoring the susceptibility of P. xylostella populations collected from direct-seeded broccoli and field efficacy trials conducted at the UAYAC indicated that the resistance to diamide insecticides was neither uniform nor persistent following the 2016 outbreak. Nevertheless, the risk for P. xylostella resistance in Arizona vegetable-growing regions exists, particularly in Brassica transplants. Therefore, we recommend that Arizona Brassica growers remain vigilant and practice rigorous insecticide resistance management to offset the development of resistance.

Interactions between host plant quality and non‐consumptive predator effects on oviposition and larval behaviour of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract The presence of predators can induce non‐consumptive effects on prey that result in subsequent changes to prey behaviour and defence. We investigate the interaction between top‐down non‐consumptive effects of various stages of the predator Coccinella septempunctata L.(Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) (larvae and adult) and bottom‐up effects of host nutrition on Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) oviposition and larval host choice. We also compare the effect of presence of intact predators, predators without mandibles, confined predators and a no predator control treatment on P. xylostella larval growth, survival and herbivory. Host plant nutrition influenced the host choice of adult female P. xylostella; no interaction was observed between bottom‐up host plant nutrition and the presence of C. septempunctata adults or larvae on oviposition or larval host choice by P. xylostella. Predator presence impacted larval feeding and weight gain. The presence of free‐moving C. septempunctata adults without mandibles that could not predate P. xylostella reduced mean leaf consumption by P. xylostella larvae to 1.88 ± 0.21 cm2 and reduced weight gain to 2.12 ± 0.16 mg. Despite differences in leaf damage and larval weight gain, survival remained consistent across the non‐consumptive treatments. Intact C. septempunctata larvae reduced leaf damage and subsequent P. xylostella larval weight gain. The presence of larval predators across the non‐consumptive treatments, however, had no effect on feeding damage or weight gain. Results of our investigation indicate that C. septempunctata causes some non‐consumptive effects on P. xylostella that depend on predator life stage, level of confinement and prey life stage. It is likely that P. xylostella responds to multi‐modal cues in predator detection.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Indole-Derived N-Methylcarbamoylguanidinyl Chitinase Inhibitors with Significantly Improved Insecticidal Activity.

Chitinases play an important role in the molting process of insects and are potential targets for the development of green insecticides. Based on the feature that the +1/+2 sites in OfChtI, OfChtII, and OfChi-h have tryptophan residues in mismatch-parallel position, a strategy to introduce indole scaffold into chitinase inhibitors was proposed, and multitarget chitinase inhibitors containing N-methylcarbamoylguanidinyl and indole scaffold were successfully synthesized. The inhibitory activity showed that compound 8u exhibited significant inhibitory activity against OfChtI, OfChtII, and OfChi-h, with IC50 values of 0.7, 0.79, and 0.58 μM, and Ki values of 0.05 ± 0.005, 0.065 ± 0.004, and 0.025 ± 0.006 μM, respectively. In vivo insecticidal activity showed that compounds 8a and 8g exhibited excellent insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella and Mythimna separata, with LC50 values of 0.79 and 9.17 mg/L against P. xylostella, respectively, and 3.58 and 83.09 mg/L against M. separata, respectively, making them the most potent chitinase inhibitors with in vivo insecticidal activity discovered to date. The inhibition mechanism and binding free energy results suggested that N-methylcarbamoylguanidinyl binds to the -1 catalytic site, while additional interactions acquired by π-π stacking and hydrophobic interactions of the indole scaffold with tryptophan increase the binding affinity of the targets to chitinases. This work provides a new direction for the development of chitinase inhibitors with compounds 8a and 8g potentially serving as promising candidates for pesticide development.

Studies on the Effect of Abiotic Factors on the Larval Population of Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella L.) on Cauliflower

The field experiments on the effect of abiotic factors on larval population of Diamondback Moth was conducted at research field of Khanpur, block Pataudi of district Gurugram, Haryana during two rabi seasons i.e., 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Data revealed that the Diamondback Moth, P. xylostella population (0.33) appeared in first week of October (41st standard week) and gradually reached up to maximum level of 8.33 Diamondback Moth larvae/05 plants during third week of December (50thstandard week) during 2017-2018 however it appeared in second week of October (42nd standard week) (1.33) and gradually reached up to maximum level of 8.67 Diamondback Moth larvae/05 plants during second week of December (49th standard week) during the year 2018-2019.

Novel Pesticide Candidates Inspired by Natural Neolignan: Preparation and Insecticidal Investigation of Honokiol Analogs Containing 2-Aminobenzoxazole-Fused Core Scaffold.

As a continuation of our efforts to develop new agrochemicals with typical architecture and efficient bioactivity from plant natural products, natural neolignan honokiol was used as a lead compound to prepare novel analogs bearing the core 2-aminobenzoxazole scaffold. Their insecticidal potency against two representative agricultural pests, Plutella xylostella Linnaeus and Mythimna separata (Walker), were evaluated in vivo. The pesticide bioassay results revealed that compounds 7″a, 9, 10d, and 10j exhibited prominent larvicidal activity against the larvae of P. xylostella (LC50 = 7.95, 11.85, 15.51, and 12.06 μg/mL, respectively), superior to the precursor honokiol (LC50 = 43.35 μg/mL) and two botanical insecticides, toosendanin (LC50 = 26.20 μg/mL) and rotenone (LC50 = 23.65 μg/mL). Compounds 7d, 10d, and 10j displayed a more pronounced nonchoice antifeedant effect (AFC50 = 9.48, 9.14, and 12.41 μg/mL, respectively) than honokiol (AFC50 = 54.81 μg/mL) on P. xylostella. Moreover, compounds 7b, 7″a, 9, 10d, 10f, and 10j showed better growth inhibitory activity against M. separata (LC50 = 0.36, 0.34, 0.28, 0.16, 0.26, and 0.11 mg/mL, respectively) than honokiol, toosendanin, and rotenone (LC50 = 1.48, 0.53, and 0.46 mg/mL, respectively). A potted plant assay under greenhouse conditions illustrated that compounds 10d and 10j continued to provide good control efficacy against P. xylostella and an apparent protective effect on plants. Further cytotoxicity assay revealed that the aforementioned potent compounds showed relatively moderate toxicity and a good safety profile for non-target mammalian cells. Overall, the current work provides valuable insight into the agrochemical innovation of honokiol-derived analogs for use as natural-inspired pesticides in agricultural pest management.

Characterization of larval gut microbiota of two endoparasitoid wasps associated with their common host, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae).

Insect gut microbes play important roles in digestion, metabolism, development, and environmental adaptation. Parasitoid wasps are one of the most important biological control agents in pest control, while the gut microbial species compositions and the associated functions have been poorly investigated. Two endoparasitoid wasps, Cotesia vestalis and Diadromus collaris, parasitize the larval stage and pupal stage of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, respectively. Using whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we characterized the gut microbial composition, diversity, and potential functional roles associated with the two parasitoid wasp larvae. The results reveal that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes are the dominant phyla in the gut of C. vestalis and D. collaris larvae, with Rhizobium and Enterococcus being the dominant genera. The putative microbial functions associated with the two parasitoid wasps might play a virtual role in assisting in consuming the host's nutritional composition. The enriched CAZymes family genes are primarily involved in the degradation and synthesis of chitin. Despite the richness of microbial species and communities, the microbes species and the microbial community structure exhibit significant similarity between the two parasitoid wasps and between the parasitoid wasp and the host P. xylostella. Notably, the prevalence of the genus Enterococcus shared among them suggests a possible link of gut microbes between the host and their associated parasitoids. Our study offers insights into the gut microbe-based interactions between the host and parasitoid wasps for the first time, potentially paving the way for the development of an ecologically friendly biocontrol strategy against the pest P. xylostella.IMPORTANCEEndoparasitoid wasps spend the majority of their lifespan within their host and heavily rely on the host's nutrition for survival. There is limited understanding regarding the composition and physiological impacts of gut microbial communities in parasitoid wasps, particularly during the larval stage, which is directly linked to the host. Based on a thorough characterization of the gut microbe and comprehensive comparative analysis, we found the microbial species of the larval parasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis and the pupal parasitoid wasp Diadromus collaris were similar, sharing 159 genera and 277 species, as were the microbial community structure. Certain of the dominant microbial strains of the two parasitoid wasps were similar to that of their host Plutella xylostella larvae, revealing host insect may affect the microbial community of the parasitoid wasps. The putative microbial functions associated with the parasitoid wasp larvae play an important role in dietary consumption.

Important Insect Pests on Cabbage in Lao PDR

This study was conducted in Xiengkhouang province, Vientiane province, Saravane province, Champasak province, Vientiane Capital, and Plant Protection Center, from January to March 2017. The aims of study were to investigate to major insect pests on cabbage and compared the efficacy of Jeevatu, Jeevatu+botanical pesticide and chemical pesticide to control Diamondback moth in laboratory condition. The study was divided into two treatments: 1) survey important insect pests of cabbage in 3 purposive sampling areas (field)/village, 10 points/rai, and 3 cabbages/point to identify insect pests and survey the life cycle of Diamondback moth of cabbage, and 2) conduct the efficacy experiment of Jeevatu, Jeevatu+botanical pesticide and chemical pesticide to Diamondback moth in laboratory. The experiment was done by Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The survey showed that there are 8 species of insect pests on cabbage and the most important species is Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) which was found in all provinces that had been survey than followed by striped flea beetle (Phyllotreta striolata), cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapae), taro caterpillar (Spodoptera litura), cabbage webworm (Hellula undalis), cabbage looper (Trichoplasia ni) and flea beetle (phyllotreta cruciferae). Life cycle of Diamondback moth was investigated in that laboratory, and it showed that the total of life cycle took about 14-21 days that included 3-5 days for egg stage, 8-12 days for lavae stage, 3-4 days for pupae stage, and 13-31 days of bebeing mature. The efficacy of Jeevatu+Sugar apple leaf extracts, Jeevatu+Neem extracts, and Jeevatu with water for control Diamondback moth indicated that after 5 days sprayed, the mortality percentage was up to 90%, 80% and 57% respectively. For chemical sprayed for 2 days, the mortality percentage was up to 100%. The results of this study showed that the Jeevatu+botanical pesticide can be used as a substitute for substituting chemical in preventing the control Diamondback moth.