Domestic Insect Research Articles

Impact of leaves of different mulberry genotypes on nutritional efficiency of conversion parameters of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is a domesticated insect widely used to produce silk worldwide for human consumption. B. mori is a monophagous insect that feeds on nutritious mulberry leaves to produce silk. The efficiency of conversion of leaves to larval biomass by silkworm larva largely depends upon the type of silkworm breed/hybrid and the quality of mulberry leaves fed to them. The silkworms having good efficiency of conversion of leaves perform better in larval growth and silk gland development, which finally leads to enhanced silk production. In the current research work, the highest efficiency of conversion of ingesta to larva (28.608%) and efficiency of conversion of digesta to larva (51.527%) were found in Goshoerami fed silkworm batch which differed significantly from other varieties.

Understanding the seasonal dietary patterns of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) for conservation implications in the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalayas

BackgroundWild canids form an important component of the ecosystem but are generally less studied and least prioritized for conservation. Diet is fundamental for effective management and exhibits the role of a species in an ecosystem. Golden jackal (Canis aureus, Linnaeus, 1758), a medium-sized canid species is known for opportunistic and omnivorous foraging behavior. MethodsThis research investigates the feeding ecology of golden jackals within the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalayas. From August 2020 to July 2022, trails (n = 9; 1.5–5.5 km) were walked seasonally (once per month) to collect fecal samples (n = 128) for investigation of seasonal diet composition and dietary niche breadth and biomass consumption of prey items by golden jackal. The association between the coefficient of digestibility value and food items was assessed using the Pearson correlation. We also conducted PCA to understand contribution of major dietary items. ResultsScat analysis revealed that jackals feed on both animal and plant matter. Animal matter constituted most of the diet, encompassing small mammals and domestic livestock, insects, and birds. Rodents emerge as the dominant dietary item, maintaining consistent prevalence year-round. Livestock carrion, notably domestic sheep formed a significant component across all seasons, with maximal consumption observed in summer. Notably absent from the jackals' diet were traces of threatened mountain ungulates. Domestic sheep emerged as the primary contributor (33.4 %) to the overall biomass consumed, highlighting the jackals' interaction with human-associated food resources. The research unveils an overall dietary niche breadth of 0.38, indicating a low degree of dietary diversity. Seasonal analysis indicates heightened dietary overlap in the autumn-summer transition, with rodents, domestic sheep, and birds being major contributors to this overlap. ConclusionThe findings underscore the adaptability of golden jackals to diverse food resources in a seasonal environment. This study provides foundational insights into the dietary ecology of jackal crucial for its conservation and management strategies in the ecologically fragile ecosystem. The finding gives a hint at the role jackals can play in regulating rodent populations and contributing to environmental cleanliness by scavenging.

Understanding the animal waste issue on World beaches

This opinion paper emphasizes the often overlooked but significant issue of animal waste (AW) pollution on beaches, encompassing waste from domestic pets, livestock, wildlife, avians, aquatic animals, zoo animals, and insects. Animal waste pollution affects beach environments, leading to nutrient loading, chemical contamination, and pathogen transmission. Furthermore, this type of pollution degrades water quality, impacting tourism and local economies. This paper proposes four categories of AW based on its source and impact, offering a coastal management perspective. Similarly, a comprehensive approach to addressing AW pollution on beaches is presented, with a focus on removal, education, prevention, mitigation, and behavioral change. Strategies are customized to different beach typologies, considering user demographics, accessibility, and environmental sensitivity. The information presented here highlights the necessity for effective management and mitigation of AW pollution on beaches, show up the interdependence of ecological health, public well-being, and economic vitality in coastal areas.

The Liver of Young and Old Female Rats Exhibits Heightened Susceptibility to Dichlorvos Exposure

Exposure to industrial and agricultural environmental contaminants has been shown to produce deleterious effects on different organs of the human body. Dichlorvos [O, O-dimethyl O-(2,2-dichlorovinyl) phosphate, DDVP] is a major organophosphate pesticide used mostly in developing countries for domestic and agricultural insect control. The toxic effects of DDVP have been reported on many organs. However, its gender and age-dependent effects on the liver are yet to be documented. This study investigated the influence of gender and age on liver damage in male and female rats exposed to DDVP. Animals were divided into control and experimental groups with age and gender classification. Using age, rats were classified into young, middle-aged, and old age groups. Rats in the experimental groups were exposed to DDVP from 8 am to 12 noon for five weeks. Rats were subsequently euthanized and liver tissues were harvested for biochemical assay. Glutamyl transferase (GGT), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Albumin, and conjugated bilirubin were assayed using ELISA kits. Statistical analysis was done using two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey post-Hoc test at significance level of p<0.05. Our study found that DDVP exposure caused liver damage in female rats only with significant elevation in liver enzymes such as ALP, ALT, AST, and LDH. However, the male rats showed more resistance to DDVP exposure. The liver damage observed in female rats was age-dependent, with young and old rats showing higher susceptibility compared to middle-aged female rats. Nutritional and pharmacological strategies are recommended to mitigate the effect of DDVP exposure, particularly in populations at higher risk of exposure.

SilkMeta: a comprehensive platform for sharing and exploiting pan-genomic and multi-omic silkworm data.

The silkworm Bombyx mori is a domesticated insect that serves as an animal model for research and agriculture. The silkworm super-pan-genome dataset, which we published last year, is a unique resource for the study of global genomic diversity and phenotype-genotype association. Here we present SilkMeta (http://silkmeta.org.cn), a comprehensive database covering the available silkworm pan-genome and multi-omics data. The database contains 1082 short-read genomes, 546 long-read assembled genomes, 1168 transcriptomes, 294 phenotype characterizations (phenome), tens of millions of variations (variome), 7253 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), 18 717 full length transcriptsand a set of population statistics. We have compiled publications on functional genomics research and genetic stock deciphering (mutant map). A range of bioinformatics tools is also provided for data visualization and retrieval. The large batch of omics data and tools were integrated in twelve functional modules that provide useful strategies and data for comparative and functional genomics research. The interactive bioinformatics platform SilkMeta will benefit not only the silkworm but also the insect biology communities.

Geospatial Analysis and Molecular Epidemiologic Study of Emerging Pulmonary Lophomoniasis in Iran: A National Registry-Based Study.

Bronchopulmonary lophomoniasis (BPL) is a protozoan pulmonary disease that has been reported sporadically, but its incidence has been increasing. However, the epidemiology and risk factors of the disease have not been clearly identified. The current study aims to identify BPL cases molecularly and assess the demographic and some environmental factors for the first time on the prevalence of BPL as a national registry-based study in Iran. Methodology. The study tested 960 patients with lower respiratory tract symptoms whose bronchoalveolar lavage samples were submitted from seven provinces of Iran to the Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis. They were tested for BPL by a newly developed polymerase chain reaction test. The study assessed the association of Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), digital elevation model (DEM), and geographic latitude as environmental factors and sex and age as demographic factors on the prevalence of BPL. Geospatial information systems methods and chi-squared and Pearson's correlation tests were used for the assessment of geographical and environmental factor effects and statistical analysis, respectively. Of the 960 patients, 218 (22.7%) tested positive for BPL; the highest and lowest prevalence rates were reported from the south and northeast of Iran, respectively. The study found a correlation between geographic latitude and age with BPL prevalence, but no association was found for gender, NDVI, or DEM. Most patients were over 40 years old, and the rate of disease was higher in southern latitudes. Age and geographical latitude were found to be risk factors for BPL. More exposure to dust and/or chronic pulmonary problems may explain the higher prevalence of the disease in older adults. Higher rates of BPL in lower latitudes may be due to warmer weather and longer days, which can confine individual activities indoors and result in more contact with domestic insects and infected dust.

Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus Hijacks Multivesicular Body as an Alternative Envelopment Platform for Budded Virus Egress.

Baculovirus budded virus (BV) acquires its envelope and viral membrane fusion proteins from the plasma membrane (PM) of the host cell during the budding process. However, this classical BV egress pathway has been questioned because an intracellularly localized membrane fusion protein, SPΔnGP64 (glycoprotein 64 [GP64] lacking the signal peptide [SP] n region), was assembled into the envelope to generate infective BVs in our recent studies. Here, we identify an additional pathway for Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) BV assembly and release that differs, in part, from the currently accepted model for the egress pathway of baculovirus. Electron microscopy showed that during infection, BmNPV-infected cells contained many newly formed multivesicular body (MVB)-like compartments that included mature virions at 30 h postinfection (p.i.). Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that the MVBs contained CD63, an MVB endosome marker, and GP64, a BmNPV fusion glycoprotein. MVB fusion with the PM and the release of mature virions, together with naked nucleocapsids, were observed at the cell surface. Furthermore, MVB egress mediated the translocation of SPΔnGP64 to the PM, which induced cell-cell fusion until 36 h p.i. This BV egress pathway can be partially inhibited by U18666A incubation and RNA interference targeting MVB biogenesis genes. Our findings indicate that BmNPV BVs are enveloped and released through MVBs via the cellular exosomal pathway, which is a subordinate BV egress pathway that produces virions with relatively inferior infectivity. This scenario has significant implications for the elucidation of the BmNPV BV envelopment pathway. IMPORTANCE BmNPV is a severe pathogen that infects mainly Bombyx mori, a domesticated insect of economic importance, and accounts for approximately 15% of economic losses in sericulture. BV production plays a key role in systemic BmNPV infection of larvae. Despite the progress made in the functional gene studies of BmNPV, BmNPV BV egress is ill-understood. This study reports a previously unreported MVB envelopment pathway in BmNPV BV egress. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a baculovirus using dual BV egress pathways. This specific BV egress mechanism explains the cause of the non-PM-localized SPΔnGP64-rescued gp64-null bacmid infectivity, elucidating the reason underlying the retention of SP by BmNPV GP64. The data obtained elucidate an alternate molecular mechanism of baculovirus BV egress.

The effects of short-term dietary exposure to SiO2 nanoparticle on the domesticated lepidopteran insect model silkworm (Bombyx mori): Evidence from the perspective of multi-omics

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (nSiO2) are one of the widely utilized nanoparticle (NPSs) materials, and exposure to nSiO2 is ubiquitous. With the increasing commercialization of nSiO2, the potential risk of nSiO2 release to the health and the ecological environment have been attracted more attention. In this study, the domesticated lepidopteran insect model silkworm (Bombyx mori) was utilized to evaluate the biological effects of dietary exposure to nSiO2. Histological investigations showed that nSiO2 exposure resulted in midgut tissue injury in a dose-dependent manner. Larval body mass and cocoon production were reduced by nSiO2 exposure. ROS burst was not triggered, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were induced in the midgut of silkworm exposure to nSiO2. RNA-sequencing revealed that the differentially expressed genes induced by nSiO2 exposure were predominantly enriched into xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, lipid, and amino acid metabolism pathways. 16 S rDNA sequencing revealed that nSiO2 exposure altered the microbial diversity in the gut of the silkworm. Metabolomics analysis showed that the combined uni- and multivariate analysis identified 28 significant differential metabolites from the OPLS-DA model. These significant differential metabolites were predominantly enriched into the metabolic pathways, including purine metabolism and tyrosine metabolism and so. Spearman correlation analysis and the Sankey diagram established the relationship between microbe and metabolites, and some genera may play crucial and pleiotropic functions in the interaction between microbiome and host. These findings indicated that nSiO2 exposure could impact the dysregulation of genes related to xenobiotics metabolism, gut dysbiosis, and metabolic pathways and provided a valuable reference for assessing nSiO2 toxicity from a multi-dimensional perspective.

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Candida species isolated from some domestic insects in Diwaniya city / Al – Qadisiya governorate

This study was conducted to identify and characterize the Candida species isolates from external surfaces of American cockroaches and houseflies by using Hichrome Candida agar as differential culture medium, germ tube , chlamydospore production and carbohydrate assimilation test. Genotypic confirmation was performed by PCR. The results of this study showed that the predominant Candida species included C. albicans(44.6%), C. glabrata(23%), C.krusei(19.6%), C. tropicalis(7.4%), C. dubliniensis(3.6%) and C. parapsilisis (1.8%) . All 27 strains indicative of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were confirmed by PCR as C.albicans (25 isolates) and C. dubliniensis (2isolates). The study should no difference between the species of Candida strains from American cockroaches and houseflies except that C. parapsilisis and C.dubliniensis which were isolated from American cockroaches. Antifungal susceptibility revealed that nystatin (98%) and fluconazole (89.3%) were highly effective against Candida species , on the hand , the highest resistance was observed in the case of ketoconazole (16%) and MICs method was excellent for determining the levels of dosage pattern for each species compare with disc diffusion method.

Новые подходы к ведению пациентов с нестойкой ремиссией круглогодичного аллергического ринита на фоне персистирующей хламидийной инфекции

Currently, allergic rhinitis is a global socioeconomic problem. According to current statistics, from 15 to 30% of the world’s population suffers from year-round or seasonal allergic rhinitis. Increasingly, the attention of Russian clinicians is attracted by the problem of year-round allergic rhinitis as there is an increase in the incidence in patients of the central zone of the Russian Federation with this form of rhinitis due to sensitization to house dust mite allergens, epidermal allergens of domestic animals, insect and mold allergens. Despite a timely diagnosis and received basic treatment, patients suffering from year-round allergic rhinitis often fail to achieve stable remission. Therefore, we can conclude that a more thorough diagnosis of the disease is needed, aimed at identifying other factors that affect the course of the disease. Objective. To develop a scheme for diagnosing a possible persistent respiratory chlamydial infection that affects the course of year-round allergic rhinitis in patients with a tendency to transient remissions. Materials and methods. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses, nasal swab for flora, PCR scraping of the nasal mucosa for the detection of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA, determination of viral DNA of cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) (PCR scraping of the nasal mucosa), determination of DNA in the scraping of epithelial cells of the nasal mucosa (PCR scraping) of human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6 type). Patients who had pathological changes in computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses, deviations from the normal flora during bacteriological culture, and positive results in the PCR study of the above infections were excluded from the study. Then, PCR scraping of the nasopharyngeal mucosa for the detection of chlamydia pneumoniae, a survey of complaints (SNOT-22 questionnaire), data from an objective examination method (examination of ENT organs using video endoscopic technologies), an immunological examination of blood serum for IgG antibodies to chlamydial infection, further avidity of IgG antibodies to chlamydia pneumoniae and serum IL-6. Conclusion. The proposed diagnostic scheme will allow identifying a possible persistent respiratory chlamydial infection, which is the cause of transient remission of year-round allergic rhinitis, and developing a new integrated approach to the management of patients with year-round allergic rhinitis associated with this infection.

Molecular Evaluation of the Novel Coronavirus Infection of Cockroaches and Flies Collected from Kamkar-Arabnia Hospital in Qom City, Central Iran: With Innovated Internal Control.

Due to the confirmation of the presence of the novel coronavirus in the feces and municipal sewerage system, and the feeding of domestic insects from fecal matter, as well as the ability of these insects to mechanically transmit microbes from the sewerage system. This study was aimed at molecular evaluation of the novel coronavirus infection isolated on cockroaches and flies collected from Kamkar-Arabnia Hospital in Qom City, Iran. Totally, 18 samples; (12 samples cockroaches and 6 flies) from the external surface of cockroaches and houseflies as well as their digestive system were prepared. After designed and synthetized exogenous heterologous internal control, the RNA was extracted to investigate the contamination of these samples with the novel coronavirus. To detect the virus, the E and RdRp genes were identified. Investigation of coronavirus E gene using the multiplex one-step qPCR technique on the collected samples showed an amplification plot in CT= 35.70 related to the internal surfaces of cockroaches collected from the treatment and sick room of the hospital. Also, the design of internal control to ensure the accuracy of the extraction process was successful. According to the findings of the present study regarding detecting the presence of the coronavirus infection in the digestive system of domestic insects such as American cockroaches and considering their ability to mechanically transmit viruses, it is recommended to control the domestic insects that are in close contact with humans in crowded places such as hospitals and health centers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hiding in plain sight: Cryptic enemies are found on cochineal (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), a scale insect of economic and cultural significance.

Cochineal is the common name for cactus‐feeding scale insects in the Dactylopiidae. These ruby‐red insects include the domesticated dye insect Dactylopius coccus. Dactylopius coccus and congeners have been introduced around the world, some accidentally, to become pests of prickly pear cactus species (Opuntia), and some intentionally, for dye production or biological control of pest Opuntia. In the northern Sonoran Desert (Tucson, AZ, USA), we studied the enemy complex of D. opuntiae and D. confusus on Opuntia and characterized two cryptic enemies, a coccinellid beetle predator and a parasitoid wasp. (1) Hyperaspis sp. The coccinellid predator Hyperaspis trifurcata shares a niche with a similar, typically all‐black beetle. Morphological data, crossing tests, and phylogenetic results showed the black beetle to be a distinct, undescribed species in the genus Hyperaspis, with a rare spotted phenotype that is similar in appearance to H. trifurcata. Crossing tests among black and spotted forms showed the spotted morph is inherited as a single‐locus dominant allele. (2) Formicencyrtus thoreauini. Rearing of this ant‐like parasitoid wasp (Encyrtidae) in pure culture of D. opuntiae showed it to be a semi‐gregarious primary parasitoid of cochineal. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed instance of a cochineal parasitoid. Observations of development show early instar larvae keep their posterior end within the egg chorion, attached to an aeroscopic plate with a connection to the cochineal body wall. Late instar larvae are eventually surrounded by a membrane, likely of larval origin. Wasps then pupate in a dry air‐filled chamber within the desiccated scale remains before chewing out as an adult. Both Hyperaspis sp. and F. thoreauini may have restricted distributions. Hyperaspis sp. does not appear to be a member of the cochineal community in Mexico or Texas, and scant records suggest F. thoreauini may also be restricted to the Southwestern USA.

Nutritional Composition of Bombyx mori Pupae: A Systematic Review.

Simple SummaryThe mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori) is a domesticated insect traditionally reared to produce silk. Its pupae are historically eaten in Asian countries and are obtained as waste products from the silk reeling industry. Pupae are a promising novel food in Western countries as well as a source of proteins, lipids, and minerals. Several varied results are reported in the literature regarding the nutrient composition of silkworm pupa, and several factors must be considered when comparing the research. Some of the variables that could affect the pupal nutritional content include rearing techniques, diets, silkworm strains, killing, and drying techniques. This literature systematic review identifies the most important research areas and aids authorities and producers in the evaluation and development of silkworm pupae for novel uses.As insects have started to enter the eating habits of Western countries, an increasing amount of literature regarding the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori) prospective application as food has been published. Despite this growing interest, there is currently no systematic review of silkworm nutritional composition available. In this paper, we performed a systematic review of the recent available literature on the nutrient composition of mulberry silkworm pupae. After screening the titles and abstracts of 14,008 studies retrieved from three scientific databases, data about nutrients was extracted from 29 selected papers, together with their related variables. This systematic review provides an overview of the variety of data reported in the literature and highlights that many elements contribute to hindering a sound comparison of the different nutritional values reported for silkworm pupae. The observed variability of the composition data reported could be due to differences in diet, strains, pretreatments, and origin of the silkworm analyzed. However, all these variables were not always available and should be reported in future studies to simplify the data comparison.

Does Insect Aversion Lead to Increased Household Pesticide Use?

Simple SummaryDomestic pesticides are commonly used for killing insect pests such as cockroaches and ants, despite the potential health risks associated with pesticide exposure, especially for young children. If feelings of fear and disgust toward insect pests are motivators that can encourage people to use more pesticides than they should, it may be worthwhile to try and mitigate such feelings in both children and adults, in order to lower current and future unnecessary exposure to domestic pesticides. Since there are no studies on the possible link between the common aversion to insects and domestic pesticide use, we tested the level of aversion and recorded pesticide use among volunteers. Surprisingly, we did not find such a connection, possibly due to other, more dominant factors that affect peoples’ decisions. We did, however, identify several other attributes such as fear of toxic chemicals, vegetarianism and infestation levels, which clearly affected pesticide use patterns. Our findings may be culture-specific and relevant to the population we sampled, but future studies that should be conducted in other societies may identify different motivations for using pesticides. Such insights may improve the efforts of public health authorities to lower the non-dietary exposure to pesticides in the home environment.In many human societies, domestic insect pests often evoke feelings of disgust, fear and aversion. These common feelings may translate to increased use of household pesticides. No study has ever explored this possibility and consequently, efforts to mitigate public exposure to domestic pesticides typically focus on addressing knowledge gaps. We tested the hypothesis that negative emotions toward insects may motivate people to use pesticides, by interviewing 70 participants and assessing their insect aversion levels using a computerized test. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no effect of insect aversion on pesticide use. However, we did find that personal attributes and preferences such as wishing to avoid exposure to toxic chemicals, being vegetarian and taking frequent nature walks reduced pesticide use, in addition to low infestation levels and physical attributes of the housing unit. We emphasize the importance of conducting future studies in various societies, where insect aversion and other factors may have different effects on household pesticide use. Such studies may provide culture-specific insights that could foster the development of next-generation urban IPM (Integrated Pest Management) public education programs, which will address not only knowledge gaps, but also emotional aspects and personal attributes that lead to unnecessary or excessive use of household pesticides.

No Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Flies or Cockroaches in Households Where COVID-19 Positive Cases Resided

Flies and other arthropods mechanically transmit multiple pathogens and a recent experimental study demonstrated house flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), can mechanically transmit SARS-CoV-2. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of mechanical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by domestic insects and their potential as a xenosurveillance tool for detection of the virus. Flies were trapped in homes where at least one confirmed human COVID-19 case(s) resided using sticky and liquid-baited fly traps placed inside and outside the home in the Texas counties of Brazos, Bell, and Montgomery, from June to September 2020. Flies from sticky traps were identified, pooled by taxa, homogenized, and tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Liquid traps were drained, and the collected fluid similarly tested after RNA concentration. We processed the contents of 133 insect traps from 40 homes, which contained over 1,345 individual insects of 11 different Diptera families and Blattodea. These individuals were grouped into 243 pools, and all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Fourteen traps in seven homes were deployed on the day that cat or dog samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by nasal, oral, body, or rectal samples. This study presents evidence that biting and nonbiting flies and cockroaches (Blattodea) are not likely to contribute to mechanical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 or be useful in xenosurveillance for SARS-CoV-2.

Cricket: The third domesticated insect.

Many researchers are using crickets to conduct research on various topics related to development and regeneration in addition to brain function, behavior, and biological clocks, using advanced functional and perturbational technologies such as genome editing. Recently, crickets have also been attracting attention as a food source for the next generation of humans. In addition, crickets are increasingly being used as disease models and biological factories for pharmaceuticals. Cricket research has thus evolved over the last century from use primarily in highly important basic research, to use in a variety of applications and practical uses. These insects are now a state-of-the-art model animal that can be obtained and maintained in large quantities at low cost. We therefore suggest that crickets are useful as a third domesticated insect for scientific research, after honeybees and silkworms, contributing to the achievement of global sustainable development goals.

Short Communication: Bacillus endolithicus and Bacillus paramycoides: New isolates from housefly Musca domestica in Saudi Arabia

Abstract. El-Ghwas DE, Al-Nasser AS, Al-Sheikhy AA. 2021. Short Communication: Bacillus endolithicus and Bacillus paramycoides: New Isolates from housefly Musca domestica in Saudi Arabia. Biodiversitas 22: 4209-4214. Housefly Musca domestica Linnaeus is a common insect widely distributed all over the world. It is one of the domestic insects found associated with humans and animals. The present study investigated the bacterial diversity associated with Musca domestica samples collected from different places such as food courts and trash cans near fast-food restaurants in Makkah Province from October 2019 to December 2019. Eighteen pure isolates of bacterial strains were isolated and identified by Gram staining. Most of the bacterial isolates were Gram-positive except for two species, which were Gram-negative. The VITEK system was used to identify randomly isolate no. 5, 7, 17, 18, and 29. The results revealed that they belonged to the genus Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Micrococcus sp. respectively. Due to the most isolated strains were Bacillus sp., so 16S RNA was used to genetically identify novel isolated strains 5 and 7. Isolate no. 5 showed the highest similarity (99 %) with Bacillus endolithicus, and isolate no. 7 showed the highest similarity (99 %) with Bacillus paramycoides. This is the first record of Bacillus endolithicus and Bacillus paramycoides to be isolated from the house fly Musca domestica L.

Entomological images in Karelian beliefs

Introduction. Insects act as an element of the mythological system and rituals, provided by a variety of functions, occupied a certain place in the rituals, beliefs and medical practice of the Karelians. Among domestic insect parasites, the lice are most widely represented in the Karelian language and rituals. The research novelty of the study is determined by the fact that researchers did not turn to the question of the functioning of insects in mythological views and the ritual tradition of Karelians. However, such research is necessary in order to recreate the integrity of the mythological picture of the Karelians, which determines the relevance of this article. Materials and Methods. The material for the study was entomological images in the beliefs and folk medicine of the Karelians. They were considered using comparative historical, comparative and comparative and ethnolinguistic methods. Results and Discussion. The authors dwell on the mythological views of Karelians about domestic parasite insects using the example of lice. These beliefs are reflected in the causes of diseases, methods of treatment, as well as in mythological stories and folklore. Conclusion. The collected and analyzed linguistic and ethnographic data make it possible to come to the conclusion that the lice are the representatives of the entomofauna. Karelians have many beliefs connected with lice, which are reflected in the linguistic picture of the world and traditional culture.

Musca Domestica: A Vector of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Biocontrol Approaches

House fly “Musca domestica” Linnaeus is a common insect widely distributed all over the world and is one of the domestic insect pests found associated with human and animal. Due to their habits and habitats, house flies are able to transmit several pathogenic microorganisms to man such as: bacteria, fungi and virus. House flies are not just annoying human and animal, but they also have been known as vectors of infectious microorganisms either mechanically or biologically. Chemical insecticides have been used for many years and have been known as the most effective approach in house fly management but due to their side effects on the environment and the increasing development of pest resistance to each new chemical, studies tended to explore new alternative methods in pest control. Biological methods including different predators, parasites, entomopathogenic micro-organisms and botanical extracts showed in the last years a practical and effective ecofriendly method to control insect pests including house fly and at the same time safe on human and animal.

UNDERSTANDING INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE IN MUSCA DOMESTICA L. (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE), RESPONSIBLE ENZYME AND ITS INTERACTION NETWORK USING PPI STUDIES

The housefly, Musca domestica, L. (Diptera: Muscidae) is a genuine danger to human and creature wellbeing. Houseflies are vectors of in excess of 100 human and creature intestinal maladies. They are fit for communicating parasites that cause illnesses, for example, typhoid fever, cholera, bacillary looseness of the bowels, juvenile the runs, tuberculosis, plague, sickness, yaws, samonellosis, trachoma, and Bacillus anthracis. Creature wellbeing concerns incorporate the transmission of pinkeye. If we want to quell this insect pest the humans using insecticides and repellents but due to chronic use of these chemical compounds will create insecticide resistance in these domestic insect pests. There are numerous proteins/enzymes responsible for degradation of the chemicals used to get rid of these pests, but due to the action of some of the proteins/enzymes namely Ache gene(considering in the current study) will be rigorously involved in degradation of chemical compounds results in expressing the resistance in Houseflies. With the application of network biology the current study dealt efficiently in understanding how the interacting/supporting mechanism helps in expressing the resistance mechanism. With the help of STRING DATABASE in data collection and CYTOSCAPE-3.0 in visualization helps to its best in understanding the mechanism.