The expansion of land use in Brazil has caused biodiversity loss and increased human interaction with parasites and pathogens previously restricted to natural ecosystems. Chigger mites are ectoparasites during the larval stage and can cause skin reactions or transmit pathogens to their hosts, including humans. This study aimed to evaluate the diversity of chiggers collected from all five Brazilian biogeographical regions, along with pathogen surveillance. Specimens were subjected to both morphological taxonomy and endogenous control, followed by PCR assays targeting pathogens of the genera Borrelia, Orientia, and Rickettsia. The analyses revealed a high species richness, including two novel records in Brazil: the genus Boshkerria and the species Quadraseta antillarum. Additionally, the genus Quadraseta tested positive for Rickettsia sp., while tests for the other agents were negative. This is the first report of a Rickettsia sp. agent detected in a Quadraseta nymph.

Regulation of metamorphosis in holometabolous insects.

Correlation between serological tests and radiological imaging in the diagnosis of hydatid disease.

Genetically modified (GM) cotton expressing Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ) toxins is an important tool for managing lepidopteran pests in Brazil; however, its efficacy against Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is reduced because of widespread resistance to Bt maize. Here, we evaluated the performance of Bt cotton and insecticides against Vip3Aa20-resistant, Vip3Aa20-susceptible, and heterozygous strains. The study included two phases: (i) assessment of larval survival and development on Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2/Vip3Aa20, Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2, and non- Bt cotton, and (ii) evaluation of the efficacy of thiodicarb and flubendiamide against L2 and L4 larvae surviving on these cotton types. Survival patterns on Bt cotton differed among strains: resistant larvae reached adulthood on both Bt cotton types, albeit with prolonged developmental time; heterozygous larvae survived only on Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 cotton; and susceptible larvae died in early instars on both Bt technologies. All strains showed high survival on non- Bt cotton. Thus, Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2/Vip3Aa20 cotton controlled susceptible and heterozygous larvae completely but allowed substantial survival of resistant larvae, whereas Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 cotton was effective mainly against susceptible insects. Thiodicarb caused consistently high mortality of L2 and L4 larvae, including Bt and non- Bt survivors, whereas flubendiamide showed limited lethality. Although combining either type of Bt cotton with thiodicarb improved overall control, it did not fully suppress resistant larvae. These results demonstrate that Vip3Aa20 resistance in S. frugiperda reduces the efficacy of current Bt cotton technologies and underscore the need to integrate Bt cotton with insecticides for the management of this pest. • Vip3Aa20 resistance in Spodoptera frugiperda reduces Bt cotton efficacy. • Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2/Vip3Aa20 cotton controls susceptible and heterozygous, but not resistant larvae. • Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab2 cotton controls only susceptible larvae. • Thiodicarb controls Vip3Aa20-resistant larvae across instars in Bt and non- Bt cotton. • Flubendiamide shows reduced control of resistant and heterozygous in both cotton types.

Efficacy of biological control agents against Popillia japonica: A strategy to reduce the risk of pest spread via potted plant substrates.

Copepods of the genus Mesocyclops are promising biological control agents against Aedes aegypti larvae, the primary vectors of dengue in tropical regions. However, the influence of prey density and environmental factors on the predatory efficiency of Mesocyclops copepods against Ae. aegypti larvae remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the predatory capacity of the tropical freshwater copepod predator Mesocyclops thermocyclopoides across 12 combinations of four larval instars (L1-L4) under three water volumes (5, 10, and 20 mL). Functional response (FRs) models were employed to quantify predation rates as a function of prey density and water volumes. Predation is significantly influenced by both larval stage and water volume, particularly, higher predation rates occurred in early-stage larvae (L1-L2) in medium volumes (10 mL). The predator consistently exhibited FRs type II among all water volumes. High predatory efficiency was observed to correspond with high attack rates and low handling times. While early instars were more frequently killed in absolute number, the probability of surplus killing was significantly higher for later instars. These findings demonstrate that M. thermocyclopoides is an effective predator of Ae. aegypti larvae and highlight its potential as a natural biological control agent for mosquito-borne diseases. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

CgC/EBPβ promotes haemocyte proliferation in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) by mediating transcriptional regulation of CgRunx-1.

Early-life triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) exposure impairs the zebrafish dopaminergic system and elevates parkinsonian-like neurotoxicity risk.

Molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus EGR-02244 and its functional role in canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Effects of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides on amphibian development from early cleavage to metamorphosis: A systematic review of laboratory evidence.

Digging mammals function as ecosystem engineers by altering soil structure, influencing nutrient cycling and shaping vegetation communities. The widespread decline of these taxa globally, driven by habitat loss and introduced predators, has triggered cascading ecological effects, yet the consequences for soil-dwelling insect communities remain poorly understood. Insects, many of which have subterranean larval stages, provide essential functions such as pollination, decomposition and nutrient cycling, making them ideal indicators for evaluating the restructuring of ecological communities following mammal reintroductions. Here, we used data from a long-term experimental mammal exclusion study within a predator-free sanctuary (Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary) in south-eastern Australia to test how the reintroduction of digging mammals affects the structure and composition of insect communities emerging from soil. We sampled insects using emergence traps across replicated plots of mammal reintroduction, exclusion, and procedural control in 2010 and in 2018, 8 years after fence installation. While variation in digging activity (indexed by pit density) did not significantly affect richness or biomass of soil-emerging insect taxa, areas with digging showed reduced insect abundance. Hierarchical modelling of taxa communities revealed that parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) and predatory robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae) were strongly associated with plots without digging activity, likely reflecting sensitivity to direct predation or nest disturbance. No herbivorous beetle taxa showed a statistically supported association with treatment, indicating that negative associations with digging activity were restricted to specific parasitoids and predatory groups, rather than representing a consistent trophic-wide response. Our findings therefore indicate that the reintroduction of ecosystem engineers alters insect assemblages, potentially cascading through to multitrophic interactions and ecosystem functioning. This is important because it (1) suggests there may have been profound effects of the widespread loss of ecosystem engineers on ecosystems across the Australian continent; and (2) highlights that whole-of-ecosystem knowledge is critical to getting rewilding right. We emphasise the importance of thorough, long-term ecological monitoring of invertebrate assemblages to inform mammal reintroduction and restoration efforts, ensuring they align with broader ecosystem management objectives.

Cordyceps cateniannulata: a promising biological control agent for coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeella).

Coexistence of pest and non-pest wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in agricultural fields makes species-level identification critical to determine when pest management measures are required. However, morphological identification of wireworms (larval stage of click beetles) is challenging, as larvae are difficult to distinguish based on morphological features and misidentifications are common. Here, we developed species-specific primers for 15 click beetle species to be used in PCR-based species-level identification for agricultural fields across Canada. Partial sequences of the gene regions cytochrome c oxidase I (COXI), 16S, 12S, 28S, 18S, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), cytochrome-b (CYTB), elongation factor 1 (EF1), ATP6/8, NADH dehydrogenase 1 (ND1), NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2), NADH dehydrogenase 3 (ND3), NADH dehydrogenase 4 (ND4), NADH dehydrogenase 5 (ND5) and NADH dehydrogenase 6 (ND6) were generated for elaterid species of interest. Of these gene regions, primers were designed on the mitochondrial gene regions COXI, CYTB and ND1 that had sufficient variation to discriminate among species and tested for species specificity using additional pest and non-pest species from the families Elateridae, Carabidae, Scarabidae and Silphidae. Specificity testing confirmed that all primer sets were species-specific. The novel primers designed in this study allow for PCR-based species identification of 15 economically important click beetle pest species in Canada. Further testing is needed to validate the assay for use outside of Canada. Accurate species-level identification will benefit pest management professionals by informing management decisions and reducing the use of insurance insecticide applications due to difficulties with identifications of wireworm pest species. © 2026 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada and The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

In vitro anthelmintic effect of anacardic acid and ivermectin, individually and in combination, against Haemonchus contortus.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by human-infective schistosomes (Trematoda: Schistosoma). Intestinal schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa and the Neotropics is caused primarily by Schistosoma mansoni and is transmitted by several Biomphalaria planorbid snail species. Adult male and female parasites in the definitive mammalian host pair and reside in the mesenteric vasculature; females lay eggs that traverse the intestinal wall to be excreted, but a significant proportion become trapped in host tissues, especially the liver, eliciting granulomatous immune responses that underlie most disease pathology. Schistosoma mansoni is the primary lab model for research, and, due to the abundance and ease of harvesting, liver-derived eggs are almost exclusively used to maintain the life cycle and to study miracidia and subsequent larval stages. However, recent evidence shows that eggs from the liver or intestine have key morphometric, transcriptomic, and antigenic differences, which can profoundly affect experimental outcomes. To determine whether these differences extend to the miracidia stage, we compared miracidia hatched from mouse liver and intestine-derived eggs, sequencing their transcriptomes and assessing their unstimulated behaviors over time in an arena allowing for high-resolution tracking of miracidia behavior at a large spatiotemporal scale. We found that while transcriptomic profiles of miracidia are distinguishable based on egg tissue origin, only a small subset of genes is differentially expressed. Further, the basic, unstimulated behavior of miracidia that developed in different niches of the definitive host was significantly different. These different behavioral programs may reflect intrinsic developmental programming or differential viability and hardiness related to tissue origin. These findings underscore the importance of egg source in experimental design and interpretation, with significant implications for the maintenance of laboratory life cycles and the use of miracidia in schistosomiasis research.

Bioactivity of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Sordariomycetes) and Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) on Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) eggs.

A systemic role of macrophage-derived BMP2/4 homolog Dpp in inhibiting sterol hormone synthesis under dietary stress.

ObjectivesCystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the Echinococcus granulosus larval stage, poses health problems in the world, including Iran. This study is aimed at investigating the epidemiological and molecular characterization of E. granulosus collected from CE samples in Urmia, the northwest of Iran.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, the demographic information of 295 hydatid cyst patients who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2021 was recorded and analyzed statistically. Due to time and financial constraints, a total of 74 samples were evaluated. DNA of FFPE (formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded) hydatid cyst samples was extracted, and PCR was performed using mitochondrial genes cox1 and nad1. PCR products were electrophoresed and sequenced, and sequence analysis was performed using BioEdit and BLAST software.ResultsAmong 295 cases studied, 173 (58.64%) were female and 122 (41.36%) male, respectively, and the CE frequency was significantly higher in patients aged 20–30 (n = 24/295; 8.1%), villagers (n = 70/295; 23.7%), and low educated cases (n = 82/295; 27.8%). The most group affected by CE was the housewives (n = 33/295; 11.2%), followed by the illiterate people (n = 82/295; 27.8%) and the farmers (n = 17/295; 5.8%). The liver (n = 52/295; 17.6%) and the lung (n = 40/295; 13.6%) were the most common sites for cyst formation, followed by the abdomen (n = 9/295; 3.1%), kidney (n = 4/295; 1.4%), thorax (n = 2/295; 0.7%), spleen (n = 2/295; 0.7%), and the pancreas (n = 3/295; 1.0%). DNAs from all 74 paraffinized hydatid cyst samples were extracted successfully. Of the whole FFPE samples amplified by PCR assay using nad1 and cox1 genes, only 27 and 25 FFPE samples were sequenced, respectively. The 9.1% (n = 27) for cox1 and the 8.4% (n = 25) for nad1 were sequenced. All samples′ analyses resulted G1. In addition, analysis of cox1 and nad1 genes did not identify any haplotypic variation. DNAs from all 74 paraffinized hydatid cyst samples were extracted successfully. Of the whole FFPE samples amplified by PCR assay using nad1 and cox1 genes, only 27 and 25 FFPE samples were sequenced, respectively. The 9.1% (n = 27) for cox1 and the 8.4% (n = 25) for nad1 were sequenced. All samples analyzed resulted G1. In addition, analysis of cox1 and nad1 genes did not identify any haplotypic variation.ConclusionsMolecular findings identified the G1 genotype as the predominant genotype involved in E. granulosus transmission in the northwest region of Iran.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the CREB/ATF family and its potential role in melanogenesis in the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum).

The present study investigates the antennae and brain of the immature stages of the caddisfly Hydropsyche pellucidula (Andersen, and Klubnes1834)using scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as fluorescence microscopy. The larval antenna is unsegmented and bears two long, articulated trichoid sensilla and two large, non-articulated basiconic sensilla, all with an internal structure typical of mechanoreceptors. No changes were detected between the larval stages examined, but larval sensilla differ completely from the adult sensilla previously described in the same species, which include several chemoreceptors (e.g. trichoid, pseudoplacoid, pseudoplacoid, chaetoid, coronary, and styloconic sensilla). A preliminary account of larval brain anatomy reveals a small central body without columnar elements, mushroom bodies without calyces, and no antennal lobes in any larval stage. This condition differs markedly from the pupal brain, which-similar to the adult brain-shows a central body with a vague fan-shaped structure, mushroom bodies with small calyces, and well-structured antennal lobes containing few but relatively large glomeruli. Such dramatic change is similar to what occurs in other closely related holometabolous insects, such as Lepidoptera, but it is more pronounced, probably because of the ecological differences between larvae and adults, as also observed in other aquatic insects such as mosquitoes. The results of this research shed light on overlooked aspects of caddisfly biology. Moreover, they may enhance our understanding of the evolution of insect olfaction, since caddisflies are among the most important orders of aquatic insects and the closest relatives of Lepidoptera, a key model system in insect chemical ecology.