Insect Model Research Articles

The effect of seasonal temperatures on the physiology of the overwintered honey bee.

Honey bee physiology follows an annual cycle, with winter bees living ten times longer than summer bees. Their transition can be disrupted by climate change. Several climate factors, mainly temperature, may contribute to the global losses of winter bees. We simulated global warming by maintaining constant temperatures of 25°C (Group 25) and 35°C (Group 35) in rooms around hives from June to October, while a Group control experienced natural conditions. Colony performance was assessed in August and September. In February, workers were examined for physiological traits (acinus size and lipid content in the fat body) and molecular markers (vg and JHAMT), along with potential markers (ilp1, ilp2, TOR1, and HSP70). Our findings suggest that temperature decreases around winter worker broods from Group 25 in the fall led to their different physiological states related to aging in winter compared to Group 35 workers. Changes in bees from Group 35 the end of diapause were detected with an upregulation of HSP70, ilp2, and TOR1 genes. These signs of winter bees in response to summer global warming could lead to the development of strategies to prevent bee losses and improve the identification of physiological states in insect models.

Genomic exploration of retrocopies in Insect pests of plants and their role in the expansion of heat shock proteins superfamily as evolutionary targets

BackgroundGene duplication is a dominant mechanism for the evolution of genomes and plays a key role in genome expansion. Gene duplication via retroposition produces RNA-mediated intron-less copies called retrocopies, that may gain regulatory sequence and biological function to generate retrogenes. Retrocopies dynamics have been reported in several model insect species, but there is still a huge knowledge gap about retrocopies dynamics in most insects, and their role in adaptation.ResultsIn this study, we reported retrocopy dynamics in 40 species of insect pests of plants belonging to six insect orders. We identified a total of 9,930 retrocopies, which is so far the largest set of retrocopies identified in insects. The identified retrocopies were further grouped into 2,599 Retrogenes, 4,578 Chimeras, 1,241 Intact retrocopies, and 1,512 Pseudogene. We also analyzed all the identified retrogenes that were annotated into 506 gene families. The highest number of retrogenes annotated belong to the heat shock proteins superfamily and are present across all the 40 species from the six orders. We found a significant expansion of the heat shock protein superfamily in the studied species. Almost all the retrogenes, including those belonging to heat shock proteins, are under purifying selection. In summary, we report the retrocopies and retrogenes dynamics in a large set of insect pests of plants and the expansion of the heat shock protein family due to retroposition.ConclusionThis study unveils retrocopy dynamics in the insect pests of plants and highlights the evolution of new genes due to retroposition, and their role in important gene families’ expansion.

Identification and characterization of ATP-binding cassette transporters involved in chlorantraniliprole tolerance of model insect Drosophila melanogaster and agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family is one of the largest transporter families, which plays an important role in insecticide tolerance. In this study, we found that the ABC transporter inhibitor verapamil could significantly enhance the toxicity of chlorantraniliprole (CHL) to the model insect Drosophila melanogaster. Forty-six ABC transporter genes of D. melanogaster were knocked down through the daughterless-GAL4 (Da-GAL4) strain. The subsequent bioassay result showed that D. melanogaster with DmCG5772, DmCG1494, and DmCG5853 genes silencing significantly increased mortality after CHL treatment. Based on the genome of the fall armyworm (FAW), three genes with the best hits were identified, and SfABCA1 (XM_035576510.2) and SfABCG10 (XM_035577893.2) were successfully cloned. Spatiotemporal expression pattern analysis showed that SfABCA1 and SfABCG10 were both highly expressed in adult and pupal stages. Hemolymph was also a tissue with high expression of these two genes. LC10 dose of CHL could induce the expression levels of SfABCA1 and SfABCG10, with SfABCG10 upregulated 8-fold after 48 h of CHL treatment. Furthermore, overexpression of SfABCA1 and SfABCG10 increased the viability of Sf9 cell under CHL treatment. Our findings indicate that SfABCA1 and SfABCG10 might associate with the tolerance of CHL in S. frugiperda. These results are not only helpful in understanding the role of ABC transporters in CHL tolerance of other agricultural pests, but also lay a theoretical foundation for delaying the development of CHL resistance in pest management.

The JNK signalling pathway gene BmJun is involved in the regulation of egg quality and production in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

The Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathway has a key role in tissue remodelling during insect metamorphosis by regulating programmed cell death. However, multiple members of the JNK pathway in Lepidoptera remain uncharacterized. In this study, two key genes of the JNK pathway, BmJun and BmFos, were cloned from the silkworm Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect, and their effects on reproductive development were investigated. BmJun and BmFos encode 239 and 380 amino acids, respectively. Both proteins have typical basic leucine zipper domains and form a BmJUN-BmFOS dimer activator protein to exert transcriptional regulation. During the wandering stage of silkworm development, interference in BmJun expression had no effect on pupation, whereas B. mori vitellogenin (BmVg) expression, which is essential for egg development, was suppressed in the fat body and egg laying was significantly reduced. Additionally, numerous eggs appeared shrivelled and deformed, suggesting that they were nutritionally stunted. Inhibition of the JNK pathway caused abnormal pupal metamorphosis, an increase in shrivelled, unfertilized eggs, a decrease in fat body synthesis, and accumulation of BmVg in the ovaries of female B. mori. The results indicated that BmJUN and BmFOS can form an AP-1 dimer. Interfering with BmJun or inhibiting the phosphorylation of BmJUN leads to a reduction in the synthesis of BmVg in the fat body and its accumulation in the ovaries, thereby affecting the quality and production of the progeny eggs. These findings suggest that regulating Jun in the JNK pathway could be a potential way to inhibit female reproduction in Lepidoptera.

Termites and other social insects as emerging model organisms of ageing research: how to achieve a long lifespan and a high fecundity.

Social insects (termites, ants and some bees and wasps) are emerging model organisms of ageing research. In this Commentary, I outline which advantages they offer compared with other organisms. These include the co-occurrence of extraordinarily long-lived, highly fecund queens together with short-lived workers within colonies that share the same genetic background. I then summarize which new insights have been gained so far from social insect studies. Research on social insects has led to the development of a universal mechanistic framework underlying the regulation of ageing and other life-history trade-offs in insects: the TI-J-LiFe network (short for TOR/IIS-juvenile hormone-lifespan/fecundity). Because of its conservative nature, this network can be extended to also incorporate vertebrates. Current data for social insect models suggest that molecular re-wirings along the I-J-Fe (IIS-juvenile hormone-fecundity) axis of the network can explain the concurrent long lifespans and high fecundity of queens. During social evolution, pathways that foster a high fecundity have apparently been uncoupled from mechanisms that shorten lifespan in solitary insects. Thus, fecundity-related vitellogenesis is uncoupled from life-shortening high juvenile hormone (JH)-titres in the honeybee and from insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling (IIS) activity in ants. In termites, similarly, vitellogenesis seems tissue-specifically unlinked from JH signalling and IIS activity might have lost life-shortening consequences. However, as in solitary animals, the downstream processes (Li of the TI-J-LiFe network) that cause actual ageing (e.g. oxidative stress, transposable element activity, telomere attrition) seem to differ between species and environments. These results show how apparently hard-wired mechanisms underlying life-history trade-offs can be overcome during evolution.

The Never Given 2022 Pittendrigh/Aschoff Lecture: The Clock Network in the Brain-Insights From Insects.

My journey into chronobiology began in 1977 with lectures and internships with Wolfgang Engelmann and Hans Erkert at the University of Tübingen in Germany. At that time, the only known animal clock gene was Period, and the location and organization of the master circadian clock in the brain was completely unknown for the model insect Drosophila melanogaster. I was thus privileged to witness and participate in the research that led us from discovering the first clock gene to identifying the clock network in the fly brain and the putative pathways linking it to behavior and physiology. This article highlights my role in these developments and also shows how the successful use of D. melanogaster for studies of circadian rhythms has contributed to the understanding of clock networks in other animals. I also report on my experiences in the German scientific system and hope that my story will be of interest to some of you.

Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) as an alternative host for the study of pathogenicity in Candida auris

BackgroundCandida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen, has emerged as a significant global health threat due to its high transmission and mortality rates, especially in healthcare settings. ObjectiveThis study aimed to establish the larvae of the coleopteran Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) as an in vivo model to evaluate the virulence of different C. auris strains. MethodsT. molitor larvae were inoculated with varying doses and strains of C. auris. Mortality rates were monitored, melanization responses, and phenoloxidase activity were assessed. Histopathological analyses were conducted to observe tissue invasion by the yeast cells. Additionally, a biofilm formation test was included as a complementary analysis to determine if biofilm production would influence the virulence of the C. auris strains. ResultsA dose-dependent increase in mortality was observed, with the highest fungal load leading to the highest mortality rates. The study also revealed significant differences in virulence among the strains, with those from Kuwait and the reference strain CBS 10913 showing the highest pathogenicity. Melanization rates were significantly higher in infected larvae, indicating an active immune response. The histopathological analysis revealed the presence of C. auris cells within the tissue of T. molitor larvae. However, the biofilm formation complementary test did not show a significant difference in virulence among the different clades of C. auris. ConclusionThe T. molitor model effectively demonstrated the pathogenic potential and virulence differences of C. auris strains. Strains from Kuwait and the reference strain CBS 10913 exhibited the highest virulence, causing 100% mortality within 24 hours. The model also highlighted significant biofilm formation and melanization responses, correlating with fungal burden. This insect model provides a valuable and cost-effective tool for preliminary virulence screening of clinical yeast strains, offering insights into host-pathogen interactions and the potential for evaluating antifungal treatments in vivo.

Uncovering the circadian transcriptome of Nasonia vitripennis: insights into a non-canonical insect model.

The study of the circadian clock has greatly benefited from using Drosophila as a model system. Yet accumulating evidence suggests that the fly might not be the canonical insect model. Here, I have analysed the circadian transcriptome of the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis by using RNA-seq in both constant darkness and constant light (in contrast to flies, the wasps are rhythmic under continuous light). I identify approximately 6% of the transcriptome as cycling under constant conditions, revealing a bimodal distribution of phases and low cycling amplitude. I examine the biological processes under circadian control in Nasonia, identifying clock control of functions such as metabolism, light response and a variety of neural processes, drawing comparisons between Nasonia and Drosophila. Although there was little similarity between cycling genes in Drosophila and Nasonia, the functions fulfilled by cycling transcripts were similar in both species. Interestingly, of the known Drosophila core clock genes, only Pdp1e, shaggy and Clock showed significant cycling in Nasonia, highlighting the potential diversity in molecular clock mechanisms across insect species.

An immersed boundary-regularized lattice Boltzmann method for modeling fluid–structure–acoustics interactions involving large deformation

This work presents a numerical method for modeling fluid–structure–acoustics interaction (FSAI) problems involving large deformation. The method incorporates an immersed boundary method and a regularized lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) where a multi-block technique and a nonreflecting boundary condition are implemented. The von Neumann analysis is conducted to investigate the stability of the regularized LBM. It is found that the accuracy and stability of the regularized LBM can be improved when the collision operator is computed from the Hermite polynomials up to the fourth order instead of the second order. To validate the present method, four benchmark cases are conducted: the propagation of an acoustic monopole point source, the sound generated by a stationary cylinder in a uniform flow, the sound generation of a two-dimensional insect model in hovering flight, and the sound generation of a three-dimensional flapping wing. Predictions given by the current method show a good agreement with numerical simulations and analytical solutions reported in the literature, demonstrating its capability of solving FSAI problems involving complex geometries and large deformation. Finally, the method is applied in modeling sound generation in vortex-induced vibrations of a rigid cylinder and a sphere. It is found that vortex-induced vibration can enhance the acoustic intensity by approximately four times compared to that of the stationary case for a cylinder. In contrast, both vibrating and stationary spheres exhibited relatively less intense noise, primarily within the wake. Notably, the spanwise noise propagation is only observed when the sphere is vibrating.

Using Rhodamine to Tag Mites for Studies of Pre- and Post-Copulatory Sexual Selection.

Our understanding of sexual selection is advancing with new technologies that tag individuals or their sperm, revealing how females use post-copulatory processes to discriminate between competing mates. Many tagging methods have been devised primarily for model insect organisms like Drosophila or Gryllidae. Developing such novel methods, however, is expensive and requires intensive investment. In this experiment, we trial the use of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Rhodamine 110 (Rh110) in a small arachnid, the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus echinopus, for pre- and post-copulatory observations as it is a relatively inexpensive and simple way to tag individuals and their ejaculate proteins. First, we tested whether RhB and Rh110 applied to food can be used as a tagging method to track and distinguish between individuals. Second, we explored whether Rhodamine applied in this way can be used to track sperm transfer. We found that both tagging probes worked well in tagging individuals and that we were able to distinguish between individuals using both LED and fluorescent microscopy. We also found that Rhodamine degraded rapidly in the animals, likely due to their fast metabolism. Due to the rapid degradation, we observed variable results in the sperm transfer trials. We suggest multiple uses for Rhodamine and highlight other invertebrates where this method may come into use for the study of sexual selection.

Population genomics of a specialized insect, Tetraopes texanus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), across a fragmented grassland system

AbstractSpecialist insects are especially susceptible to loss of genetic diversity in the face of habitat destruction and fragmentation. Implementing effective conservation practices for specialist insects will benefit from knowledge of population structure and genetic diversity. Because insects are hyper-diverse, characterizing the population structure of all species within the insect community is untenable, even if focused within a particular habitat type. Thus, concentrating on a single species specialized to a particular habitat type is needed to infer general trends. Here, we investigate the range-wide population genetics of Tetraopes texanus Horn 1878 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), which provides a useful model of grassland insects due to its’ habitat specificity and unique biology. Tetraopes texanus occurs primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, into Northern Mexico, and possibly into eastern New Mexico but also occurs in Black Belt prairies of Mississippi and Alabama. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (RAD-seq) analysis identified two distinct population clusters of T. texanus corresponding to the Texas and Oklahoma population and the Mississippi and Alabama population. Demographic models indicate ongoing, though incomplete, isolation of the two populations, with estimated dates of divergence in the mid-Pleistocene, coinciding with the end of a glacial period and a shift in glacial interval. These results can inform conservation of grassland adapted insects and offers insight to the biogeography of the Gulf Coastal Plain.

Long-read genome assembly of the insect model organism Tribolium castaneum reveals spread of satellite DNA in gene-rich regions by recurrent burst events.

Eukaryotic genomes are replete with satellite DNAs (satDNAs), large stretches of tandemly repeated sequences that are mostly underrepresented in genome assemblies. Here we combined nanopore long-read sequencing with a reference-guided assembly approach to generate an improved, high-quality genome assembly, TcasONT, of the model beetle Tribolium castaneum Enriched by 45 Mb in repetitive regions, the new assembly comprises almost the entire genome sequence. We use the enhanced assembly to conduct global and in-depth analyses of abundant euchromatic satDNAs. Unexpectedly, we show the extensive spread of satDNAs in gene-rich regions, including long arrays. The sequence similarity relationships between satDNA monomers and arrays indicate a recent exchange of satDNA arrays between different chromosomes. We propose a scenario of their genome dynamics characterized by repeated bursts of satDNAs spreading through euchromatin, followed by a process of elongation and homogenization of arrays. We find that suppressed recombination on the X Chromosome has no significant effect on the spread of satDNAs but the X rather tolerates the amplification of satDNAs into longer arrays. Analyses of arrays' neighboring regions show a tendency of one satDNA to be associated with transposable-like elements. Using 2D electrophoresis followed by Southern blotting, we prove Cast satDNAs' presence in the fraction of extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). We point to two mechanisms that enable this satDNA spread to occur: transposition by transposable elements and insertion mediated by eccDNA. The presence of such a large proportion of satDNA in gene-rich regions inevitably gives rise to speculation about their possible influence on gene expression.

Larval development of a parasitoid depends on host ecdysteroids

Parasitoids often exhibit high flexibility in their development depending on stages of their host at the parasitism, yet little is known about the mechanism underlying such flexibility. In the study, we evaluated the larval development time of the parasitoid Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae) on the lepidopteran model insect Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). We found that the development duration of E. sorbillans larvae parasitizing on the late-developmental silkworms was significantly shorter than that of the larvae parasitizing on the early-developmental hosts. Intriguingly, the 2nd-3rd instar molting of parasitoid always occurred when the ecdysteroid titers in the host were increased to higher levels. Furthermore, inhibiting the release of ecdysteroids to parasitic abdomen by thorax-abdomen ligation of the host only repressed the 2nd-instar growth and molting of E. sorbillans larvae, but had no effect on their pupation. Meanwhile, the ecdysone synthesis and 20-hydroxyecdysone (20 E) signaling in larval parasitoids were impeded after ligation treatment. Moreover, exogenous 20 E application could largely rescue the defect in 2nd instar growth and molting through stimulating ecdysone synthesis and signaling in E. sorbillans. Our results indicate that the parasitoid requires the host ecdysteroids to stimulate 20 E signaling and the subsequent 2nd-instar growth and molting. These findings will improve our understanding of the host utilization strategies of parasitoids, and contribute to the development of in vitro rearing procedures of tachinid parasitoids for biological control.

The white gene as a transgenesis marker for the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus.

The cricket Gryllus bimaculatus is an emerging model insect of the order Orthoptera that is used in a wide variety of biological research themes. This hemimetabolous species appears highly complementary to Drosophila and other well-established holometabolous models. To improve transgenesis applications in G. bimaculatus, we have designed a transformation marker gene inspired from the widespread Drosophila mini-white+. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we first generated a loss-of-function mutant allele of the Gb-white gene (Gb-w), which exhibits a white eye coloration at all developmental stages. We then demonstrate that transgenic insertions of a piggyBac vector containing a 3xP3-Gb-w+ cassette rescue eye pigmentation. As an application, we used this vector to generate G. bimaculatus lines expressing a centromeric histone H3 variant (CenH3.1) fused to EGFP and validated EGFP-CenH3.1 detection at cricket centromeres. Finally, we demonstrate that Minos-based germline transformation and site-specific plasmid insertion with the ΦC31 integrase system function in G. bimaculatus.

Thioredoxin System in Insects: Uncovering the Roles of Thioredoxins and Thioredoxin Reductase beyond the Antioxidant Defences.

Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during aerobic metabolism in animals can negatively affect the intracellular redox status, cause oxidative stress and interfere with physiological processes in the cells. The antioxidant defence regulates ROS levels by interplaying diverse enzymes and non-enzymatic metabolites. The thioredoxin system, consisting of the enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), the redox-active protein thioredoxin (Trx) and NADPH, represent a crucial component of antioxidant defence. It is involved in the signalling and regulation of multiple developmental processes, such as cell proliferation or apoptotic death. Insects have evolved unique variations of TrxR, which resemble mammalian enzymes in overall structure and catalytic mechanisms, but the selenocysteine-cysteine pair in the active site is replaced by a cysteine-cysteine pair typical of bacteria. Moreover, the role of the thioredoxin system in insects is indispensable due to the absence of glutathione reductase, an essential enzyme of the glutathione system. However, the functions of the Trx system in insects are still poorly characterised. In the present review, we provide a critical overview of the current knowledge on the insect Trx system, focusing mainly on TrxR's role in the antioxidant and immune system of model insect species.

Male is the default sex: functional significance of the sex determination cascade in horned dung beetles.

Sex-specific trait expression represents a striking dimension of morphological variation within and across species. The mechanisms instructing sex-specific organ development have been well studied in a small number of insect model systems, suggesting striking conservation in some parts of the somatic sex determination pathway while hinting at possible evolutionary lability in others. However, further resolution of this phenomenon necessitates additional taxon sampling, particularly in groups in which sexual dimorphisms have undergone significant elaboration and diversification. Here, we functionally investigate the somatic sex determination pathway in the gazelle dung beetle Digitonthophagus gazella , an emerging model system in the study of the development and evolution of sexual dimorphisms. We find that RNA interference (RNAi) targeting transformer1 (tra1) caused chromosomal females to develop morphological traits largely indistinguishable from those normally only observed in males, and that tra1 RNAi is sufficient to induce splicing of the normally male-specific isoform of doublesex in chromosomal females, while leaving males unaffected. Further, intersex RNAi was found to phenocopy previously described RNAi phenotypes of doublesex in female but not male beetles. These findings match predictions derived from models of the sex determination cascade as developed largely through studies in Drosophila melanogaster . In contrast, transformer2 RNAi resulted in larval mortality and was not sufficient to affect doublesex splicing, whereas RNAi targeting Sex-lethal and two putative orthologs of hermaphrodite yielded no obvious phenotypic modifications in either males or females, raising the possibility that the function of a subset of sex determination genes may be derived in Diptera and thus non-representative of their roles in other holometabolous orders. Our results help illuminate how the differential evolutionary lability of the somatic sex determination pathway has contributed to the extraordinary morphological diversification of sex-specific trait expression found in nature.

Morphological and functional characterization of circulating hemocytes in Tribolium castaneum larvae.

Hemocytes are pivotal in the immune response of insects against invasive pathogens. However, our knowledge of hemocyte types and their specific function in Tribolium castaneum, an increasingly important Coleoptera model insect in various research fields, remains limited. Presently, a combination of morphological criteria and dye-staining properties were used to characterize hemocyte types from T.castaneum larvae, and 4 distinct types were identified: granulocytes, oenocytoids, plasmatocytes and prohemocytes. Following different immune challenges, the total hemocyte counts declined rapidly in the initial phase (at 2h), then increased over time (at 4 and 6h) and eventually returned to the naive state by 24h post-injection. Notably, the morphology of granulocytes underwent dramatic changes, characterized by an expansion of the surface area and an increased production of pseudopods, and with the number of granulocytes rising significantly through mitotic division. Granulocytes and plasmatocytes, the main hemocyte types in T.castaneum larvae, can phagocytose bacteria or latex beads injected into the larval hemolymph invivo. Furthermore, these hemocytes participate in the encapsulation and melanization processes invitro, forming capsules to encapsulate and melanize nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) beads. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of circulating hemocytes in T.castaneum larvae, offering valuable insights into cell-mediated immunity in response to bacterial infection and the injection of latex beads. These results deepen our understanding of the cellular response mechanisms in T.castaneum larvae and lay a solid foundation for subsequent investigations of the involvement of T.castaneum hemocytes in combating pathogens.

Characterization of ATP-binding cassette transporters associated with emamectin benzoate tolerance: from the model insect Drosophila melanogaster to the agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda.

Multiple families of detoxification genes, including the increasingly recognized family of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, work together to influence the toxicity of synthetic insecticides and thus their resistance. Effective management of insecticide resistance requires identification of all toxicity-affecting members from each family of toxicity-related genes. Here, we used emamectin benzoate (EB), ABC transporters and Spodoptera frugiperda as a working case to test whether the strategy of 'from the model insect Drosophila melanogaster to agricultural pests' can identify all or most ABC transporter members related to EB tolerance in S. frugiperda. After confirming the involvement of ABC transporters in the toxicity of EB against fruit fly with the ABC inhibitor verapamil, four ABC transporter genes (DmCG3327, DmCG11147, DmCG4822, and DmCG7627) were found to be involved in EB tolerance using RNA interference-based family-wide functional screening. A combination of phylogenic analysis and a reciprocal TBLASTN search identified five S. frugiperda ABC transporter members as homologs (SfABCC4, SfABCG1, and SfABCG23) or one-way best hits (SfABCG4 and SfABCG20) of the four fly ABC genes. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis found that all five S. frugiperda ABC transporter genes were inducible by EB, and expressed in all the developmental stages and larval tissues, but with significant quantitative differences among stages and tissues. A cytotoxicity assay of ABC-overexpressing Sf9 cell lines showed that all the five S. frugiperda ABC transporter genes made Sf9 cells tolerant to EB. This study not only identifies nine ABC transporter genes related to EB tolerance from D. melanogaster (four genes) and S. frugiperda (five genes), but also demonstrates the utility and effectiveness of the 'model to pests' strategy to identify most toxicity-affecting members from a given family of toxicity-related genes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development of Android Application for Insect Animal Recognition Based on Augmented Reality as Interactive Learning Media

This study aims to develop Augmented reality applications as an interesting and interactive learning media and able to provide convenience in introducing insect animals into 3-dimensional form. The method used to design this system is the Prototype method and application testing is used Usability testing. Based on the results of development and testing, the majority of respondents indicated that the Insect World application functions well and is easy to use. Positive responses are also seen in the perception of learning about insect animals provided by the Insect World application. The appearance of the application and the real insect models displayed are also favored by the majority of respondents, and most like the learning experience using the Insect World Augmented reality application.

Experimental evolution reveals that males evolving within warmer thermal regimes improve reproductive performance under heatwave conditions in a model insect.

Climate change is increasing mean temperatures, and intensifying heatwaves. Natural populations may respond to stress through shorter-term acclimation via plasticity and/or longer-term inter-generational evolution. However, if the pace and/or extent of thermal change is too great, local extinctions occur; one potential cause in ectotherms is identified to be the heat-liability of male reproductive biology. Recent data from several species, including the beetle Tribolium castaneum, confirmed that male reproductive biology is vulnerable to heatwaves, which may constrain populations. However, such reproductive-damage may be overestimated, if there is potential to adapt to elevated mean temperatures associated with climate change via evolution and/or acclimation. Here, we tested this to evaluate whether pre-exposures could improve heatwave tolerance (adaptation or acclimation), by experimentally evolving Tribolium castaneum populations to divergent thermal regimes (30 °C vs. 38 °C). Findings across assays revealed that relative to 30 °C-regime males, males from the 38 °C regime, maintained constantly at 8 °C warmer for 25 generations, displayed an increase; (i) in post heatwave (42 °C) reproductive fitness by 55%, (ii) survival by 33%, and (iii) 32% larger testes volumes. Unexpectedly, in the acclimation assay, warm-adapted males' post-heatwave survival and reproduction were best if they experienced cool developmental acclimation beforehand, suggesting a cost to adapting to 38 °C. These results help progress knowledge of the potential for survival and reproduction to adapt to climate change; trait specific adaptation to divergent thermal regimes can occur over relatively few generations, but this capacity depended on the interaction of evolutionary and thermal acclimatory processes.