Amblyomma crassum Robinson, 1926 (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae): morphological and molecular confirmation of females and nymphs, with description of the nymphal stage.

Viruses and their insect vectors have evolved intricate co-evolutionary mechanisms to enhance transmission efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the impact of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infection on the development of Frankliniella occidentalis, with particular emphasis on the potential involvement of Halloween genes. Genomic analysis identified seven Halloween genes. Transcriptome data from revealed significant upregulation of FoCYP307A1 and FoCYP306A1 during the nymphal and pupal stages in TSWV-infected individuals. These findings were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, which demonstrated a 1.5- to 3-fold increase in transcript levels of these genes during the nymphal, propupal, and pupal developmental stages. TSWV infection significantly shortened the nymphal and pupal developmental durations by 1 day and 0.6 days, respectively. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of FoCYP307A1 and FoCYP306A1 significantly prolonged the nymphal and pupal development time, accompanied by a 27.5% and 55% reduction in 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) levels, respectively. In addition, the transcript levels of 20E key signaling pathway genes, including FoUSP, FoBr-C, FoDHR3, FoE74A, and FoE75, decreased by 16-67%. Importantly, supplementation with 20E effectively reversed the developmental delays caused by RNAi-induced silencing of FoCYP307A1 and FoCYP306A1. Collectively, these results suggest that FoCYP307A1 and FoCYP306A1 play a critical role in mediating TSWV-facilitated development in thrips. These findings provide valuable insights into how TSWV exploits ecdysone biosynthesis to accelerate development in insect vectors, offering important implications for integrated pest and disease management strategies. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phenology of questing Ixodes frontalis nymphs reveals a late-winter to early-spring activity peak.

Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens in Otobius megnini from Central Mexico with special emphasis on Bartonella detection.

Stage-specific expression of immune-related redox metabolism genes in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus following Theileria equi infection.

Antennal morphology and ultrastructure of the New Zealand endemic mayfly, Coloburiscus humeralis.

The Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) is a destructive pest that threatens soybeans. In order to develop green and effective control strategies, we propose an EQPAL epidemic model that integrates four developmental stages (1st–2nd stage nymphs, 3rd stage nymphs, 4th stage nymphs, and adults) and a ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) compartment. This model achieves green pest control by artificially releasing a natural enemy of soybean aphids to prey on adult soybean aphids. We analyzed the dynamic behavior of the model and derived the basic reproduction number R0. Using field monitoring data from Changchun City, Jilin Province, China in 2025, the segmented nonlinear least squares method was used for parameter estimation and fitting, resulting in an overall determination coefficient of R2=0.8204. The numerical simulation results showed that the release of ladybugs significantly reduced the density and peak value of soybean aphid adults, and the predation rate β, predation conversion rate c, and ladybug migration rate ω were identified as key regulatory parameters. In addition, a cost–benefit analysis was conducted to determine the most cost-effective control measures.

Background: Bemisia tabaci is whitefly with the highest level of economic significance worldwide, has a moderate to disastrous economic. Aim: Evaluate safe alternatives to chemical pesticides for controlling the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, infesting cucumber crops. Methodology: Several pairs of adult insects (males and females) were collected from cucumber crops grown in greenhouses. Natural chitosan extracts and essential oil extracts from cloves and seeds were used. Results: Chitosan demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing susceptibility to infestation compared to the control treatment. The most effective result was observed at a 15% concentration, where the infestation rate decreased to 20.0% for the nymphal stage (compared to 61.0% in the control) and 19.6% for the adult stage (compared to 66.4% in the control). Clove oil treatments recorded high mortality rates, which increased with both concentration and exposure time. The highest mortality rate for nymphs was 86.9% at a concentration of 40 µl/mL, while the highest mortality for adults was 78.8% at the same concentration. Rapeseed essential oil also exhibited significant efficacy, correlating with increased concentrations; the maximum mortality rates recorded were 80.2% for nymphs and 73.1% for adults at a concentration of 40 µl/mL. Treatment with the Penicillium commune fungal filtrate induced high mortality rates that increased over the exposure period (1, 3, and 5 days). Conclusion: Biocontrol agents and botanical extracts (chitosan, essential oils, fungal filtrate) demonstrated high efficiency in controlling the whitefly, B. tabaci. This makes them safe and effective alternatives to chemical pesticides that negatively impact the environment and public health

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is one of the most destructive agricultural pests, posing significant challenges to sustainable crop production. Whiteflies have developed resistance to a variety of pesticides and RNA interference (RNAi) has been applied to enhance the susceptibility of pesticides. This study aims to explore the function of the endocuticle structural glycoprotein encoded gene BtSgAbd-2 and evaluate its potential for the control of whiteflies in combination with the plant-derived pesticide matrine. In this study, we found that the expression of BtSgAbd-2 positively responds to the matrine stress in B. tabaci. BtSgAbd-2 is highly expressed during the nymphal stages. It plays a conserved role in cuticle formation during molting in the whitefly. More exogenous fluorescent dyes are taken into the insect cell when cuticle is disrupted by BtSgAbd-2 interference, indicating the enhancement of cuticle permeability. Interference with BtSgAbd-2 during the nymphal stages shows lethal effects on the whitefly. When BtSgAbd-2 dsRNA is applied in combination with matrine, the mortality is much higher than single treatment. To confirm this result, hairpin dsRNA targeting BtSgAbd-2 is produced in the E. coli system and enhances the effective control in combination with matrine. Interfering with BtSgAbd-2 disrupts cuticle formation, increases uptake of exogenous substances, and enhances the mortality in combination with matrine. This integrative approach provides a promising solution for efficient and sustainable management of the whitefly. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mechanism of locust egg susceptibility to diafenthiuron: micropyle permeation and serosal cuticle disruption lead to embryonic lethality.

Tick-small mammal relationships in urban and forest environments in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan: First confirmation of the establishment of southern tick species in northern Japan.

Insect cuticles exhibit remarkable resistance to environmental stresses, largely attributed to cuticular proteins (CPs), which are crucial for insect development and adaptation. CPs also contribute to insecticide resistance, making them a key focus in molecular entomology. Apolygus lucorum, a globally distributed omnivorous pest within the Miridae family (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), inflicts significant economic losses by damaging a wide range of crops. However, information on CPs in the Miridae family remains scarce, limiting our understanding of their molecular mechanisms of adaptation and resistance. Here, we performed a genome-wide identification of CPs in A. lucorum and reanalyzed transcriptomic data under insecticide exposure to identify resistance-related candidates. A total of 211 CPs were identified and classified into 10 subfamilies. Notably, the RR-2, Tweedle, and CPF families showed significant expansions compared to other hemipterans, likely driven by tandem duplication events, which may contribute to A. lucorum's broad environmental adaptability and host range. Expression profiling revealed two major patterns: one with peak expression during the nymphal stage and another maintained throughout the entire life cycle. Crucially, 75 CPs were upregulated following insecticide treatment, underscoring their potential role in resistance and their value as targets for pest control. Our findings provide a comprehensive foundation for future studies on the molecular functions of CPs in A. lucorum and their involvement in insecticide resistance, paving the way for novel management strategies.

Grasshopper outbreaks pose serious ecological and economic threats to temperate grasslands, reducing vegetation productivity and destabilizing steppe ecosystems. To enhance monitoring and prediction, this study integrated remote-sensing indicators with ensemble machine learning and a degree-day (DD) model to assess grasshopper habitat suitability in the Xilingol steppe of Inner Mongolia from 2018 to 2022. Field-based occurrence data of Oedaleus decorus asiaticus and Dasyhippus barbipes were combined with 28 environmental variables encompassing meteorological, vegetative, soil, topographic, and landscape factors. Following multicollinearity screening using tolerance, variance inflation factor (VIF), and correlation thresholds, independent predictors were used to train four algorithms—Random Forest, Multilayer Perceptron, XGBoost, and MaxEnt—whose weighted integration formed the ensemble model. Spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analyses were employed to examine distributional clustering, while suitability maps were classified into low, moderate, and high categories. The ensemble achieved the highest predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.923–0.945), outperforming individual models. Results indicated persistent spatial clustering of grasshopper occurrences, with stable hotspots around Xilinhot and East and West Ujumqin and notable expansions during favorable years (2020, 2022). Minimum temperature during the egg stage (22.6%) and fractional vegetation cover during the nymph stage (19.8%) emerged as dominant environmental drivers, followed by precipitation, elevation, and above-ground biomass. These findings underscore the central role of temperature and vegetation dynamics in shaping grasshopper habitat suitability. The integration of DD-based phenological modeling with ensemble learning provides a robust, ecologically coherent framework for regional pest monitoring, early warning, and sustainable grassland management in semi-arid ecosystems.

This study examined the effect of gamma radiation on striped mealybug, Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) by exposing its first instar, second instar, and adult stages to various doses (0, 30, 60, 90,120, 150, 200, and 250 Gy) over an eight-week period in the phytosanitary laboratory of plant protection division, Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peshawar, Pakistan. The findings indicated that a dose of 250Gy exhibited the most satisfactory results among the evaluated gamma doses. Mortality significantly increased throughout all developmental stages, both in terms of dose and time duration. First instar nymphs appeared to be highly radio-sensitive showing complete mortality (100%) in the 5th week with a radiation dose of 250 Gy. Similar trends were also observed in second instars where (100%) mortality was achieved in 5th week at 250 Gy; however, the overall weekly mortality was a bit lower compared to 1st instar. Adults were found to be the most radio tolerance stage in terms of mortality with complete mortality (100%) achieved in week-8, at 250 Gy. Irradiation disturbed juvenile developmental process with progressively lower adult formation when first and second instar nymphs were irradiated at dose ranging from 30 to 150 Gy, however no adult formation was recorded at 200 Gy and above. The sex ratio indicates a dose-dependent reduction in female percent formation from immature nymphal stages, where at untreated group (80.43%) and (81.11%) female was recoded and sharply reduced to (62.5%) and (73.93%) when irradiated as 1st and 2nd instar nymphs respectively at dose of 150 Gy. The data combined showed that gamma irradiation has a complex inhibitory impact on F. virgata, adversely affecting survival, development, and sex ratio in a dose-dependent way. The findings robustly endorse the utilization of gamma irradiation (≥200 Gy) as an effective phytosanitary treatment and population reduction method for the integrated management of striped mealybug, F. virgata.

Extinction and persistence of Peregrinus maidis: Stochastic modeling under thermal, density-dependent, and maize off-season constraints.

Abstract The Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyri L. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is the main pest of pears in all pear-growing regions of Turkey as well as in Antalya province (southwestern part of Turkey). Its control mainly relies on the use of synthetic chemical insecticides; however, in last decade, desired levels of control have not been achieved due to development of resistance to these insecticides. Previous studies have shown that entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) may be a good alternative to pesticides to suppress pear psylla populations. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (i) to isolate native EPFs from naturally infected individuals of pear psylla in Korkuteli county of Antalya province, (ii) to identify the collected EPF isolates, and (iii) to assess the effectiveness of these isolates against various developmental stages [eggs, young (1st and 2nd instars) and older (3rd and 5nd instars) nymphs, and adults of the pest under laboratory conditions. A total of 19 fungal isolates, including 12 Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Deuteromycota: Hyphomycetes), 3 Penicillium raistrickii Smith, 2 P. chrysogenum Tom and 2 Aspergillus ochraceus Wilhelm (Ascomycota: Eurotiomycetes)] were recovered from 63 fungal-infected psyllid cadavers during a two-year survey. In initial screening tests, 9 B. bassiana isolates, producing ≥ 20% mortality in the nymphal (young or older) stages of C. pyri , were also confirmed by molecular identification and included in the virulence assays for further evaluation against the pest. All 9 isolates were tested at three different conidial concentrations (1 × 10 5 , 1 × 10 6 and 1 × 10 7 conidia/ml), using spray method. The results of virulence assays showed that all 9 B. bassiana isolates had low ovicidal and adulticidal activity (both egg and adult mortalities were below 20%) while they caused significant mortalities on young nymphs. Of the 9 B. bassiana isolates tested, two isolates (AKBBPN2 and AKBBPN6) were the most virulent, causing 94.2 and 92.7% mortalities, respectively, in young nymphs within 14 days at the highest concentration (1 × 10 7 conidia/ml). The findings of the current study indicated that these two B. bassiana isolates from C. pyri nymphal cadavers may provide an essential basis for the development of bioproducts, as well as a promising alternative method for controlling the pest.

Dermanyssus gallinae is a prevalent ectoparasite in the poultry farms, inflicting damage onchicken health through blood-sucking.Chemical acaricides commonly used formite controloften show reduced efficacy due to the development of resistance.Therefore, alternative control methods are needed, and vaccination is a promising strategy for controlling D. gallinae. The mRNA expression of Deg-CYP-3 in mites at various developmental stages, as well as under fed and starved conditions, was analyzed. Subsequently, recombinant protein rCYP-3 was induced, purified, and employed for immunization. Following immunization, antibodies were analyzed and mite challenge was then conducted. Following a 12h period of blood-feeding on chicks, the mites were collected to evaluate the acaricidal efficacy of the rCYP-3 vaccine. The Deg-CYP-3 gene was expressed across all life stages and maintained stable expression levels under both fed and starved conditions. The recombinant protein rCYP-3 was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli and efficiently secreted into the culture supernatant. Immunization with rCYP-3 induced a specific IgY immune response in chicks, as confirmed by ELISA. Moreover, anti-rCYP-3 serum specifically recognized P450 proteins extracted from D. gallinae, as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. Immunization resulted in an 8.1% reduction in adult mite survival (P > 0.05), whereas nymph survival decreased significantly by 22.4% (P < 0.01). In addition, oviposition rate, hatching rate, and fecundity were reduced by 2.8%, 2.2%, and 22.0%, respectively, in the immunized group. Overall, vaccine efficacy was calculated to be 30.6% in immunized birds. Furthermore, the expression level of Deg-CYP-3 in mites fed on immunized hosts was significantly lower than that in mites from the unimmunized control group. Our findings demonstrated that the Deg-CYP-3 gene exhibits high transcriptional activity during both the adult and nymph stages of D. gallinae. Moreover, its expression remains consistent regardless of the feeding status of adult mites. Immunization with rCYP-3 effectively reduced mite survival, reproductive capacity, and gene expression levels, demonstrating its potential as a preventive and control strategy against D. gallinae.

Abstract. Olorunnibe VN, Omoloye AA, Alabi OY. 2025. Fungal assemblages associated with gall formation by Phytolyma fusca on Milicia excelsa in Nigeria. Cell Biol Dev 9: 91-98. Milicia excelsa is an economically important tropical timber species whose cultivation is frequently constrained by gall formation induced by the iroko gall bug, Phytolyma fusca. Gall development modifies leaf tissues and may create microhabitats that facilitate fungal establishment, yet information on fungi associated with gall systems in M. excelsa under Nigerian nursery conditions remains limited. This study investigated fungal assemblages associated with gall formation by P. fusca on M. excelsa using conventional isolation and morphology-based identification techniques. Samples were collected from healthy leaves, ruptured and unruptured galled leaves, and from nymph and adult stages of P. fusca. Fungal isolation was conducted on potato dextrose agar, followed by purification and identification based on cultural and microscopic characteristics, and fungal occurrence was analyzed descriptively. Four fungal taxa were recovered exclusively from gall-associated tissues and insect stages: Fusarium solani (30%), Fusarium oxysporum (30%), Aspergillus niger (20%), and Colletotrichum coccodes (20%). No fungi were isolated from healthy leaves maintained under protected conditions, and fungal occurrence was restricted to gall-affected tissues and insect stages, with some taxa preferentially associated with ruptured galls. These findings demonstrate that insect-induced gall tissues function as localized microhabitats supporting distinct fungal assemblages, reflecting opportunistic rather than pathogenic colonization of modified plant tissues. This study provides baseline, non-pathogenic evidence of fungal assemblages restricted to P. fusca-induced gall microhabitats in M. excelsa. Further studies incorporating molecular identification and pathogenicity assays are required to clarify the ecological roles of the associated fungi.

The citrus spiny whitefly, Aleurocanthus spiniferus Quaintance (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is an important pest of tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (Theales: Theaceae). Parasitic wasp, Encarsia smithi Silvestri (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), is one of the dominant natural enemies of the whitefly. Generally, the whitefly produces four generations per year in Chinese tea plant growing areas. The wasp adult stages are basically synchronized with the nymphal stages of the whitefly. In an indoor Y-tube olfactometer bioassay, odors from both whitefly-pierced tea leaves and adjacent intact tea leaves significantly attracted the wasps, with elevated amounts of trans-2-hexenal and methyl salicylate (MeSA) detected from these two types of tea leaves. A four-arm olfactometer bioassay verified that these two compounds and their binary blends significantly attracted the wasps. Bud green sticky boards baited with trans-2-hexenal (10−2 g mL−1), MeSA (10−2 g mL−1), and five blends of trans-2-hexenal and MeSA (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 and 5:1, respectively, v/v) at 10−2 g mL−1 in hexane solutions captured significantly more wasps than did the un-baited boards, with the 3:1 blend catching the highest number of wasps. To enhance whitefly parasitism by the wasps, from early April to early August, the Attractant 2 lures (each holding a total mass of 80 mg of the 3:1 blend) were hung on tea branches and refreshed every 30 days. Deployment of the controlled release synomone-based attractant lures resulted in 2–3 fold higher parasitism rates by the wasps in the treated plots/sections than those in the CK plots/sections during both the peak periods of whitefly pupae of generation 2 from late July to early August and generation 3 in late August. This study demonstrated that herbivore-induced tea volatiles can be formulated as a synomone-based lure for controlling the whitefly through attracting E. smithi in tea plantations.

Integrated pest management programs often incorporate insect natural enemies for biological control alongside the application of pesticides. However, pesticides can directly affect the survival and performance of beneficial predaceous insects, decreasing their efficacy. Conversely, pesticides may also increase the susceptibility of insect pests to biological control, promoting the predatory performance of their natural enemies. Pest management can be improved by understanding the ecological interaction among plants, pests, and predators, as well as the influence of pesticide application on higher trophic levels. We conducted bioassays on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to evaluate the effects of karanja oil, a presumed insecticidal botanical extract obtained from the seeds of the tree Pongamia pinnata L, on the greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) and two of its natural enemies: the parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa (Gahan) and the lady beetle Delphastus catalinae (Horn). Our findings revealed a strong negative correlation between increasing concentrations of karanja oil and the survival of both adult and nymphal stages of greenhouse whiteflies. In whole plant trials, the highest concentration of karanja oil solution (5% v/v%) killed 80% of the whitefly adults and 84% of nymphs, while the lowest concentration (1.25% v/v%) killed 45% of adults and 53% of nymphs. Karanja oil also exhibited a residual negative effect on immature whiteflies and did not affect the parasitism rate of E. formosa. The direct application of karanja oil to non-pest predators and parasitoids was lethal, indicating that in integrated pest management programs for greenhouse whitefly in tomatoes, natural enemies should be introduced after the application of botanical extracts or used exclusively without pesticides.