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Topic Review
Flea Families
With around 10 new species described annually, extant flea fauna comprises an estimated 249 genera, 2215 species, and 714 subspecies globally, mostly mammal parasites, but 5% of species are on birds.
  • 438
  • 25 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Chitinase-Like Gene Family in Bemisia tabaci
Chitinases are of great importance in chitin degradation and remodeling in insects. However, the genome-wide distribution of chitinase-like gene family in Bemsia tabaci, a destructive pest worldwide, is still elusive. With the help of bioinformatics, we annotated 14 genes that encode putative chitinase-like proteins, including ten chitinases (Cht), three imaginal disk growth factors (IDGF), and one endo-β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) in the genome of the whitefly, B. tabaci. These genes were phylogenetically grouped into eight clades, among which 13 genes were classified in the glycoside hydrolase family 18 groups and one in the ENGase group. Afterwards, developmental expression analysis suggested that BtCht10, BtCht5, and BtCht7 were highly expressed in nymphal stages and exhibit similar expression patterns, implying their underlying role in nymph ecdysis. Notably, nymphs exhibited a lower rate of survival when challenged by dsRNA targeting these three genes via a nanomaterial-promoted RNAi method. In addition, silencing of BtCht10 significantly resulted in a longer duration of development compared to control nymphs. These results indicate a key role of BtCht10, BtCht5, and BtCht7 in B. tabaci nymph molting. This research depicts the differences of chitinase-like family genes in structure and function and identified potential targets for RNAi-based whitefly management. 
  • 435
  • 20 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Spodoptera frugiperda and Prostephanus truncatus Biological Invasions' Impacts
Invasive alien species have environmental, economic and social impacts, disproportionally threatening the livelihood and food security of smallholder farmers in low- and medium-income countries. In most cases, farmers and governments often invest huge sums of money towards synthetic pesticides, the major and first control option used against invading pests, seldom trading off other important sectors, e.g., healthcare and education. Given pesticide resistance, many of these insecticides are often ineffectiv. Furthermore, resource-poor farmers in developing countries usually cannot afford personal protective equipment and lack the knowledge and understanding of chemical pesticides and their safe use, which compromises their proper use and risks exposure to toxic substances, resulting in accidental poisonings. Widespread and indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides also undermine environmental quality (biodiversity loss and pollution of air and water) and the pest control services provided by natural enemies. Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), two of the most important field and postharvest IAS, respectively, that have invaded Africa. 
  • 418
  • 11 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera
Light-based phenomena in insects have long attracted researchers’ attention. Surface color distribution patterns are commonly used for taxonomical purposes, while optically-active structures from Coleoptera cuticle or Lepidoptera wings have inspired technological applications, such as biosensors and energy accumulation devices. In Diptera, besides these optically-based phenomena, the ability of some biomolecules to fluoresce makes them to act as markers of bio-metabolic and structural features useful for vector control studies. Resilin or chitinous compounds, with their respective blue or green-to-red autofluorescence (AF), are commonly related to biomechanical and structural properties, helpful to clarify the mechanisms underlying substrate adhesion of ectoparasites’ leg appendages, or the antennal abilities in tuning sound detection. Metarhodopsin, a red fluorescing photoproduct of rhodopsin, allows to investigate visual mechanisms, whereas the AF of NAD(P)H and flavins, commonly correlated to energy metabolism, favor the investigation of sperm vitality. Lipofuscins are AF biomarkers of aging, as well as pteridines, which can be involved in the synthesis of pigments and, similarly to kynurenines, are also exploited in metabolic investigations. 
  • 414
  • 02 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Isolation of Entomopathogenic Bacteria and Entomopathogenic Fungi
Entomopathogenic bacteria and fungi are quite frequently found in soils and insect cadavers. The first step in utilizing these microbes as biopesticides is to isolate them, and several culture media and insect baiting procedures have been tested in this direction. 
  • 402
  • 21 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Dynamic Roles of Insect Carboxyl/Cholinesterases in Chemical Adaptation
Carboxyl/cholinesterases (CCEs) represent a family of enzymes distributed in many organisms, including insects. Despite their relatively simple catalyzed hydrolysis reaction, CCEs facilitate insects’ adaptation to chemical signals and stressors from the environment through various trajectories, including developing pesticide resistance, facilitating the adaptation of insects to their host plants, and manipulating insect behaviors. The CCE-mediated mechanisms of pesticide resistance to organophosphate, carbamate, or pyrethroid pesticides comprise enhanced metabolism, the sequestration of pesticides to prevent them from reaching their target sites, or conformational changes in target sites to prevent pesticides from binding. In addition, CCEs aid in the adaptation to chemical signals through the olfactory system by degrading insect semiochemicals.
  • 394
  • 15 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Vector Competency and Oxidative Stress in Arthropods
Blood-feeding arthropods, particularly ticks and mosquitoes are considered the most important vectors of arthropod-borne diseases affecting humans and animals. Vector competence (also termed vector potential) refers to the ability of arthropods to transmit pathogens, which is greatly influenced by the genetic and/or other intrinsic factors of arthropod vectors. Additionally, it is also governed by the factors exerted by hosts themselves during pathogen inoculation, development, and propagation in particular hosts. During an infection, ROS have pivotal roles in the triangular relationship among vectors, pathogens, and hosts and may influence the triad either positively or negatively. A pluripotent molecule isolated from the salivary glands of H. longicornis, called longistatin, plays a central role in the feeding and development of ticks  and has been elegantly shown to ameliorate cellular ROS production in human endothelial cells, making it a key molecule in the survival of hard ticks. On the other hand, the acquisition of pathogens into a vector also induces modification of the normal ROS production resulting in oxidative stress to arthropod cells, which ultimately is being utilized by hematophagous arthropods to eliminate invading pathogens.
  • 374
  • 04 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Fire Ant Venom Alkaloids
Venoms produced by arthropods act as chemical weapons to paralyze prey or deter competitors. The utilization of venom is an essential feature in the biology and ecology of venomous arthropods. Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are medically important venomous ants. They have acquired different patterns of venom use to maximize their competitive advantages rendered by the venom when facing different challenges. The major components of fire ant venom are piperidine alkaloids, which have strong insecticidal and antibiotic activities. The alkaloids protect fire ants from pathogens over the course of their lives and can be used to defend them from predators and competitors. 
  • 372
  • 21 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Phenological Mapping of Invasive Insects
Phenological maps can depict the development and seasonal activities (phenology) of invasive insects at area-wide scales, such as counties, states, or entire nations. When regularly updated using real-time and forecast climate data, these maps may improve the timeliness of early detection and control tactics that target specific life stages. Rapid responses to invasive insects may increase the likelihood that populations are eradicated or controlled before they can spread or increase in size. Phenological maps may also be used to assess pest establishment risk, investigate pest–host interactions, and measure climate-driven changes in pest phenology.
  • 360
  • 29 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Four Species of Plague Locust
South Africa has four species of recognized plague locusts that have caused economic damage to crops and rangeland grazing, with plagues of some of the species posing a serious threat to agricultural production in South Africa at different times in recorded history over the past 380 years. The plague locusts in order of current economic importance in South Africa are the brown locust, Locustana pardalina (Walker), the African migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides, (Reiche and Fairmaire), the red locust, Nomadacris septemfasciata (Serville) and the southern African desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria flaviventris (Burmeister). 
  • 342
  • 15 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Chitosan as a Control Tool for Insect Pest
Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin that gained much attention due to its biological activities. Chitosan can be produced by the exoskeleton of arthropods (crustaceans and insects) and structural membranes and spores of fungi. Its application has spread to many sectors, including pharmaceutical, medical, veterinary, food and agricultural. In the latter one, chitosan is applied to improve the interaction between plants and microorganisms and metabolisms of plants, fruits and germination. In addition, chitosan is demonstrated to enhance the availability and stabilization of insecticides and essential oils. Several chitosan formulations were studied as tools for insect pest control.
  • 311
  • 18 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Tryptophan and Proline Oxidation Products in Adipokinetic Hormones
Adipokinetic hormones (AKHs) regulate important physiological processes in insects. AKHs are short peptides with blocked termini and Trp in position 8. Often, proline occupies position 6. Few post-translational modifications have been found, including hydroxyproline ([Hyp6]) and kynurenine (Kyn). Researchers' latest data suggest that the Hyp- and Kyn-containing AKHs occur more often than originally thought and researchers investigated if they are natural or artifactual. Experimental evidence indicated that Hyp occurs endogenously in insect corpora cardiaca.
  • 307
  • 02 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Cladosporium Entomopathogenicity
The range of interactions between Cladosporium, a ubiquitous fungal genus, and insects, a class including about 60% of the animal species, is extremely diverse. Conventionally, Cladosporium species are not considered full-right representatives of the guild of entomopathogens, which is generally restricted to specialized fungi such as Beauveria, Metarhizium and Lecanicillium/Akanthomyces. However, like other fungi that are widely associated with crops such as Trichoderma and Talaromyces, the evidence is increasing that Cladosporium may also infect insects and cause epizootics in pest populations or promote plant defense reactions.
  • 255
  • 02 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Monarch Population Dynamics in Western North America
The Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758), in western North America appears to be undergoing a period of flux in terms of population size and ecology.
  • 225
  • 11 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Biological Experimental Setup Using Engineering Tools
Despite their diminutive neural systems, insects exhibit sophisticated adaptive behaviors in diverse environments. An insect receives various environmental stimuli through its sensory organs and selectively and rapidly integrates them to produce an adaptive motor output. Living organisms commonly have this sensory-motor integration, and attempts have been made to elucidate this mechanism biologically and reconstruct it through engineering.
  • 196
  • 17 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Plant Volatile-Sensing Mechanism of Insects
Plants and insects are engaged in a tight relationship, with phytophagous insects often utilizing volatile organic substances released by host plants to find food and egg-laying sites. Using plant volatiles as attractants for integrated pest management is vital due to its high efficacy and low environmental toxicity. Using naturally occurring plant volatiles combined with insect olfactory mechanisms to select volatile molecules for screening has proved an effective method for developing plant volatile-based attractant technologies.
  • 195
  • 17 Jan 2024
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