The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is recorded for the first time from Hungary. The circumstances of finding this species and a ...detailed description of both male and female genitalia are given. The currently known distribution, biology and significance of the species are briefly reviewed.
Abstract
Evidence accumulates that the functional plasticity of insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling in insects could spring, among others, from the multiplicity of insulin receptors ...(InRs). Their multiple variants may be implemented in the control of insect polyphenism, such as wing or caste polyphenism. Here, we present a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of insect InR sequences in 118 species from 23 orders and investigate the role of three InRs identified in the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, in wing polymorphism control. We identified two gene clusters (Clusters I and II) resulting from an ancestral duplication in a late ancestor of winged insects, which remained conserved in most lineages, only in some of them being subject to further duplications or losses. One remarkable yet neglected feature of InR evolution is the loss of the tyrosine kinase catalytic domain, giving rise to decoys of InR in both clusters. Within the Cluster I, we confirmed the presence of the secreted decoy of insulin receptor in all studied Muscomorpha. More importantly, we described a new tyrosine kinase-less gene (DR2) in the Cluster II, conserved in apical Holometabola for ∼300 My. We differentially silenced the three P. apterus InRs and confirmed their participation in wing polymorphism control. We observed a pattern of Cluster I and Cluster II InRs impact on wing development, which differed from that postulated in planthoppers, suggesting an independent establishment of insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling control over wing development, leading to idiosyncrasies in the co-option of multiple InRs in polyphenism control in different taxa.
The mechanics of wet adhesion between a water strider’s legs and a water surface was studied. First, we showed that the nanoscale to microscale hierarchical surface structure on striders’ legs is ...crucial to the stable water-repellent properties of the legs. The smallest structure is made for the sake of a stable Cassie state even under harsh environment conditions, which sets an upper limit for the dimension of the smallest structure. The maximum stress and the maximum deformation of the surface structures at the contact line are size-dependent because of the asymmetric surface tension, which sets a lower limit for the dimension of the smallest structure. The surface hierarchy can largely reduce the adhesion between the water and the legs by stabilizing the Cassie state, increasing the apparent contact angle, and reducing the contact area and the length of the contact line. Second, the processes of the legs pressing on and detaching from the water surface were analyzed with a 2D model. We found that the superhydrophobicity of the legs’ surface is critically important to reducing the detaching force and detaching energy. Finally, the dynamic process of the legs striking the water surface, mimicking the maneuvering of water striders, was analyzed. We found that the large length of the legs not only reduces the energy dissipation in the quasi-static pressing and pulling processes but also enhances the efficiency of energy transfer from bioenergy to kinetic energy in the dynamic process during the maneuvering of the water striders. The mechanical principles found in this study may provide useful guidelines for the design of superior water-repellent surfaces and novel aquatic robots.
The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a key insect pest of edible vegetables around the world and it is resistant to insecticide of different classes. Insecticides that ...are effective to this pest and selective to predator stinkbugs are required for the integrated management of S. exigua.
The toxicity of four commercial insecticide formulations azadirachtin + pyrethrin, spinosad, pyrethrin and chlorantraniliprole was tested on the target pest and their side effect were evaluated on the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) through different bioassays.
Spinosad and chlorantraniliprole were more toxic to S. exigua than to the predator P. maculiventris but opposite results were obtained for pyrethrin and azadirachtin + pyrethrin in contact toxicity bioassay. Chlorantraniliprole was the most toxic to S. exigua in oral toxicity bioassay, followed by spinosad, pyrethrin and azadirachtin + pyrethrin. Spinosad in oral toxicity bioassay was the most toxic to P. maculiventris, followed by pyrethrin, azadirachtin + pyrethrin and chlorantraniliprole. Spinosad caused irritability to the predator while pyrethrin to the pest. The insecticide repellency was not observed over the tested insect species. The synthetic insecticide chlorantraniliprole was less toxic than the natural pyrethrin, azadirachtin + pyrethrin and spinosad to the predator.
This work provides useful information on the combination of commercial insecticides with the predator P. maculiventris to controlling S. exigua in integrated pest management (IPM) programs.
The rare European lacebug Galeatus maculatus was in the Netherlands only known from a Single specimen collected before or in 1884. The species was rediscovered on its foodplant Mouse-ear hawkweed ...Pilosella officinarum in several km Squares in in the southern part of the Netherlands in the province of Noord-Brabant. Its appearance is possibly the result of global warming and its further spread to the north is conside-red likely because of the presence of a large number of macropterous specimens in the new populations.
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•The transcriptome reflects the biochemical profiles of midgut regions M1 to M3.•The distinct digestive profiles of M1 to M3 are conserved in adults and nymphs.•Serine and cysteine ...protease inhibitors are produced by multiple tissues.•Cytochrome P450s provide additional midgut metabolic flexibility.
The southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula is a polyphagous pest of commercially important crops during both nymph and adult stages. This insect has recently transitioned from a secondary agricultural pest to one of primary concern. Novel management solutions are needed due to the limited effectiveness of current control strategies. We performed biochemical and transcriptomic analyses to characterize digestive enzymes in the salivary glands and along midgut tissues of N. viridula nymphs and adults fed on sweet corn. The digestive profiles were more distinct between midgut regions (M1 to M3) than between life stages. Aminopeptidase and chymotrypsin activities declined from the M1 (anterior) toward the M3 midgut region. Cysteine protease activity was higher in the M2 and M3 regions than in M1. Differences in sensitivity to chymotrypsin inhibitors between midgut regions suggest that distinct genes or isoforms are expressed in different regions of the gut. In nymphs, DNA and RNA degradation was higher in M1 than in M3. Adult nuclease activity was low across all midgut regions, but high in salivary glands. The differences in protease activities are reflected by transcriptomic data and functional enrichment of GO terms. Together, our results show that different regions of the digestive tract of N. viridula have specific and distinct digestive properties, and increase our understanding of the physiology of this organism.
Egg clutches of many animals hatch synchronously due to parental control 1, 2 or environmental stimulation 3, 4. In contrast, in some animals, embryos actively synchronize their hatching timing with ...their siblings to facilitate adaptive behavior in sibling groups, such as mass migration 5, 6. These embryos require synchronization cues that are detectable from eggs and indicative of when the siblings hatch, such as pre-hatching vocalizations in birds and crocodiles 7, 8. Previous studies, using methods including artificial presentation of non-specific mechanical stimuli, demonstrated that vibrations or other mechanical forces caused by sibling movements are cues used by some turtles and insects 9–13. However, there is no evidence about which movements of tiny embryos or hatchlings, among multiple possibilities, can generate mechanical cues actually detectable through eggs. Here, we show that embryos of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, synchronize hatching by responding to single pulsed vibrations generated when siblings crack open their eggshells. An egg-cracking vibration seems to be transmitted to distant eggs within a clutch while still maintaining its function as a cue, thus leading to the highly synchronized hatching pattern previously reported 14. In this species, it is possible that embryos attempt to hatch with short lags after earlier-hatched siblings to avoid egg cannibalism by them 14. The present study illustrates the diversity of social-information use by animal embryos for success in the sibling group.
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•During the hatching of a stink bug, egg cracking generates a single pulsed vibration•Fully developed embryos immediately start hatching when receiving the vibration•The vibration widely spreads across a clutch and induces its explosive hatching•Synchronized hatching crucial for survival is achieved using the vibration as a cue
Diverse animal embryos achieve synchronized hatching within a clutch mainly for mass migration, but social cues used for this purpose are often unclear. Endo et al. show that in a stink bug, a single pulsed vibration generated when an embryo cracks open its eggshell serves as a cue for later-hatching siblings to synchronize hatching.
Adelphocoris suturalis is a major pest of cotton. Here, we identified a trypsin precursor gene (AsTryP) in A. suturali, which has an open reading frame region of 873 bp and belongs to the trypsin ...superfamily. The mRNA of the AsTryP gene was detectable in every life stage and different tissues of 8-day-old females, and the gene was highly expressed in fourth-instar nymphs and the thorax of 8-day-old females. Down-regulation of AsTryP by the injection of double-stranded RNA suppressed the ovarian development and female fertility. These results reveal that trypsin precursor is involved in the reproductive process of A. suturali, and may facilitate the development of new strategies for a better control of A. suturalis.
An extinct new family of Pentatomomorpha, Venicoridae Yao, Ren & Cai fam. nov., with 2 new genera and 2 new species (Venicoris solaris Yao, Ren & Rider gen. & sp. nov. and Clavaticoris zhengi Yao, ...Ren & Cai gen. & sp. nov.) are described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Northeast China.
A cladistic analysis based on a combination of fossil and extant morphological characters clarified the phylogenetic status of the new family and has allowed the reconstruction of intersuperfamily and interfamily relationships within the Infraorder Pentatomomorpha. The fossil record and diversity of Pentatomomorpha during the Mesozoic is discussed.
Pentatomomorpha is a monophyletic group; Aradoidea and the Trichophora are sister groups; these fossils belong to new family, treated as the sister group of remainder of Trichophora; Pentatomoidea is a monophyletic group; Piesmatidae should be separated as a superfamily, Piesmatoidea. Origin time of Pentatomomorpha should be tracked back to the Middle or Early Triassic.
Invasive species may rapidly spread throughout new areas once introduced, which may potentially lead to serious damage to local fauna and flora. Information on geographical origins, introduction ...routes, and biology in native regions of such invasive species is of critical importance in identifying means of transport, preventing reintroduction, and establishing control/eradication methods. The plataspid stinkbug Megacopta cribraria, known as kudzu bug, recently invaded North America and now has become not only an agricultural pest of soybean but also a nuisance pest. Here we investigate the geographical origin of the invasive M. cribraria populations. Phylogeographical analyses based on 8.7 kb mitochondrial DNA sequences of the introduced and East Asian native Megacopta populations identified a well-supported clade consisting of the introduced populations and M. punctatissima populations in the Kyushu region of Japan, which strongly suggests that the invading M. cribraria populations are derived from a M. punctatissima population in the Kyushu region. Therefore, the region is proposed as a promising source of natural enemies for biological control of the invasive pest. Based on the phylogenetic information, relationship and treatment of the two Megacopta species are discussed.
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