Exploring the hormetic effects of radiation on the life table parameters of Spodoptera frugiperda.

BACKGROUND: Spodoptera frugiperda, a global agricultural pest, can be effectively controlled through the sterile insect technique. However, exposure to low-dose radiation below the sterilization threshold may induce hormetic effects. Here, the biphasic aspects of the fertile progeny population of S. frugiperda were analyzed using an age-stage, two-sex life table after dosing male and female pupae with 10-350 Gy gamma radiation. RESULTS: The parental sterilizing dose for 6-day-old female and male pupae was 200 and 350 Gy, respectively. The total longevity, pre-adult survival rate, net reproduction rate, and intrinsic growth rate of the offspring population increased with decreasing radiation doses from 250 to 10 Gy. Offspring population of parents treated with low doses of 10-100 Gy showed better life table parameters compared to non-irradiated controls. Females and males fecundity irradiated with 10, 50, and 100 Gy and 10 Gy, respectively, exceeded controls, producing 2339.4, 2726.4, 2311, and 2369 eggs, as opposed to 1802.9 eggs produced by the controls. Males irradiated with 10 Gy displayed the highest intrinsic rates of increase and net reproduction rate, at 0.1709 and 682.3, respectively. Projections from the survival rate and fecundity indicated that female and male S. frugiperda populations after 10 Gy irradiation may grow considerably faster than the controls. CONCLUSION: This study explores the hormetic effects of low-dose radiation on S. frugiperda through life table analysis, while providing enhancements for utilizing substerilizing gamma dose in a modified F1 sterility technique. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Preliminary Toxicology Study on Eco-friendly Control Target of Spodoptera frugiperda.

Pyrethroid and indoxacarb are commonly used pesticides to control the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in the crops. There are a series of consequences caused by the use of pyrethroid and indoxacarb pesticides under emergency control, such as pest resistance development, contamination of soil, water, and farm products. This study analyzed the structure and physiological function of the sodium channel in S. frugiperda, which is an important step to elaborate the resistance mechanism of S. frugiperda to indoxacarb and pyrethroid pesticides. According to genetic analysis, the cloned cDNA sequences of sodium channel in S. frugiperda (SfNav) showed the shortest genetic distance with that of the sodium channel in Helicoverpa armigera. Under the induction of three pesticides, the expression of SfNav decreased in the first 12 h and then increased after 24 h. It was concluded that SfNav had a typical structure of the sodium channel of insects and its down-regulated expression can decrease the combination of S. frugiperda with pyrethroid and indoxacarb pesticides. The up-regulated expression of SfNav was conducive to the enhancement of the pesticide resistance.

Comparative Performance of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Reared on Various Cereal-Based Artificial Diets.

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a polyphagous and highly destructive agricultural pest that invaded mainland China in 2019. To facilitate research on this pest, it is important to formulate and formalize a suitable artificial diet based on local ingredients. In this study, the life histories of fall armyworm reared on corn leaves and four artificial diets were recorded. The four artificial diets used were: soybean and sucrose-based (SS), soybean and wheat germ-based (SW), chickpea and wheat germ-based (CPW), and corn and soybean-based (CNS). The intrinsic rates of increase were 0.1957, 0.1981, 0.1816, 0.1748, and 0.1464 per day in the fall armyworm populations fed corn leaves, CNS, SW, CPW, and SS, respectively. The highest fecundity (F = 1225.4 eggs per female) and net reproduction rate (R0 = 544.7 offspring per individual) were observed for the fall armyworm reared on the CNS diet. Moreover, the developmental rate, survival rate, and fecundity were used to calculate the projection of the population growth. Projection results showed that the fall armyworm populations can increase considerably faster when fed the CNS diet compared with the other diets. In addition, the mass-rearing system showed that the most efficient and economical strategy would be to rear the fall armyworm on the CNS diet. The results indicated that the CNS diet was the most suitable diet for the fall armyworm mass rearing.

Combination of label-free quantitative proteomics and transcriptomics reveals intraspecific venom variation between the two strains of Tetrastichus brontispae, a parasitoid of two invasive beetles.

The venom apparatus is a conserved organ in parasitoids that shows adaptations correlated with life-style diversification. Combining transcriptomics and label-free quantitative proteomics, here we explored the venom apparatus components of the endoparasitoid Tetrastichus brontispae (Eulophidae), and provide a comparison of the venom apparatus proteomes between its two closely related strains, T. brontispae-Octodonta nipae (Tb-On) and T. brontispae-Brontispa longissima (Tb-Bl). Tb-Bl targets the B. longissima pupa as its habitual host. However, Tb-On is an experimental derivative of Tb-Bl, which has been exposed to the O. nipae pupa as host consecutively for over 40 generation. Results showed that approximately 1505 venom proteins were identified in the T. brontispae venom apparatus. The extracts contained novel venom proteins, such as 4-coumarate-CoA ligase 4. A comparative venom proteome analysis revealed that significant quantitative and qualitative differences in venom composition exist between the two strains; although the most abundant venom proteins were shared between them. The differentially produced proteins were mainly enriched in fatty acid biosynthesis and melanotic encapsulation response. Six of these enriched proteins presented increased levels in Tb-On, and this result was validated by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) analysis. Overall, our data reveal that venom composition can evolve quickly and respond to host selection.

Antennal and abdominal transcriptomes reveal chemosensory gene families in the coconut hispine beetle, Brontispa longissima.

Antennal and abdominal transcriptomes of males and females of the coconut hispine beetle Brontispa longissima were sequenced to identify and compare the expression patterns of genes involved in odorant reception and detection. Representative proteins from the chemosensory gene families likely essential for insect olfaction were identified. These include 48 odorant receptors (ORs), 19 ionotropic receptors (IRs), 4 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), 34 odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and 16 chemosensory proteins (CSPs). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the evolutionary relationship of these proteins with homologs from Coleopterans or other insects, and led to the identification of putative aggregation pheromone receptors in B. longissima. Comparative expression analysis performed by calculating FPKM values were also validated using quantitative real time-PCR (qPCR). The results revealed that all ORs and antennal IRs, two IR co-receptors (BlonIR8a and BlonIR25a) and one SNMP (BlonSNMP1a) were predominantly expressed in antennae when compared to abdomens, and approximately half of the OBPs (19) and CSPs (7) were enriched in antennae. These findings for the first time reveal the identification of key molecular components in B. longissima olfaction and provide a valuable resource for future functional analyses of olfaction, and identification of potential targets to control this quarantine pest.

Population Susceptibility to Insecticides and the Development of Resistance in Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Excessive insecticide applications are commonly used to manage Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett in China. Resistance status, resistance development trends, and patterns of cross-resistance to insecticides in B. cucurbitae were investigated. Among 21 populations from Hainan Island, two populations expressed high resistance to beta-cypermethrin; seven, eight, and ten populations expressed intermediate resistance to spinosad, avermectin, and beta-cypermethrin, respectively; four, six, one, five, and four populations expressed low resistance to spinosad, avermectin, trichlorfon, beta-cypermethrin, and fipronil, respectively; and the remaining populations exhibited either minor resistance or remained susceptible. Analysis of the development of resistance showed that resistance levels to spinosad and avermectin were readily developed at 40.68- and 18.42-fold, respectively, and a spinosad-resistant strain also showed relative positive cross-resistance to beta-cypermethrin and avermectin, but relative negative cross-resistance to trichlorfon and fipronil. These data represent the most extensive survey of insecticide resistance conducted in B. cucurbitae to date, and the level of insecticide resistance in populations should be considered when designing control measures and pest management strategies.

Antifeedant activity of spin-labeled derivatives of deoxypodophyllotoxin against Brontispa longissima larvae.

To continue our search for natural product-based compounds for the control of Brontispa longissima larvae, eight spin-labeled podophyllotoxin derivatives (4a-h) and the intermediates 2 and 3 were tested for their insect antifeedant activity against third-instar larvae of B. longissima. Among all the tested compounds, 4a, 4c, 2 and 3 showed pronounced antifeedant activities with AFC50 values of 0.16, 0.31, 0.15 and 0.28 mg/mL, respectively. The different antifeedant activity ranges of these compounds indicated that variation of the structures of L-amino acids in these compounds markedly affected the activity profiles of this compound class, and some important SAR information has been revealed from it.

Age-stage, two-sex life table of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae) feeding on four palm plant varieties.

The life history of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae), reared under laboratory conditions on leaves of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), royal palm [Roystonea regia (Kunth) O.F.Cook], bottle palm [Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (L. Bailey) H.E.Moore], and fishtail palm (Caryota ochlandra Hance) was analyzed using age-stage, two-sex life table. Means and standard errors of population growth parameters were calculated using the jackknife method. Moreover, survival rate and fecundity data were applied to project the population for revealing the different stage structure. The mean intrinsic rates of population growth when reared on each respective leaf type were 0.032, 0.031, 0.019, and 0.044. Individuals reared on C. nucifera achieved the highest net reproduction rate at 114.5 offspring per female. The mean generation times of B. longissima ranged from 93.2 d (reared on C. ochlandrai) to 161.5 d (reared on H. lagenicaulis). Projections from survival rate and fecundity data indicated that B. longissima populations can row considerably faster on C. ochlandra than on the other three host plants. The results validate the two-stage life history approach taken, providing an essential tool for developing and testing future control strategies.

Differential susceptibilities of Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Hispidae) to insecticides in Southeast Asia.

To present the susceptibility of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae) to insecticides, 22 populations were collected in Southeast Asia from 2007 to 2010. Moreover, the laboratory susceptible strain was maintained. The results demonstrated that the lethal concentration50 value of the susceptible strain to avermectin, beta-cypermethrin, and acetamiprid was 0.034, 0.024, and 1.843 mg liter(-1), respectively. Compared with the susceptible strain, 10 populations developed a medium level of resistance to avermectin (10.8-fold < resistance ratio [RR] < 34.7-fold) and 11 populations had low or minor resistance (3.6-fold < RR < 9.6-fold), only one population from Qionghai still remained susceptible (RR = 2.04-fold). The Zhangjiang population expressed high resistance (RR = 46.1-fold), five populations expressed medium resistance (10.6-fold < RR < 18.1-fold), and 12 populations had low resistance (5.36-fold < RR < 9.66-fold) for beta-cypermethrin, only four populations maintained low resistance or susceptibility (2.08-fold < RR< 3.49-fold). All populations were susceptible to acetamiprid (1.65-fold < RR < 2.89-fold), except for the Jakarta population that developed minor resistance (4.33-fold). This study shows that the resistance to beta-cypermethrin and avermectin in B. longissima is widespread. However, most populations remain susceptible to acetamiprid. Acetamiprid may be considered an available option for the control of B. longissima and should be considered when designing pest management programs.

Effect of temperature on the population growth of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on sugarcane.

The effect of temperature on the developmental time, survival, and reproduction of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) reared on sugarcane was studied at seven constant temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 degrees C). The developmental threshold temperatures and effective accumulated temperatures for the whole generation were 17.41 degrees C and 1,590.72 DD, respectively. One generation had the highest survival rate (26.67%) at 28 degrees C. The egg failed to survive at 16 and 40 degrees C. The population trend index (I = 38.22) and net reproductive rate (R(o) = 38.3) were highest at 28 degrees C. The net reproductive rate (R(o) = 3.36), intrinsic rate of increase (r(m) = 0.0028), and finite capacity of increase (lambda = 1.0028) were lowest at 20 degrees C. The mean generation time (T(o) = 85.82) was shortest at 36 degrees C. The population double time (PDT = 27.08) was shortest at 32 degrees C. Based on these studies, we concluded that the temperatures from 28 to 32 degrees C were the most suitable temperatures for the development of R. ferrugineus.

[Effects of host plants on development and fecundity of Brontispa longissima (Gestro)].

With Cocos nucifera, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis, Washingtonia filifera, Roystonea regia and Areca catechu as test host plants, this paper studied the effects of their un-spread leaves on the development and fecundity of experimental population of Brontispa longissima. The results showed that the development duration of one generation B. longissima fed on different hosts varied significantly, with the longest (72.8 days) on W. filifera and the shortest (39.8 days) on H. lagenicaulis. The average pupa weight of B. longissima was bigger on H. lagenicaulis than on the other four host plants, and the female B. longissima had the highest fecundity (157.6 ova) on W. filifera while the lowest one (65.2 ova) on A. catechu. The longevity of B. longissima adults fed on H. lagenicaulis was 207.52 days, being significantly longer than that on the other host plants. The trend index of experimental population of B. longissima fed on the five host plants was 53.57, 54.98, 48.56, 20.46 and 11.54, respectively.