Potential distribution prediction of in China based on the Biomod2.

is a globally significant invasive species that poses substantial threats to agricultural production, ecosystems, and human health in China. To evaluate its habitat suitability in China, we collected and collated 741 county-level occurrence points of in China through database query, literature search and news reports, and obtained the five most important climatic factors by variance inflation factor and Pearson correlation coefficient from 19 bioclimatic factors. We investigated the potential suitable distribution areas of under current and future climate scenarios using the Biomod2 ensemble model, and identified the primary environmental variables influencing their distributions.

Parasitic insect-derived miRNAs modulate host development.

Parasitic wasps produce several factors including venom, polydnaviruses (PDVs) and specialized wasp cells named teratocytes that benefit the survival of offspring by altering the physiology of hosts. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for the alterations remain unclear. Here we find that the teratocytes of Cotesia vestalis, an endoparasitoid of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella, and its associated bracovirus (CvBV) can produce miRNAs and deliver the products into the host via different ways.

Cotesia vestalis teratocytes express a diversity of genes and exhibit novel immune functions in parasitism.

Some endoparasitoid wasps lay eggs that produce cells called teratocytes. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the transcriptome of teratocytes from the solitary endoparasitoid Cotesia vestalis (Braconidae), which parasitizes larval stage Plutella xylostella (Plutellidae). Results identified many teratocyte transcripts with potential functions in affecting host immune defenses, growth or metabolism.