Regulation of melanization in aphids by parasitoid wasp venom proteins enhances mummification.

Background: Interactions between parasitic insects and their hosts demonstrate the complexity of evolutionary processes. Specifically, the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi manipulates its host, the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum, through strategic venom injection to enhance mummification. This study explores how this venom affects the aphid's immune system, particularly targeting the activity of the phenoloxidase (PO) enzyme.

Functional analysis of SDR112C1 associated with fenpropathrin tolerance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval).

Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) are ubiquitously distributed across diverse organisms and play pivotal roles in the growth, as well as endogenous and exogenous metabolism of various substances, including drugs. The expression levels of SDR genes are reportedly upregulated in the fenpropathrin (FEN)-resistant (FeR) strain of Tetranychus cinnabarinus. However, the functions of these SDR genes in acaricide tolerance remain elusive.

A novel spider venom peptide from the predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri shows lethal effect on phytophagous pests.

The long-term use of pesticides in the field, and the high fertility and adaptability of phytophagous mites have led to resistance problems; consequently, novel safe and efficient active substances are necessary to broaden the tools of pest mite control. Natural enemies of arthropods typically secrete substances with paralytic or lethal effects on their prey, and those substances are a resource for future biopesticides. In this study, two putative venom peptide genes were identified in a parasitic mite Neoseiulus barkeri transcriptome.

Uridine Diphosphate Glycosyltransferases (UGTs) Involved in the Carotenoid-Based Body Color Difference between (Red) and (Green).

It has long been disputed whether and belong to the same genus, with regarded as a red form of . However, it is unclear why and have different body colors. Since carotenoids are responsible for the color of many organisms, the carotenoid profiles of and were compared by HPLC.

Research Progress of a Pesticide Polymer-Controlled Release System Based on Polysaccharides.

In recent years, with the development of the nanomaterials discipline, many new pesticide drug-carrying systems-such as pesticide nano-metal particles, nano-metal oxides, and other drug-carrying materials-had been developed and applied to pesticide formulations. Although these new drug-loading systems are relatively friendly to the environment, the direct exposure of many metal nanoparticles to the environment will inevitably lead to potential effects. In response to these problems, organic nanomaterials have been rapidly developed due to their high-quality biodegradation and biocompatibility.

Population dynamics and molecular adaption of Tetranychus cinnabarinus to long-term thermal stress.

Background: Global warming is a general trend in the current era. Temperature is one of the most important nonbiological factors that affects the development, life cycle and distribution of arthropods, which are a major component of agriculture pests. This study focused on life-table parameters and the molecular adaption of Tetranychus cinnabarinus under long-term thermal stress.

Retinoid X receptor 1 is a specific lethal RNAi target disturbing chitin metabolism during hatching of Tetranychus cinnabarinus.

RNA interference (RNAi) can be developed as an alternative method of chemical pesticides for pest control. In this study, we noticed a specifically expressed gene (retinoid X receptor 1, TcRXR1) in the egg stage of T. cinnabarinus.

Molecular Basis for the Selectivity of the Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Cyflumetofen between Pest and Predatory Mites.

Acaricides that act as inhibitors of the mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDHIs) provide excellent control of phytophagous mites but display limited toxicity to predatory mites and other beneficial organisms. However, the molecular mechanism of selectivity is not fully understood. Here, we first confirm that SDHI acaricides are over 10,000-fold more toxic to spider mites than predatory mites.

The mechanism of coumarin inhibits germination of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and its application as coumarin-carbon dots nanocomposites.

Background: As an important plant allelochemical, coumarin can effectively inhibit the germination of various seeds. However, little is known about the inhibition mechanism of coumarin on weed seed germination. Moreover, the herbicidal activity of coumarin is needed to be improved as a natural pesticide.

Preparation of Berberine@carbon Dots Nano-Formulation: Synthesis, Characterization and Herbicidal Activity against and Two Common Species of Weed.

Berberine (Ber) is easy to synthesize and has a variety of biological and pharmacological activities. At present, the existing studies on berberine have focused predominantly on its antibacterial activity; its herbicidal activity is rarely reported. In addition, there are a number of preparations of berberine, which are not enough to solve its shortcomings of low solubility and biological activity and the difficult storage of berberine.

A pH- and enzymatic-responsive nanopesticide to control pea aphids and reduce toxicity for earthworms.

Thiacloprid is a new chlorinated nicotinoid insecticide against stinging-oral pests, such as aphids. It is less toxic to bees but more toxic to earthworms. In this study, a pH- and amylase-responsive MOF (ZIF-8) was constructed for site-specific delivery of thiacloprid to control pea aphids and more safety for earthworms.

Preparation and performance characteristics of spider venom peptide nanocapsules.

Background: ω-hexatoxin-Hvn1b is an insecticidal toxin produced by the Tasmanian funnel-web spider (Hadronyche venenata), that can be exploited for development of novel bioinsecticides. Due to its larger size and low membrane permeability, this toxin usually has a slower mode of action compared to conventional small molecule insecticides. Nanoscale materials have unique optical, electrical, mechanical and biological properties, and show great application prospects for pesticide delivery.

Transcription factors CncC and Maf connect the molecular network between pesticide resistance and resurgence of pest mites.

Pesticide resistance and resurgence are serious problems often occurring simultaneously in the field. In our long-term study of a fenpropathrin-resistant strain of Tetranychus cinnabaribus, enhancement of detoxification and modified fecundity mechanisms were both observed. Here we investigate the network across these two mechanisms and find a key node between resistance and resurgence.

Sodium selenite-carbon dots nanocomposites enhance acaricidal activity of fenpropathrin: Mechanism and application.

As an essential trace element, selenium can be used to protect crops from pests, while, in nature, most crops cannot accumulate enough selenium from the soil to reach the effective dose for pest control. In this study, carbon dots modified with arginine in nano-scale was prepared and characterized, then, it was combined with sodium selenite to form selenium-carbon dots (Se-CDs). Function evaluation of Se-CDs showed that it could increase the absorption of selenium in plant leaves, promote the control efficiency of fenpropathrin, and protect plant from damage caused by Tetranychus cinnabarinus.

Selenium mediated host plant-mite conflict: defense and adaptation.

Background: Selenium has shown effectiveness in protecting plants from herbivores. However, some insects have evolved adaptability to selenium.

Results: Selenium accumulation in host plants protected them against spider mite feeding.

Identification of Lysinibacillus sphaericus Binary toxin binding proteins in a malarial mosquito cell line by proteomics: A novel approach towards improving mosquito control.

Bacterial insecticidal proteins, such as the Bin toxin from Lysinibacillus sphaericus, could be used more extensively to control insecticide resistant mosquitoes. This study was aimed at identification of mosquito cell proteins binding Bin toxin. Results showed that purified toxin was toxic to Anopheles gambiae larvae and Ag55 cultured cells.

lincRNA_Tc13743.2-miR-133-5p-TcGSTm02 regulation pathway mediates cyflumetofen resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus.

Differential expression of metabolic detoxification enzymes is an important mechanism involved in pesticide/acaricide resistance of mite pests. The competing endogenous RNA hypothesis offers a new opportunity to investigate post-transcriptional regulation of those genes. In this study, 4454 long non-coding RNAs were identified in the carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus by transcriptome sequencing.

Amidase, a novel detoxifying enzyme, is involved in cyflumetofen resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval).

Amidase is an important hydrolytic enzyme in detoxification metabolism. Amidase hydrolyzes a wide variety of nonpeptide carbon‑nitrogen bonds by attacking a cyano group or carbonyl carbon. However, little is known about the relationship between amidase and insecticides.

The Transcription Factor Regulates the Susceptibility of to Abamectin via .

Pesticide resistance is a serious problem that poses a major challenge to pest control. One of the most potent resistance mechanisms is the overexpression of genes coding for detoxification enzymes. The expression of detoxification genes is regulated by a series of transcription factors.

RNAi targeting ecdysone receptor blocks the larva to adult development of Tetranychus cinnabarinus.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a potentially useful pest control method because of its high specificity. Silencing the expression of important RNAi target genes of pests will block important biological processes and reduce pest damage. Ecdysone is a unique arthropod hormone and the ecdysone receptor (EcR) is a key factor in molting pathway.

The cytochrome P450 CYP389C16 contributes to the cross-resistance between cyflumetofen and pyridaben in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval).

Background: Acaricide resistance is a serious problem in spider mites. Cyflumetofen is a new complex II inhibitor, whereas pyridaben acts at complex I and has been used for decades. Although cross-resistance between cyflumetofen and pyridaben has been observed in Tetranychus cinnabarinus, the specific mechanisms at play have not yet been investigated.

Stability of cyflumetofen resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus and its correlation with glutathione-S-transferase gene expression.

Background: Cyflumetofen is an outstanding acaricide with a novel mode of action. Tetranychus cinnabarinus, an important agricultural pest, is notorious for developing resistance to most classes of acaricides rapidly and results in enormous loss for the economy. Our previous study had pointed out glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) significantly contributed to the cyflumetofen-resistance formation in T.

Downregulation of carboxylesterase contributes to cyflumetofen resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval).

Background: Increased expression or point mutations of carboxyl/cholinesterases (CCEs) have been involved in many cases of insecticide and acaricide resistance. However, it has been only rarely documented that downregulation of CCE genes is associated with resistance, although many insecticides and acaricides need hydrolytic activation in vivo. Previously, expression analysis of a laboratory-selected cyflumetofen-resistant strain of Tetranychus cinnabarinus indicated that resistance was associated with increased expression of a CCE gene of TcCCE04, but also the downregulation of two CCE genes, TcCCE12 and TcCCE23.

Preparation of cyflumetofen nanocapsules and study on the controlled release performance and its field efficacy.

Background: In this study, 5% cyflumetofen nanocapsules were prepared by interfacial polymerization with isophorone diisocyanate and polyethylene glycol as the reaction monomer, and tristyrylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (601-P) as the emulsifier. The physical, chemical and sustained release properties of cyflumetofen nanocapsules were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, laser particle size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angles testing and high-performance liquid chromatography.

Results: The results indicated that cyflumetofen nanocapsules were spherical, with an average particle size of 100 nm, and an encapsulation efficiency and loading rate of 86% and 32%, respectively.

Functional analysis of UGT201D3 associated with abamectin resistance in Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval).

Uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are widely distributed within living organisms and share roles in biotransformation of various lipophilic endo- and xenobiotics with activated UDP sugars. In this study, it was found that the activity of UGTs in abamectin-resistant (AbR) strain was significantly higher (2.35-fold) than that in susceptible strain (SS) of Tetranychus cinnabarinus.