Using microtitration method, the relationship between Phenoloxidase activity and the resistance of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) to the novel insecticide butane-fipronil was determined in vitro. After selection of the tenth-generation by butane-fipronil, the resistance of the fourth instar larvae was increased 83.80-fold as compared to the susceptible strain. Phenoloxidase activity of the resistant strain (POr) was 1.29-fold higher than the susceptible one (POs). However, the Km and optimum pH values were similar in resistant and susceptible strains, which were 1.11 mM and 6.5, respectively. Both POr and POs have maximum stability at pH values less than 7.0, although POs was less stable at lower pH values than POr. In addition, the thermal stabilities of the two phenoloxidase were very similar. It is suggested that PO may play an important role in the increasing resistance of pests to pesticides.
Metarhizium rileyi, a well-known entomopathogenic fungus, could open up new vistas in biological control of insect pests; however, due to its intrinsic shortcomings, such as long pathogenic process, its application is largely limited. To explore which process, the invasion or the following in vivo development, is the main factor responsible for the long pathogenic process, the lethal effect of M. rileyi against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) was determined by conidial topical application and hyphae body injection, and the host immune response was also monitored. Results showed when larvae were inoculated by conidial topical application, the pathogenicity of M. rileyi varied greatly depending on the larval instar and conidia concentration, and LC50 values ranged from 6.24 × 106 to 6.06 × 109 conidia/ml while LT50 values fluctuated from 4.35 to 9.43 d. However, in vivo study showed when hyphal bodies (Hbs) of M. rileyi were injected into host hemocoel, they would not be recognized by the host’s immune system as invaders. There were no significant differences in the hemocytes and phenoloxidase activity between the infected and control larvae at the initial 44 h, indicated that the fungus was able to successfully avoid the attack from the cellular and humoral immune systems, therefore, it could multiply freely in the hemocoel. The in vivo development time of M. rileyi tended to remain constant for 2–3 d regardless of the initial inoculated numbers. Considering no detectable defense response was observed during in vivo development, it can be concluded that host nonself-recognition system does not respond to the hemolymph borne-Hbs.
Multiple mating in females is common in nature but may involve fitness costs. Adult females and males of the beetle Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting can mate multiple times. We studied the effect of mating frequency and mating pattern (time interval between matings) on female reproductive fitness by measuring fecundity, hatching probability, and female longevity. Fecundity and longevity were similar in single- and double-mated (two matings separated by a 7 d interval) females. However, two and three successive matings and three matings separated by two 7 d interval had a significant negative effect on the lifetime fecundity and longevity of females. Multiple mating had a positive effect on egg hatching, and two matings sufficed to fertilize the full egg load. These results indicate that the two matings separated by a 7 d interval are optimum for reproductive fitness in female P. versicolora. Suboptimal mating frequency (successive mating or an excessive number of matings) exacts a physiological cost that shortens the female life span and reduces fecundity.
Environmental temperature is an important factor restricting insect population dynamics. Due to the ongoing global warming, interest in the impact of heat stress on insects has grown. High temperature in summer is a key barrier for Bradysia odoriphaga (Diptera: Sciaridae), a devastating vegetable pest o in China. It is well known that moderate thermal hardening can enhance the thermotolerance of many insects, which is beneficial for adaptation to environmental thermal stress. In order to determine whether heat hardening was beneficial for B. odoriphaga to adapt to high summer temperatures, we studied the biological performance, antioxidant responses and hsp70 and hsp90 expression of B. odoriphaga 4th instar larvae and adults after pre‐exposure to mild heat hardening temperatures (30–36°C). Mild heat hardening (32–36°C) enhanced the larval thermal tolerance to extreme heat stress. However, life parameters were significantly inhibited, development was delayed, longevity was shortened, and fecundity was decreased. Mild heat hardening (30–34°C) caused serious adverse effects on life parameters and less enhancement of heat resistance for 4th instar larvae. Mild heat hardening at 36°C weakened the heat tolerance of adults. The activity of four antioxidant enzymes in B. odoriphaga changed dramatically after heat hardening at 32–36°C. During recovery at 25°C, catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) in tested larvae maintained successive higher activities after heat hardening. Simultaneously, the expression levels of hsp70 and hsp90 increased significantly after thermal hardening. Higher expression levels were also detected in larvae, pupae and adults after 48 hr recovery at 25°C. Overall, mild heat hardening played an important role in heat tolerance plasticity of B. odoriphaga larvae, and the antioxidant system and hsp70 and hsp90 genes were extremely relevant to this adaptation process.
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