Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessTick hemocytes have a pleiotropic role in microbial infection and arthropod fitness
Rolandelli et al. define how immune cells from the tick Ixodes scapularis are affected by infection and show that this cell population have distinct signatures and functions in immunity, metabolism and proliferation.
- Agustin Rolandelli
- , Hanna J. Laukaitis-Yousey
- & Joao H. F. Pedra
-
Article
| Open AccessKey homeobox transcription factors regulate the development of the firefly’s adult light organ and bioluminescence
Adult firefly light organs exhibit flashing signals important for courtship, though how these organs form during development is largely unknown. Here the authors demonstrate that homeobox transcription factors play a patterning role in the development of the adult light organs.
- Xinhua Fu
- & Xinlei Zhu
-
Article
| Open AccessMating harassment may boost the effectiveness of the sterile insect technique for Aedes mosquitoes
The sterile insect technique involves the introduction of sterile males to induce sterility in females and reduce population size. Here, the authors show that sterile males may also reduce female density and inhibit female blood feeding through mating harassment.
- Dongjing Zhang
- , Hamidou Maiga
- & Jérémy Bouyer
-
Article
| Open AccessNatural selection and genetic diversity maintenance in a parasitic wasp during continuous biological control application
Parasitoid wasps are reared and released as biocontrol agents to manage aphids and protect crops. Here, the authors use genomes from 542 wasps to show that, in spite of wide scale release of low-diversity captive individuals, diversity in wild populations is maintained.
- Bingyan Li
- , Yuange Duan
- & Hu Li
-
Article
| Open AccessMechanistic characterization of a Drosophila model of paraneoplastic nephrotic syndrome
The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a model to characterize the mechanisms of tumor-induced host organ dysfunction. Here, Xu, Liu et al. describe a mechanism of tumor-induced kidney dysfunction through hyper-activation of the PvR/JNK/Jra pathway in the Principal cells of the fly kidney/Malpighian tubules.
- Jun Xu
- , Ying Liu
- & Norbert Perrimon
-
Article
| Open AccessEvaluating vector competence for Yellow fever in the Caribbean
Yellow fever is a public health threat in the Americas but has not recently been reported in the Caribbean despite presence of the mosquito vector Aedes aegypti. Here, the authors show through experimental infection that populations of Aedes aegypti from the Caribbean and surrounding areas are competent of yellow fever transmission.
- Gaelle Gabiane
- , Chloé Bohers
- & Anna-Bella Failloux
-
Article
| Open AccessWhy flying insects gather at artificial light
It is unclear why flying insects congregate around artificial light sources. Here, the authors use high-speed videography and motion-capture, finding that insects fly perpendicular to light sources due to a disruption of the dorsal light response.
- Samuel T. Fabian
- , Yash Sondhi
- & Huai-Ti Lin
-
Article
| Open AccessLife-history stage determines the diet of ectoparasitic mites on their honey bee hosts
Varroa and Tropilaelaps mites threaten honeybee health. This study finds that mites alter feeding habits depends on their own, and hosts’, life history stage. Mites feed on the host hemolymph when parasitizing pupae during their reproductive stage but consume fat body during their dispersal stage.
- Bin Han
- , Jiangli Wu
- & Shufa Xu
-
Article
| Open AccessThe angiosperm radiation played a dual role in the diversification of insects and insect pollinators
Interactions with angiosperms are thought to have had a significant impact on insect diversification. Here, the authors use a Bayesian process-based approach to find that angiosperm radiation played a dual role that changed through time, mitigating insect extinction in the Cretaceous and promoting insect origination in the Cenozoic.
- David Peris
- & Fabien L. Condamine
-
Article
| Open AccessMesozoic evolution of cicadas and their origins of vocalization and root feeding
The evolution of cicadas is unclear due to a lack of understanding of transitional features. Here, the authors assess adult and nymph mid-Cretaceous cicadas, to elucidate their morphological evolution and identify evidence of the origins of cicada sound-generation and subterranean lifestyle.
- Hui Jiang
- , Jacek Szwedo
- & Bo Wang
-
Article
| Open AccessLeucine aminopeptidase1 controls egg deposition and hatchability in male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
Aedes aegypti transmit several arboviruses and control of the mosquito populations could be beneficial. Here the authors show that deletion of leucine aminopeptidase1 (LAP1) results in mitochondrial defects and abnormal autophagy in sperm, reducing fertility and fecundity of females. LAP1−/− males show no obvious defects in longevity and mating fitness.
- Xiaomei Sun
- , Xueli Wang
- & Zhen Zou
-
Article
| Open AccessLeafhopper salivary vitellogenin mediates virus transmission to plant phloem
A plant virus induces and hijacks vitellogenin (Vg) of insect vector into virus-induced exosomes for release together from salivary glands to plant phloem, where the Vg suppresses H2O2 burst, facilitating insect feeding and viral transmission.
- Yanfei Wang
- , Chengcong Lu
- & Qian Chen
-
Article
| Open AccessTargeted treatment of injured nestmates with antimicrobial compounds in an ant society
Infected wounds pose a major mortality risk in animals and are common in predatory ants. Here, the authors show that M. analis ants apply antimicrobial compounds produced in the metapleural glands to treat infected wounds and reduce nestmate mortality.
- Erik. T. Frank
- , Lucie Kesner
- & Laurent Keller
-
Article
| Open AccessSeasonal variation in dragonfly assemblage colouration suggests a link between thermal melanism and phenology
Body colour may be an important factor in insect phenology. Here, the authors show that colour lightness of dragonfly assemblages from the UK, collected between May and October from 1990-2020, varies in response to seasonal changes in solar radiation, suggesting a link between colour-based thermoregulation and insect phenology.
- Roberto Novella-Fernandez
- , Roland Brandl
- & Christian Hof
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentification of peptides from honeybee gut symbionts as potential antimicrobial agents against Melissococcus plutonius
Here, by characterizing 477 genomes from cultivated bacteria and metagenome-assembled genomes of the bee gut microbiota, the authors uncover uncharacterized biosynthetic gene clusters encoding small molecules with potential antimicrobial activity against bee pathogens, shedding light on the role of microbiome in honeybee health.
- Haoyu Lang
- , Yuwen Liu
- & Hao Zheng
-
Article
| Open AccessGreater wax moth control in apiaries can be improved by combining Bacillus thuringiensis and entrapments
The greater wax moth (GWM) is a major bee pest. Here, the authors show how a pest control method that combines a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis and a lure-based entrapment can help to control GWM using lab experiments and field beehives.
- Bo Han
- , Li Zhang
- & Pingli Dai
-
Article
| Open AccessPhylogenomics reveals the history of host use in mosquitoes
Despite the significance of mosquitos for human health, little research has focused on their phylogeny. Here, the authors present a resolved phylogenetic history of mosquitoes based on phylogenomics showing that these major disease vectors radiated coincidentally with geologic events and the diversification of their hosts.
- John Soghigian
- , Charles Sither
- & Brian M. Wiegmann
-
Article
| Open AccessUnexpected worker mating and colony-founding in a superorganism
Workers in social insects such as honey bees, bumble bees, and ants are expected to spend their lives helping their mother reproduce. Here the authors show that workers of several bumble bee species can in fact mate and lead colonies of their own.
- Mingsheng Zhuang
- , Thomas J. Colgan
- & Jilian Li
-
Article
| Open AccessBehavioural individuality determines infection risk in clonal ant colonies
Behaviour drives infection risk in social groups. Here, Li et al. show that depending on the behavioural role of clonal ants in a colony, genetically identical individuals face vastly different risks of becoming infected with parasitic nematodes.
- Zimai Li
- , Bhoomika Bhat
- & Yuko Ulrich
-
Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide association studies reveal novel loci associated with pyrethroid and organophosphate resistance in Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii
Insecticide resistance in mosquitoes threatens the success of malaria control programmes. This study found that in different populations of a malaria mosquito species in West Africa, resistance is associated with different genes or different mutations in the same set of genes.
- Eric R. Lucas
- , Sanjay C. Nagi
- & David Weetman
-
Article
| Open AccessShort-term particulate matter contamination severely compromises insect antennal olfactory perception
The consequences for insects of sub-lethal levels of ambient particulate matter pollution exposure have not received much attention. Here, the authors show that accumulation of particulate matter on houseflies severely compromises their olfactory and other key physiological functions.
- Qike Wang
- , Genting Liu
- & Mark A. Elgar
-
Article
| Open AccessParallel and convergent genomic changes underlie independent subterranean colonization across beetles
The genomic underpinnings of cave-related phenotypes are underexplored. Here, the authors investigate adaptation to underground life in cave beetle lineages using transcriptomic and genomic data, finding both parallel and convergent changes in six independent episodes of subterranean colonization.
- Pau Balart-García
- , Leandro Aristide
- & Rosa Fernández
-
Article
| Open AccessA salivary GMC oxidoreductase of Manduca sexta re-arranges the green leaf volatile profile of its host plant
Green leaf volatiles are emitted from plants in response to stress. Here the authors identify an isomerase in Manduca sexta that both modulate plant green leaf volatiles and functions in insect development.
- Yu-Hsien Lin
- , Juliette J. M. Silven
- & Silke Allmann
-
Article
| Open AccessSeasonal specialization drives divergent population dynamics in two closely related butterflies
Seasons may impose different selection pressures on organisms. Here, the authors propose that species may either maximize gains during the growth season or minimize losses during winter, and provide empirical support of such seasonal specialisation in two closely related butterfly species.
- Loke von Schmalensee
- , Pauline Caillault
- & Philipp Lehmann
-
Article
| Open AccessEngineered symbiotic bacteria interfering Nosema redox system inhibit microsporidia parasitism in honeybees
Microsporidia parasitism affect honeybees health and has been implicated in colony losses. Here, the authors show that members of the honeybee gut microbiota inhibit microsporidia proliferation, and engineer a gut symbiont that protects against Nosema ceranae infection via inhibiting its redox system.
- Haoyu Lang
- , Hao Wang
- & Hao Zheng
-
Article
| Open AccessA male-killing gene encoded by a symbiotic virus of Drosophila
Maternally inherited symbionts that kill male insect hosts are well known in bacteria, but are also beginning to be recognised in viruses. In this study, the authors identify a gene from a symbiotic virus genome that is responsible for the male-killing phenotype of this virus in the fly Drosophila biauraria.
- Daisuke Kageyama
- , Toshiyuki Harumoto
- & Masayoshi Watada
-
Article
| Open AccessSocial complexity, life-history and lineage influence the molecular basis of castes in vespid wasps
A key hypothesis for the evolution of division of labour in social insects is that a shared set of genes – a genetic toolkit - regulates reproductive castes across species. Here, the authors analyze brain transcriptomes from nine species of social wasps to identify the factors that shape this toolkit.
- Christopher Douglas Robert Wyatt
- , Michael Andrew Bentley
- & Seirian Sumner
-
Article
| Open AccessPlanthopper salivary sheath protein LsSP1 contributes to manipulation of rice plant defenses
Salivary elicitors secreted by herbivorous insects can be perceived by host plants to trigger plant immunity. Here, the authors show that the small brown planthopper salivary sheath protein LsSP1 binds to salivary sheath proteins and contributes to insect feeding by manipulating rice plant defenses.
- Hai-Jian Huang
- , Yi-Zhe Wang
- & Chuan-Xi Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessThe function and evolution of a genetic switch controlling sexually dimorphic eye differentiation in honeybees
Sexual dimorphism results in widely diverse animal forms, but sexual determination is generally attributed to a single gene in animal models. Here they find that the glu gene regulates sexual dimorphism of honeybee eyes, demonstrating diversification of genetic programs for dimorphism.
- Oksana Netschitailo
- , Yidong Wang
- & Martin Beye
-
Article
| Open AccessMultiple drivers and lineage-specific insect extinctions during the Permo–Triassic
The impact of three extinction events during the Permo–Triassic interval on terrestrial invertebrates is unclear. Here, the authors find that key abiotic and biotic factors, including changes in floral assemblages, were correlated with changes in insect diversity through this interval.
- Corentin Jouault
- , André Nel
- & Fabien L. Condamine
-
Article
| Open AccessA single transcription factor facilitates an insect host combating Bacillus thuringiensis infection while maintaining fitness
Plutella xylostella endures Bt toxins with no performance costs. This study reveals how, depending on the presence of the toxin, this insect modifies MAPK phosphorylation to modulate the transcription factor FTZ-F1 binding, to up- or down- regulate Bt receptors or non-receptor (resistant) paralogs.
- Zhaojiang Guo
- , Le Guo
- & Youjun Zhang
-
Article
| Open AccessHigh-resolution silkworm pan-genome provides genetic insights into artificial selection and ecological adaptation
Tong et al. describe a super pangenome assembled from long-read sequences of 545 wild and domesticated silkworms. Naturally selected (diapause, aposemantic coloration) or artificially selected (silk yield and fineness) sets of genes are delineated.
- Xiaoling Tong
- , Min-Jin Han
- & Fangyin Dai
-
Article
| Open AccessSearch performance and octopamine neuronal signaling mediate parasitoid induced changes in Drosophila oviposition behavior
Animals have evolved varied strategies for predator avoidance. Here the authors find that Drosophila can recognize threats from younger parasitoid wasps via the perception of their search performance, and reduce egg laying through the reduction of octopamine neuronal signalling.
- Lan Pang
- , Zhiguo Liu
- & Jianhua Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessZika vector competence data reveals risks of outbreaks: the contribution of the European ZIKAlliance project
Zika virus (ZIKV), the causative agent of virus-induced brain damage in newborns, is transmitted by mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti, and secondarily, Aedes albopictus. Here, Obadia et al. characterize ZIKV vector competence of 50 mosquito populations from six species collected in 12 different countries to inform about epidemic risk. They find that African ZIKV strain shows higher transmission efficiency compared to American and Asian ZIKV strains and that Ae. aegypti mosquitoes have highest susceptibility to infections, while Culexmosquitoes are largely non-susceptible.
- Thomas Obadia
- , Gladys Gutierrez-Bugallo
- & Anna-Bella Failloux
-
Article
| Open AccessA single-cell transcriptomic atlas characterizes the silk-producing organ in the silkworm
The molecular underpinning of silk-producing organs is not well characterized. Here the authors use single-cell RNA sequencing to build an atlas of the silkworm silk gland and reveal the heterogeneity of silk gland cells.
- Yan Ma
- , Wenhui Zeng
- & Hanfu Xu
-
Article
| Open AccessTransgenic Anopheles mosquitoes expressing human PAI-1 impair malaria transmission
Plasmodium gametes and sporozoites activate surface-bound plasminogen to plasmin that degrades extracellular matrix barriers, therewith facilitating parasite motility in mosquitoes and mammalian hosts. To control malaria transmission, Pascini et al. generate Anopheles stephensi transgenic mosquitoes constitutively secreting human plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in midgut and/or saliva which leads to inhibition of plasminogen activation and a reduction in oocyst intensity, infection prevalence, and transmission.
- Tales V. Pascini
- , Yeong Je Jeong
- & Joel Vega-Rodríguez
-
Article
| Open AccessHoneybee gut Lactobacillus modulates host learning and memory behaviors via regulating tryptophan metabolism
Eusocial honeybee is a versatile model for neurobiological research. Here, the authors established a link between honeybee gut Lactobacillus in bee learning and memory ability via indole derivatives that activate host’s aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
- Zijing Zhang
- , Xiaohuan Mu
- & Hao Zheng
-
Article
| Open AccessRapid age-grading and species identification of natural mosquitoes for malaria surveillance
Knowing the age of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes is important to understand transmission risk as only old mosquitoes can transmit the disease. Here, the authors develop a method based on mid-infrared spectra of mosquito cuticle that can rapidly identify the species and age class of main malaria vectors.
- Doreen J. Siria
- , Roger Sanou
- & Francesco Baldini
-
Article
| Open AccessRecurring adaptive introgression of a supergene variant that determines social organization
Solenopsis fire ants have a polymorphic social system in which some colonies have multiple queens. Here, Stolle, Pracana et al. show that the supergene that produces the multiple-queen phenotype has spread repeatedly between Solenopsis species by introgression.
- Eckart Stolle
- , Rodrigo Pracana
- & Yannick Wurm
-
Article
| Open AccessA hemimetabolous wing development suggests the wing origin from lateral tergum of a wingless ancestor
Here, the authors investigate wing development in cricket and find support for evolution of the novel insect wing from the pre-existing dorsal body wall of a wingless ancestor by activation of an evolutionarily conserved growth mechanism.
- Takahiro Ohde
- , Taro Mito
- & Teruyuki Niimi
-
Article
| Open AccessThe insect somatostatin pathway gates vitellogenesis progression during reproductive maturation and the post-mating response
In mammals, somatostatin plays a role in preventing the release of sex hormones before puberty begins. A Drosophila study uncovered the process by which insect somatostatin controls ovarian development in response to developmental and mating signals.
- Chen Zhang
- , Anmo J. Kim
- & Young-Joon Kim
-
Article
| Open AccessPEBP balances apoptosis and autophagy in whitefly upon arbovirus infection
Arbovirus has co-evolved with its insect vector, enabling efficient and persistent transmission by vectors. Here, the authors reveal an immune homeostatic mechanism shaped by apoptosis and autophagy that facilitates arbovirus preservation within its whitefly vector.
- Shifan Wang
- , Huijuan Guo
- & Yucheng Sun
-
Article
| Open AccessCooperative herbivory between two important pests of rice
Herbivore cooperation between insect pests can result in substantially greater damage to crops but also constitutes a good target for improved pest control. Liu et al. reveal how the brown plant-hopper and the rice striped stem-borer obtain mutual benefits when feeding on the same rice plant.
- Qingsong Liu
- , Xiaoyun Hu
- & Yunhe Li
-
Article
| Open AccessInsecticide resistance by a host-symbiont reciprocal detoxification
Insect acquisition of insecticide resistance represents a serious problem for agriculture. Here, authors reveal an insect symbiotic bacteria that degrades insecticide fenitrothion into a non-insecticidal but bactericidal compound, which is subsequently excreted by the insect host.
- Yuya Sato
- , Seonghan Jang
- & Yoshitomo Kikuchi
-
Article
| Open AccessNeofunctionalization of an ancient domain allows parasites to avoid intraspecific competition by manipulating host behaviour
Evolutionary arms races can drive adaptations in hosts and parasites as well as among competing parasites. A combination of multi-omics and functional tests identifies a set of genes that allow a parasitic wasp to minimize intraspecific competition by inducing hosts to escape before more wasps can parasitize them.
- Jiani Chen
- , Gangqi Fang
- & Jianhua Huang
-
Article
| Open AccessTick extracellular vesicles enable arthropod feeding and promote distinct outcomes of bacterial infection
Extracellular vesicles have been implicated in the transmission of pathogens from the arthropod to the human host. Here the authors show that tick-derived extracellular vesicles play a role in feeding and modulate the outcome of bacterial infection.
- Adela S. Oliva Chávez
- , Xiaowei Wang
- & Joao H. F. Pedra
-
Article
| Open AccessSugar transporters enable a leaf beetle to accumulate plant defense compounds
The herbivorous horseradish flea beetle sequesters plant toxins to defend against predators. Here the authors identify glucosinolate transporters expressed in the beetle Malpighian tubules and provide evidence that these reabsorb glucosinolates from the tubule lumen to prevent their loss by excretion.
- Zhi-Ling Yang
- , Hussam Hassan Nour-Eldin
- & Franziska Beran
-
Matters Arising
| Open AccessInsects with 100 million-year-old dinosaur feathers are not ectoparasites
- David A. Grimaldi
- & Isabelle M. Vea
-
Article
| Open AccessMapping ticks and tick-borne pathogens in China
Ticks are an important vector of disease in China, posing threats to humans, livestock and wild animals. Here, Zhao et al. compile a database of the distributions of the 124 tick species known in China and 103 tick-borne pathogens and predict the additional suitable habitats for the predominant vector species.
- Guo-Ping Zhao
- , Yi-Xing Wang
- & Li-Qun Fang