Article
Agronomy
Jose Arredondo, Juan F. Aguirre-Medina, Jose S. Meza-Hernandez, Jorge Cancino, Francisco Diaz-Fleischer
Summary: The effects of two insecticide growth regulators, methoprene and pyriproxyfen, on the sexual maturation and mating competitiveness of male fruit flies were compared. The results showed that pyriproxyfen accelerated sexual development without reducing mating propensity, making it a suitable alternative to methoprene. Both compounds equally reduced male survival.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Enya Wynants, Cedric Van Dun, Nancy Lenaerts, Sarah A. Princen, Ella Tuyttens, Hagai Y. Shpigler, Tom Wenseleers, Annette Van Oystaeyen
Summary: This study investigates the effects of hibernation state, caste, and species on the gonadotropic effect of juvenile hormone (JH) in bumble bee queens. The results indicate that JH does not directly promote ovary development in hibernated queens, but does have a stimulatory effect in non-hibernated queens. Additionally, JH does not have significant gonadotropic effects in workers. The findings suggest that factors beyond JH elevation are required for oviposition and colony initiation.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Qiao Gao, Bei Li, Zhong Tian, Arnold De Loof, Jia-Lu Wang, Xiao-Ping Wang, Wen Liu
Summary: Our study reveals that in the Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis, the absence of juvenile hormone (JH) triggers reproductive diapause, as indicated by JH measurements and the knockdown of the intracellular JH receptor methoprene-tolerant (Met). Furthermore, we demonstrate that JH biosynthesis, rather than the degradation pathway, determines the reduction of JH titer in diapausing females.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Xiaoshuai Zhang, Sheng Li, Suning Liu
Summary: JH, produced by the endocrine gland corpus allatum, plays a critical role in regulating developmental and physiological processes in insects. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a key model for studying JH.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Hong-Yue Ma, Yan-Yan Li, Ling Li, Yao Tan, Bao-Ping Pang
Summary: Juvenile hormone (JH) signaling has been proven to play a significant role in regulating reproductive diapause in insects. Topical application of a JH analog delayed entry into diapause and inhibited lipid accumulation in G. daurica.
Article
Agronomy
Jie Luo, Sheng Liu, Jiangan Hou, Lichao Chen, Honghong Li, Shucheng Liao, Qimei Tan, Taiyi Yang, Guoqiang Yi, Fu Zhang, Xuesheng Li
Summary: The study showed that different JHAs treatments on honey bee larvae led to varying changes in gene transcription and pathway enrichment, with fenoxycarb affecting the most genes and pathways. Furthermore, the treatments with different JHAs resulted in different levels of impact on the JH titers in the honey bee.
Article
Entomology
Marissa Gallagher, Arianna Ramirez, Christopher J. Geden, John G. Stoffolano Jr
Summary: In this study, researchers found that infected female flies, which normally do not mate, could be induced to mate by treating them with hormones that are involved in normal fly reproduction. This discovery provides insight into the mechanisms by which the virus tricks the fly into being unresponsive to male suitors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matej Milacek, Lenka Bittova, Sarka Tumova, Ondrej Luksan, Robert Hanus, Pavlina Kyjakova, Ales Machara, Ales Marek, Marek Jindra
Summary: Juvenile hormone controls insect reproduction and development through a receptor complex consisting of Met and Tai proteins, affecting vitellogenesis in cockroaches and caste polyphenism in termites. Studies show high-affinity binding of JH III by Met proteins in cockroaches and termites, with evidence of JH receptor agonist binding in hemimetabolous species.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Steven N. Buchert, Pomai Murakami, Aashaka H. Kalavadia, Martin T. Reyes, Divya Sitaraman
Summary: This study examines the impact of sleep on courtship and egg-laying behaviors in animals, finding that sleep duration, depth, and pressure can affect reproductive success, with a more significant impact on male courtship behavior. Additionally, sleep phenotypes are less influenced by social experiences, while egg-laying behavior is less sensitive to sleep length and parameters indicative of switching between sleep and wake states.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR & INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Ning Huangfu, Yong Wang, Yu Zeng, Tock H. Chua, Chaodong Zhu, Xiaolin Chen
Summary: This study provides the first detailed report on the biology of stalk-eyed fruit flies, including their life history, reproductive biology, and host use patterns. It lays a significant foundation for future studies on the ecology and evolution of this group.
ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Xin-lian Li, Dou-dou Li, Xin-yan Cai, Dai-feng Cheng, Yong-yue Lu
Summary: This review summarizes the existing studies on the reproductive behavior of Tephritidae, particularly regarding the genes and external factors associated with courtship, mating, and oviposition. It contributes significantly to the integrated control of fruit flies.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meng-Meng Chang, Yan-Hong Wang, Qing-Tai Yang, Xue-Li Wang, Mao Wang, Alexander S. Raikhel, Zhen Zou
Summary: The study reveals the negative impact of juvenile hormone on the expression of immunity-related genes in female mosquitoes. It further demonstrates the important role of juvenile hormone in regulating mosquito immune responses. The findings suggest that juvenile hormone suppresses antimicrobial peptide gene expression through its receptor Met, while PGRP-LC activates this gene, indicating dual regulation by both the juvenile hormone and IMD signaling pathways.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Karol Giejdasz, Monika Fliszkiewicz, Oskar Wasielewski
Summary: The study found that injecting methoprene into Osmia rufa L. nests significantly reduced the emergence time of adult bees in winter, with a more pronounced effect in females. Additionally, methoprene treatment improved reproductive traits of Osmia rufa L. bees.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
H. -Y. Ma, Y. -Y. Li, L. Li, Y. Tan, B. -P. Pang
Summary: The study discovered that topical application of the JH analogue methoprene induced the expression of GdMet in 3-day-old and 5-day-old adults of Galeruca daurica. Silencing GdMet through RNAi inhibited the expression of JHBP, JHE, Kr-h1, and Vg, while promoting FAS2 expression, leading to enhanced lipid accumulation and fat body development, ultimately inducing the adults into diapause ahead of schedule.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Qiao Gao, Bei Li, Bing-Xin Wei, Wen Liu, Pan Wang, Jia-Lu Wang, Xing-Miao Zhou, Xiao-Ping Wang
Summary: This study revealed that photoperiod regulates male IRS development in H. axyridis through a conserved Met-dependent JH signaling pathway. The results indicate the importance of JH in IRS development and how Met knockdown can affect this process in male ladybeetles.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Tamara Limon, Andrea Birke, Juan Luis Monribot-Villanueva, Jose Antonio Guerrero-Analco, Alma Altuzar-Molina, Gloria Carrion, Francisco M. Goycoolea, Bruno M. Moerschbacher, Martin Aluja
Summary: Chitosan coatings significantly reduce decay, pest infestation, and anthracnose disease in mangoes, extend shelf-life, and improve fruit quality, making it a promising postharvest treatment for commercialization.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Trevor Williams, Gabriel Mercado, Martin Aluja
Summary: Tephritid fruit flies are negatively affected by spinosad treatments in both larval and adult stages, with reduced pupation and adult emergence. Immersion of infested fruits in spinosad solution also reduces adult emergence. However, spinosad-treated sand does not impact foraging behavior or mortality of parasitoids.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maria Elena Garcia, Nora Julieta Reyes, Maria Laura Espeche, Mariano Ordano, Cesar Lamelas, Jorge Forciniti, Maria Lorena Soule Gomez
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of climatic variability on arboreal pollen load, finding that pollen concentrations varied considerably annually and were affected by temperature and humidity. The composition of arboreal pollen was mainly represented by specific plant species, and seasonality had a significant impact on pollen concentration.
Article
Entomology
Carlos Pascacio-Villafan, Luis Quintero-Fong, Larissa Guillen, Jose Pedro Rivera-Ciprian, Reynaldo Aguilar, Martin Aluja
Summary: The research found that cellulose and sawdust substrates are more effective in promoting pupation in the production of sterile Mediterranean fruit flies compared to other substrates currently used. Adequate pupation substrates and substrate volume are critical factors in the mass-rearing of insects for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) applications.
Article
Ecology
Facundo X. Palacio, J. Francisco Cataudela, Diego Montalti, Mariano Ordano
Summary: Fruiting phenology, a critical aspect of plant fitness, is influenced by both climate and frugivore selection; research found high variability in fruiting phenology among populations, with frugivores favoring plants with large fruit crop sizes and early fruiting onsets.
EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Larissa Guillen, Juan L. Monribot-Villanueva, Jose A. Guerrero-Analco, Rafael Ortega, Alma Altuzar-Molina, Victoria Mena, Eliel Ruiz-May, Martin Aluja
Summary: This study identified the preferred oviposition sites and optimal environmental and chemical conditions for A. obliqua females, providing valuable information for the management of this pest. Females showed a preference for shaded, upper fruit sections with higher carbohydrate content and antioxidant compounds. Sunlight exposure and specific chemical compounds influenced their oviposition behaviors. Based on these findings, the study proposes a management scheme that focuses on female host selection behavior.
Article
Ecology
Carlos Pascacio-Villafan, Nicoletta Righini, David Nestel, Andrea Birke, Larissa Guillen, Martin Aluja
Summary: This study found that the macronutrient content in the larval diet and conspecific larval density have important effects on various traits of fruit fly larvae and adults. Large numbers of larvae feeding together can balance the negative effects of conspecific competition in high macronutrient content and low P/C ratio food.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Pedro G. Blendinger, Tobias N. Rojas, Andres F. Ramirez-Mejia, Irene M. A. Bender, Silvia Lomascolo, Julieta Magro, M. Gabriela Nunez Montellano, Roman A. Ruggera, Mariana Valoy, Mariano Ordano
Summary: This article examines the diet regulation strategies of fruit-eating birds and finds that they primarily balance multiple nutrients to achieve a nutritional intake target, rather than maximizing energy intake. Fruit-handling behavior affects energy acquisition efficiency but not the ability to reach a nutritional target.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Guadalupe Cordova-Garcia, Carlos J. Esquivel, Diana Perez-Staples, Eliel Ruiz-May, Mariana Herrera-Cruz, Martha Reyes-Hernandez, Solana Abraham, Martin Aluja, Laura Sirot
Summary: This study reveals that seminal fluid proteins (Sfps) in the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, may play a role in regulating female olfactory responses and memory formation. These findings have important implications for understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of this significant agricultural pest.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Facundo X. Palacio, Juan Francisco Cataudela, Diego Montalti, Mariano Ordano
Summary: This study examined whether fruit removal can accurately reflect the number of seeds dispersed as a proxy for plant reproductive success. The results show that fruit removal can be reliably used as a proxy for total fitness when there is a weak fruit number-seed number trade-off, fruit crop size and fruit removal correlate positively, and seed number variability does not largely exceed fruit number variability.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Aluja, Mirna Vazquez-Rosas-Landa, Daniel Cerqueda-Garcia, Juan L. Monribot-Villanueva, Alma Altuzar-Molina, Monica Ramirez-Vazquez, Olinda Velazquez-Lopez, Greta Rosas-Saito, Alexandro G. Alonso-Sanchez, Rafael Ortega-Casas, Adrian Jose Enriquez-Valencia, Jose A. Guerrero-Analco, Enrique Ibarra-Laclette
Summary: Hass avocados can quickly counteract the oviposition of Anastrepha ludens insects by generating neoplasia and hindering eclosion. Through transcriptomics and metabolomics, molecular mechanisms triggered by the fruit in response to damage or insect oviposition were identified. These mechanisms include the activation of neoplastic tissue production, defense system initiation, and cell wall modification.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Facundo X. Palacio, Mariano Ordano
Summary: Urbanization is a significant factor in the Anthropocene, altering evolutionary processes and ecological interactions on a short-term basis. However, the impact of urban environments on phenotypic selection in multispecies interactions has been rarely studied. In this research, a seed-dispersal mutualism was used to examine the magnitude and direction of phenotypic selection by frugivores on fruit and seed traits across plant populations with varying degrees of urbanization. The results indicated that urbanization weakened phenotypic selection through positive effects on fruit production, fitness, and species visitation rates. This study demonstrates that urban ecosystems can have diverse effects on the selection of traits in the short term, emphasizing the influence of humans in shaping the eco-evolutionary dynamics of multispecies interactions.
Article
Entomology
Lorena Suarez, Maria Josefina Buonocore Biancheri, Fernando Murua, Mariano Ordano, Xingeng Wang, Jorge Cancino, Flavio Roberto Mello Garcia, Guillermo Sanchez, Sergio Beltrachini, Luis Ernesto Kulichevsky, Sergio Marcelo Ovruski
Summary: The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata, is a major invasive pest for fruit production and trade worldwide. Augmentative biological control (ABC) using parasitoids has been successfully incorporated into medfly suppression strategies in San Juan province, Argentina. This study evaluated the effectiveness of releasing the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata in controlling medfly populations and demonstrated the potential of ABC as a tool for medfly control.
Article
Biology
Carlos Pascacio-Villafan, Larissa Guillen, Alma Altuzar-Molina, Julio A. Tellez-Mora, Enedina Cruz-Hernandez, Martin Aluja
Summary: In this study, a laboratory colony of Anastrepha ludens was established on a larval diet consisting of orange fruit bagasse. After 24 generations, the pupae from the orange bagasse diet were smaller and had lower protein content compared to those reared on an artificial diet. Males from the orange bagasse diet produced a more complex scent bouquet, but had shorter copulations compared to males from the artificial diet and the wild host. The results suggest that A. ludens can adapt their morphological and chemical traits to a larval environment consisting of fruit waste.
Article
Entomology
Larissa Guillen, Lorena Lopez-Sanchez, Olinda Velazquez, Greta Rosas-Saito, Alma Altuzar-Molina, John G. G. Stoffolano Jr, Monica Ramirez-Vazquez, Martin Aluja
Summary: This study observed and described the different types of sensilla and other unknown structures in the antenna of the Mexican Fruit Fly. The aim was to update the knowledge of these structures and their functions in the perception of odors, temperature, humidity, and movement. The findings are important in understanding the behavior of this pest insect and developing environmentally friendly control methods.