Article
Biology
Guillaume Dezecache, James M. Allen, Jorina von Zimmermann, Daniel C. Richardson
Summary: Through an experiment with a game called "Parklife," researchers found that inequality leads to more destructive behavior from disadvantaged team participants, who also reported higher levels of relative deprivation and frustration. Agent-based models indicated that the interaction between individual frustration levels and team behavior is a driving force behind acts of destruction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
P. A. Eyer, P. A. Guery, S. Aron
Summary: Group genetic diversity is associated with reduced disease risk and slower pathogen transmission. In the ant Cataglyphis mauritanica, workers from different paternal lineages vary in their resistance to a fungal entomopathogen in single-patriline colonies, but this difference disappears in multiple-patriline colonies. The number of patrilines in a group affects pathogen resistance, with two- and three-patriline groups being more resistant than single-patriline groups.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Carlos M. Aguero, Pierre-Andre Eyer, Jason S. Martin, Mark S. Bulmer, Edward L. Vargo
Summary: Reduced genetic diversity through inbreeding can negatively impact pathogen resistance in social species like social insects. However, in the case of subterranean termites, differences in genetic diversity between colonies did not explain variation in susceptibility to different pathogenic fungus strains. Colony resistance was found to be correlated between local and naive strains, suggesting other factors like differential virulence or immune priming may play a role in colony survival against pathogens.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Tao Feng, Chenbo Liu
Summary: Understanding the dynamics of social insect colonies is crucial in fields such as developmental biology, behavioral ecology, and sociology. In this study, we developed deterministic and stochastic models to investigate how internal and external factors drive collective foraging behavior. The theoretical analysis showed that the models exhibited global stability and a unique stationary distribution. Interestingly, these properties were independent of additional conditions. The main contribution of this work is the development of a new mathematical framework to study the impact of internal and external factors on social insect colony dynamics.
APPLIED MATHEMATICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Yong Chen, Chongwen Zhao, Wenhui Zeng, Wenjing Wu, Shijun Zhang, Dandan Zhang, Zhiqiang Li
Summary: Termites have strong resistance to pathogen infections, but the triggers for their pathogen-avoidance behaviors are still unclear. This study found that termites exposed to Metarhizium anisopliae conidia exhibited increased allogrooming behavior. The presence of ergosterol enhanced the allogrooming behavior of termites in the presence of the fungus.
Article
Entomology
Wei Zhang, Chen Jia, Lian-Sheng Zang, Maiqun Gu, Rui Zhang, Ioannis Eleftherianos, Amr A. Mohamed
Summary: There are complex interactions between insects and microbes, and the roles of disease-related microbial-derived metabolites in regulating host innate immunity and gut microbial community composition are still not well understood. This study found that the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae produces various metabolites during growth in locusts, which can modify the expression of host genes involved in innate immune processes. These metabolites also suppress the locust gut microbial composition. Overall, this study highlights the important functions of entomopathogenic fungal-derived metabolites in manipulating the insect host innate immunity and gut microbiota composition.
JOURNAL OF PEST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Mariya D. Ganina, Maksim V. Tyurin, Ulzhalgas T. Zhumatayeva, Georgy R. Lednev, Sergey V. Morozov, Vadim Yu. Kryukov
Summary: The cuticular lipids of the Italian locust are adapted to arid climates and have a higher content of branched hydrocarbons, making its surface more hospitable for fungi compared to the migratory locust. This adaptation may be due to the rarity of fungal pathogens in arid landscapes.
Article
Ecology
Megan N. Moran, Carlos M. Aguero, Pierre-Andre Eyer, Edward L. Vargo
Summary: Social insects have an efficient division of labor to protect high-value individuals from pathogen exposure. Infected termites may be groomed or cannibalized, but the mechanisms for these behaviors are unclear. Infected termites do not self-isolate and may gather in the densest part of the colony.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emilie Mauduit, Charlotte Lecureuil, Joel Meunier
Summary: Exposure to deltamethrin had both positive and negative effects on the European earwig mothers, enhancing factors related to future reproduction while limiting certain behaviors and physiological traits. This study highlights the importance of considering the diverse impacts of pesticides on non-target beneficial insects, rather than focusing on narrow parameters.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. A. Hanson, L. Grollmus, B. Lemaitre
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides, encoded by the host, play a crucial role in combating pathogens and shaping the microbiome in plants and animals. This study focuses on the Diptericin antimicrobial peptide family of Diptera and reveals the specific roles of DptA and DptB in Drosophila melanogaster, demonstrating how they interact with different bacteria. The findings also highlight the correlation between the presence of DptA- or DptB-like genes and the presence of specific bacteria across Diptera.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vadim Yu Kryukov, Ulyana Rotskaya, Olga Yaroslavtseva, Olga Polenogova, Natalia Kryukova, Yuriy Akhanaev, Anton Krivopalov, Tatyana Alikina, Yana L. Vorontsova, Irina Slepneva, Marsel Kabilov, Viktor V. Glupov
Summary: Avermectin treatment reduced microbiota diversity and increased the abundance of enterobacteria, leading to downregulation of Stat and Hsp90 genes and upregulation of transcription factors for Toll and IMD pathways and detoxification enzymes. Fungal infection decreased microbiota diversity, with an increase in Serratia, but did not affect immune pathways' gene expression. In the combined treatment, fungal infection inhibited detoxification enzyme activation and prevented JAK-STAT pathway downregulation caused by avermectins.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Steven T. Cassidy, Jade Chapa, Tram-Anh Tran, Nicholas Dolezal, Chelsey Gerena, Gloria Johnson, Arletys Leyva, Samantha Stein, Colin M. Wright, Carl N. Keiser
Summary: There is a negative correlation between individual and colony-level immunity, with colonies containing workers with weaker individual defences removing corpses more rapidly. Neither individual workers nor whole colonies exhibited parasite avoidance behavior, and these factors were not related.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yanan Dong, Xin Peng, Riaz Hussain, Tong Niu, He Zhang, Huan Wang, Lian-Xi Xing, Ruiwu Wang
Summary: Studies have shown that mating leads to physiological changes in animals, with males investing more energy and immune peptides to reduce the cost of living for females, resulting in lower survival rates in later life. However, the reasons behind termites' queens and kings being long-lived and highly fecund remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of mating on the expression of immune and DNA repair genes in termite queens and kings. The results indicate that mating increases the expression of immune and DNA repair genes, potentially improving survival during reproductive span due to pathogens.
EXPERIMENTAL GERONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Vaibhvi Vaibhvi, Sven Kuenzel, Thomas Roeder
Summary: The immune organs of the fruit fly, Drosophila, namely the fat body and hemocytes, show distinct responses to systemic infection. The fat body exhibits improved peptide synthesis and export, while hemocytes display enhanced phagocytic signatures.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Ryoichi Sato
Summary: Nodule formation in insects and arthropods is a two-stage process involving granulocyte aggregation and attachment of plasmatocytes to melanized aggregates. The first stage response, triggered by pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) recognition proteins, is crucial for rapid capture of invading microorganisms. Our understanding of the molecules and immune pathways involved in nodule formation has improved, highlighting the role of hemocyte-induced response, Toll signaling, and cytokines. Nodule formation is closely linked to melanization and antimicrobial peptide production, critical for insect humoral immunity.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jean-Claude Tourneur, Joel Meunier
Article
Parasitology
Francisco Arcila, Joel Meunier
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emilie Mauduit, Charlotte Lecureuil, Joel Meunier
Summary: Exposure to deltamethrin had both positive and negative effects on the European earwig mothers, enhancing factors related to future reproduction while limiting certain behaviors and physiological traits. This study highlights the importance of considering the diverse impacts of pesticides on non-target beneficial insects, rather than focusing on narrow parameters.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sophie Van Meyel, Severine Devers, Simon Dupont, Franck Dedeine, Joel Meunier
Summary: The gut microbiota can enhance their own fitness by modifying the host's physiological functions, but their impact on maternal care remains unexplored. Research found that altering the gut microbiota with rifampicin did not affect maternal care in European earwigs, but did increase females' feces production and resulted in lighter eggs and juveniles.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Sophie Van Meyel, Severine Devers, Joel Meunier
Summary: The study found that in the European earwig, juveniles consume the feces of their siblings in the family nest, and mothers also consume the feces of the juveniles. This behavior may bring some nutritional and non-nutritional benefits, helping earwig mothers to stay in the nest and promote the evolution of family life.
Article
Entomology
Martin Coulm, Joel Meunier
Summary: In starved juveniles of the European earwig, factors such as body weight, ambient temperature, and fungal infection affect moulting interval and survival. Body weight and temperature influence moulting date, while the concentration of fungal infection affects survival rate.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Philip Kohlmeier, Ye Zhang, Jenke A. Gorter, Chih-Ying Su, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: This study demonstrates that Drosophila melanogaster females become more selective after mating due to the increased release of juvenile hormone, which affects their sensitivity to male-produced pheromones. Polyandry allows mating-status-dependent choosiness, enabling females to acquire sperm in a timely manner and enhance offspring quality. The neurohormonal mechanism underlying mating-status-dependent choosiness provides insights into how juvenile hormone modulates behavior and emphasizes the importance of mated females in intersexual selection in polyandrous species.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Peter H. W. Biedermann, Marko Rohlfs, Dino P. McMahon, Joel Meunier
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leslie-Anne Merleau, Izia Larrigaldie, Oceane Bousquet, Severine Devers, Matthieu Keller, Charlotte Lecureuil, Joel Meunier
Summary: This study tested the effect of pyriproxyfen exposure on maternal care in the European earwig, and found that the authorized doses of pyriproxyfen are likely to have limited effects on the populations of the European earwig.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sophie Van Meyel, Joel Meunier
Summary: Parental care is often considered crucial in family life evolution, but recent studies indicate that sibling interactions can also be beneficial to juveniles. This study focused on the European earwig and found that juveniles raised with siblings or both siblings and their mother exhibited better development, morphology, and behavior compared to isolated juveniles. However, sibling deprivation did not significantly impact survival, male reproductive success, and other behaviors in adults. These findings suggest that sibling interactions play a minor role in the maintenance of earwig family life.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Philip Kohlmeier, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: This review discusses the genetic mechanisms that regulate neuronal sensitivity and behavior, providing a comprehensive list of already identified genes and mechanisms that impact behavior through changes in neuronal sensitivity to help interpret omics data.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Romain Honorio, Pauline Depierrefixe, Severine Devers, Maryse Rouelle, Joel Meunier, Charlotte Lecureuil
Summary: An increasing number of studies have shown that human activities can have a profound impact on various aspects of animal species. However, the effect of human interference on parental care, a behavior that can significantly influence future generations and population dynamics, remains uncertain. This study examines the impact of cadmium exposure on egg production and maternal egg care in the European earwig, and finds that cadmium ingestion does not affect egg production or maternal caring behaviors. Additionally, it does not affect maternal exploration, inactivity, self-grooming, egg development time, hatching rate, or juvenile weight.
Article
Entomology
N. Mouret, C. Lecureuil, J. Meunier
Summary: This study examined for the first time the egg care behavior of mothers in the earwig species Forficula pubescens. The results revealed that the mothers exhibited multiple forms of egg care, including grooming, guarding, and defense against predators. However, the presence of mothers had contrasting effects on the fate of the eggs, reducing their survival during early development but being necessary for successful hatching. The study highlights the importance of investigating egg care in poorly known species for understanding the evolution of maternal care.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Romain Honorio, Sarah Moreau, Charlotte Lecureuil, Joel Meunier
Summary: Anthropogenic pollution has a major impact on biodiversity, particularly through chemical pollutants. This study investigates the effect of the heavy metal pollutant cadmium on post-hatching maternal care and juvenile development in the European earwig. Surprisingly, no significant effects of cadmium ingestion were found, except for increased self-grooming behavior in mothers.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tiphaine P. M. Bailly, Philip Kohlmeier, Rampal S. Etienne, Bregje Wertheim, Jean-Christophe Billeter
Summary: Being part of a group facilitates cooperation between group members but also creates competition for resources. Gravid females modulate reproductive output depending on social context, laying eggs faster when grouped to reduce competition between offspring and increase survival. The presence of others triggers this response, regardless of sex, mating status, or species. The modulation of egg laying by group is connected to a lifting of the inhibition of light on oogenesis and egg laying, possibly mediated by an increase in juvenile hormone activity. This suggests a widespread and profound influence of social context on reproduction.