ABSTRACT Rhipicephalus microplus is a widespread tick species causing significant economic losses and transmitting pathogens to cattle. The R. microplus populations utilized in tick research are frequently maintained under laboratory conditions for many years. Despite this, morphological abnormalities developed in laboratory‐maintained strains remain underexplored. Here, we analyzed the Porto Alegre (POA) strain, maintained under controlled conditions for nearly four decades, assessing external and internal morphological abnormalities across generations and their impact on biological parameters. We identified a low frequency (~0.9%) of diverse external malformations, predominantly idiosomal asymmetries, accompanied by histological gut alterations indicative of cellular dysfunction. Malformed ticks exhibited significantly reduced body weight, oviposition, and fertility compared to normal individuals. These abnormalities were not heritable but persisted sporadically, suggesting multifactorial origins. Our findings indicate that morphological malformations impair feeding efficiency and reproductive capacity, potentially limiting the fitness of affected ticks. This study enhances understanding of morphological variation in R. microplus and its biological implications and will inform strain maintenance and tick biology research.

ABSTRACT Myzus persica (Sulzer) is an important agricultural pest that indirectly spreads plant viruses by feeding on plant leaves, causing significant impacts on agricultural production. Neonicotinoid insecticides exert their insecticidal effects by specifically targeting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the insect nervous system, thereby interfering with neural signal transduction. However, their frequent use has led to severe resistance. The mutations of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor β 1 subunit (nACh β 1) in insecticide resistance formation as an important target deserve attention. So, in this study, resistance level determination, gene mutation point detection (R81T and V101I), and nAChR β1 gene expression analysis in different populations were conducted. The results showed that seven field populations collected in four provinces of China exhibited resistance to imidacloprid (resistance factor [RF] range, 3.27–108.00). The V101I mutation frequency is not found in the HNZMD population, whereas varying degrees occur in the other six populations (ranging from 10% to 100%), and this mutation frequency is significantly positively correlated with resistance level to imidacloprid. However, the R81T mutation only appeared in the HNHB and HNZMD populations, with mutation frequencies of 50% and 20%, respectively, and was not detected in the other five populations. The mRNA relative expression levels of nAChR β1 subunit showed no significant differences among the sensitive strain (MP‐S), HNLY, JSLYG, CQDZ, and HNZMD. However, the nAChR β1 subunit was reduced by 60.7%, 58.7%, and 49.6% in HNHB, ZJHZ, and HNXX compared with that of MP‐S, respectively. This suggests that both point mutation (V101I) and the downregulation of nAChR β1 subunit expression may be involved in the resistance to imidacloprid. These results should be useful for the management of imidacloprid‐resistant M. persicae .

ABSTRACT The whitefly Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a major agricultural pest that infests a wide range of crops and transmits several plant viruses, leading to significant yield losses worldwide. The intensive use of chemical insecticides for its control has contributed to the development of resistance, highlighting the need for alternative management strategies. This study evaluated the pathogenicity of a Cordyceps sp. isolate (GenBank accession: PV848091) obtained from B. tabaci adults collected in soybean fields in Bom Jesus, Piauí, Brazil. Morphological characterization and molecular identification based on ITS rDNA sequencing confirmed its taxonomic placement within the genus Cordyceps . Pathogenicity bioassays were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions by exposing B. tabaci adults to leaf discs treated with two conidial concentrations (1 × 10 5 and 1 × 10 6 conidia/mL). Survival was monitored daily for 9 days, and infection was confirmed by fungal sporulation on cadavers. Both concentrations significantly reduced adult survival, with final survival probabilities ranging from 25% to 50%. Median lethal time (LT₅₀) estimates were 5.0 days for 1 × 10 5 conidia/mL and 7.0 days for 1 × 10 6 conidia/mL, indicating delayed mortality at the higher concentration, possibly due to spore aggregation or saturation effects. These results demonstrate the pathogenic potential of Cordyceps sp. PV848091 against B. tabaci MEAM1 adults and support its evaluation as a candidate mycoinsecticide in integrated pest management programs. Future research should include dose–response bioassays, assessment of efficacy across developmental stages, and field validation.

ABSTRACT The monsoonal (seasonal) tropics of northern Australia is a global center of ant diversity but is unrecognized as such because the great majority of its species is undescribed. Here, we document undescribed diversity in the Meranoplus unicolor Forel complex, which is formally recognized as a single species occurring throughout central and northern Australia. We obtained 80 CO1 sequences from specimens collected from throughout the taxon's range, and from these we recognize 42 species, 33 from the monsoonal zone. None of the species appears to be M. unicolor . Most of the species have very limited distributions and many are represented by single collections; given that no specimens are available for most of central and northern Australia, the total number of species in the complex is likely to be in the order of twice as many as we have recognized. Our findings provide further evidence that the ant fauna of monsoonal Australia contains several thousand species, which is many more than current estimates for any other regional fauna.

ABSTRACTThe complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Tropilaelaps mercedesae (Acari: Laelapidae), which is a serious ectoparasite of several honeybee species, was sequenced and characterized for its genomic features. The results were then compared with those of other available Dermanyssoidea members and used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within Dermanyssoidea. Moreover, the current T. mercedesae mitogenome from South Korea was compared with publicly available data from China to determine suitable genes for a subsequent population‐level study. Peculiarly, the 15,119‐bp long T. mercedesae mitogenome has an 899‐bp‐long control region containing four copies of a repeat unit that are interrupted by non‐repeat sequences. Additionally, T. mercedesae has a new gene arrangement among the Dermanyssoidea species, revealing eight translocated genes, one inverted tRNA block, and one inverted and translocated tRNA. Phylogenetic analyses, which included all available public data, clearly indicated non‐monophyletic Laelapidae to which the current T. mercedesae is included. Comparison of two geographic samples of T. mercedesae evidenced several protein‐coding genes, including nad5 and cytB (the two most variable), which had higher variability than that of cox1, thus suggesting the potential usefulness of these gene sequences for population genetic studies. Current T. mercedesae mitogenome sequences could provide baseline information for subsequent population‐level studies and phylogenetic inferences at diverse taxonomic levels within Dermanyssoidea.

ABSTRACTC‐type lectins (CTLs) are essential pattern‐recognition receptors involved in insect innate immunity, mediating defense responses through carbohydrate binding. In this study, we aimed to clone and functionally characterize Bombyx mori CTL4 (BmCTL4), focusing on its immunity‐related functions and binding specificity. To this end, the BmCTL4 cDNA was cloned and the recombinant BmCTL4 protein was expressed using a baculovirus expression system. The recombinant protein was then used to assess its binding specificity via carbohydrate‐binding and microbial cell‐binding assays. BmCTL4 contained a single carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) with a QPD motif, suggesting specificity for galactose‐type sugars. BmCTL4 was upregulated in the fat body following microbial inoculation. Recombinant BmCTL4 exhibited Ca2+‐dependent binding to microbial cell wall constituents such as LPS, mannan, N‐acetyl‐D‐glucosamine, and peptidoglycan, and directly bound to microbial cell surfaces as confirmed by confocal microscopy. Our findings demonstrate that BmCTL4 acts as a pattern‐recognition receptor with broad carbohydrate‐binding activity, contributing to the immune defense mechanisms of B. mori.

ABSTRACTVirus‐like particles (VLPs) are vaccine antigens that are actively being developed as vaccines because of their high immunogenicity and safety. Among the cell culture parameters for VLP production, pH can have a significant effect on VLP formation and stability. In this study, the pH of cultured insect cells (6.2) was adjusted to a neutral pH, and the effect on VLP production was evaluated. A neutral pH‐adapted High Five insect cell line was established and named HF7. Compared with parent High Five cells, HF7 cells were approximately 2 μm larger and showed approximately sixfold greater viral replication. The production of nonenveloped VLPs in HF7 cells was evaluated using enterovirus 71 (EV‐71), porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), and canine parvovirus (CPV) VLPs. As a result, increased production of all VLPs and VLP formation were confirmed. However, the increased production of VLPs is thought to be due to increased cell metabolism and virus replication rather than the formation or stability of VLPs. The neutral pH‐adapted HF7 cell line established in this study can be utilized to increase the production of various recombinant proteins, including VLPs.

ABSTRACTEarly detection of wasp hives is crucial for mitigating their impact on native species, preventing agricultural damage, and improving pest control strategies. Traditional detection methods rely on ground surveys and sensor‐based tracking of individual insects, which are often labor‐intensive, time‐consuming, and prone to errors because of environmental constraints. The integration of artificial intelligence and drone‐based imaging has the potential to revolutionize ecological monitoring by providing scalable, efficient, and noninvasive methods for detecting wasp hives. However, research on AI‐assisted hive detection remains limited, with most studies focusing on large‐scale wildlife monitoring rather than small‐object localization. Therefore, we propose a system for searching the candidate site of a wasp hive using a small drone. In the proposed system, a small drone is equipped with a camera and takes aerial images of the error range. Subsequently, three‐dimensional (3D) modeling is performed on the captured images using a 3D surveying toolkit, and deep learning–based hive detection is performed on the completed 3D model to extract the GPS information of the detected target.

ABSTRACTForensic entomology is a sub‐discipline of entomology concerning insects and arthropods with their relationship to criminal investigations. Most important that comes out of it is the finding of an exact time of occurrence of a dead body by estimating the post‐mortem interval (PMI). Our study focused on blow fly pupae, which are some of the earliest insects to colonize decomposing bodies. The pupae of the blow fly have the longest development period in the blow fly life history, but we have trouble viewing the inside of the pupae because of the puparium. It is, therefore, a developmental internal X‐ray imaging stage carried out to see if such a division experiment could reveal a difference in growth based on temperatures in two different temperatures. All experiments were recorded accurately with an indoor Wi‐Fi camera. Finally, the sampling individual in 20 °C and 30 °C shows a significant difference at the developmental time of 10,640 min and 5470 min, respectively. As the internal developmental stage at two different temperatures, it distinctly delimited based on their morphological characteristics. The internal developmental stages, identified by morphological characteristics, were subdivided into four distinct phases, improving the precision of post‐mortem interval estimation. In this study, we attempted to delimit the pupae into developmental instars based on internal development with the help of X‐ray imaging. More economical and easier than those currently in use, such as anatomical and micro‐computed tomography. However, it is followed by collecting data through additional experiments at various temperatures to apply this method into actuality.