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Insect populations in temperate climates can show seasonal differences in demographic rates. Extreme high‐temperature events (EHTs) are increasing in frequency across all seasons. These may, in turn, disrupt insects' season‐specific demographic strategies. However, whether insect populations respond to EHTs in a season‐specific fashion is not known, but may be critical for forecasting their responses to climate change. We conducted a series of common garden experiments measuring the inherent vital rates of spring, summer, and autumn cohorts of a global nonmigratory pest, the oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta), under constant mild temperatures, EHT exposures at different life stages, and short‐term heat hardening followed by EHT exposure at different life stages. We simultaneously conducted a 4‐year survey of G. molesta in orchards to link our experimental results to observed population dynamics in the field. We encountered intrinsic variation in vital rates and reproductive traits among seasonal cohorts, such that summer cohorts had higher intrinsic population growth rates but smaller eggs than spring and autumn cohorts. Moreover, these responses varied among the life stages to which the EHT was applied. Pre‐acclimation via heat hardening did not strongly affect these results but did slightly increase growth rates when applied to late‐stage larvae. These results were qualitatively recovered in natural population time series, with moderate EHTs enhancing population growth in the spring and reducing it in autumn. Our results underscore the importance of climatic seasonality in shaping season‐specific thermal responses to EHTs among ectotherms. Season‐specific EHT responses can potentially enhance growth of weak spring cohorts and depress the growth of autumn cohorts failing in dormancy, thereby contributing to insects' annual population persistence. Our study helps clarify how a deeper understanding of season and life‐stage‐specific heat responses can enable a more informed forecasting and management of multivoltine insect populations under climate change. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Grapholita molesta is an important and harmful fruit pest worldwide, with widespread feeding hosts. Trypsin, an indispensable hydrolytic digestive protease in the insect gut, is crucial in digestion, growth and development. We analyzed the characteristics of the trypsin‐encoding genes, screened for the optimal dose of RNAi mediated by nanocarriers, and investigated various indices of larval growth and development of G. molesta. RESULTS: Gut content (GC) and RNase A degraded double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA), with a faster degradation rate at higher concentrations. Star polycation (SPc) nanomaterials protected dsGFP from degradation by anion–cation binding and did not migrate through agarose gel. The key conserved motifs of the trypsin‐encoding genes were similar, exhibiting high homology with those in other lepidopteran insects. An interference efficiency of ≈70% was achieved with SPc nanomaterial‐mediated RNA interference with 0.05 μg dsRNA. The efficiency of continuous interference was stable. Trypsin activity, body weight of 8‐day‐old larvae, pupal weight and emergence rate were significantly reduced, and the larval stage was significantly prolonged. CONCLUSION: The investigated trypsin gene is a key target gene in the growth and development of G. molesta. We investigated the efficiency and convenience of feeding SPc nanomaterials in a functional study of insects. Our results provide valuable data for the development of efficient trypsin‐targeting pesticides. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, is one of the most destructive orchard pests worldwide. Due to its behavior of boring into twigs and fruits, controlling the pest at the larval stage using insecticides is challenging. We studied the enemy species at the larval stage of G. molesta from seven fruit-growing areas by sampling peach shoots and fruits bored by its larvae. The occurrence and biological characteristics of the dominant enemy were verified using field investigation and laboratory experiments. The results showed that the dominant enemy species of larval G. molesta was identified as Therophilus festivus. The larval, cocoon, and pupal stages of T. festivus could not survive at 35 °C. The developmental durations of these three stages at 20 °C were significantly longer than those at 25 °C and 28 °C. Consecutive years of investigation in Xinxiang, China, indicated that T. festivus can parasitize G. molesta larvae collected at each generation. The parasitism rates in June (45.16%), July (63.50%), and August (48.37%) were significantly higher than those in April (15.27%). Most field research in China has focused on the release of parasitoids to control G. molesta eggs. Our study establishes a foundation for the control of G. molesta larvae using T. festivus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenology models are widely used in Decision Support Systems to predict the phenology of pests. Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a polyphagous pest, has a high prevalence in apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) (Rosales: Rosaceae) in certain areas, despite the fact that apple trees are considered secondary hosts. Its natural behavior of feeding inside plant tissue at the larval stage makes monitoring and planning methods of control critical for Integrated Pest Management. The development times and survival rates of two field populations of G. molesta larvae on apple cultivars 'Gala', 'Golden', and 'Fuji' were determined under different temperature (constant versus field fluctuation) and feeding conditions (diet versus apples attached to the tree and detached from the tree). The results showed that G. molesta fitness in apples is affected by fluctuating temperature regimes in the field, the condition of the fruit, whether or not the fruit is attached to the tree, and the cultivar. The temperature was the main cause of the differences in the studied parameters. Larvae developme–nt time was delayed due to fluctuating field temperatures. Larvae had a shorter development time in fruits detached from the tree compared to attached fruits, and apple cultivars influenced development time in both laboratory and field conditions, with the 'Golden' cultivar having better fitness and a higher rate of larvae survival in the fruits attached to the tree. These factors need to be considered to properly adjust the phenology models and improve the Integrated Pest Management system of apples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan, Mayer) is the member of Asian Cajanus crop and also reffered as Tur and Arhar and commonly grown in Kharif session in Indian subcontinent.). In India, around 250 known species of insect pests have been identified to affect pigeon pea crops at different growth stages. The leaf webber and leaf roller are notable insect pests that pose a significant threat to pigeonpea, particularly during its vegetative stage. The leaf webber and leaf roller, among various insect pests, are notably visible and pose a threat to pigeonpea. These insects target the pigeonpea plant during its vegetative stage. Specifically, the leaf webber, identified as Grapholita (Pammene) critica, Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), has been acknowledged as a significant constraint affecting pigeonpea production. The aim of this investigation is to assess the relationship between the incidence of leaf roller and leaf webber and various abiotic factors, including temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity and rainfall. Methods: The research, spanning Kharif 2021-22 and 2022-23, at Entomological Research Block in BUAT, Banda. It aimed to observe leaf roller and leaf webber incidence in pigeon pea alongside weather conditions. 'IPA-203' pigeon pea variety was manually sown in 200 m2 plots on July 12, 2021 (first year) and July 18, 2022 (second year). Standard agronomic practices were adhered to and no insecticides were used on the crop. Result: Over the two-year observation period, the larval population of G. critica on pigeon pea plants commenced during the 34th SMW, peaking at 4.90 larvae plant-1 in the 45th SMW. Simultaneously, C. soyella infestation initiated in the 34th SMW, steadily increasing until the 42nd SMW, reaching its peak larval count at 3.03. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The plum fruit moth, Grapholita funebrana Treitschke (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae), is an important agricultural pest that seriously affects fruit production across the Palearctic region. In this study, for the first time, we predict the potential global distribution of this pest using an ensemble species distribution model. The distribution range predicted, especially for those regions with highly suitable habitats for this moth in parts of East Asia and Europe, indicates a high risk of G. funebrana outbreaks and the accompanying massive economic losses, especially in plum and apricot production, highlighting the necessity of pest management. In the United States of America (USA) and Japan (for which G. funebrana distributions have not previously been recorded), especially in areas that are highly suitable for this moth, monitoring and quarantine measures should be strengthened to prevent the colonization of this pest and its subsequent wide dispersal. The plum fruit moth, Grapholita funebrana Treitschke, is one of the most significant borer pests, often causing huge economic losses in fruit production. However, the potential distribution range of this economically important pest is still poorly understood. For this study, we simulated an ensemble species distribution model to predict the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of G. funebrana at a global scale. The results show that the suitable habitats for this moth, under current environmental conditions, are mainly distributed in Europe; East Asia, including China and Japan; Central Asia; and some parts of America. In future projections, the suitable habitats are predicted to generally expand northward, while the suitable area will remain unchanged overall. However, the area of highly suitable habitat will decrease to only 17.49% of that found under current conditions. None of the nine factors used were revealed to be predominant predictors in terms of contributing to the model, suggesting that the integrated effects of these variables shape G. funebrana's distribution. In this study, the distribution range that has been predicted, especially for the regions with a highly suitable habitat, poses a high risk of G. funebrana outbreaks, highlighting the urgency of pest management. Moreover, in the United States of America (USA) and Japan (for which G. funebrana distributions were not previously recorded), especially in areas highly suitable for this moth, monitoring and quarantine measures should be strengthened to prevent the colonization and further dispersal of this pest, as seen with its close relative G. molesta, which has become a cosmopolitan pest species, migrating from its native region (East Asia) to other continents, including the Americas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Laboratory and field observations were used to evaluate the compatibility of yellow sticky cards with augmentative releases of T. dendrolimi for control of orchard pests, particularly C. sasakii and G. molesta. Female T. dendrolimi showed stronger attraction to yellow and white than to red, green or blue. Yellow sticky cards trapped significant numbers of T. dendrolimi in the field, reducing biological control of C. sasakii as well as the number of lacewings naturally recruited to the orchard. Judicious use of yellow sticky cards in orchards is therefore recommended to avoid disruption of biological control, specifically removing them in May before peak flights of moth pests require releases of egg parasitoids. Integrated pest management relies upon mutual compatibility among pest control tactics. The fruit-boring moths Carposina sasakii and Grapholita molesta can be devastating pests of pome and stone fruit production. Trichogramma dendrolimi parasitizes the eggs of these pests, preventing their eclosion, but its efficacy can be reduced by other pest control tactics. We tested T. dendrolimi attraction to five colors, and moth attraction to six colors, in laboratory choice tests, and thereafter deployed yellow sticky cards in tandem with releases of T. dendrolimi in field trials in a pear orchard. Yellow sticky cards deployed at high density trapped T. dendrolimi and reduced their numbers post-release. They also trapped adult G. molesta, which appeared to compensate for reduced egg parasitism on this species, but not on C. sasakii, which had higher abundance in plots with yellow sticky cards. The cards also captured adult lacewings, likely reducing their numbers in the field, but did not capture large numbers of lady beetles. The results suggest that yellow sticky cards can be used at high density to control aphids, psyllids and leafhoppers in early spring (March and April) when natural enemies are in low numbers, then removed in May so as not to interfere with augmentative releases of T. dendrolimi that must be timed to coincide with peak flights of fruit-boring moths. This strategy should enhance the compatibility of yellow sticky cards with egg parasitoid releases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study on the larviposition preference of Sarcophaga dux, a type of flesh fly, specifically focusing on their attraction to soy sauce. The researchers used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify key odorants in soy sauce that are attractive to female S. dux. They developed a model that can estimate the attractiveness of unknown soy sauce samples based on the proportions of these key odorants. The model was validated through blind tests and showed consistent results. The study has implications for the food industry and highlights the need for further research on the effects of odorants on S. dux and food safety. [Extracted from the article]

Some micromoths were collected in the subalpine zones of Mt. Nokogiri-dake (alt. about 2,560 m) and Mt. Kai-Komaga-take (alt. about 2,580 m) in the northern Akaishi Mountains, Yamanashi Pref., Japan, in July. Sixteen species of six moth families were recognized: Adelidae: Nemophora ochsenheimerella, Incurvariidae: Phylloporia bistrigella, Roeslerstammiidae: Roeslerstammia erxlebella, Yponomeutidae: Argyresthia conjugella, Gelechiidae: Chionodes sp. nr. soella, Tortricidae: Lozotaenia kumatai, Clepsis jinboi, Acleris comariana, Acleris sp., Apotomis vigens, Epinotia piceae, Epinotia pinicola, Rhopobota ilexi, Fibuloides aestuosa, Matsumuraeses sp., Grapholita tenebrosana. Apotomis vigens was recorded from Honshu for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of pheromone lures for Grapholita molesta (Busck 1916) from Propher (Czech Republic) and Pherobank (Netherlands), the attractiveness of green and transparent pheromone traps and the representation of non-target species were evaluated in three study areas of southern Moravia (Czech Republic) in 2019–2021 (24 traps per year). A total of 6 536 Grapholita molesta and 946 individuals of 17 non-target species were collected. Grapholita molesta was frequently captured in green delta traps with a Pherobank pheromone lure. Therefore, pheromone lures from different manufacturers have different efficacy and require the independent setting of harmfulness thresholds. An overview of non-target species recorded by other authors was compiled. Among the non-target species, morphologically similar species of Tortricidae dominated, causing considerable problems in the signalling of control measures of the target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past and present status of Grapholita pallifrontana in Cambridgeshire has been investigated. The species was discovered in Cambridgeshire by William Warren, most likely in 1887; the next published record was in 2021. Its sole larval foodplant, Wild Liquorice Astragalus glycyphyllos has been well-documented by botanists since 1660. We visited the 15 monads with post-1985 records and relocated plants in 11 of them, plus one new adjacent monad. We subsequently revisited these 12 monads during the season when larvae are detectable within the seedpods, and found G. pallifrontana in six of the monads, concentrated in the southeast and southwest of VC29. The botanical history of these sites suggests that Wild Liquorice has probably only been present in these locations for the last half-century, and that both foodplant and moth must therefore be quite mobile. Records from adjacent vicecounties demonstrate an overall L-shaped G. pallifrontana distribution, with the Cambridgeshire colonies at its eastern extremity, and raise the question of whether most may belong to a single meta-population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study examined the phenological response of Grapholita molesta (Busck, 1916), a pest damaging Rosaceae stone fruits, to climate warming. Data on G. molesta population dynamics and climate in China from 1980 to 2020 were analyzed. Significant advancements were observed in the peak date of overwintering adults in northeastern, eastern, and northern China. Populations of contemporary adults in northwestern China and population peak date of overwintering adults in northern China also advanced. However, the end occurrence date of contemporary adults in northern China was delayed along with the first occurrence date of overwintering adults in northwestern China. The study highlighted spatial variations in G. molesta's phenological response to climate warming across China, offering valuable insights for predicting pest infestations and enhancing pest management strategies in fruit tree cultivation. Grapholita molesta (Busck, 1916), a significant pest affecting various fruits such as pears, apples, peaches, etc., is highly adaptable to changing temperatures. However, the phenological response mechanism of this pest to climate warming remains unclear. To address this issue, we collected population dynamics data of G. molesta in China over the years along with corresponding climate data. We analyzed five phenological indexes: the first, end, and peak occurrence dates of contemporary adults as well as the first and peak occurrence dates of overwintering adults in China. Results revealed an upward trend in the annual average temperature and average temperature of the four seasons in regions infested by G. molesta in eastern, northeastern, northwestern, northern, and southwestern China from 1980 to 2020. Notably, the population peak date of overwintering adults in northeastern and eastern China significantly advanced along with the first occurrence date and the population peak date of overwintering adults in northern China. Additionally, the population peak date of contemporary adults in northwestern China significantly advanced. However, the end occurrence date of contemporary adults in northern China was significantly delayed, as was the first occurrence date of overwintering adults in northwestern China. Furthermore, our study demonstrated spatial heterogeneity in the phenological response of G. molesta to climate warming across China. This study elucidates the phenological response of G. molesta to climate warming, offering valuable insights for predicting future pest infestations and informing adaptive pest management strategies in fruit tree cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article focuses on the distribution and conservation of the Liquorice Piercer moth, Grapholita pallifrontana, in Huntingdonshire, VC31. Topics include the moth's status as a category 3 Red Data Book species, its reliance on Wild Liquorice (Astragalus glycophillus) as a foodplant, and the increasing interest in tracking its current distribution for conservation efforts.

The plum fruit moth Grapholita funebrana (Tortricidae, Lepidoptera) is an important pest of many wild and cultivated stone fruits and other plants in the family Rosaceae. Here, we assembled its nuclear and mitochondrial genomes using Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The nuclear genome size is 570.9 Mb, with a repeat rate of 51.28%, and a BUCSO completeness of 97.7%. The karyotype for males is 2n = 56. We identified 17,979 protein-coding genes, 5,643 tRNAs, and 94 rRNAs. We also determined the mitochondrial genome of this species and annotated 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNA. These genomes provide resources to understand the genetics, ecology, and genome evolution of the tortricid moths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Due to a combination of monandry and promiscuity in Grapholita molesta (Busck), this study investigated the interaction of different adult ages (3, 5, or 7 days) and mating history (unmated or mated) in each sex on the mating selection, development of the reproductive system, and offspring production in the laboratory. The results show that the physiological status of females may be responsible for mating and reproductive decisions, and the physiological status of males may regulate the ranges in behavioral changes. As a species with high reproductive potential, the presence of males accelerated the growth of the G. molesta populations. Our results would provide theoretical data to further understand the reproductive biology of G. molesta in the field. Grapholita molesta (Busck) is a pest of rosaceous fruit plants worldwide. Due to a combination of monandry and promiscuity in G. molesta, the age and mating history of both sexes significantly affected the mating and reproductive success. In this study, the interactions of different ages (3, 5, or 7 days) and mating history (unmated or mated) in each sex on the mating selection, reproductive system, and offspring production were investigated in the laboratory. The results showed that these differences mainly occurred in young females or males, associated with unmated or mated state. Especially, the 3-day-old unmated females were preferred by the 7-day-old males but discriminated against by the 3- or 5-day-old unmated males, whereas the 3-day-old mated males were preferred by the 3-day-old mated or 7-day-old females but discriminated against by the 3- or 5-day-old unmated females. The lengths of the ovarian ducts were affected by age in the unmated females, with the greatest length being found at 7 days old. The size of testes varied with age in the unmated males, being the largest at 3 days old. At 3 days old, the testes size of the unmated males was larger than that of the mated males. The pairing of 5-day-old unmated females × 3-day-old mated males maximized the successful matings. The least productive pairing was 7-day-old unmated females × 5-day-old mated males. The pairing of 5-day-old mated males × 3-day-old mated females had the lowest number of matings and the highest number of offspring. The pairing of 3-day-old mated females × 3-day-old mated males had a high rate of mating success and the most offspring. These results revealed the different roles between females and males because of physiological states in terms of the reproductive biology in G. molesta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological organization, ultrastructure and adaptational changes under different light intensities (10000, 100, 1, and 0.01 mW/m² ) of the compound eye of the oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta (Busck 1916) were investigated. Its superposition type of eyes consist of approximately 1072 ommatidia in males and 1029 ommatidia in females with ommatidial diameters of around 15 μm. Each ommatidium features a laminated corneal lens densely covered by corneal nipples of 256 nm in height. Crystalline cones are formed by four cone cells, proximally tapering to form a narrow crystalline tract with a diameter of 1.5 μm. Eight retinula cells, two primary and six secondary pigment cells per ommatidium are present. The 62.3 μm long rhabdom is divided into a thin 1.8 μm wide distal and a 5.2 μm wide proximal region. Distally the fused rhabdom consists of the rhabdomeres of seven retinula cells (R1-R7) and connects with the crystalline cone. In the proximal rhabdom region, the pigment-containing retinula cell R8 occupies a position in centre of the rhabdom while R1-R7 cells have taken peripheral positions. At this level each ommatidial group of retinula cells is surrounded by a tracheal tapetum. In response to changes from bright-light to dim-light adaptations, the pigment granules in the secondary pigment cells and retinula cells migrate distally, with a decrease in the length of crystalline tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southeastern part of Romania is the area that offers the most favorable ecoclimatic conditions for apricot cultivation. The territory of the RSFG Constanta is influenced, from a climatic point of view, both by the Black Sea as well as the Danube, which means that spring arrives later summers are droughty and autumns are long and warm. The dynamics of the population of harmful microlepidoptera was realized with the help of AtraLIN, AtraMOL, AtraNUB pheromone traps. Trapping by specific sex pheromones initiated in 2020-2022 in an apricot plantation at the Research Station for Fruit Growing (RSFG), to monitor three pests, peach twig borer (Anarsia lineatella), oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta) and (Hedyia nubiferana). The results of the three-year study showed that in 'Elmar' cultivar The amount of catches was higher for Anarsia lineatella (AtraLIN)in the Olimp cultivar, 341 butterflies in the year 2022 and the lowest amount of catches was for Hedyia nubiferana (AtraNUB), 267 butterflies in the year 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study used field observations to demonstrate that intercropping okra in a pear orchard reduced pheromone trap catches of Grapholita molesta in two years, whereas intercropping with castor bean reduced them in one year, relative to natural grass cover. GC-MS assays showed that hydrocarbons, phenols, and ketones predominated in the volatiles emitted from okra, whereas aldehydes, ketones, and esters were the most abundant volatiles emitted from castor bean. Five of these compounds exhibited repellency to G. molesta in olfactometry assays, especially cinnamaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and thymol; the former also served as an attractant for the egg parasitoid Trichogamma dendrolimi, which is often used in augmentation biocontrol of the moth. Intercrops can lower pest densities by increasing plant diversity, altering chemical communication in the arthropod community, and integrating well with other IPM tactics. We used two years of field observations and Y-tube olfactometer assays to explore the effects of intercropping a pear orchard with okra and castor bean on the cosmopolitan fruit-boring pest Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Intercropping okra reduced G. molesta trap catches in the pear orchard in both years, and intercropping with castor bean reduced them in the second year. Hydrocarbons, phenols, and ketones predominated in the GC-MS assay of okra volatiles, whereas castor bean volatiles were rich in aldehydes, ketones, and esters. Five of the commercially available volatiles released by these plants exhibited repellency to G. molesta in olfactometer trials, especially cinnamaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, and thymol; the former compound also exhibited attraction to the egg parasitoid Trichogamma dendrolimi (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). In addition to their repellent properties, okra and castor bean may enhance integrated control of G. molesta in orchards by hosting prey that support populations of generalist predators that either provide biological pest control services within the orchard ecosystem or generate non-consumptive effects that contribute to pest deterence. Among the plant volatiles evaluated, cinnamaldehyde has the best potential for deployment in orchards to repel G. molesta without disrupting augmentative releases of T. dendrolimi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In eastern North America, apple production faces threats from various moth species, particularly the codling moth (CM), Oriental fruit moth (OFM), redbanded leafroller (RBLR), obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR), and three-lined leafroller (TLLR) in the Tortricidae family. A study in Massachusetts orchards over two years examined the response of these moths to different lures, including commercial ones like Megalure. The results revealed Megalure's attractiveness to both sexes of the OFM and CM. The addition of benzaldehyde enhanced the capture of male OFMs, suggesting its potential to improve commercial lures with aromatic compounds. In eastern North America, apple orchards are often attacked by several species of tortricid moths (Lepidoptera), including Cydia pomonella, Grapholita molesta, Argyrotaenia velutinana, and Pandemis limitata. Sex pheromones are routinely used to monitor male moth populations. Adding plant volatiles to monitoring traps could increase the capture of moths of both sexes and improve the effectiveness of mating disruption systems. This study sought to quantify the attraction of adults of four tortricid moth species to five olfactory treatments, namely (1) Pherocon® CM L2-P, (2) Pherocon Megalure CM 4K Dual® (=Megalure), (3) Megalure + benzaldehyde, (4) TRE 2266 (linalool oxide + (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT)), and (5) TRE 2267 (linalool oxide + DMNT + benzaldehyde), in non-mating disrupted commercial apple orchards in Massachusetts. The commercial lure Megalure was attractive to both sexes of G. molesta and C. pomonella. The addition of benzaldehyde to TRE 2266 or to Megalure significantly increased the capture of male G. molesta during the mid and late season of 2021. Only when benzaldehyde was added to TRE 2266 did the latter lure attract P. limitata in 2020 and 2021. The greatest number of tortricid moths (all four species combined) was captured by TRE 2267. This finding highlights the opportunity to enhance the attractiveness of a commercial lure through the addition of benzaldehyde, an aromatic compound, to Megalure. The potential of these additional volatiles to detect moths in a mating-disrupted orchard and/or remove female moths as a component of a management system is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of moth pests (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) of pome fruit in Washington State, USA, evaluated the addition of low‐intensity light‐emitting diode (LED) lights to traps baited with sex pheromone or kairomone lures. Species included codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.), oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck), oblique banded leafroller (OBLR), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), and eye‐spotted budmoth (ESBM), Spilonota ocellana (Denis and Schiffenmüller). Lures included (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol (codlemone) plus (E,Z)‐2,4‐ethyl decadienoate (pear ester) and acetic acid (AA) (Combo) and a blend of pear ester, (E)‐4,8‐dimethyl‐1,3,7‐nonatriene, pyranoid linalool oxide, and AA (4K) for CM; a three‐component OFM sex pheromone ((E)‐8‐dodecen‐1‐yl‐acetate, (Z)‐8‐dodecen‐1‐yl acetate, and (Z)‐8‐dodecen‐1‐ol) plus codlemone and terpinyl acetate plus AA for OFM; and 2‐phenylethanol and AA for OBLR and ESBM. Traps baited with only LEDs were not attractive for any of these tortricids. The addition of a LED to lure‐baited traps increased male and female catches 2‐12‐fold across the four pest species. The proportional increase in CM catches with the LEDs was similar with both the Combo and 4K lures. Traps baited with the 4K lure caught significantly more CM with a UV LED than with either blue or green LEDs. The proportion of females caught in traps that were mated did not change with the use of the lights across species. Significantly more CM of both sexes were caught in the adhesive on the side of the liner nearest the LED. The addition of LEDs sometimes increased the by‐catch of minute insects, but liners' saturation was never a factor impacting targeted moth catch. Adding the LED light significantly increased the catch of ESBM in CM‐baited traps and CM in OFM‐baited traps, respectively. The development of inexpensive, dual‐modality traps that add a light stimulus to a kairomonal‐based lure may improve direct control of these key orchard pests via female removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapholita molesta (Busck) is an important pest of pear trees. Numerous esters accumulate consistently in mature pear fruits. However, little is known about the effects of single esters from pear fruits at different concentrations on the responses of male and female G. molesta. In this study, the responses of virgin males, virgin females, and gravid females to five esters (3‐methylbutyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butanoate, butyl acetate, and hexyl acetate) of pear fruits at three dosage levels (1, 5 and 10 μg/μL) were investigated using electroantennography (EAG), wind tunnel experiments, and field tests. Our results showed that ethyl butanoate (5 μg/μL) elicited higher EAG responses in virgin females and males than a mixture of all five volatiles, and elicited an equal EAG response to that for the mixture in gravid females, with all responses to ethyl butanoate and the mixture being higher than the response to hexane alone. For upwind flight, ethyl butanoate (5 μg/μL) excited equal moth flight–location behavior in virgin and gravid females to that for the mixture, which were both higher than the response to hexane. For close flight, ethyl hexanoate (5 μg/μL) and 3‐methylbutyl acetate (10 μg/μL) appeared to be the activating compounds, eliciting equal responses from virgin females to that of the mixture, and higher responses of gravid females to that of the mixture, both of which were higher than the responses to hexane. Upwind and close flight responses of virgin males were lower than those of virgin and gravid females. In field trials, we verified that traps baited with ethyl butanoate (5 μg/μL) captured more moths than the other esters. Therefore, from the esters and concentrations tested, we recommend ethyl butanoate (5 μg/μL) for potential use as an attractant for G. molesta in orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a native fruit of China, chestnut rose (Rosa roxburghii Tratt) juice is rich in bioactive ingredients. Oriental fruit moth (OFM), Grapholita molesta (Busck), attacks the fruits and shoots of Rosaceae plants, and its feeding affects the quality and yield of chestnut rose. To investigate the effects of OFM feeding on the quality of chestnut rose juice, the bioactive compounds in chestnut rose juice produced from fruits eaten by OFM were measured. The electronic tongue senses, amino acid profile, and untargeted metabolomics assessments were performed to explore changes in the flavour and metabolites. The results showed that OFM feeding reduced the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), tannin, vitamin C, flavonoid, and condensed tannin; increased those of polyphenols, soluble solids, total protein, bitterness, and amounts of bitter amino acids; and decreased the total amino acid and umami amino acid levels. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics annotated a total of 426 differential metabolites (including 55 bitter metabolites), which were mainly enriched in 14 metabolic pathways, such as flavonoid biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and diterpenoid biosynthesis. In conclusion, the quality of chestnut rose juice deteriorated under OFM feeding stress, the levels of bitter substances were significantly increased, and the bitter taste was subsequently enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects that feed on various host plants possess diverse xenobiotic adaptations; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we used Grapholita molesta, which shifts feeding sites from peach shoots to apple fruits, as a model to explore the effects of shifts in host plant diet on the profiles of cytochrome P450s and the gut bacteria microbiome, as well as their effects on biopesticide adaptation. We found that the sensitivity of the fruit-feeding G. molesta to emamectin benzoate biopesticide was significantly lower than that of the shoot-feeding larvae. We also found that the P450 enzyme activity and the expression of nine cytochrome P450s were enhanced in G. molesta fed on Fuji apples compared to those fed on peach shoots. The survival rates of G. molesta exposed to emamectin benzoate significantly decreased as each of three of four emamectin benzoate-inducted cytochrome P450 genes were silenced. Furthermore, we discovered the gut bacteria dynamics of G. molesta changed with the host shift and the structure of the gut bacteria microbiome was determined by the final diet ingested; additionally, the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota induced by antibiotics could significantly increase the sensitivity to emamectin benzoate. Taken together, our results suggest that the expression of P450s and the composition of the gut bacteria microbiome promote adaptation to emamectin benzoate in G. molesta, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying xenobiotic adaptation in this notorious pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Each Grapholita molesta female only copulates once during its lifetime and thus must maintain the viability of stored eupyrene sperm for male reproductive success. The male ejaculate comprises abundant accessory gland proteins produced by the male accessory gland (AG), and many of which are major effectors for sperm storage and maintenance. RESULTS: Here, we reported that an antioxidant protein, peroxiredoxin 1 (GmolPrx1), secreted by the male AG, is essential for protecting eupyrene sperm from oxidative stress and maintaining their quality during storage in the female bursa copulatrix (BC). Our data showed that GmolPrx1 is highly expressed in the AG of sexually mature males. The GmolPrx1 protein is localized to the cytoplasm of AG cells and delivered to the female BC during mating. Knockdown of GmolPrx1 strongly decreased the fertility of mated females. Additionally, we evaluated oxidative status in the spermatophore of females and found that the content of hydrogen peroxide increased significantly after mating with GmolPrx1 knockdown males. Finally, the quality assessment of eupyrene sperm demonstrated that the plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and DNA integrity were all severely impaired in the spermatophore of females after mating with GmolPrx1 knockdown males, which may contribute to the fertility decline in males. CONCLUSION: Our current data demonstrated that activities of eupyrene sperm stored in females can be significantly impaired by enhanced oxidative stress through knocking down of GmolPrx1 in males. Our finding thus may further lay new foundations for the control of G. molesta through suppressing their populations by manipulating male reproductive genes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapholita molesta is one of the most damaging pests worldwide in stone and pome fruits. Application of chemical pesticides is still the main method to control this pest, which results in resistance to several types of insecticides. Carboxylesterase (CarE) is one of the important enzymes involved in the detoxification metabolism and tolerance of xenobiotics and insecticides. However, the roles of CarEs in insecticides susceptibility of G. molesta are still unclear. In the present study, the enzyme activity of CarEs and the mRNA expression of six CarE genes were consistently elevated after treatment with three insecticides (emamectin benzoate, lambda‐cyhalothrin, and chlorantraniliprole). According to spatio‐temporal expression profiles, six CarE genes expressed differently in different developmental stages, and highly expressed in some detoxification metabolic organs. RNAi‐mediated knockdown of these six CarE genes indicated that the susceptibility of G. molesta to all these three insecticides were obviously raised after GmCarE9, GmCarE14, GmCarE16, and GmCarE22 knockdown, respectively. Overall, these results demonstrated that GmCarE9, GmCarE14, GmCarE16, and GmCarE22 play a role in the susceptibility of G. molesta to emamectin benzoate, lambda‐cyhalothrin, and chlorantraniliprole treatment. This study expands our understanding of CarEs in insects, that the same CarE gene could participate in the susceptibility to different insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapholita molesta is one kind of serious fruit‐boring pests in the world, which caused huge economic losses to the fruit industry including pear and apple. The heavy usage of synthetic insecticides resulted in different degrees of resistance of G. molesta to some commonly used insecticides. However, the tolerance mechanisms of G. molesta to insecticides are still unclear. Glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) belong to the superfamily of detoxifying enzymes and mainly play important roles in detoxification metabolism and insecticide susceptibility of insects. In this study, we first evaluated the toxicity of three insecticides including emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole and lambda‐cyhalothrin on G. molesta at different developmental stages. Synergism study showed that the susceptibility of G. molesta larvae to these three insecticides obviously increased when the enzyme activity of GST was inhibited by diethyl maleate compared with the controls. Next, we screened out six GmGST genes which are upregulated after insecticides treatment from a total of 21 GmGST genes and analysed their sequence characteristics and expression profiles. RNAi and bioassay results further revealed that the mortality of 5th instar larvae significantly increased after exposure to LC30 of emamectin benzoate, chlorantraniliprole and lambda‐cyhalothrin when silencing of GmGSTo2, GmGSTs1 and GmGSTz1 compared with the controls. In conclusion, this study indicated that GmGSTo2, GmGSTs1 and GmGSTz1 play important roles in insecticides susceptibility of G. molesta to three commonly used insecticides, which is significance for its future integrated management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Modern pest control is based on correct timing protection and the avoidance of unnecessary insecticide use. Therefore, we must know the exact time of pest gradation and activity. Using automatic insect traps allows insect activity detection without considerable human intervention. The proper use of automatic catching, counting, and data forwarding in the field has not been fully resolved yet. This study presents a modified trap prototype used for automatically catching and counting flying insects, mostly pest moths, in the field. Here, we present the modifications to the construction of our trap design. During the pilot field tests, the new probe prototypes provided real-time, time-series data sets for each of the six pest moth species monitored. Environmental noise was reduced and filtered out. Detected data were forwarded to a web interface where end-users could further process or download the data. With this new device, moths' daily and seasonal flight patterns could be followed and described. This knowledge may provide an opportunity for more precise forecasts of population outbreaks. Monitoring insect populations is essential to optimise pest control with the correct protection timing and the avoidance of unnecessary insecticide use. Modern real-time monitoring practices use automatic insect traps, which are expected to be able to estimate the population sizes of pest animals with high species specificity. There are many solutions to overcome this challenge; however, there are only a few data that consider their accuracy under field conditions. This study presents an opto-electronic device prototype (ZooLog VARL) developed by us. A pilot field study evaluated the precision and accuracy of the data filtering using an artificial neural network(ANN) and the detection accuracy of the new probes. The prototype comprises a funnel trap, sensor-ring, and data communication system. The main modification of the trap was a blow-off device that prevented the escape of flying insects from the funnel. These new prototypes were tested in the field during the summer and autumn of 2018, detecting the daily and monthly flight of six moth species (Agrotis segetum, Autographa gamma, Helicoverpa armigera, Cameraria ohridella, Grapholita funebrana, Grapholita molesta). The accuracy of ANN was always higher than 60%. In the case of species with larger body sizes, it reached 90%. The detection accuracy ranged from 84% to 92% on average. These probes detected the real-time catches of the moth species. Therefore, weekly and daily patterns of moth flight activity periods could be compared and displayed for the different species. This device solved the problem of multiple counting and gained a high detection accuracy in target species cases. ZooLog VARL probes provide the real-time, time-series data sets of each monitored pest species. Further evaluation of the catching efficiency of the probes is needed. However, the prototype allows us to follow and model pest dynamics and may make more precise forecasts of population outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O presente artigo faz uma abordagem sobre as questões pertinentes ao controle da grafolita e esclarece aspectos da biologia, comportamento e ocorrência do inseto, objetivando subsidiar a adoção de um controle mais racional da praga em pomares de pes- segueiro e ameixeira.

This article presents a novel approach to identify two species of fruit insect pests as part of a network of intelligent traps designed to monitor the population of these insects in a plantation. The proposed approach uses a simple Digital Image Processing technique to detect regions in the image that are likely the monitored pests and an Artificial Neural Network to classify the regions into the right class given their characteristics. This identification is done essentially by a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which learns the characteristics of the insects based on their images made from the adhesive floor inside a trap. We have trained several CNN architectures, with different configurations, through a data set of images collected in the field. We aimed to find the model with the highest precision and the lowest time needed for the classification. The best performance in classification was achieved by ResNet18, with a precision of 93.55% and 91.28% for the classification of the pests focused on this study, named Ceratitis capitata and Grapholita molesta, respectively, and a 90.72%overall accuracy. Yet, the classification must be embedded on a resource-constrained system inside the trap, then we exploited SqueezeNet, MobileNet, and MNASNet architectures to achieve a model with lesser inference time and small losses in accuracy when compared to the models we assessed. We also attempted to quantize our highest precision model to reduce even more inference time in embedded systems, which achieved a precision of 88.76% and 89.73% for C. capitata and G. molesta, respectively; notwithstanding, a decrease of roughly 2% on the overall accuracy was endured. According to the expertise of our partner company, our results are worthwhile for a real-world application, since general human laborers have a precision of about 85%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapholita funebrana , also known as the plum fruit moth, is an oligophagous pest species that causes enormous economic losses of the fruits of Rosaceae. An eco-friendly method for the control of G. funebrana besides chemical control has not yet been developed. The sex pheromone communication system plays an important role in moth courtship and mating, in which pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are critical. In this research, we identified four PBPs, namely, GfunPBP1.1 , GfunPBP1.2 , GfunPBP2 , and GfunPBP3 , from the antennae of G. funebrana. The results of real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) showed that all four GfunPBPs were overwhelmingly expressed in the antennae and that GfunPBP1.2 and GfunPBP2 showed male-biased expression patterns, whereas GfunPBP1.1 and GfunPBP3 were equally expressed between sexes. The results of ligand-binding assays illustrated that although all four recombinant GfunPBPs (rGfunPBPs) had binding activity with the tested sex pheromone compounds, their preferred ligands were significantly different. rGfunPBP2 had the strongest binding affinity to Z 8–12:Ac and Z 8–12:OH; rGfunPBP1.1 preferred to bind Z 8–14:Ac, Z 10–14:Ac, and 12:OH more than to the other three GfunPBPs; and rGfunPBP1.2 exhibited stronger binding affinity to E 8–12:Ac than to the other rGfunPBPs. Molecular docking results demonstrated that hydrophobic forces, especially van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds, were the most important forces that maintained GfunPBP–pheromone ligand complexes. This study will improve our understanding of the sex pheromone recognition mechanisms of G. funebrana and promote the development of novel strategies for controlling G. funebrana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To investigate the effects of temperature and humidity on the population dynamics of Grapholita molesta, a pest that causes significant losses to pear crops worldwide. [Methods] A monitoring site was set up in a pear orchard in Daxing, Beijing municipality where sex pheromone traps were used to monitor the population dynamics of adult G. molesta over three years (2018-2021). The data obtained were combined with local meteorological data collected over the same period to analyze the relationship between temperature, humidity and population dynamics. [Results] G. molesta began to appear in the pear orchard in mid to late March. Four population peaks occurred each year; in mid to late April, mid-June, mid to late July and early to mid-September. There was a significant relationship between the average and maximum temperature and population density, which can be described by the equation Y= - 5.62 - 0.16X1+0.72X2+0.52X3+0.18X4, where X3 is the highest temperature, X1 is the average temperature, X2 is the lowest temperature and X4 is the average relative humidity. The relative importance of these factors was: X3> X1> X2> X4. [Conclusion] There is a significant relationship between the occurrence of G. molesta in pear orchards in Daxing, Beijing municipality, and local temperature and humidity data. These results lay a foundation for developing a model to predict the occurrence of G. molesta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is crucial in regulating ovarian development. However, the neuropeptidergic mechanisms underlying ovarian development via 20E are underexplored. In this study, we investigated myosuppressin (MS) signaling in the dominant fruit pest Grapholita molesta and revealed that MS signaling is necessary for 20E biosynthesis during ovarian maturation. Pharmacological and molecular docking analyses confirmed that the GmMS mature peptide could activate its receptor GmMSR. Additionally, transcript expression analyses of GmMS and GmMSR showed different distribution patterns in adults. Notably, GmMSR was also detected in the ovaries of sexually mature females. RNAi-mediated dysfunction of GmMS or GmMSR specifically decreased fertility in females. Furthermore, GmMS or GmMSR knockdown decreased vitellogenin synthesis and uptake, thereby delaying ovarian development. RNA-seq, gene expression validation, and hormone quantification further revealed that GmMS signaling depletion blocked 20E biosynthesis in the ovary. Finally, exogenous MS rescued most dsGmMS - or dsGmMSR-induced ovarian defects and 20E titers. These results suggest that MS/MSR-to-20E signaling regulates ovarian development through vitellogenesis, providing a new perspective on the development of neuroendocrine targets that suppress pest field populations. [Display omitted] • Myosuppressin (MS) and its receptor (MSR) were characterized in Grapholita molesta. • Functionality of MSR was confirmed by Ca2+ luminescence assay and molecular docking. • GmMS signaling is essential to maintain normal female reproduction. • Dysfunction of MS signaling impaired the ovarian development. • Depletion of GmMS signaling blocked the 20E biosynthesis in the ovary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the predominant method for managing pests in orchards is chemical control. However, prolonged use of chemicals leads to resistance issues and raise ecological safety. A promising approach to tackle these challenges involves nanoparticles-mediated delivery system of dsRNA and pesticides. Despite its potential, this strategy has not been widely applied in controlling pests in pear orchards. In this study, we developed a nanoparticle-mediated ternary biopesticide to tackle resistance and safety concerns associated with calmodulin dsRNA and cyantraniliprole. Initially, we assessed the effectiveness of cyantraniliprole against two key pear pests, Grapholita molesta and Cacopsylla chinensis. Subsequently, we observed an upregualtion of genes CaM and CN following cyantraniliprole treatment. Furthermore, inhibiting or silencing GmCaM and CcGaM enhanced the sensitivity to cyantraniliprole more effectively. By introducing hairpin RNA into the pET30a-BL21 RNaseIII− system to silence GmCaM and CcCaM , we developed a nanoparticle-mediated co-delivery system that exhibited improved control over these two pests. Importantly, our research demonstrated that using reduced cyantraniliprole dosages through ternary biopesticides could help mitigate risks to natural enemies. Overall, our research emphasizes the enhanced effectiveness of ternary biopesticides in boosting the performance of dsRNA and pesticide against pear pests, while fostering environmental sustainability—a novel advancement in this field. [Display omitted] • Cyantraniliprole is a high-efficiency insecticide to control two key pear pests, Grapholita molesta and Cacopsylla chinensis. • Inhibition of GmCaM and CcGaM genes could enhance the sensitivity of G. molesta and C. chinensis to cyantraniliprole. • Successful formulation of nanoparticle-mediated ternary biopesticides for improved control of G. molesta and C. chinensis. • Demonstration of reducing cyantraniliprole dosages through ternary biopesticides to mitigate risks to natural enemies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmopolitan agricultural herbivorous pests are provided with a wide range of potential hosts. Therefore, they have high carrying capacity, and can cause extremely severe damage in agroecosystems. Understanding the ecological mechanisms of their population dynamics, especially as they relate to large-scale meteorological variations and geographical landscape influences, can help us to reveal how they became such important pests. The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, is a typical example of a significant pest distributed on a large scale, which is capable of damaging fruit trees of economic value such as peach, apple, pear, etc. This pest not only occurs in China, but exists on all continents except Antarctica. In order to prevent major pests and diseases, a system of plant protection has been established gradually in peach orchards within the Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System in China (CARS) since 2009. In the system, we collected the monitoring data of G. molesta by using pheromone traps at 17 experimental stations, and then used the corresponding climate data (temperature and precipitation) to explore the link between climate factors using mixed models. The results show that both monthly mean temperature and precipitation had a significant positive correlation with the occurrence of G. molesta. Therefore, global warming with higher levels of precipitation may favor G. molesta, allowing it to outperform other potential pests at the population level in peach orchards, on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In adult Lepidoptera the labial palps are best known for their role in CO2 detection, but they can also bear sensilla chaetica which function is unknown. The number and distribution of sensilla chaetica in labial palps was studied using a bright field microscope. To determine if these sensilla have a gustatory function, we performed single sensillum electrophysiology recordings from palp and antennal sensilla of adult moths of Cydia pomonella (L.), Grapholita molesta (Busck) and Lobesia botrana (Denis and Shieffermüller). Each sensillum was stimulated with 3 doses of one of four test stimulus (sucrose, fructose, KCl and NaCl). Overall, responses (spikes/s−1) increased with dose, and were higher in the palps than in the antennae, and higher to sugars than to salts. With sugars the response increased with concentration in the palp but not in the antenna. With salts there was a drop in response at the intermediate concentration. The number and position of sensilla chaetica on labial palps was variable among individuals. Sensilla were located in the most exposed areas of the palp. Differences in sensilla distribution were detected between species. Such differences among species and between palps and antenna suggest that taste sensilla on the palps have an unforeseen role in adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal fruit borers (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) are serious fruit pests. Of particular significance is Grapholita molesta given its pest status of stone and pome fruits. So far, successful control of tortricid moths largely relies on repeated insecticide applications. The development of novel technology by genome manipulation through CRISPR/Cas9 is an environmentally friendly pest management alternative. Due to the small size of eggs, CRISPR/Cas9 protocols have not been developed for tortricid moths like G. molesta. The white gene is widely used as genetic marker in Drosophila. Here, the white gene (Gmwhite) from G. molesta was identified and it was found that Gmwhite was expressed at all developmental stages. The Gmwhite knockout strain (White-KO) was established using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. When compared with wild type, the eye color of the adult moth in the White-KO strain changed to white and the body color of the fifth-instar larvae of the White-KO strain changed from pink/red to white. The females' fecundity of the White-KO strain was not affected whereas the flight capacity was significantly decreased. The acquired white compound eye of the White-KO strain is autosomally recessive inherited. The feasibility of the CRISPR/Cas9 methodology was validated by dual-target editing of Gmwhite. Our findings provide the first evidence that the white gene can be used as a visual reference gene for genetic manipulation of tortricid moths. The present study developed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology which can be used for developing genome editing control strategy as well as for gene function analyses in G. molesta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When compared with the unamended control, the developmental times of larvae, pupae, or entire immature stage were shorter on artificial diets amended with 3 or 6 mg/g (low and moderate concentrations) of amygdalin, whereas the developmental time increased on artificial diets amended with 48 mg/g (high concentration) of amygdalin. The unamended artificial diet (0 mg of amygdalin per g of diet) was the control, and then the mass fractions of amygdalin in the treatment artificial diets were 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 mg of amygdalin per g of initial artificial diet. Larval Feeding on Diets and Developmental Times of Immature Stages B I Proportion of larvae feeding on diets. i b The proportion of larvae feeding on the artificial diets was not significantly affected by amygdalin concentrations ( I F i = 1.339, df = 5,35, I p i = 0.275) (Figure 1). [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: The oriental fruit moth Grapholita molesta is an important worldwide fruit tree pest. Its hosts mainly include peach, pear, apple, plum and other Rosaceae fruit trees. In order to explore the mechanism of host adaptation, it is necessary to comprehensively study the effects of feeding and the differences in transcriptional levels of G. molesta. In this study, the growth and development parameters, protease activities, midgut transcriptome analysis and key gene validation of G. molesta fed on five hosts and artificial diet were determined. This study indicated that the significant differences in the growth and development parameters and protease activities, transcriptome of KEGG enrichment and WGCNA analysis of G. molesta fed on different hosts. The transcriptional level of the trypsin gene was consistent with that of qRT-PCR. The trypsin gene played an important role in feeding different hosts of G. molesta. We revealed the adaptive mechanism to different hosts of G. molesta in various aspects and laid a solid foundation for further exploring the molecular mechanism of host adaptation. Grapholita molesta is an important fruit tree worldwide pest which feeds on hosts extensively and does serious harm. In this paper, the growth and development parameters and protease activities of G. molesta fed on different hosts were compared. Using Illumina RNA sequencing technology, 18 midgut samples from five different hosts (apple, pear, plum, peach and peach shoots) and artificial diet were sequenced and compared with the reference genome, resulting in 15269 genes and 2785 predicted new genes. From 15 comparative combinations, DEGs were found from 286 to 4187 in each group, with up-regulated genes from 107 to 2395 and down-regulated genes from 83 to 2665. KEGG pathway analysis showed that DEGs were associated with amino acid metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and hydrolase activity. A total of 31 co-expression gene modules of different hosts were identified by WGCNA. qRT-PCR showed that the expression pattern of the trypsin gene was consistent with RNA sequencing. In this study, growth and development parameters, protease activity, DEGs, enrichment analysis and qRT-PCR were combined to reveal the adaptation process to different hosts of G. molesta in many aspects. The results of this study provide a basis for further exploration of the molecular mechanism of host adaptation of G. molesta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an intermediate molecule in the Insulin/Insulin‐like growth factor signalling pathway (IIS), the insulin receptor (IR) plays vital roles linking nutritional signals to the downstream regulation of metabolic homeostasis, development, metamorphosis, reproduction and stress responses. In the present study, we describe the molecular characteristics of IR in the cosmopolitan fruit boring pest, Grapholita molesta, and its predicted posttranscription regulator miR‐982490, and elucidate its regulatory roles in glucolipid homeostasis and metamorphosis. Phylogenetic and domain analyses indicate that lepidopteran IRs normally cluster within families, and that four main domains are conserved in GmIR and those of other Lepidoptera. Bio‐informatic prediction, synchronic expression profile evaluation and dual luciferase reporter assays indicated negative regulation of GmIR by miR‐982490. Injection of miR‐982490 agomir into fifth instar larvae yielded effects similar to dsGmIR injection, resulting in enhanced levels of trehalose and triglyceride in haemolymph, and reduced pupation success and pupal weight, both of which could be rescued by co‐injection of dsGmIR and miR‐982490 antagomir. We infer that GmIR regulates glucolipid homeostasis and affects G. molesta metamorphosis via interactions with its posttranscriptional regulator miR‐982490. This study expands our understanding of the regulatory network of IIS in insect nutritional homeostasis and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although neuropeptide corazonin (Crz) has been identified in numerous insect species, the research about its function in regulation of reproduction is still in its infancy. Herein, we characterized the Crz (GmolCrz) and its receptor (GmolCrzR) to investigate their reproductive function in Grapholita molesta. Both molecular docking result and cell-based receptor activity assay showed that GmolCrz could interact with GmolCrzR. Additionally, spatial expression patterns of GmolCrz and GmolCrzR in males were evaluated. Knockdown of GmolCrz or GmolCrzR significantly lengthened copulation duration and decreased fertility in males. In these males, we found that the production of sperm was normal, while the content of accessory gland proteins (Acps) in the accessory gland (AG) was strongly diminished. Furthermore, knockdown of GmolCrz or GmolCrzR in males had no effect on sperm and Acps transfer to females. RNA-seq and gene expression analyses further confirmed that genes involved in serine-type endopeptidase activity were significantly downregulated in the AG upon GmolCrzR knockdown. Finally, sperm activation assays demonstrated that this process was disrupted in the spermatophore of females mated with GmolCrz or GmolCrzR knockdown males, which may cause the decreased fertility in males. Our findings provide new insights into the functions of Crz signaling in a Lepidopteran insect. [Display omitted] • Corazonin (Crz) and its receptor (CrzR) were characterized in Grapholita molesta. • Functionality of CrzR was confirmed by molecular docking and Ca2+ luminescence assay. • Crz signaling is essential for maintaining normal reproduction in G. molesta males. • Dysfunction of Crz signaling impaired the synthetic activity of the accessory gland. • Fertility decline of dsCrz / dsCrzR -treated males was due to impair sperm activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, a monitoring of pathogenic fungi, insects and weeds in hemp (Cannabis sativa) has been performed in the main cultivation areas of Austria. Thirty-seven hemp fields were sampled for the presence of pests and fungal pathogens. The identification work was carried out on the basis of morphological characteristics in the laboratory using routine methods of light microscopy. The survey of weed flora was conducted at a total of 42 hemp fields. Overall, 20 pathogenic fungal species belonging to 17 different genera, 65 arthropod species belonging to 27 families and 71 weed species belonging to 23 families were detected. Among these, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium spp., Pseudoperonospora cannabina and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum represent the most important fungal species. Grapholita delineana, Helicoverpa armigera and Ostrinia nubilalis are the most harmful insect species and Chenopodium album, Amaranthus spp., Echinochloa crus-galli and Cirsium arvense were identified as the major weed species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(a) ovary of one-day-old female, (b) ovary of two-day-old female, (c) ovary of three-day-old, female, (d) ovary of four-day-old female, (e) ovary of five-day-old female, (f) ovary of six-day-old female, and (g) ovary of seven-day-old female. In this study, we found that the fecundity of one- to two-day-old I G. molesta i females was significantly lower than that of three to seven-day-old moths, and no eggs were oviposited by one- to two-day-old females. Keywords: the oriental fruit moth; insect rearing; flight capacity; sterile insect technique; quality control EN the oriental fruit moth insect rearing flight capacity sterile insect technique quality control N.PAG N.PAG 12 09/27/22 20220901 NES 220901 1. For applying the SIT against moth species, we require that the immigration of wild moths into the treated areas be kept to a minimum, and that the sterile male can fly some distance to locate and mate the wild female moths [[41]]. [Extracted from the article]

Another reason may be that the antibiotic types screened in vitro only inhibit the culturable bacteria in the I G. molesta i gut, while the inhibitory effect on the unculturable bacteria is unknown. In this study, after treatment with ciprofloxacin, there was no increase of the non-dominant bacteria to the dominant bacteria in the intestinal microbiota of I G. molesta i , but only changes in the relative abundance of the dominant bacteria. However, the minimum inhibitory concentration of ciprofloxacin against the intestinal bacteria of I C. capitata i was 5 g/mL, which was much higher than the 1 g/mL in this study, indicating that the intestinal bacteria of I G. molesta i were more sensitive to ciprofloxacin [[35]]. [Extracted from the article]

Grapholita molesta (Busck) is a cosmopolitan fruit pest. The sex pheromones released by females have four components, namely (Z)‐8‐dodecenyl acetate (Z8–12:Ac), E8–12:Ac, (Z)‐8‐dodecen‐1‐ol (Z8–12:OH), and dodecanol (12:OH). This multichemical attractive system has been reported to induce various male behavioral responses, from arousal to directional flight, and enhance trapping. However, the specific male behaviors induced by individual component or component blend is unclear. This study investigated the effects of different combinations of these four components using electroantennogram, wind tunnel assays, and field tests on aspects of male behavioral performance. Our results showed that the (Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac)‐ containing pheromones were mainly responsible for long‐distance detection and close‐distance location in males, including antennal detection of the stimulus, flight initiation, directional flight, and trapping. The addition of E8–12:Ac to Z8–12:Ac plays an important role in pheromone searching behavior of males in close range. The ternary component, Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac + Z8–12:OH was crucial for capturing male moths, and 12:OH significantly increased the male catch. The addition of Z8–12:OH and 12:OH to Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac plays an important role in completing the whole response sequence in field attraction. This study revealed that Z8–12:Ac + E8–12:Ac acts as a attractant to males, whereas Z8–12:OH, and 12:OH are the synergists that enhance male attraction in the sex pheromone blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The effect of food supplements on performance of Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) moths produced in mass rearing programs is not well known. We investigated the effect of three feeding regimes of the adult moths (supplement with sterile water or 10% honey solution and starvation) on the longevity, 10-d fecundity, flight ability, and the activity of major energy metabolism enzymes in the flight muscles of G. molesta. The results showed that adult food supplement can make a difference to the rearing of G. molesta. Under starvation, the longevity, fecundity, and five flight-related parameters of G. molesta adults were significantly lower than those with access to sterile water and a honey solution. There was no significant difference in adult fecundity and the five flight-related parameters of G. molesta with access to sterile water or honey solution. We concluded that the supply of sterile water is a better food substitution when mass-rearing of G. molesta for some environment-friendly insect pest control tactics such as the sterile insect technique (SIT) The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is one of the most severe fruit tree pests in China, causing huge economic losses to fruit production. So far, there are few detailed reports on the rearing protocols of G. molesta. In this study, we compared the longevity, 10-d fecundity, flight ability, and the activity of major energy metabolism enzymes in the flight muscles of G. molesta under three feeding regimes (supplement with sterile water, supplement with 10% honey solution and starvation) of the adult moths. The results showed that the longevity, 10-d fecundity, and flight parameters (cumulative flight distance and time, maximum flight distance and duration, and the average flight speed) of adult moths when supplemented with sterile water or honey solution were significantly higher than those of moths that were starved. There were no significant differences in the 10-d fecundity, flight parameters, and the activity of major energy metabolism enzymes of flight muscles between moths that were supplemented with sterile water or 10% honey solution. The flight muscles of G. molesta mainly used carbohydrates as an energy source when sterile water and honey solution were supplemented, and the moth mainly used lipids as an energy source under starvation. Considering the cost and potential for diet contamination during mass-rearing, supplying sterile water is considered a cost effective option for food substitution of adult G. molesta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapholita molesta (Busck) is an important pest in fruit tree production in northern China. In order to determine the resistance level of G. molesta population to commonly used insecticides in Gansu Province, the sensitivity of field populations of G. molesta from three different areas to eight insecticides was determined by the egg dipping method and the status of insecticide resistance was analyzed. The results showed that field populations of G. molesta showed moderate resistance to spinetoram (RR = 10.24-14.27), low to moderate resistance to deltamethyrin (RR = 8.85-11.44), moderate resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin, chlorantraniliprole and spirotetramat (RR = 18.89-86.62), and high resistance to abamectin, emamectin benzoate and indoxacarb (RR = 99.82-189.81). The results provide a scientific basis for the scientific and rational application of insecticides in the control of G. molesta in orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect general odorant-binding proteins (GOBPs) play irreplaceable roles in filtering, binding, and transporting host odorants to olfactory receptors. Grapholita funebrana (Treitscheke) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), an economically important pest of fruit crops, uses fruit volatiles as cues to locate host plants. However, the functions of GOBPs in G. funebrana are still unknown. Three GOBP genes, namely, GfunGOBP1, GfunGOBP2, and GfunGOBP3, were cloned, and their expression profiles in different tissues were detected by the method of real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The binding properties of recombinant GfunGOBPs (rGfunGOBPs) to various ligands were investigated via fluorescence binding assays. The three GfunGOBPs were mainly expressed in the antennae of both male and female moths. All these three rGfunGOBPs could bind to sex pheromones, while having varying affinities toward these pheromones. The three rGfunGOBPs also displayed a wide range of ligand-binding spectrums with tested host odorants. The rGfunGOBP1, rGfunGOBP2, and rGfunGOBP3 bound to 34, 33, and 30 out of the 41 tested odorants, respectively. Three rGfunGOBPs had overlapping binding activities to β-myrcene, (-)-α-phellandrene, and ethyl isovalerate with the Ki less than 3.0 µM. The rGfunGOBP1 and rGfunGOBP3 could selectively bind to several insecticides, whereas rGfunGOBP2 could not. Three rGfunGOBPs had the dual functions of selectively binding to sex pheromones and host odorants. Moreover, the rGfunGOBP1 and rGfunGOBP3 can also serve as 'signal proteins' and bind to different insecticides. This study contributed to elucidating the potential molecular mechanism of the olfaction for G. funebrana, and thereby promotes the development of effective botanical attractants or pheromone synergists to control G. funebrana. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma dendrolimi can both contribute to biological control of the global fruit borer Grapholita molesta. To derive insights for optimizing their combined application in augmentation programs, we assayed fungal pathogenicity to both G. molesta (eggs, larvae and adults) and adult parasitoids, and assessed wasp acquisition and transmission of fungal spores following their emergence from B. bassiana‐treated host eggs. RESULTS: Concentrations of 108 conidia mL−1 of B. bassiana and higher caused virtually complete mortality of G. molesta larvae, but less than 30% mortality of eggs, and female moths surviving treatments had reduced fecundity. More than 80% of adult T. dendrolimi survived B. bassiana treatments of 107 conidia mL−1, and more than 60% survived 109 conidia mL−1, with surviving females achieving reproductive success equivalent to controls. Parasitoid females preferred healthy eggs over B. bassiana‐infected ones in choice tests; wasps emerging from treated eggs carried about 104 conidia each and contributed an additional 11% host mortality in trials combining both agents. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that combined applications of B. bassiana and T. dendrolimi can have complimentary impacts on G. molesta, the wasps compensating for low fungal pathogenicity to eggs and their progeny potentially aiding in subsequent disease transmission. Although foraging wasps tended to avoid infected eggs, negative interactions between the two agents might be further mitigated by timing B. bassiana applications from late instar larva to early moth stage, and T. dendrolimi releases several days later to coincide with peak oviposition periods. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]