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Mollusca is a morphologically diverse phylum, exhibiting an immense variety of calcium carbonate structures. Proteomic studies of adult shells often report high levels of rapidly-evolving, novel shell matrix proteins (SMPs), which are hypothesized to drive shell diversification. However, relatively little is known about the phylogenetic distribution of SMPs, or about the function of individual SMPs in shell construction. To understand how SMPs contribute to shell diversification a thorough characterization of SMPs is required. Here, we build tools and a foundational understanding of SMPs in the marine gastropod species Crepidula fornicata and Crepidula atrasolea because they are genetically-enabled mollusc model organisms. First, we established a staging system of shell development in C. atrasolea for the first time. Next, we leveraged previous findings in C. fornicata combined with phylogenomic analyses of 95 metazoan species to determine the evolutionary lineage of its adult SMP repertoire. We found that 55% of C. fornicatas SMPs belong to molluscan orthogroups, with 27% restricted to Gastropoda, and only 5% restricted at the species level. The low percentage of species-restricted SMPs underscores the importance of broad-taxon sampling and orthology inference approaches when determining homology of SMPs. From our transcriptome analysis, we found that the majority of C. fornicata SMPs that were found conserved in C. atrasolea were expressed in both larval and adult stages. We then selected a subset of SMPs of varying evolutionary ages for spatial-temporal analysis using in situ hybridization chain reaction (HCR) during larval shell development in C. atrasolea. Out of the 18 SMPs analyzed, 12 were detected in the larval shell field. These results suggest overlapping larval vs. adult SMP repertoires. Using multiplexed HCR, we observed five SMP expression patterns and three distinct cell populations within the shell field. These patterns support the idea that modular expression of SMPs could facilitate divergence of shell morphological characteristics. Collectively, these data establish an evolutionary and developmental framework in Crepidula that enables future comparisons of molluscan biomineralization to reveal mechanisms of shell diversification.

The skin-penetrating gastrointestinal parasitic nematode Strongyloides stercoralis causes strongyloidiasis, which is a neglected tropical disease that is associated with severe chronic illness and fatalities. Unlike other human-infective nematodes, S. stercoralis cycles through a single free-living generation and thus serves as a genetically tractable model organism for understanding the mechanisms that enable parasitism. Techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis and transgenesis are now routinely performed in S. stercoralis by introducing exogenous DNA into free-living adults and then screening their F1 progeny for transgenic or mutant larvae. However, transgenesis in S. stercoralis has been severely hindered by the inability to establish stable transgenic lines that can be propagated for multiple generations through a host; to date, studies of transgenic S. stercoralis have been limited to heterogeneous populations of transgenic F1 larvae. Here, we develop an efficient pipeline for the generation of stable transgenic lines in S. stercoralis. We also show that this approach can be used to efficiently generate stable transgenic lines in the rat-infective nematode Strongyloides ratti. The ability to generate stable transgenic lines circumvents the limitations of working with heterogeneous F1 populations, such as variable transgene expression and the inability to generate transgenics of all life stages. Our transgenesis approach will enable novel lines of inquiry into parasite biology, such as transgene-based comparisons between free-living and parasitic generations.

BACKGROUND: Aedes albopictus is an important vector for pathogens such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. While insecticides is the mainstay for mosquito control, their widespread and excessive use has led to the increased resistance in Ae. albopictus globally. Gut symbiotic bacteria are believed to play a potential role in insect physiology, potentially linking to mosquitoes metabolic resistance against insecticides. METHODS: We investigated the role of symbiotic bacteria in the development of resistance in Ae. albopictus by comparing gut symbiotic bacteria between deltamethrin-sensitive and deltamethrin-resistant populations. Adults were reared from field-collected larvae. Sensitive and resistant mosquitoes were screened using 0.03% and 0.09% deltamethrin, respectively, on the basis of the World Health Organization (WHO) tube bioassay. Sensitive and resistant field-collected larvae were screened using 5 × LC50 (lethal concentration at 50% mortality) and 20 × LC50 concentration of deltamethrin, respectively. Laboratory strain deltamethrin-sensitive adults and larvae were used as controls. The DNA of gut samples from these mosquitoes were extracted using the magnetic bead method. Bacterial 16S rDNA was sequenced using BGISEQ method. We isolated and cultured gut microorganisms from adult and larvae mosquitoes using four different media: Luria Bertani (LB), brain heart infusion (BHI), nutrient agar (NA), and salmonella shigella (SS). RESULTS: Sequencing revealed significantly higher gut microbial diversity in field-resistant larvae compared with field-sensitive and laboratory-sensitive larvae (P

Southern Distinct Population Segment (sDPS) green sturgeon spawn solely in one stretch of the Sacramento River in California. Management of this spawning habitat is complicated by cold water temperature requirements for the conservation of winter-run Chinook salmon. This study assessed whether low incubation and rearing temperatures resulted in carryover effects across embryo to early juvenile life stages on scaling relationships in growth and metabolism in northern DPS green sturgeon used as a proxy for sDPS green sturgeon. Fish were incubated and reared at 11 °C and 15 °C, with a subset experiencing a reciprocal temperature transfer post-hatch, to assess recovery from cold incubation or to simulate a cold-water dam release which would chill rearing larvae. Growth and metabolic rate of embryos and larvae were measured to 118 days post hatch. Reciprocal temperature transfers revealed a greater effect of low temperature exposure during larval rearing rather than during egg incubation. While 11 °C eggs hatched at a smaller length, log-transformed length-weight relationships showed that these differences in developmental trajectory dissipated as individuals achieved juvenile morphology. However, considerable size-at-age differences persisted between rearing temperatures, with 15 °C fish requiring 60 days post-hatch to achieve 1 g in mass, whereas 11 °C fish required 120 days to achieve 1 g, resulting in fish of the same age at the completion of the experiment with a ca. 37-fold difference in weight. Consequently, our study suggests that cold rearing temperatures have far more consequential downstream effects than cold embryo incubation temperatures. Growth delays from 11 °C rearing temperatures would greatly increase the period of vulnerability to predation in larval green sturgeon. The scaling relationship between log-transformed whole-body metabolism and mass exhibited a steeper slope and thus an increased oxygen requirement with size in 11 °C reared fish, potentially indicating an energetically unsustainable situation. Understanding how cold temperatures affect green sturgeon ontogeny is necessary to refine our larval recruitment estimations for this threatened species.

Dispersive early life stages are common in nature. Although many dispersing organisms (propagules) are passively moved by outside forces, some improve their chances of successful dispersal through weak movements that exploit the structure of the environment to great effect. The larvae of many coastal marine invertebrates, for instance, swim vertically through the water column to exploit depth-varying currents, food abundance, and predation risk. Several swimming behaviors and their effects on dispersal between habitats are characterized in the literature, yet it remains unclear when and why these behaviors are advantageous. We addressed this gap using a mathematical model of larval dispersal that scored how well behaviors allowed larvae to simultaneously locate habitats, avoid predators, and gather energy. We computed optimal larval behaviors through dynamic programming, and compared those optima against passive floating and three well documented behaviors from the literature. Optimal behaviors often (but not always) resembled the documented ones. However, our model predicted that the behaviors from the literature performed robustly well, if not optimally, across many conditions. Our results shed light on why some larval behaviors are widespread geographically and across species, and underscore the importance of carefully considering the weak movements of otherwise passive propagules when studying dispersal.

Skin-penetrating nematodes, including the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworms in the genera Necator and Ancylostoma, are gastrointestinal parasites that are a major cause of neglected tropical disease in low-resource settings worldwide. These parasites infect hosts as soil-dwelling infective larvae that navigate towards hosts using host-emitted sensory cues such as odorants and body heat. Upon host contact, they invade the host by penetrating through the skin. The process of skin penetration is critical for successful parasitism but remains poorly understood and understudied. Here, we review current knowledge of skin-penetration behaviour and its underlying mechanisms in the human parasite S. stercoralis, the closely related rat parasite Strongyloides ratti, and other skin-penetrating nematodes such as hookworms. We also highlight important directions for future investigations into this underexplored process and discuss how recent advances in molecular genetic and genomic tools for Strongyloides species will enable mechanistic investigations of skin penetration and other essential parasitic behaviours in future studies. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue Strongyloides: omics to worm-free populations.

Host-microbe interactions underlie the development and fitness of many macroorganisms, including bees. Whereas many social bees benefit from vertically transmitted gut bacteria, current data suggests that solitary bees, which comprise the vast majority of species diversity within bees, lack a highly specialized gut microbiome. Here, we examine the composition and abundance of bacteria and fungi throughout the complete life cycle of the ground-nesting solitary bee Anthophora bomboides standfordiana. In contrast to expectations, immature bee stages maintain a distinct core microbiome consisting of Actinobacterial genera (Streptomyces, Nocardiodes) and the fungus Moniliella spathulata. Dormant (diapausing) larval bees hosted the most abundant and distinctive bacteria and fungi, attaining 33 and 52 times their initial copy number, respectively. We tested two adaptive hypotheses regarding microbial functions for diapausing bees. First, using isolated bacteria and fungi, we found that Streptomyces from brood cells inhibited the growth of multiple pathogenic filamentous fungi, suggesting a role in pathogen protection during overwintering, when bees face high pathogen pressure. Second, sugar alcohol composition changed in tandem with major changes in fungal abundance, suggesting links with bee cold tolerance or overwintering biology. We find that A. bomboides hosts a conserved core microbiome that may provide key fitness advantages through larval development and diapause, which raises the question of how this microbiome is maintained and faithfully transmitted between generations. Our results suggest that focus on microbiomes of mature or active insect developmental stages may overlook stage-specific symbionts and microbial fitness contributions during host dormancy.

Invasive species threaten biodiversity globally. Amphibians are one of the most threatened vertebrate taxa and are particularly sensitive to invasive species, including other amphibians. African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) are native to Southern Africa but have subsequently become invasive on multiple continents-including multiple parts of North America-due to releases from the pet and biomedical trades. Despite their prevalence as a global invader, the impact of X. laevis remains understudied. This includes the Pacific Northwest of the USA, which now hosts multiple expanding X. laevis populations. For many amphibians, chemical cues communicate important information, including the presence of predators. Here, we tested the role chemical cues may play in mediating interactions between feral X. laevis and native amphibians in the Pacific Northwest. We tested whether native red-legged frog (Rana aurora) tadpoles display an antipredator response to non-native frog (X. laevis) or native newt (rough-skinned newts, Taricha granulosa) predator chemical stimuli. We found that R. aurora tadpoles exhibited pronounced anti-predator responses when exposed to chemical cues from T. granulosa but did not display anti-predator response to invasive X. laevis chemical cues. We also began experimentally testing whether T. granulosa-which produce a powerful neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX)-may elicit an anti-predator response in X. laevis, that could serve to deter co-occupation. However, our short-duration experiments found that X. laevis were attracted to newt chemical stimuli rather than deterred. Our findings show that X. laevis likely poses a threat to native amphibians, and that these native species may also be particularly vulnerable to this invasive predator, compared to native predators, because toxic native newts may not limit X. laevis invasions. Our research provides some of the first indications that native Pacific Northwest species may be threatened by feral X. laevis and provides a foundation for future experiments testing potential management techniques for X. laevis.

Understanding the circumstances under which insect herbivores will adopt a novel host plant is a longstanding question in basic and applied ecology. While geographic variation in host use can arise through differences in both herbivore preference and plant characteristics, there is a tendency to attribute geographic variation in host use to regional differences in herbivore preference alone. This is especially true for herbivores specialized to one or a few plant species. We compared how geographic variation in herbivore preference and host plant origin shape regional differences in host plant use by the specialized herbivore, Euphydryas phaeton. In parts of its range, E. phaeton uses only a native host, Chelone glabra, while in others, it also uses an introduced host, Plantago lanceolata. We offered female butterflies from each region the non-native host plant sourced from both regions and compared their oviposition behavior. The non-native host was almost universally rejected by butterflies in the region where only the native plant is used. In the region where butterflies use both hosts, females accepted non-native plants from their natal region twice as often as non-native plants from the other region where they are not used. Acceptance differed substantially among individual butterflies within regions but not among plants within regions. Thus, both individual preference and regional differences in both the insect and non-native host contributed to the geographic variation in different ways. These results highlight that, in addition to herbivore preference, regional differences in perceived plant suitability may be an important driver of diet breadth.

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious pest of maize in the USA and Europe. Microbial plant biostimulants such as bacteria, fungi, and algae are designed to stimulate plant nutrition and growth, with some hypothesized to also possess insecticidal properties. We tested 10 biostimulants (four bacteria, five fungi, and one alga) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Most biostimulants did not affect the eggs, larvae, or adults of D.v. virgifera. However, in the laboratory, 10% of biostimulants improved egg hatching, and 40% killed some larvae, including the fungi Beauveria bassiana, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Trichoderma asperellum, and the bacterium Ensifer meliloti. Under potted-plant conditions in the greenhouse, these insecticidal effects were not detectable. However, several biostimulants slightly increased height and shoot length of uninfested maize plants, but reduced volume and length of their roots as well as above-ground biomass. Interestingly, 30% of the biostimulants enhanced the plant's defence against larvae, for example, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis, and E. meliloti. These may warrant further research into their modes of action as well as field trials to better understand and optimize their potential use in sustainable and integrated pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficacy of two Indian isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) viz., Heterorhabditis bacteriophora MK256358 and Steinernema feltiae MK256355 were tested in laboratory against the larvae of cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae. Larval mortality was found directly proportional to initial inoculum level of infective juveniles (IJs). Susceptibility of larvae varied with respect to their variable size. H. bacteriophora MK256358 @ 25 IJs/larva caused 100% mortality to 3rd instar larvae at 72 h but @ 75 IJs/larva, the same mortality was achieved in 48 h. S. feltiae MK256355 @ 100 IJs/larva caused 100% mortality to 3rd instar larvae of P. brassicae at 48 h. H. bacteriophora MK256358 @ 25 and 100 IJs/larva resulted in 100% mortality to 4th and 5th instar larvae, respectively at 72 h, however S. feltiae MK256355 was unable to cause 100% mortality to either 4th or 5th instar larvae at any inoculum level or time period used in the study. LD50 and LT50 values of H. bacteriophora MK256358 were lower than S. feltiae MK256355 indicating that less nematode dose and time is required to kill 50% pest population. Reproduction capacity of nematode within the host was directly proportional to individual larval size and nematode inoculum level and for H. bacteriophora MK256358, it was higher and statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) from S. feltiae MK256355. Our experimental findings open new avenues for utilization of EPNs against P. brassicae and set the basis for safe insect pest management programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fish gill is a multifunctional organ that is important in multiple physiological processes such as gas transfer, ionoregulation, and chemoreception. This characteristic organ of fishes has received much attention, yet an often-overlooked point is that larval fishes in most cases do not have a fully developed gill, and thus larval gills do not function identically as adult gills. In addition, large changes associated with gas exchange and ionoregulation happen in gills during the larval phase, leading to the oxygen and ionoregulatory hypotheses examining the environmental constraint that resulted in the evolution of gills. This review thus focuses exclusively on the larval fish gill of teleosts, summarizing the development of teleost larval fish gills and its function in gas transfer, ionoregulation, and chemoreception, and comparing and contrasting it to adult gills where applicable, while providing some insight into the oxygen vs ionoregulatory hypotheses debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed a detailed ultrastructural reconstruction of the "passive" miracidium of Derogenes varicus Muller, 1784 , a species from the Hemiurata group. The miracidium is highly miniaturized and simplified in comparison with the "active" miracidia. For the first time we elucidated the nature of the spines on the surface of the hemiuroid larva: they are derivatives of the epithelial plates. The anterior end of the larva is equipped with three epithelial plates that bear both spines and cilia. The major part of the miracidial surface is formed by the tegument. The nervous and excretory systems of the D. varicus miracidium are extremely reduced. Single undifferentiated cell comprises the germinal material of the miracidium. We discuss the trends of evolution of hemiuroid miracidia that are associated with the transition to passive strategy of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth, peculiarities and anomalies of the ossification and development of skeletal elements, as well as body proportions and meristic characters of laboratory-reared larvae and fry of two lacustrine dwarf forms of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus complex from lakes Tokko and Bol'shoe Leprindo (Transbaikalia) were studied. Retardations of the formation of blood cells, anomalies of morpho- and osteogenesis, and increased mortality of unhatched embryos, free embryos and prelarvae of reciprocal hybrids were revealed. Initial characteristics of prelarvae, linear growth, rate of osteogenesis, body proportions, and colouration of hybrid individuals matched matroclinal developmental pattern. Heterochrony of the ossification of vertebral centra was revealed in prelarvae of the hybrid between females from Lake Tokko and males of the deep-water form from Lake Bol'shoe Leprindo. Their ossification was displaced to an earlier stage in the typical ossification and differentiation sequence of skull bones and fin rays, which indicates the presence of respective regulator in parental genome. Such effect was not observed in reciprocal hybrid; however, it demonstrated earlier ossification of predorsalia than the pure form from Lake Bol'shoe Leprindo. The formation of morphological features in the ontogeny of hybrid larvae and juveniles as compared with parental forms was traced. All lethal anomalies of reciprocal hybrids and non-lethal anomalies influencing their viability as well as accelerated use of yolk by hybrids between the females from Lake Bol'shoe Leprindo and males from Lake Tokko, which resulted in mass mortality of prelarvae and weak development of the skeleton of early larvae are considered as the elements of post-zygotic reproductive isolation between pure forms of gen. Salvelinus from the two lakes. This isolation is obviously incomplete since part of hybrid individuals developed normally, though their fertility remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species often associate with specific habitat characteristics, resulting in patchy distributions, whereby they only occupy a proportion of available habitat. Understanding which characteristics species require is a valuable tool for informing conservation management. We investigated the associations of eleven species of day-flying Lepidoptera larvae and their foodplants with habitat characteristics within calcareous grassland reserves in Bedfordshire, UK, across two scales relevant to land managers and target species: the reserve (cardinal aspect, vegetation type) and foodplant patch scale (foodplant height and density). We investigated whether ecological traits (habitat specialism, as defined at a national-scale, and overwintering life stage) influenced the strength of associations. At the reserve scale, we found variation in associations with habitat characteristics across species, with species that overwinter at non-adult life stages having more restricted associations, indicating that they may be more vulnerable to environmental change. Associations were generally stronger with vegetation type than aspect, which can be manipulated more easily by land managers. Seven species had similar associations with habitat characteristics to their foodplants, implying that management to benefit foodplants will also benefit larvae. However, the remaining four species had different associations to their foodplants, and may require alternative management approaches. At the foodplant patch scale, four species were associated with foodplant characteristics, which could be used to inform effective fine-scale management. Implications for insect conservation: Implications for insect conservation: Diverse habitat associations imply that topographic and vegetation variation are valuable for supporting diverse assemblages of butterflies and their foodplants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wnt signaling pathways play crucial roles in animal development. They establish embryonic axes, specify cell fates, and regulate tissue morphogenesis from the early embryo to organogenesis. It is becoming increasingly recognized that these distinct developmental outcomes depend upon dynamic interactions between multiple ligands, receptors, antagonists, and other pathway modulators, consolidating the view that a combinatorial "code" controls the output of Wnt signaling. However, due to the lack of comprehensive analyses of Wnt components in several animal groups, it remains unclear if specific combinations always give rise to specific outcomes, and if these combinatorial patterns are conserved throughout evolution. Results: In this work, we investigate the combinatorial expression of Wnt signaling components during the axial patterning of the brachiopod Terebratalia transversa. We find that T. transversa has a conserved repertoire of ligands, receptors, and antagonists. These genes are expressed throughout embryogenesis but undergo significant upregulation during axial elongation. At this stage, Frizzled domains occupy broad regions across the body while Wnt domains are narrower and distributed in partially overlapping patches; antagonists are mostly restricted to the anterior end. Based on their combinatorial expression, we identify a series of unique transcriptional subregions along the anteroposterior axis that coincide with the different morphological subdivisions of the brachiopod larval body. When comparing these data across the animal phylogeny, we find that the expression of Frizzled genes is relatively conserved, whereas the expression of Wnt genes is more variable. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the differential activation of Wnt signaling pathways may play a role in regionalizing the anteroposterior axis of brachiopod larvae. More generally, our analyses suggest that changes in the receptor context of Wnt ligands may act as a mechanism for the evolution and diversification of the metazoan body axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garden plants, trees and bushes suffer damages caused by lots of pests by 30-50 % every year, and sometimes by 80-90 % during the period when they grow massively. For this purpose, scientific bases for the use of perspective entomophages in the biological fight against harsh pests by studying the species composition, bioecological features of 6 species of insects, which damage garden and forest plants, and entomophages (parasites and predators), which regulate their number, have been developed in Azerbaijan. The research paper established that the oriental fruit moth infests fruit crops by 50-60 %. It was found that 22 types of parasites play a role in the regulation of abundance. Among them, macrocentrus infests oriental fruit moth larva up to 80 %, scambus up to 60 %, apanteles up to 40-50 %. The scoliidae parasite is of economic importance and can be used for biological control against the oriental fruit moth. Considering the prospects of some parasites, the bioecological features on the Absheron Peninsula have been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach to supplying foods and feeds that are high in protein has emerged in the form of insect farming. Insect‐farmed food may also serve as part of a sustainable diet for humans. The mealworm Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is the most widely consumed insect worldwide. In this study, 10 larval diets were tested in the laboratory to determine their suitability for mass‐feeding mealworms at 28 °C and 60–65% r.h., in a completely randomized design. Various larval diets had a significant impact on the biological features of T. molitor. The larvae, pupae, and adults were greater on diets containing wheat bran alone and wheat bran in combination with maize and porridge. Larval mortality was significantly higher (60.7%) on a diet with porridge alone, compared to a control diet, followed by diets with porridge in combination with barley (55.6%) or maize (50.6%). Sex ratio was also affected by the tested larval diets. Female hatch (65%) was higher than male hatch (35%) on diet containing wheat bran alone as compared to all other diets. The findings contribute to optimizing mealworm rearing practices for sustainable food production and promote the potential use of mealworms as a viable protein source – especially livestock diets based on mealworm reared on wheat bran show promise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osmylus fulvicephalus (Scopoli, 1763), the type species of the Osmylidae, has garnered significant research interest in taxonomy, particularly regarding its larval stages. To date, most studies have focused on the third instar larvae, but ignore the first instar larvae with the rough and incomplete morphological descriptions. This lack of studies has led to an unclear understanding of the morphological differences between larval stages, making it challenging to identify larvae, distinguish different osmylid species or even reconstruct phylogeny. New information: In this study, the first instar larva of O. fulvicephalus was re-described in detail and illustrated, based on the naming system of sclerites. Based on this, it could be effectively distinguished from other species by the following characteristics: i) number of segments in the labial palpi; ii) the setae beard on the apex of antenna; iii) the number of transversal rows of the anal hooks. In addition, we compared the sclerites and other morphological characteristics with the third instar larvae of Osmylus fulvicephalus to better distinguish larvae at different developmental stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Anopheles stephensi is an emerging exotic invasive urban malaria vector in East Africa. The World Health Organization recently announced an initiative to take concerted actions to limit this vectors expansion by strengthening surveillance and control in invaded and potentially receptive territories in Africa. This study sought to determine the invasion of An. stephensi in southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A targeted entomological survey, both larvae and adult, was conducted in Hawassa City, southern Ethiopia between November 2022 and February 2023. Anopheles larvae were reared to adults for species identification. CDC light traps and BG Pro traps were used indoors and outdoors overnight at selected houses to collect adult mosquitoes in the study area. Prokopack aspirator was employed to sample indoor resting mosquitoes in the morning. Adults of An. stephensi was identified using morphological keys and then confirmed by PCR. RESULTS: Larvae of An. stephensi were found in 28 (16.6%) of the 169 potential mosquito breeding sites surveyed. Out of 548 adult female Anopheles mosquitoes reared from larvae, 234 (42.7%) were identified as An. stephensi morphologically. A total of 449 female anophelines were caught, of which 53 (12.0%) were An. stephensi. Other anopheline species collected in the study area included Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), Anopheles pharoensis, Anopheles coustani, and Anopheles demeilloni. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the presence of An. stephensi in southern Ethiopia. The presence of both larval and adult stages of this mosquito attests that this species established sympatric colonization with native vector species such as An. gambiae (s.l.) in southern Ethiopia. The findings warrant further investigation on the ecology, behaviour, population genetics, and role of An. stephensi in malaria transmission in Ethiopia.

Although massive biomass fluctuations of coastal-pelagic fishes are an iconic example of the impacts of climate variability on marine ecosystems, the mechanisms governing these dynamics are often elusive. We construct a 45-year record of nitrogen stable isotopes measured in larvae of Northern Anchovy (Engraulis mordax) in the California Current Ecosystem to assess patterns in food chain length. Larval trophic efficiency associated with a shortened food chain increased larval survival and produced boom periods of high adult biomass. In contrast, when larval food chain length increased, and energy transfer efficiency decreased, the population crashed. We propose the Trophic Efficiency in Early Life (TEEL) hypothesis, which states that larval fishes must consume prey that confer sufficient energy for survival, to help explain natural boom-bust dynamics of coastal pelagic fishes. Our findings illustrate a potential for trophic indicators to generally inform larval survival and adult population dynamics of coastal-pelagic fishes.

Introduction. Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) longiflocosa is an endemic species from Colombia, found between the central and eastern Andes, and reported as one of the primary vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in coffee-growing zones of the country. This species is classified in the Townsendi series and can only be identified by the morphology of the male adults. Objective. To determine the potential use of the fourth larval stage of the vector Pi. longiflocosa in morphological taxonomy based on the description of its chaetotaxy. Materials and methods. Pintomyia longiflocosa adults were captured in Campoalegre, Huila, and reared in the Entomology Laboratory at the Colombian Instituto Nacional de Salud. To identify the setae found in each corporal segment, 15 fourth-instar larvae were mounted on microscope slides using Canadian balm after being cleared with 10 % potassium hydroxide and saturated phenol. Additionally, five specimens were prepared for their observation by scanning electron microscopy. Results. Based on the description of Pi. longiflocosa, we established that all species of the subgenus Pifanomyia so far described have the same antennal morphology and clavate setae along their body. However, various setae present in Pi. longiflocosa are absent in Pi. youngi, suggesting differences among the larvae of the Townsendi series. Conclusions. These results support the potential importance of morphological characters from the fourth larval instar, such as antennal morphology and chaetotaxy, specifically in closely related species that are cryptic in their adult stages.

Abstract Background Wnt signaling pathways play crucial roles in animal development. They establish embryonic axes, specify cell fates, and regulate tissue morphogenesis from the early embryo to organogenesis. It is becoming increasingly recognized that these distinct developmental outcomes depend upon dynamic interactions between multiple ligands, receptors, antagonists, and other pathway modulators, consolidating the view that a combinatorial “code” controls the output of Wnt signaling. However, due to the lack of comprehensive analyses of Wnt components in several animal groups, it remains unclear if specific combinations always give rise to specific outcomes, and if these combinatorial patterns are conserved throughout evolution. Results In this work, we investigate the combinatorial expression of Wnt signaling components during the axial patterning of the brachiopod Terebratalia transversa. We find that T. transversa has a conserved repertoire of ligands, receptors, and antagonists. These genes are expressed throughout embryogenesis but undergo significant upregulation during axial elongation. At this stage, Frizzled domains occupy broad regions across the body while Wnt domains are narrower and distributed in partially overlapping patches; antagonists are mostly restricted to the anterior end. Based on their combinatorial expression, we identify a series of unique transcriptional subregions along the anteroposterior axis that coincide with the different morphological subdivisions of the brachiopod larval body. When comparing these data across the animal phylogeny, we find that the expression of Frizzled genes is relatively conserved, whereas the expression of Wnt genes is more variable. Conclusions Our results suggest that the differential activation of Wnt signaling pathways may play a role in regionalizing the anteroposterior axis of brachiopod larvae. More generally, our analyses suggest that changes in the receptor context of Wnt ligands may act as a mechanism for the evolution and diversification of the metazoan body axis.

Osmylus fulvicephalus (Scopoli, 1763), the type species of the Osmylidae, has garnered significant research interest in taxonomy, particularly regarding its larval stages. To date, most studies have focused on the third instar larvae, but ignore the first instar larvae with the rough and incomplete morphological descriptions. This lack of studies has led to an unclear understanding of the morphological differences between larval stages, making it challenging to identify larvae, distinguish different osmylid species or even reconstruct phylogeny.In this study, the first instar larva of O. fulvicephalus was re-described in detail and illustrated, based on the naming system of sclerites. Based on this, it could be effectively distinguished from other species by the following characteristics: i) number of segments in the labial palpi; ii) the setae beard on the apex of antenna; iii) the number of transversal rows of the anal hooks. In addition, we compared the sclerites and other morphological characteristics with the third instar larvae of Osmylus fulvicephalus to better distinguish larvae at different developmental stages.

BACKGROUND: Water resource development projects are essential for increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. However, these activities require the modification of pre-existing environmental settings, which may alter mosquito larval habitat availability and seasonality. The intensive utilization of current adult vector control tools results in insecticide resistance among the main vectors. When coupled with behavioural resistances, a shift in malaria vector feeding and resting behaviours could compromise the effectiveness of the current adult vector control strategies. Thus, it is important to look for new or alternative vector control interventions for immatures to complement adult control by focusing on different larval habitats and their seasonal availability. Thus, this study investigated larval habitat seasonality and seasonal larval abundance and distribution in irrigated sugar cane plantation settings in Ethiopia. METHODS: Anopheles mosquito larval habitats were surveyed and visited twice a month for a period of 14 months. Anopheline larvae and pupae were collected, reared, and fed finely ground fish food. Adults were provided with sucrose solution and kept under standard conditions. Female Anopheles mosquitoes were identified morphologically and using a species-specific PCR assay. Environmental parameters, which include habitats physico-chemical characteristics, were assessed. Larval habitat diversity and larval abundance and distribution were determined across different seasons. RESULTS: The study revealed that Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) was the most predominant 4197(57%) vector species, followed by Anopheles coustani complex 2388 (32.8%). Molecular analysis of sub-samples of An. gambiae s.l. resulted in Anopheles arabiensis (77.9%) and Anopheles amharicus (21.5%), and the remaining 1.1% (n = 7) sub-samples were not amplified. Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature (t = 2.22, p = 0.028), conductivity (t = 3.21, p = 0.002), dissolved oxygen (t = 7.96, p = 0.001), nitrate ion (t = 2.51, p = 0.013), and ammonium ion (t = 2.26, p = 0.025) showed a significant and direct association with mosquito larval abundance. Furthermore, mosquito larval abundance was correlated with distance to the nearest houses (r = - 0.42, p = 0.001), exposure to sunlight (r = 0.34, p = 0.001), during long and short rainy season animal hoof prints, truck tires/road puddles and rain pools were negatively correlated (r = - 0.22, p = 0.01) and types of habitat (r = - 0.20, p = 0.01). Significant habitat type productivity were observed in man-made pools (t = 3.881, P = 0.01163), rain pools, animal hoof prints, (t = - 4.332, P = 0.00749 in both short and long rainy season, whereas, during dry seasons habitat type productivity almost similar and have no significance difference. CONCLUSION: The study found that different larval habitats had variable productivity in different seasons, and that physical and physicochemical features like ammonium and nitrate, as well as the distance between larval habitats and households, are related to larval production. As a result, vector control should take into account the seasonality of Anopheles larval habitat as well as the impact of pesticide application on larval source management.

BACKGROUND: The rise of insecticide resistance against malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa has resulted in the need to consider other methods of vector control. The potential use of biological methods, including larvivorous fish, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) and plant shading, is sustainable and environmentally friendly options. This study examined the survivorship of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus larvae and habitat productivity in four permanent habitat types in Homa Bay county, western Kenya. METHODS: Predator densities were studied in a laboratory setup while habitat productivity and larval survivorship was studied in field setup. RESULTS: Fish were observed as the most efficient predator (75.8% larval reduction rate) followed by water boatman (69%), and dragonfly nymph (69.5%) in predation rates. Lower predation rates were observed in backswimmers (31%), water beetles (14.9%), water spiders (12.2%), mayflies (7.3%), and tadpoles (6.9%). Increase in predator density in the field setup resulted in decreased Culex larval density. Larval and pupa age-specific distribution was determined and their survivorship curves constructed. Combined larvae (Stage I-IV) to pupa mortality was over 97% for An. arabiensis and 100% for An. funestus. The highest larval stage survival rate was from larval stages I to II and the lowest from larval stage IV to pupa. Stage-specific life tables indicated high mortality rates at every developmental stage, especially at the larval stage II and III. CONCLUSION: Determination of the efficiency of various larval predators and habitat productivity will help with the correct identification of productive habitats and selection of complementary vector control methods through environmental management and/or predator introduction (for instance fish) in the habitats.

Species of the phylum Blastocladiomycota, early-diverging zoosporic (flagellated) lineages of fungi, are vastly understudied. This phylum includes the genus Coelomomyces, which consists of more than 80 fungal species that are obligate parasites of arthropods. Known Coelomomyces species lack a complete asexual life cycle, instead surviving through an obligate heterecious alternation of generations life cycle. Despite their global distribution and interesting life cycle, little is known about the genomics of any Coelomomyces species. To address this, we generated three draft-level genomes and annotations for C. lativittatus representing its haploid meiospore, orange gamete, and amber gamete life stages. These draft genome assemblies ranged in size from 5002 to 5799 contigs, with a total length of 19.8-22.8 Mb and a mean of 7416 protein-coding genes. We then demonstrated the utility of these genomes by combining the draft annotations as a reference for analysis of C. lativittatus transcriptomes. We analyzed transcriptomes from across host-associated life stages, including infected larvae and excised mature sporangia from the mosquito Anopheles quadrimaculatus. We identified differentially expressed genes and enriched GO terms both across and within life stages and used these to make hypotheses about C. lativittatus biology. Generally, we found the C. lativittatus transcriptome to be a complex and dynamic expression landscape; GO terms related to metabolism and transport processes were enriched during infection and terms related to dispersal were enriched during sporulation. We further identified five high mobility group (HMG)-box genes in C. lativittatus, three belonging to clades with mating type (MAT) loci from other fungi, as well as four ortholog expansions in C. lativittatus compared with other fungi. The C. lativittatus genomes and transcriptomes reported here are a valuable resource and may be leveraged toward furthering understanding of the biology of these and other early-diverging fungal lineages.

Mealworms are one of the most economically important insects in large-scale production for human and animal nutrition. Densoviruses are highly pathogenic for invertebrates and exhibit an extraordinary level of diversity which rivals that of their hosts. Molecular, clinical, histological, and electron microscopic characterization of novel densovirus infections is of utmost economic and ecological importance. Here, we describe an outbreak of densovirus with high mortality in a commercial mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) farm. Clinical signs included inability to prehend food, asymmetric locomotion evolving to nonambulation, dehydration, dark discoloration, and death. Upon gross examination, infected mealworms displayed underdevelopment, dark discoloration, larvae body curvature, and organ/tissue softness. Histologically, there was massive epithelial cell death, and cytomegaly and karyomegaly with intranuclear inclusion (InI) bodies in the epidermis, pharynx, esophagus, rectum, tracheae, and tracheoles. Ultrastructurally, these InIs represented a densovirus replication and assembly complex composed of virus particles ranging from 23.79 to 26.99 nm in diameter, as detected on transmission electron microscopy. Whole-genome sequencing identified a 5579-nucleotide-long densovirus containing 5 open reading frames. A phylogenetic analysis of the mealworm densovirus showed it to be closely related to several bird- and bat-associated densoviruses, sharing 97% to 98% identity. Meanwhile, the nucleotide similarity to a mosquito, cockroach, and cricket densovirus was 55%, 52%, and 41%, respectively. As this is the first described whole-genome characterization of a mealworm densovirus, we propose the name Tenebrio molitor densovirus (TmDNV). In contrast to polytropic densoviruses, this TmDNV is epitheliotropic, primarily affecting cuticle-producing cells.

Akirin is a nuclear protein that controls development in vertebrates and invertebrates. The function of Akirin has not been assessed in any Coleopteran insects. We found that high levels of akirin transcripts in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, a serious Coleopteran potato defoliator (hereafter Hvakirin), were present at prepupal, pupal and adult stages, especially in larval foregut and fat body. RNA interference (RNAi) targeting Hvakirin impaired larval development. The Hvakirin RNAi larvae arrested development at the final larval instar stage. They remained as stunted larvae, gradually blackened and finally died. Moreover, the remodelling of gut and fat body was inhibited in the Hvakirin depleted larvae. Two layers of cuticles, old and newly formed, were noted in the dsegfp‐injected animals. In contrast, only a layer of cuticle was found in the dsakirin‐injected beetles, indicating the arrest of larval development. Furthermore, the expression of three transforming growth factor‐β cascade genes (Hvsmox, Hvmyo and Hvbabo), a 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor gene (HvEcR) and six 20E response genes (HvHR3, HvHR4, HvE75, HvBrC, HvE93 and Hvftz‐f1) was significantly repressed, consistent with decreased 20E signalling. Conversely, the transcription of a juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis gene (Hvjhamt), a JH receptor gene (HvMet) and two JH response genes (HvKr‐h1 and HvHairy) was greatly enhanced. Our findings suggest a critical role of Akirin in larval development in H. vigintioctopunctata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background. Cattle hypodermosis is a chronic parasitic disease (entomosis) that occurs as a result of parasitizing the larvae of warble flies in the body of animals. Disease is common in more than 55 countries of the world, causing great economic damage. It is considered as a parasitic disease with a certain zoonotic potential. Purpose. To conduct research on biological and ecological features of the warble flies that determines certain epidemiological traits of the caused pathology in Tavush Region of Armenia. Materials and methods. The observations were carried out in Tavush Region, and the experiments were carried out at the Research Center for Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Sanitary Expertise at the Armenian National Agrarian University. The warble flies marked with stain, were released at a distance of 0.5 to 1.5 km from livestock farms with subsequent search and trapping of insects, located on pastures and on the skin of animals. Generally, 275 warble flies were released. Warble fly activity was evaluated visually counting the comparative number of flying insects at the fixed point per minute at different times of the day, as well as animal anxiety state caused by warble flies was identified. Statistical processing of experimental data was performed by means of “Vassart.net” online calculator. Results. Female warble flies Hypoderma bovis flew up to 12.1 km, while female warble flies H. lineatum did it up to 8.6 km. Females of H. bovis and H. lineatum demonstrated various spatial and circadian flying activity that depends on season, and altitude above the sea level. Spring generation of warble flies is more resistant to low air temperatures compared to the summer generation. Mild and humid summers, as well as an increase in the number of animals, contribute to an increase in the population of warble flies, while high temperature and high soil moisture contribute to the mass death of warble fly pupae developing in the ground. Conclusion. The research data cited in the article, detect the presence of a wide range of biocenotic factors that determine the epidemiology of cattle hypodermosis in the Tavush region of the Republic of Armenia. Cattle hypodermosis control plan was designed based on the results of the research, as well as natural and climatic conditions of Tavush region. Pasture prevention activities and periodic treatment of the cattle with insecticides were emphasized.

Triploidization influences various biological characteristics of fish, which is associated with reductions in the number of multiple cell types in different tissues/organs. Our behavioral analyses revealed that triploid Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) larvae exhibit lower sensitivity to light compared to diploids. Furthermore, histological analyses revealed a reduction in the number of ganglion cells and an increase in their size in the retinas of triploid T. orientalis larvae. Our findings provide the first evidence indicating that triploidization reduces sensory perception during the larval stage of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to understand the role of temperature in rearing sea urchin larvae for large-scale production of sea urchin seeds. The development of purple sea urchins, Heliocidaris crassispina, such as fertilization, hatching, embryonic development, larval growth, ingestion, metabolism, and metamorphosis, was investigated at four temperatures: 20, 24, 28, and 32 °C. In the four temperatures, fertilization and hatching of sea urchins first increased with temperature and then decreased. The optimal condition was found at a temperature of 28 °C, where the fertilization and hatching rates exceeded 90%, and embryonic development was highly synchronized. This condition did not differ from the results observed at a temperature of 24 °C (P > 0.05). The fertilization and hatching rates were lower at 20 °C and 32 °C, among which 32 °C had the fastest embryo development but the second highest mortality. In contrast, 20 °C had the slowest embryo development and the most increased mortality. The optimal growth temperature for larvae is 28 °C, at which their growth and development rate are the fastest. However, at 24 °C, it is the second highest. At 20 °C, the growth rate is the lowest, with sluggish physiological responses and the lowest digestion and metabolism capacity. The metamorphosis rate did not differ between 28 and 32 °C (P < 0.05), with 50.0% and 61.1%, respectively, while remaining below 4% at 20 °C. This indicates that temperature significantly impacts the early development of Heliocidaris crassispina sea urchins, whose larvae may be sensitive to low temperatures but have higher temperature tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese bahaba (Bahaba taipingensis), belonging to the Sciaenidae family, is one of the largest croakers with a limited geographical distribution. It is a critically endangered fish species according to the IUCN and a protected animal in China. In this study, the morphological characteristics of Chinese bahaba were observed and analyzed across different developmental stages, namely, the embryonic, larval, juvenile, and young fish stages. The results demonstrated that the mature eggs had a terminal yolk and a single oil globule. The eggs remained floating, and the mean diameters of the fertilized egg and oil globules were 1.14 ± 0.09 mm and 0.35 ± 0.07 mm, respectively. The findings revealed that the embryonic development of Chinese bahaba occurs broadly in seven stages, including the blastogenesis, cleavage, blastocyst, gastrula, neuro embryonic, organ differentiation, and membrane emergence stages, which lasted approximately 27 h and 10 min until hatching under 22.5 ± 0.5 °C. After 70 d, the larvae developed into young fish with a mean total length and body length of 97.75 ± 12.61 and 75.27 ± 13.27 mm, respectively. The digestive organs and the swim bladder began to differentiate, and the swim bladder, bladder duct, intestine, stomach, and mouth gradually formed at 2 d after hatching. Juvenile development occurred via six stages and there were certain differences in the morphological characteristics of Chinese bahaba across the different stages of growth and development. This study provides a theoretical reference for studying the growth, development, and artificial breeding of Chinese bahaba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spodoptera frugiperda poses a severe threat to crops, causing substantial economic losses. The increased use of chemical pesticides has led to resistance in S. frugiperda populations. Micro ribonucleic acids (MicroRNAs or miRNAs) are pivotal in insect growth and development. This study aims to identify miRNAs across different developmental stages of S. frugiperda to explore differential expression and predict target gene functions. High-throughput sequencing of miRNAs was conducted on eggs, 3rd instar larvae, pupae, and adults. Bioinformatics analyses identified differentially expressed miRNAs specifically in larvae, with candidate miRNAs screened to predict target genes, particularly those involved in detoxification pathways. A total of 184 known miRNAs and 209 novel miRNAs were identified across stages. Comparative analysis revealed 54, 15, and 18 miRNAs differentially expressed in larvae, compared to egg, pupa, and adult stages, respectively. Eight miRNAs showed significant differential expression across stages, validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses predicted target genes' functions, identifying eight differentially expressed miRNAs targeting 10 gene families associated with detoxification metabolism, including P450s, glutathione S-transferase (GSTs), ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and sodium channels. These findings elucidate the species-specific miRNA profiles and regulatory mechanisms of detoxification-related genes in S. frugiperda larvae, offering insights and strategies for effectively managing this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of the beetle subfamily Rutelinae are poorly described in the literature. Notably, the morphology of the larvae of Callistethus plagiicollis Fairmaire has not previously been analyzed. Here, we report for the first time that these larvae feed on the tubers and roots of Gastrodia elata Blume, an important traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which causes a reduction in the yield and economic value of G. elata. We employed scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to investigate the morphology and occurrence regularity of egg, larvae, pupae, and adult specimens of C. plagiicollis collected from the G. elata planting base in Guizhou Province, China, with a focus on the ultrastructure of mature larvae. The results revealed one generation of C. plagiicollis per year in the study area and three instar stages of larvae. Mature larvae were identified by the following characteristics: raster without palidia with a large number of hamate setae, antennal apex containing seven sensilla basiconica, larval haptomerum containing eight sensilla styloconica and four enlarged heli, and seven longitudinally arranged stridulatory teeth on the stipes of the maxilla. The combination of scanning electron and light microscopy effectively revealed the difference between membranous and sclerotized structures, ensuring accurate identification of C. plagiicollis larvae. By determining the feeding characteristics and occurrence regularity of C. plagiicollis, this study has implications for improved pest management in G. elata crops. Research Highlights: We identified C. plagiicollis as a new pest of G. elata, a traditional Chinese medicineScanning electron and light microscopy were combined to analyze the morphology of the mature larvae of C. plagiicollis for the first timeWe determined the feeding characteristics and occurrence regularity of C. plagiicollis, which can be used to develop effective pest management strategies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atractothrombium joharchii sp. nov. ectoparasitic on an unknown Tachinidae (Insecta: Diptera) is described from Alborz province, Iran. A re-definition of the genus Atractothrombium is presented. A key to the larval genera of Microtrombidiinae of the world with two median scuta and anterior scutum with longitudinal striations is given. Leg setal formula of two species of Fissitrombium described by Southcott (1994) are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of immature stages of the Lycidae family is currently limited. Only approximately 2% of the described species have documented larvae in different instars and pupae, with a focus mainly on the fauna of the Old World. During fieldwork in Hidalgo, Mexico, we collected adult pairs of Neolycus fernandezi Dugès 1878 and Rhyncheros simulans. We kept the adults in laboratory conditions and obtained the eggs and first instar larvae. The comparison of chaetotaxies between N. fernandezi and R. simulans provides useful characters for differentiating genera. Additionally, the morphological characters of the first larval were compared with those described for Lycostomus ferrugineus Fabricius, 1798, L. formosanus Pic, 1937, as well as Calopteron terminale (Say, 1823). These comparisons revealed differences in the shape of the epicranium, relationship between the length of the maxillary palpomere and mala, prementum division, prosternum amplitude, pronotum shape, and abdominal spiracular plate division. The knowledge of the immature stages of two species within the Lycini tribe is significant since the egg and first instar larval of any American species belonging to this tribe have yet to be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue fever (DF) is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) mosquito, which has the fastest spreading cases. Drug and vaccines are still unavailable, so the government is focusing on mosquito control. One method of biological control is to use betta fish (Betta splendens) as predators of Ae. aegypti larvae. Betta fish have various varieties, which may have different abilities in preying on Ae. aegypti larvae. The study aimed to analyze the potential for controlling Ae. aegypti larvae using three varieties of B. splendens fish (multi-colored plakat koi, xanthic morph plakat, and halfmoon varieties) during the day and evening. The test was carried out by inserting 25 Ae. aegypti larvaes into an aquarium containing B. splendens fish. Testing starts at 12.00 and 15.00 WIB and replicated five times. Observations started from the fish started preying on larvae until the fish ate all larvae. The predation ability of each variety of B. splendens fish based on predation time was analyzed using the one-way ANOVA test and the unpaired data t-test. The analysis showed that the multi-colored koi plakat variety preyed Ae. aegypti larvae faster than the xanthic morph plaque variety (P < 0.05) and not significantly different from the halfmoon variety (P > 0.05). There was no difference in the ability of B. splendens fish to prey larvae during the day and evening (P > 0.05). B. splendens fish, the multi-colored koi plaque variety, and the halfmoon variety can be biological predators of Ae. aegypti larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to assess the impact of oven-drying and decontamination on crude protein concentration and in vitro crude protein digestibility of yellow mealworms. Two kilograms of 12-wk-old mealworm larvae were subjected to freezing prior to the drying process. Approximately 1.5 kg of mealworm larvae were divided into 3 groups and exposed to oven-drying at temperatures of 50 °C for 36 h, 60 °C, and 70 °C for 24 h each. At intervals of 2 h, sets of 3 replicates were withdrawn to record water loss. Consistent weight stabilization was observed at 36 h for 50 °C (T50), 18 h for 60 °C (T60), and 14 h for 70 °C (T70). The remaining 0.5 kg of mealworm larvae was divided and dried under treatments T50, T60, and T70. Each treatment was then split into 2 portions, with one portion subjected to 90 °C for 15 min (denoted as T50-90, T60-90, T70-90) to eliminate microbial contamination. The 6 treatments were then used to determine concentrations of dry matter, crude ash, crude protein, pre-caecal protein digestibility, and dry matter residues after neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin treatments. No interaction was observed between drying and decontamination treatments (P  > 0.17). Pre-caecal crude protein digestibility increased with decreasing temperature (T50: 58% crude protein; T60: 51% crude protein; T70: 50% crude protein). Therefore, lower temperatures for longer times preserve crude protein digestibility. These findings are crucial for understanding how drying temperature and time impact protein bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species formerly known as Scrobipalpa pauperella (Heinemann, 1870) is hereby revised to Scrobipalpa freyii (Scott, 1859). An account is given of the discovery in the British Isles of the larva mining the leaves of Centaurea scabiosa L. (Asteraceae). The larva, pupa, adult and genitalia of both sexes are compared with those of Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Sircom, 1850). Images are provided of both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many animals undergo indirect development, where their embryogenesis produces an intermediate life stage, or larva, that is often free‐living and later metamorphoses into an adult. As their adult counterparts, larvae can have unique and diverse morphologies and occupy various ecological niches. Given their broad phylogenetic distribution, larvae have been central to hypotheses about animal evolution. However, the evolution of these intermediate forms and the developmental mechanisms diversifying animal life cycles are still debated. This review focuses on Spiralia, a large and diverse clade of bilaterally symmetrical animals with a fascinating array of larval forms, most notably the archetypical trochophore larva. We explore how classic research and modern advances have improved our understanding of spiralian larvae, their development, and evolution. Specifically, we examine three morphological features of spiralian larvae: the anterior neural system, the ciliary bands, and the posterior hyposphere. The combination of molecular and developmental evidence with modern high‐throughput techniques, such as comparative genomics, single‐cell transcriptomics, and epigenomics, is a promising strategy that will lead to new testable hypotheses about the mechanisms behind the evolution of larvae and life cycles in Spiralia and animals in general. We predict that the increasing number of available genomes for Spiralia and the optimization of genome‐wide and single‐cell approaches will unlock the study of many emerging spiralian taxa, transforming our views of the evolution of this animal group and their larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic studies of arthropod systematics and biodiversity are hindered by overreliance on 'preferred' semaphoronts, those life stages (typically adult males) that provide the most taxonomically distinctive characters. However, modern sequence‐based methods for inventory have no such limitations and permit incorporation of any and all representatives of a species. Here, we briefly review the growth and potential of these approaches to faunistic and systematic studies and share results from our own recent work that illustrate the value that other morphs, immature stages and females added to these studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Paragus Latreille, 1804 with over 100 species of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) is widely distributed except for Antarctica. The larval biology of these hoverflies is well known since they develop in aphid colonies, which are often of economic importance. However, the immature stages of only 9 of the 27 known larvae of genus Paragus are described. Paragus (Paragus) hyalopteri Marcos-García & Rojo, 1994, is a Palaearctic species described from Spain. Its larva has only been found preying on the aphid Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy, 1762) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on several species of fruit trees and on leaves of Arundo donax L., and Phragmites spp. Here for the first time the full life cycle of a Paragus hoverfly is described including egg, all three larval stages and the puparium. Eggs, larvae and pupae of P. hyalopteri were collected on leaves of Phragmites australis (Cav.) among aphid colonies of H. pruni, and their morphology analyzed and described in detail using stereomicroscope and Scanning Electron Microscope techniques. To facilitate the diagnosis of Paragus larvae, a key to all known larvae of Paragus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Heteropsectropus Kaszab, 1941 (Tenebrionidae: Blaptinae: Platynotini) is revised to include the following three species: H. aenescens Kaszab, 1941 (type species); H. difficilis Koch, 1954; H. longantennatus Koch, 1954. Four synonymies are proposed: H. difficilis (= H. amaroides Koch, 1954 syn. nov., = H. natalensis Koch, 1954 syn. nov., = H. transvaalensis Koch, 1954 syn. nov.) and H. longantennatus Koch, 1954 (= H. montisdraconis Koch, 1954 syn. nov.). A new genus, Muelleropsectropusgen. nov., is introduced to accommodate Schyzoschelus malaisei Koch, 1954. Additionally, the following synonomies are introduced within Schyzoschelus Koch, 1954: Schyzoschelus dumosicola (= Schyzoschelus dumosicola var. diversipenis Koch, 1954 syn. nov.) and Schyzoschelus simplicipes (= Schyzoschelus simplicipes willowmorensis Koch, 1954 syn. nov.). Diagnostic features and relations between the genera of the Schyzoschelus generic group are discussed and an identification key to the genera and the species of Heteropsectropus is provided. Ovovivipary is reported for H. difficilis and represents the 15th known case of this mode of reproduction for darkling beetles. The first description of pupal morphology for the subtribe Eurynotina is provided as well as that of the first- and later instar larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bilaterian animals have evolved complex sensory organs comprised of distinct cell types that function coordinately to sense the environment. Each sensory unit has a defined architecture built from component cell types, including sensory cells, non-sensory support cells, and dedicated sensory neurons. Whether this characteristic cellular composition is present in the sensory organs of non-bilaterian animals is unknown. Here, we interrogate the cell type composition and gene regulatory networks controlling development of the larval apical sensory organ in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Using single cell RNA sequencing and imaging approaches, we reveal two unique cell types in the Nematostella apical sensory organ, GABAergic sensory cells and a putative non-sensory support cell population. Further, we identify the paired-like (PRD) homeodomain gene prd146 as a specific sensory cell marker and show that Prd146+ sensory cells become post-mitotic after gastrulation. Genetic loss of function approaches show that Prd146 is essential for apical sensory organ development. Using a candidate gene knockdown approach, we place prd146 downstream of FGF signaling in the apical sensory organ gene regulatory network. Further, we demonstrate that an aboral FGF activity gradient coordinately regulates the specification of both sensory and support cells. Collectively, these experiments define the genetic basis for apical sensory organ development in a non-bilaterian animal and reveal an unanticipated degree of complexity in a prototypic sensory structure. [Display omitted] • The apical sensory organ of Nematostella planulae consist of two distinct cell types. • Prd146 promotes sensory cell specification but represses support cell specification. • The apical sensory organ is not required for the larval to polyp transition in Nematostella. • An aboral FGF activity gradient coordinately specifies sensory and support cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of ongoing exploration of the mayflies in the hill streams of northeast India, Rhoenanthus (Potamanthindus) sapa Nguyen and Bae 2004 was reported as a new record based on larval collections from Meghalaya, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surfperches (family Embiotocidae) are a unique group of mostly marine fishes whose phylogenetic position within the Ovalentaria clade (Percomorpha) is still unresolved. As a result of their viviparity and lack of a dispersive larval stage, surfperches are an excellent model for the study of speciation, gene flow, and local adaptation in the ocean. They are also the target of an immensely popular recreational fishery. Very few high-quality molecular resources, however, are available for this group and only for a single species. Here, we describe a highly complete reference genome for the kelp surfperch, Brachyistius frenatus, assembled using a combination of short-read (Illumina, ~47× coverage) and long-read (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, ~27× coverage) sequencing. The 596 Mb assembly has a completeness level of 98.1% (BUSCO), a contig N50 of 2.6 Mb (n = 56), and a contig N90 of 406.6 kb (n = 293). Comparative analysis revealed a high level of synteny between B. frenatus and its close relative, Embiotoca jacksoni. This assembly will serve as a valuable molecular resource upon which future evolutionary dynamics research will build, such as the investigation of local adaptation and the genomic potential for climate adaptation in wild populations.