Wei Xu

The tomato potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, is an invasive pest in Australia, causing severe economic losses in solanaceous crop production and challenging sustainable pest management. Traditional pesticides (such as Organophosphates, Neonicotinoids groups, etc.), which have been used to manage other pests uses to control B. cockerelli, are increasingly challenged due to environmental risks and growing pest resistance, creating an urgent need for sustainable pest management alternatives. Biological control using resident generalist predators, such as ladybirds, shows promise in addressing these issues. This case study examines the potential of early dietary experience to enhance predator-prey interactions for pest control. Two ladybird species, the nonnative variegated ladybird, Hippodamia variegata, and the native transverse ladybird, Coccinella transversalis, were tested for their response to B. cockerelli after initial exposure. Results demonstrated that prior experience with B. cockerelli as prey increased the ladybirds preference and suppression of B. cockerelli populations. This training approach could improve the effectiveness of augmentative release strategies for targeting invasive pests. Information © The Authors 2025.

Introduction
UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are key Phase II detoxification enzymes in insects, playing a crucial role in resistance to a variety of insecticides, including diamides. Cyantraniliprole (CYA) is a systemic diamide insecticide with high toxicity against Bemisia tabaci, a major global agricultural pest transmitting over 200 plant viruses. While B. tabaci has developed medium-level resistance to CYA, the role of UGTs in this resistance remains poorly understood.

Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the role of UGTs in B. tabaci resistance to CYA and further elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods
Synergism bioassays and enzymatic activity analyses were conducted to assess the contribution of UGTs to CYA resistance. RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR were employed to identify differentially expressed BtUGT genes associated with resistance. The functions of UGTs and the UDP-glucose (UDPG) biosynthesis pathway in CYA resistance were confirmed through RNA interference and transgenic Drosophila melanogaster lines. The metabolites of CYA in the resistant strain were identified using LC-MS/MS. A cross-resistance study to chlorantraniliprole was performed to further confirm the role of UGTs in the diamide resistance of B. tabaci.

Results
Higher expression of UGTs represents a key metabolic resistance mechanism of B. tabaci to CYA. Specifically, overexpression of BtUGT352B2 and BtUGT352F1, along with the UDP-glucose biosynthesis pathway, contributed significantly to resistance. Four glycoside metabolites of CYA were putatively identified in resistant whiteflies. Significant cross-resistance to chlorantraniliprole confirmed that the UGT-mediated metabolism plays a crucial role in anthranilic diamide resistance in B. tabaci.

Conclusion
This research advances our understanding of UGT-mediated insecticide resistance mechanisms and provides valuable insights for the development of more sustainable pest management strategies to combat pesticide resistance.
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Plastic pollution is a pressing global challenge, with current management strategies often falling short regarding environmental impacts. As an alternative to plastic waste management approaches, the Galleria mellonella (Greater wax moth) has emerged as a potential natural agent to reduce plastic waste through its biodegradation. The G. mellonella larvae have a unique ability to consume and biodegrade various polymeric materials, including plastics, making them an eco-friendly solution to plastic waste management. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of G. mellonella larvae in waste bioconversion and future perspectives in plastic waste management. Key challenges of the application of G. mellonella include its use in large-scale waste processing, economic feasibility, and environmental impact. This review highlights the potential of G. mellonella as a sustainable solution for plastic waste management and its possible integration into biorefineries for the production of valuable materials.

Native bee populations are generally in decline, and although their conservation needs are recognised, habitat requirements for the majority of species remain unknown. Many bee species construct nests underground, including the native Australian bee Lasioglossum (Homalictus) dotatum . However, like most ground‐nesting bees, their nesting ecology, particularly their substrate preferences and soil surface requirements, remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, this study examined whether L. dotatum prefers nesting in bare sand or amid rock gravel and whether soil treatment influences nest‐site selection. Experiments were conducted using 24‐L pots of Bassendean sand, placed near active L. dotatum nesting aggregations. Ten pots had a layer of rock gravel, while the remaining 10 were left bare. Within each treatment, half of the pots contained untreated sand, and half contained steam‐treated sand to remove potential contaminants. This design tested whether L. dotatum prefers certain soil conditions and surface features when selecting nest sites. Results showed that female L. dotatum preferentially nest in pots with rock gravel over those with bare sand, suggesting that rock cover may create a more favourable environment by moderating temperature, retaining moisture, or providing structural stability for nest entrances. Additionally, females preferred steam‐treated sand over untreated sand, possibly indicating that factors associated with untreated soil, such as microbial presence or organic residues, may deter nesting. This study advances our understanding of L. dotatum nesting behaviour and provides a framework for creating pollinator‐friendly spaces by identifying key soil and surface features that influence nest‐site selection. However, the mechanisms driving their preference for steam‐treated sand remain unknown, highlighting the need for further research to distinguish the roles of hygiene, soil properties and potential chemical cues in nest‐site selection.

As a native bee species, the eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) plays an essential role in pollinating loquat flowers, which bloom in early winter in China. This pollination behavior is closely related to A. cerana's ability to adapt to low temperatures, which depends on the functionality of its chemoreceptive system. Transcriptome analysis revealed a significant upregulation of the A. cerana chemosensory protein 1 (CSP1) gene at low temperatures. Fluorescence competitive binding experiments indicated that nine chemical volatiles from loquat flowers exhibited a stronger binding affinity to CSP1 than to odorant binding protein 2 (OBP2). Thermodynamic analysis revealed that CSP1's binding affinity increases at low temperatures, with a static binding mechanism largely influenced by the specific volatile molecule rather than the type of olfactory soluble protein. Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that F44 residue may play a key role in CSP1's binding to three primary volatile compounds. In summary, the present study identified a dual sensing mechanism in which low temperatures upregulated the expression of CSP1 and enhanced the binding affinity of CSP1 to loquat flower volatiles. These findings not only clarify A. cerana's chemoreceptive mechanism toward loquat flower volatiles in pollination but also provide a theoretical basis for further exploring ecological adaptations between native bees and early-winter flowering plants.

The tomato potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a significant insect pest of Solanaceae. In early 2017, it was first detected in Perth, Western Australia. The objective of this work was to identify predator species of B. cockerelli occurring in fields of Solanaceae in Western Australia. Predatory insects and arachnids were sampled using sweep netting in some of the major Solanaceae-growing regions in the south-west of Western Australia in 2021 and 2022. Several laboratory feeding trials were conducted to develop PCR primers that could detect the DNA of B. cockerelli in predators that had fed on B. cockerelli rather than on alternative diets. The primers were then used to screen predators collected from the field to identify those that had been feeding on B. cockerelli. In the two years of field sampling, the predators collected represented a broad taxonomic range. The most abundant predator was green lacewing followed by ladybirds. Further, we analysed predators belonging to seven insect taxa (one Neuroptera, two Hemiptera and four Coleoptera) for the presence of B. cockerelli DNA. We found that 45% of the individual insects from all taxa that we caught were positive for B. cockerelli DNA, and Coleopteran predators showed the highest rate of positive results. This is the first report confirming predation on invasive B. cockerelli by the resident predator community in the field in Australia.

The sweet potato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the most devastating pests, inflicting severe damage on a wide range of crops. The tetramic acid insecticides, spirotetramat and spiropidion, act as inhibitors of lipid biosynthesis by targeting acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase), disrupting fatty acid biosynthesis and energy metabolism. In the present study, a total of 47 field populations were collected across China in 2021 and 2022, and their susceptibilities to spirotetramat and spiropidion were determined in the laboratory. The results showed that in contrast to their toxicities against nymphs, spirotetramat and spiropidion exhibited minimal toxicity against B. tabaci adults. B. tabaci nymphs from field populations exhibited susceptibility or low resistance to spirotetramat, with LC50 values ranging from 2.85 to 13.58 mg L−1 and resistance ratio (RR) from 1.7 to 8.2. There was a variation in the sensitivity of B. tabaci field populations towards spiropidion, with LC50 values ranging from 13.12 to 120.13 mg L−1 and RR from 3.5 to 23.4. The baseline susceptibility of B. tabaci nymphs to spiropidion was determined to be 24.06 mg L⁻1, corresponding to the median lethal concentration (LC50) calculated from 43 field populations. Cross-resistance was observed between spirotetramat and spiropidion, as well as between cyantraniliprole and tetramic acid insecticides. However, no significant cross-resistance was found between neonicotinoids and tetramic acid insecticides. Collectively, these findings improve our knowledge on the toxicity of tetramic acid insecticides to B. tabaci populations in China and provide valuable information for their scientific application in the field.
•Spirotetramat and spiropidion exhibited low toxicity against Bemisia tabaci adults.•Field B. tabaci nymphs showed low to medium resistance to spirotetramat and spiropidion.•The baseline susceptibility of B. tabaci nymphs to spiropidion was determined as 24.06 mg L−1.•Cross-resistance between spirotetramat and spiropidion was detected.

Invasive Tephritid fruit flies rank among the most destructive agricultural and horticultural pests worldwide. Heat treatment is commonly employed as a post-harvest method to exterminate fruit flies in fruits or vegetables. These pest species exhibit distinct tolerance to heat treatments, suggesting that the molecular pathways affected by heat may differ among species. In this study, the Queensland fruit fly (Qfly),
, was utilised as a model investigate its molecular response to heat stress through heat bioassays. RNA samples from flies before and after heat treatment were extracted and sequenced to identify genes with significant changes in expression. These findings were compared to another serious Tephritid fruit fly species, the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly),
, under similar heat treatment conditions. The analysis reveals only three common genes: heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), HSP68, and 14-3-3 zeta protein. However, despite these shared genes, their expression patterns differ between Qfly and Medfly. This suggests that these genes might play different roles in the heat responses of each species and could be regulated differently. This study presents the first evidence of differing molecular responses to heat between Qfly and Medfly, potentially linked to their varied origins, habitats, and genetic backgrounds. These findings offer new insights into Tephritid fruit fly responses to heat at the molecular level, which may help refine post-harvest strategies to control these pests in the future.

Unprecedented plastic production has resulted in over six billion tons of harmful waste. Certain insect taxa emerge as potential agents of plastic biodegradation. Through a comprehensive manual and bibliometric literature analysis, this review analyses and consolidates the growing literature related to insect-mediated plastic breakdown. Over 23 insect species, representing Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and 4 other orders, have been identified for their capacity to consume plastic polymers. Natural and synthetic polymers exhibit high-level similarities in molecular structure and properties. Thus, in conjunction with comparative genomics studies, we link plastic-degrading enzymatic capabilities observed in certain insects to the exaptation of endogenous enzymes originally evolved for digesting lignin, cellulose, beeswax, keratin and chitin from their native dietary substrates. Further clarification is necessary to distinguish mineralisation from physicochemical fragmentation and to differentiate microbiome-mediated degradation from direct enzymatic reactions by insects. A bibliometric analysis of the exponentially growing body of literature showed that leading research is emerging from China and the USA. Analogies between natural and synthetic polymer’s degradation pathways will inform engineering robust enzymes for practical plastic bioremediation applications. By aggregating, analysing, and interpreting published insights, this review consolidates our mechanistic understanding of insects as a potential natural solution to the escalating plastic waste crisis.

The tomato potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, is an invasive pest in Australia, which can cause severe economic loss in the production of Solanaceous crops. As an invasive pest, B. cockerelli may also modify biotic interactions in Australian agricultural and native ecosystems. Resident generalist predators in an area may have the ability to utilize invasive pest species as prey but this will depend on their specific predatory behavior. The extent to which generalist predators learn from their previous dietary experience (i.e., whether they have used a particular species as prey before) and how this impacts subsequent prey choice will influence predator and prey population dynamics after invasion. In this study, one nonnative resident ladybird, Hippodamia variegata, and one native ladybird, Coccinella transversalis, were investigated. Dietary experience with B. cockerelli as a prey species significantly increased preference for the psyllid in a short term (6 h) Petri dish study where a choice of prey was given. Greater suppression of B. cockerelli populations by experienced ladybirds was also observed on glasshouse grown tomato plants. This was presumably due to altered prey recognition by experience. The result of this study suggest the potential to improve the impact of biological control agents on invasive pests by providing early life experience consuming the target species. It may prove valuable for developing improved augmentative release strategies for ladybirds to manage specific insect pest species.