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Insect collections offer a unique and practical way to enrich students' education at every level. Collecting insects and identifying specimens provides an active, hands-on activity that connects students to the natural world in a way that lectures alone cannot. With the advancement of technology, non-lethal approaches to traditional museum collections can still provide an experiential learning opportunity without the need for ethical considerations. This review emphasizes the significance of insect exposure in primary school, secondary school, undergraduate instruction, and public outreach settings, utilizing both traditional and contemporary methods. The goal at all levels is to share information about the diversity and uniqueness of insects while reducing the fear and stigma surrounding entomology. While traditional insect collections have justifiable applications, newly developed non-lethal methods are just as valid. Determining the most suitable methods for the target audience is crucial for the future of entomology. This article is part of the 2025 Collaborative Publication Program organized by the Entomological Society of America Student Affairs Committee to address emerging issues in Entomology.

Edible insects are increasingly recognized for their high nutritional value and favorable environmental profile, yet their acceptance (defined as the continuum from willingness to try and purchase to repeated consumption) in Western and globalized food systems remains limited by cultural, sensory, regulatory, and economic barriers. This narrative review critically synthesizes recent advances in understanding the multidimensional determinants of consumer acceptance of insect-based foods and evaluates the technological, cultural, and policy-driven strategies proposed to overcome them, drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from food science, consumer behavior, and sustainability research. Evidence indicates that processing approaches such as protein hydrolysis, extrusion, fermentation, and encapsulation can significantly improve sensory quality, functionality, and product integration into familiar food matrices. In parallel, targeted marketing, consumer education, and transparent regulatory frameworks emerge as essential to building trust and reducing neophobia. This narrative synthesis provides a comprehensive conceptual framework for advancing the mainstream adoption of insect-based foods. The analysis highlights research gaps related to sensory optimization, traceability, sustainability assessment, and cross-cultural consumer studies, offering evidence-based directions to support the development of safe, acceptable, and nutritionally valuable insect-derived products within contemporary food systems.

Sexual dimorphism represents a striking dimension of morphological diversity both within and across taxa. Female-specific wing regression (FSWR) is common in insects, but the mechanisms underlying this regression remain largely unknown. Here we show that FSWR is widespread among Pterygota insects, including cockroaches, where it contributes to ecological adaptation. We reveal that FSWR regulation involves sex-specific isoforms of DSX, a master regulator in the insect sex differentiation pathway, which oppositely regulate the expression of E93, the insect metamorphosis-controlling 'adult factor', during wing development. Mechanistically, DSXF represses, while DSXM activates, E93 expression through binding to DSX-binding motifs in FSWR lineages. This differential binding remodels chromatin accessibility and establishes a male-specific three-dimensional topology, facilitating the formation of an enhancer-promoter loop. Consequently, wing morphogenesis gene expression and wing blade cell type specification are promoted in males but suppressed in females. Taken together, our findings provide mechanistic insights into how the rewiring of two conserved signalling hubs into one axis can create regulatory degrees of freedom, thereby generating novel phenotypic variation able to fuel the exploitation of new ecological niches.

Winter oilseed rape (WOSR, Brassica napus) is a major food, feed and fuel crop that heavily relies on pesticides and fertilisers to obtain maximum yield. We tested the potential of intercropping WOSR with legumes (frost-sensitive spring faba bean, frost-sensitive berseem clover or winter hardy pea) to reduce the abundance of and damage caused by the WOSR insect pest complex, enhance biocontrol and replace synthetic inputs with ecosystem functions. Each intercrop was tested under varying crop management practices (full or reduced fertilizer and pesticide input, WOSR row spacing and sowing time of legume crop relative to WOSR). WOSR - spring faba bean intercropping reduced the abundance of cabbage stem flea beetle larvae on average from 6.87 to 3.48 per plant compared to WOSR sole cropping, but a 10-day sowing delay of the clover or spring faba bean intercrop increased cabbage stem flea beetle larvae per plant from 3.17 to 5.52 compared to when the crops were sown simultaneously. WOSR - spring faba bean intercropping also reduced pollen beetle bud damage by 34% (95% CI: 16%, 48%) compared to WOSR sole cropping. Parasitism rates of pollen beetle and cabbage seed weevil were not affected by intercropping or crop management. WOSR seed yield (kg ha-1) was 35% (95% CI: 13%, 51%) lower in WOSR-spring faba bean intercropping compared to WOSR sole cropping, and 38% (95% CI: 26%, 47%) lower in low input compared to high input systems. Our results confirmed that intercropping WOSR with frost-sensitive legumes can reduce insect pest pressure, but also highlighted a trade-off with WOSR yield and the importance of legume sowing time in relation to WOSR. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Understanding the causes, consequences, and solutions to global pollinator decline will require more extensive and intensive monitoring programs. However, species-level identification remains a major challenge because of the difficulty of scaling manual identification workflows. Participatory science (PS) programs generate millions of pollinator sightings with associated images, but spatial and taxonomic biases along with expert capacity limit their full potential for conservation science. In this paper, I explore how artificial intelligence (AI), particularly computer vision-based detection and classification models, can be integrated with PS to enable scalable, reliable pollinator monitoring, with a focus on bees. Recent advances demonstrate that AI image classifiers can achieve high accuracy across hundreds to thousands of taxa and can be deployed on web, mobile, and edge device platforms. AI has the potential to substantially reduce expert workloads while maintaining reliability when carefully integrated into expert verification pipelines. Such pipelines can include confidence-based filtering based on quality or priority and improved models using contextual Bayesian priors, model calibration, and ensemble approaches. However, uneven training data, observational biases, and limited image availability for rare species constrain model completeness. Addressing these gaps will require targeted image collection, integration of museum and field datasets, and standardized protocols linking AI development with monitoring objectives. Rather than replacing taxonomic expertise, AI should function as a force multiplier that accelerates feedback between data collection, model improvement, and conservation.

Based on the structure of the natural active molecule piperine, a series of novel piperidine-phenylenediamine derivatives were designed and synthesized using a molecular hybridization strategy. The antifeedant activity of all of the compounds against Spodoptera exigua and their cytotoxicity toward Sf9 insect cells were evaluated. The results showed that most of the derivatives exhibited good antifeedant activity, which correlated with their structures. Among them, compound D5 showed the strongest antifeedant activity (EC50=0.184 mg/mL). In the cytotoxicity study, compounds D15 and J1 showed particularly potent antiproliferative effects, with IC50 values of 4.137 µM and 3.726 µM, respectively. Mechanistic studies revealed that both compounds inhibit proliferation by inducing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle, as evidenced by cell morphology observation, fluorescence staining, and flow cytometry analysis. In summary, the present study provides potential candidates for the development of new environmentally friendly insecticides based on the combination principle.

Defensive symbioses in which beneficial microbes protect hosts from natural enemies are ubiquitous across animals and plants, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Field surveys and laboratory assays revealed that infection of the invasive whitefly Bemisia tabaci by the bacterial symbiont Rickettsia and plant begomovirus were positively correlated with each other but each negatively correlated with a parasitic fungal infection (Beauveria bassiana) in the host. We show that begomovirus conferred whitefly's resistance to the parasitic fungus by triggering the expression of chitin synthesis pathway genes in whiteflies, reinforcing the cuticle by promoting chitin production. The facultative symbiont Rickettsia facilitated cuticle formation and thereby induced physical defense against entomopathogenic fungus via metabolic cooperation with the obligate symbiont Portiera for the synthesis of phenylalanine and tyrosine in whiteflies, which is used to generate cuticular proteins and pigments. Mutation of chitinase and protease genes in B. bassiana impaired fungal infection of whiteflies. Inhibiting whitefly cuticle formation by repressing chitin and phenylalanine synthesis facilitated fungal infection. Thus, begomovirus and Rickettsia have convergent effects on cuticle defense in whiteflies by impacting distinct molecular pathways. Such defensive symbioses apparently contribute to B. tabaci fitness in the field and our findings reveal that interactions among the host, beneficial microbes, and pathogens have important implications for insect ecology and evolution. This study suggests avenues for pest management by leveraging defensive microbes and targeting the host cuticle.

The exponential rise in resistance to conventional chemical pesticides is a major motivator for the creation of novel insecticidal activity. To get over this barrier, it is essential to look for novel insecticidal chemical types with unique modes of action. Several new imidazole compounds with a carboxylic acid were created, manufactured, and examined for their insecticidal and acaricidal effects in an effort to find new agrochemicals with noteworthy pesticidal qualities. p-toluenesulfonic acid was utilized as a catalytic compound in a one-pot, four-component reaction involving diphenylethane-1,2-dione, phenylethylamine, aromatic carbaldehydes, and NH4Ac to effectively synthesize polysubstituted imidazole derivatives 5-11 under microwave irradiation (200 W, 100 °C) for 5-7 min. The structure of all the designed materials was recognized via elemental and spectral (1H NMR and 13C NMR) analyses. The insecticidal efficiency of the imidazoles obtained was evaluated against Aphis gossypii. All tested compounds exhibited insecticidal activity with varied LC50 values. The derivative 8 showed the highest insecticidal activity, closest to that of imidacloprid, followed by 5, across both nymph and adult stages. Additionally, a biochemical study was conducted to scrutinize the effects of the three most active imidazoles, 5, 6 and 8, on the total protein, total lipid, amylase, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), acid and alkaline phosphatase of the insect. The data of the contemporaneous study indicate that the tested imidazoles have strong potential for presence in integrated pest management programs targeting A. gossypii. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

The enteric bacteriome of Anopheles mosquito vectors has been linked with vectorial competence; however, its influence on insecticide resistance is poorly understood. We found that antibiotic treatment-administered either through sugar feeding (penicillin/streptomycin and gentamicin) or via a blood meal (amoxicillin)-which depleted the bacterial microbiome in susceptible Anopheles strains, led to greater than 50% insecticide deltamethrin tolerance compared to untreated mosquitoes. Simultaneous inhibition of cytochrome P450 activity reverted the antibiotic-induced tolerance phenotype, indicating that the antibiotic-induced deltamethrin tolerance is P450-dependent. We found that the antibiotic treatment, while suppressing most enteric bacterial taxa, allowed proliferation of a particular antibiotic-tolerant Aeromonas taxon, most closely related to Aeromonas hydrophila. Increasing the abundance of this taxon in mosquitoes not treated with antibiotics phenocopied the tolerance phenotype, converting deltamethrin-susceptible Anopheles mosquitoes to deltamethrin-tolerant mosquitoes. Collectively, these results highlight a mechanistic interplay in Anopheles mosquitoes between antibiotic-induced enteric dysbiosis and cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification that promotes insecticide tolerance. This effect could influence mosquito vectorial capacity, especially in Africa, where antibiotic self-medication is highly prevalent.IMPORTANCEOur findings highlight an unexpected link between antibiotic use and the effectiveness of mosquito control strategies. It shows that disrupting the natural gut bacteria of malaria-carrying mosquitoes can make them significantly more tolerant to insecticides commonly used in public health programs. This occurs because antibiotic treatment alters the microbial balance, allowing certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria to thrive and enhance the mosquito's internal detoxification systems. As a result, mosquitoes that would normally be killed can survive exposure. These findings are important because they suggest that widespread antibiotic use-especially in regions heavily affected by malaria-could unintentionally reduce the impact of insecticide-based interventions such as bed nets and indoor spraying. This adds a new layer of complexity to vector control efforts and highlights the need to consider microbial and environmental factors alongside traditional approaches. Understanding this interaction could help improve strategies to combat insecticide resistance and better control mosquito-borne diseases.

In this work, a new concept called the vector dissipation of randomness (VDR) is developed and formalized. It describes the mechanism by which complex multicomponent systems transition from chaos to order through the filtering of random directions, accumulation of information in the environment, and self-organization of agents. VDR explains how individual random strategies can evolve into collective goal-directed behavior, leading to the emergence of an ordered structure without centralized control. In this framework, paraintelligence is defined as a functional, nonreflexive mode of collective cognition in which a decentralized system produces rational-like outcomes without an individual conscious subject. To test the proposed model, a numerical simulation of the "ant-beetle" system was conducted, in which agents (ants) randomly choose movement directions, but through feedback mechanisms and weak strategies, they form a single coordinated vector of the beetle's movement. VDR is a universal mechanism applicable to a wide range of self-organizing systems, including biological populations, decentralized technological networks, sociological processes, and artificial intelligence algorithms.

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Blastoderm formation represents a key transition from a syncytial to a cellular embryo and provides the basis for subsequent embryonic patterning in insects. In most insect models, this transition occurs through synchronous cellularization, producing a uniform blastoderm that is patterned only afterward. Whether this sequence represents a common developmental principle across insects remains unclear. Here, we show that in the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus, cellularization proceeds progressively rather than synchronously and establishes spatially differentiated blastoderm domains. Cellularization initiates at the anterior and progresses posteriorly, while a second front from the posterior advances in the opposite direction. These opposing fronts converge at the site where the germline capsule subsequently forms. At the same time, a regionalized blastoderm rather than a uniform blastoderm is established. The extraembryonic tissues amnion, serosa, and trophocytes emerge along progressive cellularization through coordinated morphogenetic dynamics and exhibit a distinct mode of organization. Our data present a revised understanding of cellularization of blastoderm in insects and broaden the comparative framework of embryogenesis described in model organisms.

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (BMSB), is an invasive polyphagous pest causing major losses in fruit and field crops in Europe and the Americas. With insecticide options increasingly limited by resistance and regulatory restrictions, RNA interference (RNAi) offers a species-specific alternative. As RNAi is fully functional in BMSB following hemolymph injection, we evaluated neuronal and neuron-associated genes as systemic RNAi targets using dsRNA microinjection. A literature screen of >80 insect RNAi targets identified 12 neuronal/synaptic genes, from which five were selected in BMSB: acetylcholinesterase (HhAChE), alpha-soluble NSF attachment protein (HhAsnap), Shaker (HhSh), tyrosine hydroxylase (HhTh) and Ras opposite protein (HhRop). Previously published transcriptomic data showed HhAChE, HhSh and HhTh were enriched in brain/central nervous system, whereas HhAsnap and HhRop were broadly expressed at higher abundance. Adults injected with dsRNA (334-364&#x2009;bp; 2&#x2009;&#x3bc;L, 1000&#x2009;ng/&#x3bc;L) targeting HhAsnap or HhRop showed strong mortality: 96.8% (30/31) and 100% (34/34) by Day (D)13, respectively (log-rank, P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). By contrast, there was no significant difference between insects injected with dsRNA targeting HhAche, HhSh and HhTh and the negative controls. Feeding assays showed >60% reductions in salivary sheath formation from D4 to D8 after dsAsnap or dsRop treatment. Quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR at 72&#x2009;h confirmed ~58% knockdown of HhRop, whereas HhAChE and HhAsnap showed no significant whole-body depletion. Broadly and highly expressed targets (HhAsnap, HhRop) were associated with strong mortality and feeding suppression, whereas brain-enriched targets did not. Expression breadth and transcript abundance appear critical for RNAi responsiveness in BMSB, identifying HhAsnap and HhRop as promising candidates for oral or spray-based RNAi control. &#xa9; 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, SLF) poses a significant threat to U.S. agriculture, particularly vineyards, hops, and ornamental plants. Early detection of SLF egg masses is critical for limiting spread, yet current strategies are constrained by the availability of trained personnel and are extremely time-consuming. Detection dogs have shown strong potential for locating SLF egg masses with high accuracy, and training can be completed using devitalized samples, eliminating the risk of accidental release of this invasive insect. In a prior study, we demonstrated that participatory science teams, volunteer handlers with scent detection experience, could successfully train their companion dogs to detect devitalized SLF egg masses. This follow-up study evaluated whether selected teams from the original cohorts could perform under more complex, operationally relevant conditions. Specifically, we assessed detection accuracy and field performance across two experimental settings: (1) a range of detection (RoD) tests to estimate reliable detection distance, and (2) a naturalistic field search in previously unsurveyed areas with unknown target presence, allowing comparison with human surveyors. In the RoD trials, dogs demonstrated the highest sensitivity (0.52) at 0-5 m, declining to 0.06 at 10-15 m, with overall precision ranging from 0.61 to 0.92 across distance bands where detections occurred. Several dogs also successfully generalized from devitalized training aids to naturally occurring, previously undetected SLF egg masses. In naturalistic searches, canine teams located more confirmed SLF egg mass sites than trained human searchers, highlighting their ability to detect cryptic targets under real-world conditions. Although not all canine alerts could be confirmed, the results indicate that trained community detection teams can effectively complement or enhance traditional survey methods. Overall, these findings support the operational feasibility of participatory science detection teams for SLF surveillance. Despite range limitations, trained community dog-handler teams can successfully detect SLF egg masses and, in some cases, outperform human searchers, offering a scalable, biosecure, and cost-effective approach to invasive species detection.

Anthropocene is not only seeing a massive decline in insect species, but also documenting an unprecedented increase in the use of pesticides globally. While the impact of pesticides has been examined in some non-target insects like honeybees, very few investigations have targeted ants. This review consolidates information on the impact of anthropogenic pesticide exposure on ant colony dynamics, fecundity, and survival. While a couple of studies showcased ants' resilience upon exposure to pesticides, majority reported negative impacts. Insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides caused behavioural impairment and negatively impacted foraging, and fecundity, when exposed through direct or indirect routes. Individual behaviours as well as social interactions at intraspecific and interspecific levels were disrupted. Furthermore, combinatorial effects of pesticides together with pathogens exhibited negative outcomes for ants. We conclude that future research that adopt an integrative behavioural-ecotoxicological framework emphasizing field relevant dosage and exposure routes is required particularly in Asia and Africa to understand the full effects on non-target ants.

Insectivorous bats are increasingly recognised for their role in suppressing agricultural pests. To better understand the value of their ecosystem services, it is pertinent to assess their predation quantitatively. In this context, studying frequent anthropophilic bats that form large colonies is particularly interesting, as the ecosystem services they provide are more substantial. Building on this motivation, we analysed the diet of six horseshoe bat colonies-three Rhinolophus hipposideros and three R. ferrumequinum-across different landscapes within their optimal distribution area, focusing on their consumption of those pests. We found that these bats consistently consumed a variety of pests, with consumption correlating with outbreaks of the pest species. Some of these species were previously unknown in the area or were not fought against by farmers. This underscores the value of bats as sensitive trackers of current and emerging insect communities and potential pests, as they can detect and consume species that may go unnoticed or unmonitored by conventional human surveys. Additionally, we estimated the overall pest consumption by these bat species in the study area and assessed consumption at the colony level. Our estimates indicate that pest consumption during the breeding season totalled nearly 3 tons of insects. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining favourable habitats for common bats as they can play a vital role in controlling and mitigating ecosystem imbalances caused by changes in farming practices, landscape disturbances, or climate change.

The extensive use of pesticides poses a significant threat to sericulture, yet effective control strategies are still limited. Trehalose, the primary sugar in insect hemolymph, is a key player in abiotic stress responses and its metabolism is regulated by trehalase. Despite this, the role of the Bombyx mori trehalase 2 (BmTreh2) in the response to the pyrethroid insecticide remains unexplored. In this study, comparative analysis revealed significant differences in BmTreh2 expression among silkworm (Bombyx mori) strains with varying resistance levels to fenpropathrin, suggesting a potential role of this gene in fenpropathrin resistance. At the cellular level, overexpression of BmTreh2 increased tolerance to fenpropathrin, whereas RNAi-mediated knockdown of BmTreh2 decreased cell viability under fenpropathrin exposure. These results demonstrate that BmTreh2 plays a critical role in mediating fenpropathrin resistance. Furthermore, correlation analysis between BmTreh2 and key energy metabolism-related genes, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), revealed a significant positive correlation with MDH and IDH expression, and a negative correlation with LDH and ALT. This study elucidates key molecular mechanisms underlying silkworm resistance to fenpropathrin, establishing a theoretical framework for molecular breeding of resistant silkworm strains and informing integrated pest management strategies.

Continental shelf islands in Southeast Asia remain poorly studied with respect to insect diversity and evolutionary history. Here, we provide an integrative assessment of species diversity, DNA barcode variation, diversification dynamics, and historical biogeography of leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Cat Ba Island, northern Vietnam. Based on field surveys, 36 morphospecies operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 30 genera and five subfamilies were documented, with Galerucinae representing the most species-rich lineage. DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial COI gene generated 31 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), most of which represent new records in the Barcode of Life Data System, highlighting substantial undocumented genetic diversity. COI-based analyses were further used to explore broad temporal and evolutionary patterns. Within this exploratory framework, divergence-time estimation under a relaxed molecular clock suggests that major lineages may have originated during the early-middle Miocene, predating the formation of the present-day island. Diversification analyses support relatively constant rates through time with low inferred extinction, consistent with expectations for continental shelf island systems shaped by repeated connectivity and isolation. Model-based biogeographic analyses indicate predominantly localized ancestral ranges, with Cat Ba Island and adjacent mainland regions playing recurrent roles in the assembly of the fauna. Together, these results provide baseline taxonomic and genetic data for a poorly known insular insect assemblage while offering a preliminary evolutionary context that should be interpreted with caution and that can serve as a foundation for future biodiversity monitoring and comparative studies in dynamic island-mainland systems.

Hemipteran insects harbour several symbiotic partners, mainly bacteria, which play pivotal roles for hosts like dietary provision, support overall physiology, xenobiotic degradation and manipulate/regulate behaviour. Most of these symbionts usually reside and operate from the digestive tracts of the animals. Cotton is one of the major cash crops in India and Dysdercus cingulatus (D. cingulatus) though a secondary pest, is causing significant destruction of cotton bolls, poor lint quality and reduce oil content of seeds. Premature opening of cotton bolls often leads to bacterial and fungal infections, thus resulting in extensive economic loss worldwide. D. cingulatus is a hemimetabolous insect that comprises of developmental stages like egg, nymph (5 instar stages), and adult. The present work explored the ontogeny specific diversity in the associated microbiota and predicted their probable functional inputs in D. cingulatus. The data obtained using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (NovaSeq 6000) revealed presence of members of Proteobacteria (65.83%), Firmicutes (24%), Actinobacteria (10%) phyla throughout the ontogeny of D. cingulatus. Highest alpha diversity of these symbiotic bacteria was recorded in the third instar nymphs in contrast to rest of the developmental stages. Among all the observed genera, Stenotrophomonas, Hungatella and Glutamicibacter were predominant from egg to adult stages. MicFunPred, a tool used for predicting the probable functional inputs of these symbionts, hinted at their probable stage specific contribution in crucial biochemical pathways such as polyketide biosynthesis, ascorbate/aldarate metabolism, pentose phosphate and glyoxylate cycles, steroid hormone and peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and glycolysis/pyruvate metabolism. The primary investigations on the ontogenetic composition and diversity of associated microbiota, suggest dynamic shifts in D. cingulatus, concurrent with their probable functions/roles in the host development and metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on symbiotic microbiota variation across the developmental stages of D. cingulatus that provides preliminary descriptive observations that may guide future functional and experimental investigations into microbiota-based pest management.