Recent studies have highlighted great challenges of transgene silencing for transgenic plants facing climate change. In order to understand the impacts of elevated CO₂ on exogenous Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins and transgene expression in transgenic rice under different levels of N-fertilizer supply, we investigated the biomass, exogenous Bt toxins, Bt-transgene expression and methylation status in Bt rice exposed to two levels of CO₂ concentrations and nitrogen (N) supply (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 and 2 N). It is elucidated that the increased levels of global atmospheric CO₂ concentration will trigger up-regulation of Bt toxin expression in transgenic rice, especially with appropriate increase of N fertilizer supply, while, to some extent, the exogenous Bt-transgene expression is reduced at sub-N levels (1/4 and 1/2N), even though the total protein of plant tissues is reduced and the plant growth is restricted. The unpredictable and stochastic occurrence of transgene silencing and epigenetic alternations remains unresolved for most transgenic plants. It is expected that N fertilization supply may promote the expression of transgenic Bt toxin in transgenic Bt rice, particularly under elevated CO₂.

Extreme high-temperature events are the key factor to determine population dynamics of the rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée), in summer. Although we know that adult of this insect can migrate to avoid heat stress, the behavioral response of larva to high temperature is still unclear. Therefore, impacts of high temperature on behavioral traits of C. medinalis including host choice, settling and folding leaf were observed. The results revealed that these behavioral traits were clearly influenced by high temperature. The larvae preferred maize leaves rather than rice and wheat at normal temperature of 27°C, but larvae experienced a higher temperature of 37 or 40°C for 4 h preferred rice leaves rather than maize and wheat. Capacity of young larvae to find host leaves or settle on the upper surface of leaves significantly reduced when they were treated by high temperature. High temperature of 40°C reduced the leaf-folding capacity of the third instar larvae, but no effects were observed on the fourth and fifth instar larvae. Short-term heat acclimation could not improve the capacity of the third instar larvae to make leaf fold under 40°C.

Six genera and nine species of Eumeninae (Eumenes punctatus de Saussure, E. papillarius (Christ), Delta dimidiatipenne (de Saussure), D. p. pyriforme (Fabricius), D. esuriens (Fabricius), Rhynchium brunneum (Fabricius), Anterhynchium abdominale (Illiger), Antepipona sibilans (Cameron), Allorhynchium argentatum (Fabricius)) , two genera and six species of Polistinae (Polistes wattii (Cameron), P. olivaceus (De Geer), P. rothneyi carletoni van der Vecht, P. indicus Stolfa), Ropalidia brevita Das & Gupta, R. cyathiformis (Fabricius), and one genus and four species of Vespinae (Vespa basalis Smith, V, orientalis Linnaeus, V, tropica (Linnaeus), V. velutina Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau) are recorded from Pothwar region. Eumenes punctatus and E. papillarius are newly recorded from Pakistan. An illustrated keys to subfamilies, genera and species are given.

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration is likely to influence insect–plant interactions. Aphid, as a typical phloem-feeding herbivorous insect, has shown consistently more positive responses in fitness to elevated CO₂ concentrations than those seen in leaf-chewing insects. But, little is known about the mechanism of this performance. In this study, the foliar soluble constituents of cotton and the life history of the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii and its mean relative growth rate (MRGR) and feeding behavior were measured, as well as the relative transcript levels of target genes related appetite, salivary proteins, molting hormone (MH), and juvenile hormone, to investigate the fitness of A. gossypii in response to elevated CO₂ (800 ppm vs. 400 ppm). The results indicated that elevated CO₂ significantly stimulated the increase in concentrations of soluble proteins in the leaf and sucrose in seedlings. Significant increases in adult longevity, lifespan, fecundity, and MRGR of A. gossypii were found under elevated CO₂ in contrast to ambient CO₂. Furthermore, the feeding behavior of A. gossypii was significantly affected by elevated CO₂, including significant shortening of the time of stylet penetration to phloem position and significant decrease in the mean frequency of xylem phase. It is presumed that the fitness of A. gossypii can be enhanced, resulting from the increases in nutrient sources and potential increase in the duration of phloem ingestion under elevated CO₂ in contrast to ambient CO₂. In addition, the qPCR results also demonstrated that the genes related to appetite and salivary proteins were significantly upregulated, whereas, the genes related to MH were significantly downregulated under elevated CO₂ in contrast to ambient CO₂, this is in accordance with the performance of A. gossypii in response to elevated CO₂. In conclusion, rise in atmospheric CO₂ concentration can enhance the fitness of A. gossypii by increasing their ingestion of higher quantity and higher quality of host plant tissues and by simultaneously upregulating the transcript expression of the genes related to appetite and salivary proteins, and then this may increase the control risk of A. gossypii under conditions of climate change in the future.