Life tables are indispensable in IPM, offering an analysis of insect population dynamics. These tables record survival rates, fecundity, and other parameters at various developmental stages, enabling the identification of key factors that affect population numbers and the prediction of growth trajectories. This review discusses the application of life tables in agricultural pest management, including the assessment of the pest control capacity of natural enemies, the evaluation of biological agents, and the screening of insect-resistant plant species. In vector insect control, life tables are used to evaluate the transmission risks, model the population dynamics, and interfere with the life cycles of vector insects. For invasive pests, life tables help us to monitor population dynamics and predict future population sizes. In chemical pest control, life tables assist in evaluating the fitness costs of pesticide resistance, guiding insecticide selection, and optimizing application timing. In the final section, we explore future research directions, emphasizing the potential of integrating new technologies such as genomics, ethology, and satellite remote sensing to enhance life table analysis and improve IPM strategies.

With the application and development of high-throughput sequencing technology, the structure and function of insect gut microbiota have been analysed, which lays a foundation for further exploring the intricate relationships between gut microbiota and host feeding behaviour. The microbial community in the insect gut, as an important ecological factor, affects the host’s food selection and nutritional metabolic processes through various mechanisms, which play a key role in population dynamics and ecosystems. The implications of these interactions are profound, affecting agricultural practices, biodiversity, and the broader environment, such as pollination and pest control. In-depth exploration of the molecular mechanism of the interaction between gut microbiota and hosts contributes to the grasp of insect biology and evolution and offers novel avenues for manipulating insect behaviour for practical applications in agriculture and environmental management. This paper focuses on the possible mechanisms of insect gut microbiota regulating host feeding behaviour. It inspires further research on the interaction between gut microbiota and insects affecting host behaviour.

In China, Phortica okadai is the only established vector for Thelazia callipaeda and transmits infective larvae to various animals feeding on ocular secretions. Insect opsins are key components of the visual system and play essential roles in host location. However, the opsin repertoire and phylogenetic relationships in P. okadai remain unknown. Here, we identified five opsin genes from adult P. okadai genomic data and profiled their expression across developmental stages and tissues by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that four opsin genes (PoRh1, PoRh3, PoRh5, and PoRh6) were predominantly expressed in adult compound eyes and peaked during the adult stage, suggesting important roles in vision-dependent behaviors of adult P. okadai. These findings provide a foundation for elucidating the visual mechanisms and host-seeking behavior of P. okadai.

Phortica okadai, a vector of Thelazia callipaeda, is associated with an increasing incidence of thelaziasis. The complex habitat and chemosensory system of P. okadai are critical for its proliferation and expansion. However, ultrastructural data across developmental stages remain limited. This study used scanning electron microscopy to examine the ultrastructure of P. okadai developmental stages, with a focus on head sensilla. The results showed that the eggs of P. okadai are dark brown and cylindro-oval. The larvae are vermiform, divided into 11 segments. The pupae are marked by a conspicuous respiratory tubercle, and the posterior spiracle contains three distinct spiracular slits. Among five types of sensilla (trichoid, intermediate, chaetica, coeloconic, and basiconic), coeloconic, intermediate, and trichoid sensilla were predominantly found on the antennae, while basiconic and chaetica sensilla were distributed on both the antennae and the maxillary palps of P. okadai. The analysis revealed that the absence of dorsal appendages on the eggs distinguishes P. okadai from D. melanogaster. Males have longer antennae and exhibit sexual dimorphism in the length of sensilla (ChII, TB, and LB). This study provides the first comprehensive ultrastructural characterization of P. okadai developmental stages and head sensilla, laying a foundation for species identification and olfactory system research.