The soybean pod borer, Leguminivora glycinivorella, is a monophagous pest that threatens soybean production. Its larvae feed concealed within pods, which limits the efficacy of conventional insecticides. Elucidating its chemosensory system is therefore essential for developing green, behavior-based management strategies. Reference-based transcriptomics across multiple tissues of L. glycinivorella identified a comprehensive repertoire of chemosensory genes, including 76 odorant receptors (ORs), 15 gustatory receptors (GRs), 18 ionotropic receptors (IRs), 52 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 18 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), and 4 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses characterized these candidates within the context of known insect chemosensory families. Notably, canonical bitter GRs and specific IR lineages (e.g., IR100/IR85a) were not detected in our dataset, potentially reflecting adaptation to the specialized soybean-feeding habit of this pest. Expression profiling further revealed pronounced sexual and tissue dimorphism: male antennae showed significant enrichment of putative pheromone receptors (PRs) and LglySNMP1, whereas several OBPs and ORs exhibited female-biased expression, suggesting roles in host location and oviposition. Additionally, the high expression of GR43a homologs points to fructose sensing, while the lack of detectable CO₂ receptor components (except LglyGR2) suggests atypical carbon dioxide perception mechanisms. Collectively, this study provides a valuable expression atlas of chemosensory genes in L. glycinivorella and identifies sex-specific candidate genes for future functional validation and behavior-based pest management.

In recent years, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and food safety, essential oils (EOs) have gained significant attention as safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives. This study investigated the insecticidal activity of four Lamiaceae EOs (patchouli oil, catnip oil, lavender oil, and mint oil) against Thrips flavus and their effects on crops and weeds. The results show that patchouli oil, catnip oil, and lavender oil exhibited better insecticidal activity, with patchouli oil having the strongest toxicity, with an LC₅₀ value of 0.31 mg/mL. Additionally, catnip oil and lavender oil had significant attractive effects on T. flavus, where lavender oil only had a significant attractive effect on male T. flavus, with an attraction rate of 71.88% (p = 0.03), suggesting that it could be a potential alternative to insect lures. In pot experiments, these EOs demonstrated sustained insecticidal effects and varied impacts on crops. Lavender oil only significantly affected the shoot length of soybeans (Glycine max), while mint oil did not significantly affect the growth of G. max. Finally, we preliminarily analyzed the chemical composition of the EOs to provide insights into their active components. These findings indicate that EOs have potential applications as natural agrochemicals, but further research on their mechanisms and application conditions is required.

Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera, Alydidae) is widely distributed across East Asia, where significant genetic differentiation may occur among geographic populations. To understand the genetic structure, historical dynamics, and formation of geographic distribution patterns in China, we conducted a phylogeographic analysis using three mitochondrial genes (COI, COII, Cytb) from 35 populations. After PCR amplification, we performed genetic diversity analysis, Fst/Nm estimation, phylogenetic reconstruction (ML, BI, NJ), haplotype network, AMOVA, neutrality tests, mismatch distribution, and molecular dating. Results revealed high genetic diversity (Hd > 0.81, π > 0.011), an AT-rich base composition, and faster evolution at the first codon position. Genetic and geographic distances were significantly correlated, with high Fst values indicating strong differentiation, especially between southwestern/southern and other populations. Two main clades were identified: Clade 1 (mainly southern and southwestern China) and Clade 2 (central, northern, northwestern, and northeastern China). A star-like haplotype network and neutrality tests suggested a rapid expansion around 0.019–0.022 Ma (Last Glacial Maximum), and molecular dating estimated the main split at ~0.029 Ma. AMOVA and Gst/Nst confirmed significant phylogeographic structure with most variation among populations. This study provides initial evidence for the genetic differentiation and evolutionary history of R. pedestris in China, demonstrating that its population structure was shaped by climatic changes and geographical isolation, providing key insights into its adaptive evolution and dispersal.

The bean bug Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is a major soybean pest in Asia, increasingly threatened by rising temperatures. It is crucial to clarify the high-temperature lethal thresholds of R. pedestris for predicting population dynamics under climate warming. Previous physiological data showed that female adults have significantly higher heat tolerance than males, with HLT₅₀ values of 39.76 °C versus 38.45 °C and HLT₉₀ values of 42.99 °C versus 42.44 °C. This sex-specific difference suggests distinct molecular responses to thermal stress. To test this hypothesis, we performed transcriptome sequencing of adults exposed to 24 °C (control), 40 °C (sublethal), and 44 °C (lethal), with males and females treated separately. A high-quality assembly yielded 270,199 unigenes, with 71 heat shock protein (HSP) genes identified across six subfamilies (sHSP, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, HSFs). HSPs exhibited a dual strategy: constitutive expression for basal proteostasis and strong induction—especially at 44 °C—for stress defense. Notably, responses were sexually dimorphic: females upregulated multiple stress-responsive HSPs (e.g., RpedHsp15.5-3, RpedHsp30.8) to protect reproduction, while males specifically induced RpedHsp83.6, possibly for signaling regulation. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed conservation within Hemiptera. These findings reveal the molecular basis of thermal adaptation in R. pedestris and identify key HSPs as potential targets for RNAi, HSP inhibitors, or precision thermal control.