This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Spinetoram (SPI) on the midgut of Apis cerana cerana Fabricius pupae, emphasizing detoxifying enzyme activity, gene expression, and morphological alterations. Pupae were subjected to SPI at LC₂₀ and LC₅₀ concentrations, and the midgut was evaluated using morphological assessment, detoxifying enzyme assays, and transcriptome analysis utilizing gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment. Transcriptome analysis revealed 32 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were common to both the LC₂₀ vs. control (CK) and LC₅₀ vs. CK comparisons, along with 24 DEGs unique to the LC₂₀ vs. CK comparison and 76 DEGs unique to the LC₅₀ vs. CK comparison. KEGG pathway analysis indicated the substantial enrichment of pathways associated with drug metabolism, xenobiotic metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, implying disruptions in detoxification mechanisms and broader metabolic imbalances resulting from SPI exposure. Morphological analysis showed a normal midgut structure in the control group, while significant damage was observed in the LC₂₀ group, and severe degeneration was observed in the LC₅₀ group. Detoxification enzyme assays revealed that the activities of cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, and carboxylesterase significantly increased at LC₂₀ (p < 0.05), indicating an initial induction of detoxification responses; however, they declined at LC₅₀, suggesting enzyme inhibition or midgut damage. The activity of acetylcholinesterase markedly diminished at both LC₂₀ and LC₅₀ (p < 0.05), with a more substantial decline observed at LC₅₀, suggesting possible neurotoxicity. These findings indicate that SPI exposure causes substantial alterations in midgut morphology, detoxifying enzyme activity, and gene expression in Apis cerana cerana Fabricius pupae, underscoring the insecticide’s detrimental impact on honey bee health.

Fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) has now spread to more than 26 Chinese provinces. The government is working with farmers and researchers to find ways to prevent and control this pest. The use of biochar is one of the economic and environmentally friendly strategies to increase plant growth and improve pest resistance. We tested four v/v combinations of bamboo charcoal with coconut bran [BC1 (10:1), BC2(30:1), BC3(50:1)] against a control (CK) in maize. We found that plant height, stem thickness, fresh weight and chlorophyll content were significantly higher in BC2, in addition to the lowest FAW survival %. We then compared the metabolome and transcriptome profiles of BC2 and CK maize plants under FAW herbivory. Our results show that the levels of flavonoids, amino acids and derivatives, nucleotides and derivatives and most phenolic acids decreased, while terpenoids, organic acids, lipids and defense-related hormones increased in BC-grown maize leaves. Transcriptome sequencing revealed consistent expression profiles of genes enriched in these pathways. We also observed the increased expression of genes related to abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, auxin and MAPK signaling. Based on these observations, we discussed the possible pathways involved in maize against FAW herbivory. We conclude that bamboo charcoal induces anti-herbivory responses in maize leaves.

The greater wax moth (GWM, Galleria mellonella) is a prevalent pest of the honeybee and a significant risk to both honeybee populations and honeycomb storage. Research on the toxicity of essential oils (EOs) to GWM larvae has provided promising results, although their ovicidal effects and active ingredients require further study. Identifying effective plant compounds is essential for developing insecticides for GWM control. This study assessed the fumigation efficacy of 16 EOs on GWM eggs and fifth instar larvae and determined the effectiveness of these EOs and their primary components for fumigating fifth larvae. Wintergreen, star anise, and clove oils demonstrated significant insecticidal effects on GWM eggs and fifth instar larvae, resulting in a mortality rate exceeding 80% within 48 h. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis identified methyl salicylate (93.26%), trans-anethole (87.75%), and eugenol (77.75%) as the primary compounds in wintergreen, star anise, and clove oils, respectively. Further toxicity testing confirmed that these compounds were responsible for the observed insecticidal properties of the EOs. Notably, trans-anethole exhibited the lowest LC₅₀ value (25.22 μL/L) against the fifth instar larvae of GWM and significant toxicity against GWM eggs and fifth instar larvae, suggesting its potential as a viable option for the future control of GWM populations.