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PubMed2000

Field evaluation of soybean engineered with a synthetic cry1Ac transgene for resistance to corn earworm, soybean looper, velvetbean caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and lesser cornstalk borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

A transgenic line of the soybean 'Jack', Glycine max (L.) Merrill, expressing a synthetic cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki (Jack-Bt), was evaluated for resistance to four lepidopteran pests in the field. Jack-Bt and genotypes serving as susceptible and resistant controls were planted in field cages and artificially infested with larvae of corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner), in 1996, 1997, and 1998, and also with soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), in 1996. Susceptible controls included Jack (1996-1998), 'Cobb' (1996), and Jack-HPH (1996). GatIR 81-296 was used as the resistant control in all 3 yr. Compared with untransformed Jack, Jack-Bt showed three to five times less defoliation from corn earworm and eight to nine times less damage from velvetbean caterpillar. Defoliation of GatIR 81-296 was intermediate between that of Jack and Jack-Bt for corn earworm, and similar to that of Jack for velveltbean caterpillar. Jack-Bt exhibited significant, but lower resistance to soybean looper. Jack-Bt also showed four times greater resistance than Jack to natural infestations of lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller), in conventional field plots at two locations in 1998. Data from these experiments suggest that expression of this cry1Ac construct in soybean should provide adequate levels of resistance to several lepidopteran pests under field conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Rapid antibody-based field test to distinguish between Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Helicoverpa punctigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) are the two most important insect pests of cotton production in Australia and require application of insecticides to control them. H. armigera has developed resistance to several insecticides but H. punctigera has not. Cost-effective management of insecticide resistance requires that growers be able to determine the proportion of H. armigera eggs or young larvae present on their crop before applying insecticides. This is impossible visually. We generated two monoclonal antibodies that reacted with the insect protein "lipophorin" and were capable of discriminating individuals of the two species at all life-stages. The antibodies were incorporated into a rapid test kit that was tested under field conditions over two growing seasons. Results obtained with the kit agreed closely with those obtained by rearing larvae through to second instar.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Field efficacy of sweet corn hybrids expressing a Bacillus thuringiensis toxin for management of Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Field studies were done in 1995-1996 to assess the efficacy of three sweet corn hybrids that express the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, CrylAb, against two lepidopteran pests, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). The Bt hybrids tested were developed by Novartis Seeds, using the event BT-11, which expresses Bt toxin in green tissue as well as reproductive tissues including the tassel, silk, and kernel. Bt hybrids were compared with a standard non-Bt control or the non-Bt isoline for each hybrid; none of the hybrids were treated with insecticides during the study. Hybrid efficacy was based on larval control of each pest, as well as plant or ear damage associated with each pest. In both years, control of O. nubilalis larvae in primary ears of all Bt hybrids was 99-100% compared with the appropriate non-Bt check. Plant damage was also significantly reduced in all Bt hybrids. In 1996, control of H. zea in Bt hybrids ranged from 85 to 88% when compared with the appropriate non-Bt control. In 1996, a University of Minnesota experimental non-Bt hybrid (MN2 x MN3) performed as well as the Bt hybrids for control of O. nubilalis. Also, in 1996, two additional University of Minnesota experimental non-Bt hybrids (A684su X MN94 and MN2 X MN3) performed as well as Bt hybrids for percent marketable ears (ears with no damage or larvae). In addition, compared with the non-Bt hybrids, percent marketable ears were significantly higher for all Bt hybrids and in most cases ranged from 98 to 100%. By comparison, percent marketable ears for the non-Bt hybrids averaged 45.5 and 37.4% in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Results from the 2-yr study strongly suggest that Bt sweet corn hybrids will provide high levels of larval control for growers in both fresh and processing markets. Specifically, Bt sweet corn hybrids, in the absence of conventional insecticide use, provided excellent control of O. nubilalis, and very good control of H. zea. However, depending on location of specific production regions, and the associated insect pests of sweet corn in each area, some insecticide applications may still be necessary.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Correlating differences in larval survival and development of bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to differential expression of Cry1A(c) delta-endotoxin in various plant parts among commercial cultivars of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis cotton.

Differences in larval survival and development of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), respectively, were found to exist among commercially available Cry1A(c) transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) varieties. Using a quantification assay (ELISA) to measure the levels of delta-endotoxin in two of these varieties ('DP 451B/RR' and 'NuCOTN 33B'), differences in the amount of delta-endotoxin present in various plant parts was correlated with larval survival of bollworms and larval development of fall armyworms throughout the growing season. Larvae that were fed on DP 451B/RR completed development faster and exhibited better survivorship than those larvae fed NuCOTN 33B, whereas lower levels of delta-endotoxin were generally detected in plant parts from DP 451B/RR compared with NuCOTN 33B. These differences may impact population dynamics of these pests which may be a critical factor in managing resistance to Bt. Furthermore, the utility of using this system for providing information to the grower concerning varietal choices may be more common in the future.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Life history attributes of Indian meal moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Angoumois grain moth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) reared on transgenic corn kernels.

The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), and Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier), are two globally distributed stored-grain pests. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the impact that corn (Zea mays L.) kernels (i.e., grain) of some Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) corn hybrids containing CrylAb Bt delta-endotoxin have on life history attributes of Indian meal moth and Angoumois grain moth. Stored grain is at risk to damage from Indian meal moth and Angoumois grain moth; therefore, Bt corn may provide a means of protecting this commodity from damage. Thus, the objective of this research was to quantify the effects of transgenic corn seed containing CrylAb delta-endotoxin on Indian meal moth and Angoumois grain moth survival, fecundity, and duration of development. Experiments with Bt grain, non-Bt isolines, and non-Bt grain were conducted in environmental chambers at 27 +/- 1 degrees C and > or = 60% RH in continuous dark. Fifty eggs were placed in ventilated pint jars containing 170 g of cracked or whole corn for the Indian meal moth and Angoumois grain moth, respectively. Emergence and fecundity were observed for 5 wk. Emergence and fecundity of Indian meal moth and emergence of Angoumois grain moth were significantly lower for individuals reared on P33V08 and N6800Bt, MON 810 and Bt-11 transformed hybrids, respectively, than on their non-Bt transformed isolines. Longer developmental times were observed for Indian meal moth reared on P33V08 and N6800Bt than their non-Bt-transformed isolines. These results indicate that MON 810 and Bt-11 CrylAb delta-endotoxin-containing kernels reduce laboratory populations of Indian meal moth and Angoumois grain moth. Thus, storing Bt-transformed grain is a management tactic that warrants bin scale testing and may effectively reduce Indian meal moth and Angoumois grain moth populations in grain without application of synthetic chemicals or pesticides.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Incidence and control of dogwood borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) and American plum borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infesting burrknots on clonal apple rootstocks in New York.

Surveys were conducted in the major apple growing regions of New York state to determine the incidence of borers infesting burrknots on clonal apple rootstocks. Dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris), was generally prevalent throughout the state, but American plum borer, Euzophera semifuneralis (Walker), was limited to western New York apple orchards near infested stone fruit trees. Insecticides evaluated in the field for efficacy against both borers were chlorpyrifos, endosulfan, indoxacarb plus oil, methoxyfenozide, fenpropathrin, and kaolin clay. Also, white latex paint was tested alone and mixed with chlorpyrifos. One application of chlorpyrifos applied at the petal fall developmental stage was equivalent to chlorpyrifos applied at petal fall and again in mid-July, and it provided season-long control of dogwood borer and American plum borer. One application of chlorpyrifos applied any time between the half-inch green developmental stage and petal fall, or after harvest the previous season, controlled both overwintered and summer brood larvae of dogwood borer. Multiple applications of fenpropathrin, indoxacarb plus oil, and endosulfan applied during the dogwood borer flight period controlled the summer brood.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Phylogenetic branching of Trichoptera and Lepidoptera: an ultrastructural analysis on comparative spermatology.

The divergence during the evolution of the sister orders of Trichoptera (caddisflies) and Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) from their common ancestors is still subject to disagreement. This is partially due to lack of clarity concerning the phylogenetic position of Zeugloptera which is considered to be either a very primitive suborder of Lepidoptera or an order of its own, more archaic than both Trichoptera and Lepidoptera. The ultrastructural analysis on comparative spermatology reported here shows that dichotomous spermatogenesis producing concomitant, normal, anucleate (apyrene) and nucleate (eupyrene) spermatozoa: (1) is generalized in Lepidoptera as it occurs, in addition to higher Lepidoptera, also in the primitive Hepialoidea, (2) is present in Zeugloptera, and (3) is absent from Trichoptera which produce only nucleate spermatozoa. It is concluded that dichotomous spermatogenesis is an evolutionary novelty of Lepidoptera (including Zeugloptera) that was established at the origin of the order, after the divergence of Trichoptera and Lepidoptera.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Sex chromatin in lepidoptera.

Like mammals, Lepidoptera possess female-specific sex chromatin. In a compilation of new and published data, 81% of the 238 investigated Lepidoptera species display one or more heterochromatin bodies in female somatic interphase cells, but not in male cells. In contrast with the similar phenomenon in mammals, this sex-specific heterochromatin does not function as a dosage compensation mechanism. Most Lepidoptera have a WZ/ZZ sex chromosome mechanism, and the sex chromatin is derived from the univalent W sex chromosome. Sex chromatin is regarded as an indicator of an advanced stage of W chromosome evolution. In species with a Z/ZZ sex chromosome mechanism, loss of the W chromosome is accompanied by loss of the female-specific heterochromatin. Since sex chromatin can be discerned easily in interphase nuclei, and especially so in the highly polyploid somatic cells, it is a useful marker for diagnosing chromosomal sex of embryos and larvae, and of identifying sex chromosome aberrations in mutagenesis screens. All species with sex chromatin belong to the Ditrysia, the main clade of Lepidoptera that contains more than 98% of all extant species. Sex chromatin has not been reported for clades that branched off earlier. The nonditrysian clades share this character with Trichoptera, a sister group of the Lepidoptera. We propose that Lepidoptera originally had a Z/ZZ sex chromosome mechanism like Trichoptera; the WZ/ZZ sex chromosome mechanism evolved later in the ditrysian branch of Lepidoptera. Secondary losses of the W chromosome account for the sporadically occurring Z/ZZ sex chromosome systems in ditrysian families. The lepidopteran sex chromatin, therefore, appears to mirror the full evolutionary life cycle of a univalent sex chromosome from its birth through heterochromatinization to sporadic loss.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Responses of nontarget Lepidoptera to Foray 48B Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Impacts of a gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) eradication program on native, nontarget Lepidoptera were assessed in 1999, on southeastern Vancouver Island (BC, Canada). The microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) was applied aerially over two areas totalling 12,805 ha on May 8, May 19, and June 8, 1999, at a dosage of 50 billion international units in 4.0 L/ha. Lepidoptera were collected from two host plant species: Garry oak (Quercus garryana) and common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus). Lepidopteran larvae were collected from common snowberry foliage at 24 urban parks and from Garry oak foliage at 28 oak-dominated habitats, representing 12 and 14 replicates, respectively, of two treatments: unsprayed (reference) and sprayed (treatment). Prespray data were collected from March 25 to May 6 for S. albus, and from April 26 to May 6 for Q. garryana. Postspray data were collected from May 10 through June 15 for S. albus and from May 10 to July 6 for Q. garryana. The 15 most abundant lepidopteran species were analyzed statistically. However, the majority of species were collected infrequently, and, therefore were pooled for statistical analysis. After the Btk spray applications, 11 of the individual species and groups of uncommon species were found to be significantly less abundant in the treatment sites than in the reference sites. The effects of sample date were statistically significant on almost all groups of Lepidoptera analyzed, both before and after Btk spray applications, indicating temporal variation in lepidopteran abundance. Significant variation in diversity of members of the Lepidoptera, as a result of Btk spray application, was not detected on S. albus or Q. garryana. However, results showed significant variation in lepidoptera richness and abundance on both host plant species.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Are bark beetle outbreaks less synchronous than forest Lepidoptera outbreaks?

Comparisons of intraspecific spatial synchrony across multiple epidemic insect species can be useful for generating hypotheses about major determinants of population patterns at larger scales. The present study compares patterns of spatial synchrony in outbreaks of six epidemic bark beetle species in North America and Europe. Spatial synchrony among populations of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle Ips typographus was significantly higher than for the other bark beetle species. The spatial synchrony observed in epidemic bark beetles was also compared with previously published patterns of synchrony in outbreaks of defoliating forest Lepidoptera, revealing a marked difference between these two major insect groups. The bark beetles exhibited a generally lower degree of spatial synchrony than the Lepidoptera, possibly because bark beetles are synchronized by different weather variables that are acting on a smaller scale than those affecting the Lepidoptera, or because inherent differences in their dynamics leads to more cyclic oscillations and more synchronous spatial dynamics in the Lepidoptera.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Sequence evolution in mitochondrial ribosomal and ND-1 genes in lepidoptera: implications for phylogenetic analyses.

A 2,256-bp sequence of the mitochondrial genome of a lepidopteran (Spodoptera frugiperda) contains tRNAs for valine and leucine, the 16S rRNA, and three-quarters of the ND-1 presumptive protein-coding gene. A 64-bp stretch of unknown function was located between the rRNA and leucine tRNA. Sequence divergence in the 16S rRNA obtained from alignment with published insect sequences is consistent with phylogenetic hypotheses, in that Diptera and Lepidoptera are more closely related to each other (24% sequence divergence) than either is to Hymenoptera (31%). Within the ND-1 gene, sequences for four additional Lepidoptera were generated for a 314-bp region and contrasted with published sequences for the locust and Drosophila. Sequence divergence in this region was consistent with accepted phylogenetic relationships, but results of parsimony analyses were not. Cladograms consistently recovered accepted higher level relationships (monophyly of Lepidoptera), despite high homoplasy, but were unable to resolve superfamily and family relationships within Lepidoptera, regardless of the outgroup or character subset analyzed. Character analysis indicated that homoplasy was decreased at higher levels when first- and second-codon sites were used exclusively. At the lowest level (families), resolution was enhanced by inclusion of third-codon sites. Inability of molecular data to recover a well-established phylogeny may be rectified by additional characters or taxa, but it is clear that homoplasy is sufficiently high to caution against the acceptance of relationships generated with this molecular region that are not extremely robust.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Distribution of gamma-tubulin differs in primary and secondary oocytes of Ephestia kuehniella (Pyralidae, Lepidoptera).

In a previous study, barrel-shaped spindles were found in metaphase I oocytes of Ephestia kuehniella (Pyralidae, Lepidoptera). Aster microtubules (MTs) were missing (Wolf, 1993: Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 24:200-204). This points to an acentriolar organization of the spindle apparatus. The present study was aimed at the question of whether gamma-tubulin, a newly detected member of the tubulin superfamily that has often been identified in microtubule-organizing centers, plays a role in the nucleation of MTs in meiotic spindles of the moth. To this end, the distribution of gamma-tubulin was examined in oocytes of E. kuehniella using an antibody against gamma-tubulin in combination with indirect immunofluorescence. The antibody evenly decorated spindle MTs in metaphase I oocytes of the moth. Enhanced staining of the spindle poles was not detectable. In subsequent stages of meiosis, gamma-tubulin was gradually lost from spindle MTs and was then found at the surface of the so-called elimination chromatin. Female meiosis in Lepidoptera is achiasmatic. The elimination chromatin, i.e., modified and persisting synaptonemal complexes, is believed to keep homologous chromosomes linked until the onset of anaphase I. In meiosis I of female Lepidoptera, the elimination chromatin persists at the spindle equator between the segregating chromatin masses. It is plausible to assume that gamma-tubulin is involved in spindle organization in the absence of canonical centrosomes. In MTs of metaphase II spindles of E. kuehniella, gamma-tubulin was no longer detectable with our immunological approach. This points to a far-reaching change in spindle organization during transition from meiosis I to meiosis II.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Two delta-endotoxin genes, cry9Da and a novel related gene, commonly occurring in Lepidoptera-specific Bacillus thuringiensis Japanese isolates that produce spherical parasporal inclusions.

Six Lepidoptera-specific Bacillus thuringiensis isolates, which belong to the four H serovars (sotto, fukuokaensis, canadensis, and galleriae) and produce spherical parasporal inclusions, were examined for assignment of the classes of the delta-endotoxin genes. Gene analysis was conducted by PCR technique with primers designed to probe the genes cry9Ca and cry9Da. The data revealed that the delta-endotoxin of a serovar canadensis isolate is encoded by the gene cry9Da, while those of the five other strains are encoded by an undescribed delta-endotoxin gene. DNA fragments from five strains had an identical 1917-bp nucleotide sequence, covering the four conserved regions and a partial sequence of the block 5 region. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited a 70.6% homology to that of the corresponding region of the Cry9Ea delta-endotoxin protein which is active on the order Lepidoptera, and a 63.1% homology to the Cry9Ca protein highly toxic to the noctuid lepidopterans. The results showed that Japanese isolates of B. thuringiensis producing spherical parasporal inclusions with Lepidoptera-specific activity are categorized into two groups: one produces the class Cry9Da protein and the other a novel delta-endotoxin allied to the class Cry9. It also appeared that heterogeneous multiple H serovars are involved in each group.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Spherical parasporal inclusions of the lepidoptera-specific and coleoptera-specific Bacillus thuringiensis strains: a comparative electron microscopic study.

Four Lepidoptera-specific Bacillus thuringiensis strains that belong to the four H serogroups (serovars sumiyoshiensis, fukuokaensis, darmstadiensis, and japonensis) and a Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae)-specific strain belonging to serovar japonensis were examined for comparative ultrastructure of spherical parasporal inclusions. The prominent feature of the inclusions of the Lepidoptera-specific strains was the existence of thick, highly electron-dense envelopes surrounding a homogeneous protein matrix. The envelopes were 15.0-66.7 nm thick and consisted of 5-12 layers of membrane. This is also the case with inclusions of a Coleoptera-specific strain. The ultrastructure of inclusions from the five strains was in marked contrast to that of the bipyramidal parasporal inclusions produced by a Lepidoptera-specific serovar sotto strain.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The mitochondrial genome of the smaller tea tortrix Adoxophyes honmai (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

Almost complete mitochondrial genome from a representative of an insect order Lepidoptera, the smaller tea tortrix Adoxophyes honmai was determined. The 15,680 bp long A. honmai genome encodes 13 putative proteins, two ribosomal RNAs and 22 tRNAs. The nucleotide sequences of A. honmai mitochondrial DNA have been compared with those of five species from the Lepidoptera and insects in the other orders that are available in the databases. The orientation and gene order of A. honmai is almost same to that of other insects with a few minor exceptions in the order of tRNAs and distribution of non-coding regions. Nucleotide composition, amino acid composition and codon usage are in the range of values estimated from other insect mitogenomes. In AT rich region of A. honmai, tandem reiterations are observed with repeats of TAA. In a preliminary phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated 7 protein coding genes, A. honmai, an apoditrysian tortricid moth joined basally within the monophyly of Lepidoptera, supporting its relationship with other more derived species including obtectomeran Ostrinia species.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Venomous Lepidoptera: defensive toxin systems, venom composition, and clinical significance.

Venomous Lepidoptera constitute an underrecognized yet medically significant group of toxin-producing arthropods that employ contact-mediated defensive envenomation through specialized integumentary structures such as setae, spines, and scoli. Unlike actively stinging arthropods, these insects deliver venom passively upon contact, eliciting a diverse spectrum of clinical manifestations collectively termed lepidopterism. Clinical outcomes range from localized pain and dermatitis to severe systemic effects, including hemorrhagic syndromes, complement activation, and chronic inflammatory disorders. Recent advances in proteomic and transcriptomic technologies have transformed our understanding of lepidopteran venoms, revealing unexpectedly complex toxin repertoires comprising serine proteases, phospholipases, pore-forming proteins, disulfide-rich peptides, neuroactive RF-amide peptides, and immune-modulating components. These findings have provided new insights into the molecular basis of toxicity, host-pathogen interactions, and the evolutionary diversification of venom systems within Lepidoptera. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the morphology of venom-delivery structures, venom composition, mechanisms of action, and associated clinical manifestations, while highlighting medically important taxa, particularly species of the genus Lonomia. The successful development of antivenom against Lonomia envenomation underscores the translational relevance of lepidopteran toxin research and its potential for therapeutic innovation. By integrating molecular, clinical, and evolutionary perspectives, this review repositions venomous Lepidoptera as a legitimate and important component of arthropod toxinology. Furthermore, it identifies critical methodological limitations and key knowledge gaps, providing a framework for future investigations aimed at advancing our understanding of toxin biology, immunopathology, and the development of novel biomedical applications.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Broad patterns of speciation are correlated with the evolution of new silk proteins in spiders but not in the lepidoptera.

Silk synthesis is an ancestral character of both the Lepidoptera and the Araneae. Araneae evolution is marked by an increased commitment to a silk-producing physiology. At least three major Araneae speciation events are correlated with the evolution of new silk-producing glands and new silk proteins. In contrast, although 98% of the Lepidoptera produce silk, there appears to be no relationship between silk use, protein types, and species numbers. The differences in these two systems, both meeting a need to produce a large volume of protein, may reflect predictable resource availability to herbivorous Lepidoptera larvae but fluctuating resource availability to carnivorous spiders.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Patterns of postzygotic isolation in Lepidoptera.

I present patterns characterizing the evolution of intrinsic postzygotic isolation in Lepidoptera by analyzing data from the literature on genetic distance, strength of hybrid sterility and inviability, biogeography, and natural hybridization. Using genetic distance as a proxy for time, I investigate the time-course of the evolution of postzygotic isolation and the waiting times to particular hybrid fitness problems. The results show that postzygotic isolation increases gradually as species diverge, but that hybrid sterility evolves faster than hybrid inviability. The overwhelming preponderance of female-specific hybrid problems in Lepidoptera shows that Haldane's rule (the preferential sterility or inviability of the heterogametic sex) is well obeyed. Together the rates and patterns characterizing the accumulation of postzygotic isolation allow several tests of the composite theory of Haldane's rule. Interestingly, comparing these data with those from Drosophila reveals that Haldane's rule for sterility evolves as fast (if not faster) in Lepidoptera. Finally, I show that a substantial fraction of sympatric species hybridizes in nature and that the majority of these suffer some level of hybrid sterility or inviability.

Animals↗