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13 pages, 1978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Insulin Receptor on Juvenile Hormone Signal and Fecundity in Spodoptera litura (F.)

by Xue Pan, Yanfang Pei, Cuici Zhang, Yaling Huang, Ling Chen, Liqiong Wei, Chuanren Li, Xiaolin Dong and Xiang Chen

Insects 2022, 13(8), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13080701 - 4 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2434

Abstract

Insulin signaling can regulate various physiological functions, such as energy metabolism and reproduction and so on, in many insects, including mosquito and locust. However, the molecular mechanism of this physiological process remains elusive. The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura, is one of the [...] Read more.

Insulin signaling can regulate various physiological functions, such as energy metabolism and reproduction and so on, in many insects, including mosquito and locust. However, the molecular mechanism of this physiological process remains elusive. The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura, is one of the most important pests of agricultural crops around the world. In this study, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (SlPI3K), protein kinase B (SlAKT), target of rapamycin (SlTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (SlS6K) and transcription factor cAMP-response element binding protein (SlCREB) genes, except transcription factor forkhead box class O (SlFoxO), can be activated by bovine insulin injection. Then, we studied the influence of the insulin receptor gene (SlInR) on the reproduction of S. litura using RNA interference technology. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that SlInR was most abundant in the head. The SlPI3K, SlAKT, SlTOR, SlS6K and SlCREB genes were decreased, except SlFoxO, after the SlInR gene knockdown. Further studies revealed that the expression of vitellogenin mRNA and protein, Methoprene-tolerant gene (SlMet), could be down-regulated by the injection of dsRNA of SlInR significantly. Furthermore, a depletion in the insulin receptor by RNAi significantly decreased the content of juvenile hormone III (JH-III), total proteins and triacylgycerol. These changes indicated that a lack of SlInR could impair ovarian development and decrease fecundity in S. litura. Our studies contribute to a comprehensive insight into reproduction, regulated by insulin and the juvenile hormone signaling pathway through nutrition, and a provide theoretical basis for the reproduction process in pest insects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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17 pages, 1904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Particularities of the Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Ovipositing Behavior: Practical Applications

by Georgescu Bogdan, Struți Dănuț Ioan, Șuteu Mihai, Moldovan Lavinia Elena, Moldovan Dorin Vasile and Boaru Anca Mihaela

Insects 2022, 13(7), 611; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13070611 - 7 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

The industrial rearing of Hermetia illucens offers sustainable solutions to the acute challenges of modern society associated with the accumulation of increasing amounts of organic waste, the substantial reduction of natural ocean fish stocks, and the imminent food crisis. Detailed knowledge of the [...] Read more.

The industrial rearing of Hermetia illucens offers sustainable solutions to the acute challenges of modern society associated with the accumulation of increasing amounts of organic waste, the substantial reduction of natural ocean fish stocks, and the imminent food crisis. Detailed knowledge of the reproductive particularities and reproductive behavior of the species is essential for increasing the efficiency of the breeding technology. This study aimed to identify the affinity shown by females regarding the size of the oviposition slots (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mm), the vertical distribution of the ovipositing rate, and the influence of the substrate’s moisture on ovipositing behavior (dry matter/water: 1:0.5; 1:1; 1:1.5; 1:2). Over 90% of females oviposited in the 1-, 2- and 3-mm slots, with most of the eggs (58.57%) being oviposited in the 1-mm slots. There was a positive correlation between the size of the oviposition slots and the average weight of the clutches (r = 0.985). The vertical distribution of ovipositing followed a fluctuating trend, with a tendency to oviposit closer to the attractive substrate. The females avoided ovipositing close to substrates with low humidity (1:0.5); indeed, only 6.8% oviposited under these conditions, the differences being significant compared to substrates with higher humidity (p < 0.001). The vast majority of females (43.2%) oviposited on substrates with an average humidity of 1:1 (p < 0.001). These results provide new insights into the ovipositing behavior of H. illucens, which allow for a differentiated harvest of large-sized clutches, providing practical applications with significant impact on the economic efficiency of the species’ industrial growth technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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18 pages, 2593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Larval Diet on the Male Reproductive Traits in the West Indian Sweet Potato Weevils Euscepes postfasciatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

by Chihiro Himuro, Kinjo Misa, Atsushi Honma, Yusuke Ikegawa, Tsuyoshi Ohishi and Norikuni Kumano

Insects 2022, 13(4), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040389 - 14 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2496

Abstract

Larval diet significantly affects adult traits, although less is known about how they affect reproductive traits. Males of West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus deliver a remating inhibitor along with sperm to their mates during mating, leading to a refractory period (the [...] Read more.

Larval diet significantly affects adult traits, although less is known about how they affect reproductive traits. Males of West Indian sweet potato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus deliver a remating inhibitor along with sperm to their mates during mating, leading to a refractory period (the period before females mate again). Crossing experiments were conducted using lines reared on artificial diets, including sweet potato powder (AD) or sweet potato tubers (SP) during the larval stage, and the refractory period was examined. We also examined whether the larval diet qualitatively or quantitatively altered male ejaculate. The results showed that the refractory period was significantly longer in the SP treatment than in the AD treatment for males and females. There was no significant difference in ejaculate volume. However, the number of sperm in the testes-seminal vesicles complex was significantly higher in the SP treatment. Additionally, SDS-PAGE revealed that the ejaculate was qualitatively different depending on the larval diet, and one protein of approximately 15 kDa in size was expressed only in the SP treatments. Revealing how larval diet affects reproductive traits in adult males will help shed light on the diverse evolution of insect mating systems and reproductive behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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11 pages, 2210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Elevated CO₂ on the Fitness of Three Successive Generations of Lipaphis erysimi

by Xue-Mei Li, Mu-Hua Zhao, Feng Huang, Fang-Ge Shang, Yun-Hui Zhang, Cheng-Min Liu, Shuai-Jie He and Gang Wu

Insects 2022, 13(4), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13040333 - 29 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

To assess the effect of elevated CO₂ on the development, fecundity, and population dynamic parameters of L. erysimi, the age-stage, two-sex life table was used to predict the individual fitness and population parameters of three successive generations of L. erysimi in [...] Read more.

To assess the effect of elevated CO₂ on the development, fecundity, and population dynamic parameters of L. erysimi, the age-stage, two-sex life table was used to predict the individual fitness and population parameters of three successive generations of L. erysimi in this study. The results show that a significantly longer total pre-adult stage before oviposition (TPOP) was observed in the third generation compared with the first generation of L. erysimi under the 800 μL/L CO₂ treatment. The fecundity is significantly lower in the 800 μL/L CO₂ treatment than that in the 400 μL/L CO₂ treatment in the third generation of L. erysimi, which indicates that elevated CO₂ had a negative effect on the individual fitness parameters of L. erysimi. Additionally, the life expectancy (e_xj) is significantly lower under the 800 μL/L CO₂ treatment than that under the 400 μL/L CO₂ treatment in the three successive generations. A significantly higher intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) were found in the second generation compared with those in the first and third generations of L. erysimi under the 800 μL/L CO₂ treatment. Moreover, significantly lower r and λ were observed under the 800 μL/L CO₂ treatment compared with those under the 400 μL/L and 600 μL/L CO₂ treatments in the first generation of L. erysimi, which indicates that elevated CO₂ has a short-term effect on the population parameters (r and λ) of L. erysimi. Our experiment can provide the data for the comprehensive prevention and control of L. erysimi in the future with increasing CO₂ levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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8 pages, 1411 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Effect of Resistance to Bt Corn on the Reproductive Output of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

by Natália de Souza Ribas, Jeremy N. McNeil, Hernane Dias Araújo, Bruna de Souza Ribas and Eraldo Lima

Insects 2022, 13(2), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13020196 - 14 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3139

Abstract

The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda is the most significant lepidopteran corn pest in South American countries. Transgenic Bt corn, producing the Cry1Fa toxins, has been used to control this pest, but there is clear evidence that some FAW populations have developed resistance. [...] Read more.

The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda is the most significant lepidopteran corn pest in South American countries. Transgenic Bt corn, producing the Cry1Fa toxins, has been used to control this pest, but there is clear evidence that some FAW populations have developed resistance. To determine if there are costs associated with resistance, we compared the mass of adults, the duration of mating, and the mass of the first spermatophore produced, as well as the lifetime fecundity and fertility of once-mated susceptible (SS) and resistant (RR) females. Adult mass was affected by both sex and strain, with SS females being significantly larger than RR ones, while the inverse was true for males. RR pairs took significantly longer to mate than SS pairs, yet the mass of spermatophores produced by RR males was significantly less than those of SS males. The total number of eggs laid did not differ but the fertility of eggs from once-mated RR pairs was significantly lower than that of SS pairs. Our data provided clear evidence that the development of Bt resistance affected the reproductive capacity of resistant FAW. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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16 pages, 2495 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Long Non-Coding RNA Bmdsx-AS1 Effects on Male External Genital Development in Silkworm

by Kai-Xuan Wang, Chun-Bing Chen, Qiu-Xing Wan and Xing-Fu Zha

Insects 2022, 13(2), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13020188 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2522

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play important roles in some biological processes. However, the detailed mechanisms are not fully understood. We previously identified an antisense lncRNA, Bmdsx-AS1, that is involved in pre-mRNA splicing of the sex-determining gene Bmdsx in [...] Read more.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play important roles in some biological processes. However, the detailed mechanisms are not fully understood. We previously identified an antisense lncRNA, Bmdsx-AS1, that is involved in pre-mRNA splicing of the sex-determining gene Bmdsx in the silkworm. In this study, we analyzed the changes in the male external genitalia of transgenic overexpressed Bmdsx-AS1 silkworm lines and analyzed downstream and upstream responses. We found that Bmdsx-AS1 transgenic silkworms, compared with wild type, showed more claspers in the male external genitalia. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) results indicated that overexpression of Bmdsx-AS1 decreased the expression of genes in the EGFR signaling pathway. Knockdown of Bmdsx-AS1 increased the activity of the EGFR pathway. Through promoter prediction, promoter truncation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) analyses, we found that the protein encoded by the Hox gene BmAbd-B specifically binds to the promoter of Bmdsx-AS1. Moreover, overexpression of BmAbd-B in the silkworm BmE cell line indicated that BmAbd-B negatively regulates the mRNA expression of Bmdsx-AS1. Our study provides insights into the regulatory mechanism of the lncRNA in the silkworm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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14 pages, 6583 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comprehensive Method for the Evaluation of Hermetia illucens Egg Quality Parameters: Implications and Influence Factors

by Georgescu Bogdan, Dănuț Ioan Struți, Nicușor Flavius Sima, Tudor Andrei Păpuc and Boaru Anca Mihaela

Insects 2022, 13(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010017 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3327

Abstract

The significant momentum received by Hermetia illucens as a worldwide species is due to its biological traits and large applicability in scientific research, environmental entomoremediation, insect meal production, and for biodiesel yield. The aim of this research is to develop a method for [...] Read more.

The significant momentum received by Hermetia illucens as a worldwide species is due to its biological traits and large applicability in scientific research, environmental entomoremediation, insect meal production, and for biodiesel yield. The aim of this research is to develop a method for the preparation and precise egg counting of the H. illucens egg clutch, as well as an accurate technique for evaluating egg biometric parameters. The precise proposed method for egg preparation and counting consists in dispersing the eggs clutch under a stereo microscope and counting the eggs on a photographic capture using the Clickmaster software. Five solution types were used to disperse the egg clutches: glycerin 50%, ethanol 70%, ethanol 80%, physiological serum 0.9% and purified water. The efficiency of the estimation method for eggs number evaluation was also tested by using the estimated egg weight as a conversion factor. The biometric parameters of single eggs (length and width) were determined using the free Toupview software. The precise method of egg preparation and counting allows for the registration of the eggs number manually identified by the operator. The appropriate dispersion solutions were glycerin 50% and ethanol 70%. The method has an error of 1.4 eggs for each 500 counted eggs, thus an accuracy of over 99.4%. The eggs number estimation method is not applicable without significant errors, the accuracy being less than 32%, due to egg heterogeneity in the clutch. Biometric parameters (length and width) are positively correlated with egg weight (r = 0.759) and with the number of eggs in the clutch (r = 0.645). In conclusion, the results clearly suggest the method of egg preparation and precise counting for an accurate evaluation of quality parameters of the H. illucens clutches, as well as the technique for evaluating egg biometric parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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13 pages, 1631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polyandrous Mexican Fruit Flies: Second Male Paternity and Biological Attributes of Transgenic Strains

by Betzabé Verónica-Murrieta, José Salvador Meza, Martha L. Baena, Gerardo Alvarado-Castillo and Diana Pérez-Staples

Insects 2022, 13(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010005 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2813

Abstract

Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a damaging agricultural pest. Currently, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is used as part of its control. The SIT consists of the mass-rearing, sterilization, and release of insects in target areas. Sterile males mate with wild females, and [...] Read more.

Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a damaging agricultural pest. Currently, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is used as part of its control. The SIT consists of the mass-rearing, sterilization, and release of insects in target areas. Sterile males mate with wild females, and prevent them from laying fertile eggs. However, even if females mate with sterile males, they can then remate with a second male. If this second male is wild, then this could reduce the efficiency of the SIT by producing viable offspring. The amount of progeny produced by second males (P2 values) for A. ludens is unknown. Here, we evaluated the biological attributes, mating competitiveness, and the proportion of male paternity gained by the second male, using strains that carry fluorescent marker genes and can be potentially used to develop transgenic sexing strains. Furthermore, the transgenic strains were irradiated, to test their ability to induce sterility in females. We found that the 443-G strain had significantly higher larval survival than the 419-R strain. No significant difference was found between the two strains in their mating probability with wild females. We found P2 values between 67 and 74% for the 419-R and the 443-G strain, respectively. Second male sperm precedence only decreased slightly after 12 days, suggesting that sperm from the first and second male is not mixing with time, but rather the second male’s sperm prevails. Furthermore, sterile 443-G males induced significantly higher sterility in females than sterile males from the 419-R strain. The apparent lower ability of the 443-G strain to inhibit female remating should be further investigated. Knowledge of the pre and postcopulatory performance of transgenic strains will help in understanding their potential for control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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18 pages, 4565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Characterization of MicroRNAs in Gonads of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

by Leyao Li, Shan Wang, Kaiyuan Huang, Yuting Zhang, Yalu Li, Min Zhang, Jinyong Huang, Zhongyuan Deng, Xinzhi Ni and Xianchun Li

Insects 2021, 12(8), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12080749 - 19 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3531

Abstract

The high fecundity of the most destructive pest Helicoverpa armigera and its great resistance risk to insecticides and Bt crops make the reproductive-destruction-based control of this pest extremely appealing. To find suitable targets for disruption of its reproduction, we observed the testis and [...] Read more.

The high fecundity of the most destructive pest Helicoverpa armigera and its great resistance risk to insecticides and Bt crops make the reproductive-destruction-based control of this pest extremely appealing. To find suitable targets for disruption of its reproduction, we observed the testis and ovary development of H. armigera and conducted deep sequencing of the ovary and testis small RNAs of H. armigera and quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) validation to identify reproduction-related micro RNAs (miRNAs). A total of 7,592,150 and 8,815,237 clean reads were obtained from the testis and ovary tissue, respectively. After further analysis, we obtained 173 novel and 74 known miRNAs from the two libraries. Among the 74 known miRNAs, 60 miRNAs existed in the ovary and 72 existed in the testis. Further RT-qPCR validation of 5 miRNAs from the ovary and 6 miRNAs from the testis confirmed 8 of them were indeed ovary- (miR-989a, miR-263-5p, miR-34) or testis-biased (miR-2763, miR-998, miR-2c, miR-2765, miR-252a-5p). The 8 ovary- or testis-biased miRNAs had a total of 30,172 putative non-redundant target transcripts, as predicted by miRanda and RNAhybrid. Many of these target transcripts are assigned to reproduction-related GO terms (e.g., oocyte maturation, vitellogenesis, spermatogenesis) and are members of multiple reproduction-related KEGG pathways, such as the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, the insulin signaling pathway, and insect hormone biosynthesis. These results suggest that the 8 gonad-biased miRNAs play important roles in reproduction and may be used as the targets for the development of reproductive-destruction-based control of H. armigera and, possibly, other lepidopteran pests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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9 pages, 1816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Duration of Exposure to Males on Female Reproductive Performance of the Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla agilis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

by Konstantinos Athanasiadis, Maria L. Pappas and George D. Broufas

Insects 2021, 12(6), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12060560 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2426

Abstract

Chrysoperla agilis Henry et al. is one of the five cryptic species of the carnea group found in Europe. They are known to widely occur in agricultural fields and survive and reproduce in a wide range of temperatures. The reproductive biology of the [...] Read more.

Chrysoperla agilis Henry et al. is one of the five cryptic species of the carnea group found in Europe. They are known to widely occur in agricultural fields and survive and reproduce in a wide range of temperatures. The reproductive biology of the cryptic species is poorly known, especially regarding the number of matings required for the females’ maximum reproductive output. We recorded the egg production and longevity of virgin females, as well as of females that had access to males for 1 week or for their lifetime. Longevity of C. agilis females with access to males was similar whether these were present for 1 week or for their lifetime (64.8 and 66.1 days, respectively). On the other hand, oviposition was higher in the long-term exposure to males (302.1 vs. 421.1 eggs, respectively). Virgin females lived longer (94.1 days) than mated females and laid a low number (54.5) of (unfertile) eggs. Egg hatchability and progeny sex ratio were similar in treatments with males. Nevertheless, the highest value (0.1321) of intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) was recorded when females were continuously exposed to males. These results are relevant to biological control and could be applicable in mass-rearing C. agilis and predicting its population dynamics in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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12 pages, 1261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between the Effects of High Temperature on Fertility and Sleep in Female Intra-Specific Hybrids of Drosophila melanogaster

by Lyudmila P. Zakharenko, Dmitriy V. Petrovskii, Nataliya V. Dorogova and Arcady A. Putilov

Insects 2021, 12(4), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12040336 - 9 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2536

Abstract

Humans and fruit flies demonstrate similarity in sleep-wake behavior, e.g., in the pattern of sleep disturbances caused by an exposure to high temperature. Although research has provided evidence for a clear connection between sleeping problems and infertility in women, very little is known [...] Read more.

Humans and fruit flies demonstrate similarity in sleep-wake behavior, e.g., in the pattern of sleep disturbances caused by an exposure to high temperature. Although research has provided evidence for a clear connection between sleeping problems and infertility in women, very little is known regarding the mechanisms underlying this connection. Studies of dysgenic crosses of fruit flies revealed that an exposure to elevated temperature induces sterility in female intra-specific hybrids exclusively in one of two cross directions (progeny of Canton-S females crossed with Harwich males). Given the complexity and limitations of human studies, this fruit flies’ model of temperature-sensitive sterility might be used for testing whether the effects of high temperature on fertility and on 24-h sleep pattern are inter-related. To document this pattern, 315 hybrids were kept for at least five days in constant darkness at 20 °C and 29 °C. No evidence was found for a causal link between sterility and sleep disturbance. However, a diminished thermal responsiveness of sleep was shown by females with temperature-induced sterility, while significant responses to high temperature were still observed in fertile females obtained by crossing in the opposite direction (i.e., Canton-S males with Harwich females) and in fertile males from either cross. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Mating on Gene Expression in Female Insects: Unifying the Field

by Ferdinand Nanfack-Minkeu and Laura King Sirot

Insects 2022, 13(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13010069 - 7 Jan 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4048

Abstract

There is intense interest in controlling insect reproductive output. In many insect species, reproductive output is profoundly influenced by mating, including the receipt of sperm and seminal fluid molecules, through physiological and behavior changes. To understand these changes, many researchers have investigated post-mating [...] Read more.

There is intense interest in controlling insect reproductive output. In many insect species, reproductive output is profoundly influenced by mating, including the receipt of sperm and seminal fluid molecules, through physiological and behavior changes. To understand these changes, many researchers have investigated post-mating gene expression regulation. In this review, we synthesize information from studies both across and within different species about the impact of mating, or components of mating, on female gene expression patterns. We found that genes related to the roles of metabolism, immune-response, and chemosensation are regulated by mating across many different insect species. We highlight the few studies that have taken the important next step of examining the functional consequences of gene expression regulation which is crucial in order to understand the mechanisms underlying the mating-regulated control of female lifespan and reproduction and to make use of such knowledge to propagate or control insect populations. The potential of cross-study comparisons is diminished by different studies using different methods. Thus, we also include a consideration of how future studies could be designed to facilitate cross-study comparisons and a call for collaboration across researchers studying different insect species and different aspects of insect biology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applied Insect Reproductive Biology)

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