Regulation of opsin and circadian clock genes on mate-finding behavior of the day-flying red moth, Phauda flammans (Walker).

First, significantly higher mate-finding success was found under light condition than under constant darkness condition in Phauda flammans, a typical diurnal moth. We speculate that mate-finding behavior in P. flammans may be influenced by the light-sensitive opsin genes Long wavelength opsin (PfLW), Ultraviolet opsin (PfUV) and Blue opsin (PfBL), which are potentially regulated by both light-cues and endogenous circadian rhythms. Second, the circadian clock genes Period (PfPer), Timeless (PfTim), Cryptochrome1 (PfCry1), Cryptochrome2 (PfCRY2), Cryptochrome3 (PfCry-like), Clock (PfClk), Cycle (PfCyc), Vrille (PfVri), and Slimb (PfSli) were identified in P. flammans. Third, circadian rhythms in the relative expression levels of opsin and circadian clock genes were demonstrated via quantitative real-time PCR analysis, with peak expression coinciding with the mate-finding peak. Notably, the relative expression of PfLW in males P. flammans was significantly higher than that in females P. flammans at the mate-finding peaks Zeitgeber time (ZT) 8 and ZT 10 under light, while the expression of the opsin gene PfBL showed a similar pattern at ZT 10 under light. Additionally, the expression of the clock gene PfCry-like was significantly higher in males than in females at ZT 8 and ZT 10 under light, while PfPer, PfTim, PfClk and PfCyc exhibited similar male-biased expression patterns at ZT 10 under light. Conversely, PfCry1 and PfVri expression was significantly higher in females than in male at ZT 8 under light. In conclusion, sex differences were detected in the expression of opsin and circadian clock genes, which indicated that light-mediated regulation of these genes may contribute to the daytime mate-finding behavior of P. flammans.

Identification of neuropeptides and neuropeptide receptor genes in Phauda flammans (Walker).

Neuropeptides and neuropeptide receptors are crucial regulators to insect physiological processes. The 21.0 Gb bases were obtained from Illumina sequencing of two libraries representing the female and male heads of Phauda flammans (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Phaudidae), which is a diurnal defoliator of ficus plants and usually outbreaks in the south and south-east Asia, to identify differentially expressed genes, neuropeptides and neuropeptide receptor whose tissue expressions were also evaluated. In total, 99,386 unigenes were obtained, in which 156 up-regulated and 61 down-regulated genes were detected. Fifteen neuropeptides (i.e., F1b, Ast, NP1, IMF, Y, BbA1, CAP2b, NPLP1, SIF, CCH2, NP28, NP3, PDP3, ARF2 and SNPF) and 66 neuropeptide receptor genes (e.g., A2-1, FRL2, A32-1, A32-2, FRL3, etc.) were identified and well-clustered with other lepidopteron. This is the first sequencing, identification neuropeptides and neuropeptide receptor genes from P. flammans which provides valuable information regarding the molecular basis of P. flammans.

Diversity, Daily Activity Patterns, and Pollination Effectiveness of the Insects Visiting Camellia osmantha, C. vietnamensis, and C. oleifera in South China.

Camellia spp., which are self-incompatible plants, are some of the most important woody species producing edible oil in Southeast Asian countries. However, the demand for camellia oil currently exceeds the supply due to low product yields that have resulted from a decrease in pollination services. Although Camellia osmantha, C. vietnamensis, and C. oleifera are cultivated in South China, little is known about the correspondence between pollinator abundance and pollinator services for this plant genus. In this study, the diversity, daily activity patterns, and pollination effectiveness of insects visiting C. osmantha, C. vietnamensis and C. oleifera were investigated. A total of 24 species, belonging to four orders and 11 families, of visiting insects were identified. Apis cerana cerana Fabricius, Vespa bicolor Fabricius, V. velutina Lepeletier, V. ducalis Smith, and Phytomia zonata Fabricius were the dominant pollinators. The daily activity peaks of the five visiting insects were between 10:00 and 14:00, which may have been related to the pattern of floral resource production (particularly nectar). Cross-pollination by insects significantly increased the fruit production rates of C. osmantha, C. vietnamensis, and C. oleifera. Therefore, the wild bees and flies that pollinate wild and cultivated Camellia plants should be protected in South China.