Abstract Background Global climate change can seriously impact on the epidemiological dynamics of vector-borne diseases. In this study we investigated how future climatic changes could affect niche Ixodes ricinus (Acari, Ixodida), among most important vectors pathogens medical and veterinary concern in Europe. Methods Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) was used to reconstruct I. , project it into conditions for 2050 2080, under two scenarios: a continuous human demographic growth severe...

Background The tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is one of the 100 most invasive species in world and a vector human diseases. In last 30 years, it has spread from its native range East Asia to Africa, Europe, Americas. Although this modern invasion been focus many studies, history species' populations remains poorly understood. Here, we aimed assess role Pleistocene climatic changes shaping current distribution range. Methodology/Principal Findings We investigated phylogeography, historical...

Proteins from the ABC family (ATP-binding cassette) represent largest known group of efflux pumps, responsible for transporting specific molecules across lipid membranes in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In arthropods they have been shown to play a role insecticide defense/resistance. The presence transporters their possible association with transport not yet investigated mosquito Anopheles stephensi, major vector human malaria Middle East South Asian regions. Here we ABCs...

Bagrada hilaris (known as painted bug) is a pest native to India, Southeast Asia, and middle central Africa was reported invasive in the southwestern USA, Hawaii, Mexico, South America, two Mediterranean islands. The feeding activity results extensive damage economically important Brassicaceae crops. Among sustainable alternatives synthetic pesticides, Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) considered promising strategy because it relies on release of competitive sterile males that can reduce...

The dispersal and survival of laboratory-reared Aedes albopictus Skuse males were investigated during the summer 2007 in three Northern Italy urban localities by mark-release-recapture techniques. Two marking methods compared: one group was dusted with fluorescent pigments on body (FP), other obtained from a strain whose natural infection Wolbachia had been removed (WB0). FP- WB0-marked released as adults pupae, respectively, fixed station at each locality. Recaptures performed skilled...

Summary Rationalizing the use of chemicals in pest control programmes is a fundamental goal that aided by knowledge patterns population connectivity and historical demography. In this study, we used both mitochondrial nuclear markers to investigate genetic structure diversity northern Italian populations Ochlerotatus caspius , mosquito great public health economic impact Mediterranean countries. A substantial homogeneity was found among populations, with no association pairwise...

Abstract P‐glycoproteins (P‐gps) are efflux transporters found in cells of a broad range both procaryotic and eukaryotic taxa, whose action is to relieve the multiple, structurally dissimilar, toxic compounds. The possible role P‐gps defence against insecticides temephos diflubenzuron was investigated mosquito Aedes caspius (Pallas), also known as Ochlerotatus ( ) (Diptera: Culicidae), genomic DNA sequences encoding for P‐gp were isolated provide molecular instruments future research into...

Abstract Animals respond to chemical stress with an array of gene families and pathways termed “chemical defensome”. In arthropods, despite many defensome genes have been detected, how their activation is arranged during toxic exposure remains poorly understood. Here, we sequenced the transcriptome Anopheles stephensi larvae exposed for six, 24 48 hours LD 50 dose insecticide permethrin monitor transcriptional changes across time. A total 177 involved in defense were differentially expressed...

Abstract Introgressive hybridization represents one of the long-lasting debated genetic consequences species range expansion. Mitochondrial DNA has been shown to heavily introgress between interbreeding animal that meet in new sympatric areas and, often, asymmetric introgression from local colonizing populations observed. Disentangling among evolutionary and ecological processes might shape this pattern remains difficult, because they continuously act across time space. In context, long-term...

In insects, ABC transporters have been shown to contribute defence/resistance insecticides by reducing toxic concentrations in cells/tissues. Despite the extensive studies about this detoxifying mechanism, temporal patterns of transporter activation poorly investigated. Using malaria vector Anopheles stephensi as a study system, we investigated expression profile genes belonging different subfamilies permethrin-treated larvae at time points (30 min 48 h). Our results showed that ABCB and...

The brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu stricto) is reputed to be the most widespread of domestic dogs worldwide and has also been implicated in transmission many pathogens humans. For more than two centuries, Rh. (s.s.) was regarded as a single taxon, even considering its poor original description inexistence type specimen. However, genetic crossbreeding experiments have indicated existence at least distinct taxa within this name: so-called "temperate" "tropical" lineages lato)....

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks are widespread worldwide due to their adaptability survive under different environmental conditions. They may act as vectors of a wide range pathogens humans and animals control is based on the use chemical products dogs in environment. Alternative strategies, such entomopathogenic fungi bio-control agents have also been investigated. The ability native strains Beauveria bassiana causing mortality tick species (e.g., Amblyomma cajennense microplus)...

Abstract Paternal leakage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and heteroplasmy have been recently described in several animal species. In arthropods, by searching the Scopus database, we found only 23 documented cases paternal leakage. Therefore, although arthropods represent a large fraction biodiversity, this phenomenon has investigated paucity species phylum, thus preventing reliable estimate its frequency. Here, occurrence mtDNA ticks belonging to one most significant tick complexes, so-called...

Background Diflubenzuron (DFB) is one of the most used insecticides in mosquito larval control including that Culex pipiens, proven vector recent West Nile Virus epidemics Europe. Two mutations (I1043L and I1043M) chitin synthase (CHS) putative binding site DFB have been previously reported Cx. pipiens from Italy associated with high levels resistance against this larvicide. Methodology/Principal findings Here we report identification a third mutation at same I1043 position CHS gene...

Sexual dimorphism is almost ubiquitous in animals. A common pattern observed across multiple taxa involves differences development time (sexual bimaturism) and body size dimorphism) between conspecific males females. Furthermore, a strict association of at these traits has been documented several taxa, where the sex showing shorter also smaller than other sex. Growth are strongly dependent on environmental conditions during individual life-cycle ectotherms, inducing considerable phenotypic...

Abstract We present a de novo transcriptome of the mosquito vector Culex pipiens , assembled by sequences susceptible and insecticide resistant larvae. The high quality assembly was confirmed TransRate BUSCO. A mapping percentage until 94.8% obtained aligning contigs to Nr, SwissProt, TrEMBL, with 27,281 that simultaneously mapped on three databases. total 14,966 ORFs were also functionally annotated using eggNOG database. Among them, we identified ORF main gene families involved in...

Abstract Background Chitin‐synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) represent a major tool in vector control. The intensive use of these compounds has led to the evolution resistance against several CSIs, including diflubenzuron (DFB). DFB been associated target‐site mechanism; however, studies investigating gene expression profile resistant phenotypes are limited, preventing full understanding resistance. Here, we analyzed constitutive susceptible and DFB‐resistant individuals mosquito Culex pipiens,...

The spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), a highly invasive agricultural pest, poses significant challenges to fruit production worldwide. Traditional chemical control methods are costly and raise concerns about resistance environmental sustainability. Heterospecific Sterile Insect Technique (h-SIT) has emerged as promising alternative, using sterile heterospecific males melanogaster) suppress D. suzukii populations through reproductive interference. However, optimizing irradiation...