Rnai
Guides
Dalbulus maidis
corn leafhopper, cigarrinha-do-milho, chicharrita del maíz
Dalbulus maidis is a phloem-feeding leafhopper and one of the most significant pests of maize production across the Americas. It serves as the primary vector of the corn stunt disease complex, transmitting at least four pathogens including Spiroplasma kunkelii, maize bushy stunt phytoplasma, and Maize rayado fino virus. The species exhibits strict host specialization with Zea mays, enabling highly efficient pathogen transmission. Population outbreaks can cause yield losses exceeding 80% in affected regions. The species has become increasingly problematic in Argentina and Brazil, particularly under intensive continuous maize cultivation systems.
Gryllus firmus
Sand Field Cricket, Sand Cricket
Gryllus firmus, the sand field cricket, is a wing-polymorphic cricket native to the southeastern United States. It exhibits a distinctive chirping call that distinguishes it from the trilling calls of closely related species. The species is notable for producing two egg types—fast-developing and diapause eggs—within single clutches, an adaptation to unpredictable conditions in sandy habitats. Wing morphs are associated with trade-offs between dispersal and reproduction: long-winged individuals can fly but have reduced fecundity, while short-winged individuals have enhanced reproductive output. The species hybridizes with Gryllus pennsylvanicus where their ranges overlap.
wing-polymorphismbet-hedgingdiapausehybrid-zoneacoustic-signalinglife-history-trade-offparasitismGryllus-firmus/Gryllus-pennsylvanicus-hybridizationcuticular-hydrocarbonsmate-choiceinbreeding-depressionextra-nuclear-inheritancematernal-effectshorsehair-wormParagordius-variuseugregarinetemperature-dependent-chirpingDolbear's-lawspeciationsexual-selectionimmunity-reproduction-trade-offflight-muscle-histolysissandy-soil-habitatephemeral-habitatcolonizing-speciesphenotypic-plasticityRNAinon-model-organismevolutionary-developmental-biologyPanonychus citri
Citrus Red Mite
Panonychus citri, commonly known as the citrus red mite, is a major agricultural pest of citrus orchards with a global distribution spanning Asia, the Mediterranean Basin, North America, South America, and Africa. The mite feeds by sucking cytoplasm from plant cells, causing chlorotic spots, premature leaf fall, brown skin discoloration, rough skin texture, and stunted fruit growth. Severe infestations can reduce fruit yields by up to 70%. The species has developed resistance to more than 23 pesticides due to extensive acaricide use, making integrated pest management strategies increasingly important. Research indicates that local factors, particularly citrus plant canopy density, significantly influence population dynamics more than landscape-scale factors.
Tribolium
flour beetles
Tribolium is a genus of beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, commonly known as flour beetles. Several species are major pests of stored grain products worldwide, particularly Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle) and Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle). The genus has also become an important model organism in developmental biology and genetics research due to its ease of laboratory rearing and amenability to RNA interference techniques.
Tribolium castaneum
Red Flour Beetle, Rust-red Flour Beetle
Tribolium castaneum, the red flour beetle, is a cosmopolitan pest of stored grain products and a well-established model organism for genetic and developmental research. Adults are small, reddish-brown beetles approximately 3–4 mm in length. The species is notable for its amenability to RNA interference techniques, making it valuable for studying segmentation, body plan development, and gene function. In stored product environments, it causes significant economic damage to flour, cereals, pasta, and other dry goods. Females are polyandrous, mating with multiple males.