The evolutionary theory of aging predicts that longevity will decline via drift or age-specific tradeoffs when selection favors early life fitness. Many Drosophila melanogaster populations continually terminated at young adult ages retain surprisingly long postselection lifespans. We compiled three decades of longevity data from the Ives population, demonstrating that postselective longevity wa...

The aim of this study was to determine the favorable constant temperature range for Mahanarva spectabilis(Distant) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) development as well as to generate geographic distribution maps of this insect pest for future climate scenarios. M. spectabilis eggs were reared on two host plants (Brachiaria ruziziensis(Germain and Edvard) and Pennisetum purpureum(Schumach)), with individ...

Because certain flavonols and phenolic acids are found in pollen and nectar of most angiosperms, they are routinely ingested by Apis mellifera, the western honey bee. The flavonol quercetin and the phenolic acid p-coumaric acid are known to upregulate detoxification enzymes in adult bees; their presence or absence in the diet may thus affect the toxicity of ingested pesticides. We conducted a s...

Thermal environments can influence many fitness-related traits including life span. Here, we assess whether longevity in Drosophila melanogaster can experimentally evolve as a correlated response to cold-stress selection, and whether genotype-by-temperature and sex-by-temperature interactions are significant components of variation in life span. Three replicated S lines were cold-stress selecte...

Abstract Background Because of its ability to absorb UV radiation and possess catalytic, antibacterial, semiconducting properties, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are increasingly being used in consumer goods. so often, accurate methods for determining any associated toxicity crucial. The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a suitable experimental model org...

This study investigated the effects of sub-lethal high temperatures on the development and reproduction of the brown plant hopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål). When first instar nymphs were exposed at their ULT(50) (41.8°C) mean development time to adult was increased in both males and females, from 15.2±0.3 and 18.2±0.3 days respectively in the control to 18.7±0.2 and 19±0.2 days in the treated i...

The effects of biotic and abiotic factors on insect life histories have been extensively studied. However, the impact some crucial aspects, such as larval density (crowding) environmental interactions, often overlooked. This study aims to determine temperature life-history traits in black soldier fly (BSF). Our results showed an increase prepupal mass, pupal prepupal-to-pupal mass loss, surviva...

Abstract Background Augmentative biological control is a crucial component of Integrated Pest Management, and Orius laevigatus Fieber (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) an important predator used commercially. However, the two-sex life table parameters O. on Planoccocus citri Risso , P. solenopsis Tinsley Pseudococcidae) have not been fully characterised. This study aimed to assess potential and, as pre...