Jun Xu , Qibin Xu

Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Entomology, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0016
Received: 16 May, 2024    Accepted: 24 Jun., 2024    Published: 08 Jul., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Xu J., and Xu Q.B., 2024, Developmental biology and pest management: insights from cotton aphids, Molecular Entomology, 15(4): 129-137 (doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0016)

Cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) represent a significant threat to global cotton production, necessitating effective pest management strategies. Understanding the developmental biology of cotton aphids is crucial for improving control measures. This study explores the life cycle, reproductive strategies, and genetic factors influencing the development of cotton aphids, alongside the impact of environmental conditions, and examines various pest management strategies, including chemical, biological, and integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, and their effectiveness at different developmental stages of the aphid. Advances in molecular techniques, such as genomic and transcriptomic approaches, RNA interference (RNAi), and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, are discussed in relation to their potential for enhancing pest control strategies. A case study demonstrates the application of developmental biology insights in real-world pest management scenarios, highlighting successes and areas for future research. This study aims to emphasize the importance of integrating developmental biology with pest management to address current challenges and advance cotton aphid control.

Cotton aphids; Developmental biology; Pest management; RNA interference; CRISPR-Cas9