Insects possess an immune system that protects them from attacks by various pathogenic
microorganisms that would otherwise threaten their survival. Immune mechanisms may deal …

Highlights•Phenotypic diversity within species arises through variation in gene expression.•
Technological advances have greatly advanced the study of gene expression in …

Adipokinetic hormone (AKH) is a neuropeptide produced in the insect corpora cardiaca that
plays an essential role in mobilising carbohydrates and lipids from the fat body to the …

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is an urban pest of global health significance,
severely affecting the physical and mental health of humans. In contrast to most other blood …

Social life and lifelong partner commitments are expected to favor thorough partner choice,
as an ill-suited partnership may have long-term consequences, adversely affecting the …

Contagious diseases are a major threat to societies in which individuals live in close contact.
Social insects have evolved collective defense behaviors, such as social care or isolation of …

In recent years, the use of microbes to control termites has attracted increasing attention. It
was found that pathogenic bacteria, nematodes, and fungi effectively control termites under …

(1) Unravelling the molecular basis underlying major evolutionary transitions can shed light
on how complex phenotypes arise. The evolution of eusociality, a major evolutionary …

Omnivorous synanthropic cockroaches, such as the German cockroach (Blattella
germanica), are reservoirs and vectors of enteric bacterial pathogens. A lifestyle conducive …

The evolution of termite eusociality has been influenced by their nesting and foraging
ecology. This includes the evolution of a separate developmental line for specialized …