Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i>
The molting process of the lepidopteran insects is observed for many species. However, the detailed description of the morphological transformation and behavioral sequence during molting are rarely provided and visualized. Here, we described the molting process of the diamondback moth <i>Plute...
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/3/289 |
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| author | Licheng Gu Zhiwei Wu Xiaotong Wu Yuenan Zhou Pei Yang Xiqian Ye Min Shi Jianhua Huang Xuexin Chen |
| author_facet | Licheng Gu Zhiwei Wu Xiaotong Wu Yuenan Zhou Pei Yang Xiqian Ye Min Shi Jianhua Huang Xuexin Chen |
| author_sort | Licheng Gu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The molting process of the lepidopteran insects is observed for many species. However, the detailed description of the morphological transformation and behavioral sequence during molting are rarely provided and visualized. Here, we described the molting process of the diamondback moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> by providing the duration and photographic details of staging criteria of each stage using stereo microscopy and a digital video camera. We divided the morphological transformation of egg development and hatching into five stages, the larval–larval ecdysis and the larval–pupal metamorphosis into five stages, the pupal development and eclosion into three stages, and the post-eclosion behavior into four stages. Several new characters in the molting process that were not previously described in other lepidopteran insects were found, i.e., the larvae contracted anterior-posteriorly then dorsal-ventrally during pre-ecdysis, and the antennae waved backward then forward in the post-eclosion behavior. Our findings will deepen the knowledge of the molting biology of lepidopteran insects and facilitate the study of the underlying mechanisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:39:08Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:39:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-15cf9614716144e1a0a1fac06f4e2a9d2023-11-24T01:44:04ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-03-0113328910.3390/insects13030289Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i>Licheng Gu0Zhiwei Wu1Xiaotong Wu2Yuenan Zhou3Pei Yang4Xiqian Ye5Min Shi6Jianhua Huang7Xuexin Chen8Institute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaInstitute of Insect Science, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, ChinaThe molting process of the lepidopteran insects is observed for many species. However, the detailed description of the morphological transformation and behavioral sequence during molting are rarely provided and visualized. Here, we described the molting process of the diamondback moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> by providing the duration and photographic details of staging criteria of each stage using stereo microscopy and a digital video camera. We divided the morphological transformation of egg development and hatching into five stages, the larval–larval ecdysis and the larval–pupal metamorphosis into five stages, the pupal development and eclosion into three stages, and the post-eclosion behavior into four stages. Several new characters in the molting process that were not previously described in other lepidopteran insects were found, i.e., the larvae contracted anterior-posteriorly then dorsal-ventrally during pre-ecdysis, and the antennae waved backward then forward in the post-eclosion behavior. Our findings will deepen the knowledge of the molting biology of lepidopteran insects and facilitate the study of the underlying mechanisms.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/3/289<i>Plutella xylostella</i>behavioral sequencemoltingecdysismorphological characters |
| spellingShingle | Licheng Gu Zhiwei Wu Xiaotong Wu Yuenan Zhou Pei Yang Xiqian Ye Min Shi Jianhua Huang Xuexin Chen Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> Insects <i>Plutella xylostella</i> behavioral sequence molting ecdysis morphological characters |
| title | Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> |
| title_full | Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> |
| title_short | Characterization of Molting Process during the Different Developmental Stages of the Diamondback Moth <i>Plutella xylostella</i> |
| title_sort | characterization of molting process during the different developmental stages of the diamondback moth i plutella xylostella i |
| topic | <i>Plutella xylostella</i> behavioral sequence molting ecdysis morphological characters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/3/289 |
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