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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414506
Research Project: Biology, Ecology, Genetics, and Genomics of Introduced Species for Biological Control of Invasive and Other Insect Pests

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Egg coverings in insects: ecological adaptation to abiotic and biotic selective pressures

Author
item LI, TIAN-HAO - Guizhou University
item Wang, Xingeng
item DESNEUX, NICOLAS - National Council For Scientific Research-Cnrs
item WANG, SU - Beijing Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item ZANG, LIAN-SHENG - Guizhou University

Submitted to: Biological Reviews
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/7/2024
Publication Date: 8/22/2024
Citation: Li, T., Wang, X., Desneux, N., Wang, S., Zang, L. 2024. Egg coverings in insects: ecological adaptation to abiotic and biotic selective pressures. Biological Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.13130.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.13130

Interpretive Summary: Insects have evolved a spectrum of strategies that facilitate survival in the face of adverse environmental conditions and biotic pressures. Insect eggs can be frequently under attacks by oophagous natural enemies and are subject to abiotic stress as well. In response to these diverse stresses, insects have developed various egg protection strategies. This paper provides a comprehensive review on egg protective strategies in insects. We focus on the adaptive ecological mechanisms and temporal variations as well as the benefits and costs of egg coverings. We discuss the range of ecological factors shaping the evolution of insect egg defense and counter-defense strategies by natural enemies and how egg coverings may facilitate rapid population increase or successful anthropogenic invasion by some globally important insect pests due to the loss of co-adapted natural enemies (e.g., specialized parasitic wasps). We provide a framework on how to incorporate egg protective traits into biological control programs, with the aim of applying our understanding to develop effective biological control programs of important invasive agricultural pests specifically with reference to use of egg natural enemies.

Technical Abstract: Insects have evolved a spectrum of strategies that facilitate survival in the face of adverse environmental conditions and bottom-up or top-down pressures. The egg is the first stage in the life cycle of most insects. It is not only immobile but in many insects is the stage that survives unfavourable seasons when food resources are unavailable. Eggs are targeted by oophagous natural enemies and also are subject to abiotic stresses. In response to these diverse stresses, insects have developed various egg protection strategies. Females of many insects lay eggs in clusters and then use their own body resources to cover them to provide protection from harsh environments and biotic attack. Such egg protection strategies have allowed some herbivorous insects to thrive in new environments and become serious invasive pests. Females of many insects protect their eggs in other ways (e.g. laying eggs in concealed places, direct parental care) while others do not provide protection at all. Here, we review various egg protective strategies in insects. Our focus is on adaptive ecological mechanisms and temporal variation as well as the benefits and costs of egg coverings. We highlight several case studies on how these egg protective traits might impede biological control of globally important agricultural and forest pests and propose a framework for incorporating egg protective traits into biological control programs especially for invasive insect pests.