Elevation of vitellogenin expression in Sunn pest is associated with pre‐migration and migration phases of the life cycle

Abstract

Sunn pest, Eurygaster maura L. (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae), a species with an obligatory diapause, is a major destructive pest of cereal products in central Asia, Europe and North Africa. Adults feed voraciously, causing total destruction of wheat fields in just a couple of days. Insect vitellogenins (Vgs) play a major role in reproduction by supplying the resources needed for oocyte development. In this study, we identified and characterized three E. maura Vg genes (EmVgs: EmVg1, EmVg2 and EmVg3) in the cDNA library generated from the fat body of overwintering E. maura. We examined expression levels of EmVgs in the phases of the life cycle, different tissues and at different developmental stages. mRNA levels in the female adults started to increase in the pre‐migration phase and reached peak level in the adults that freshly migrated to lowlands. This pattern suggests that the elevation of EmVg expression is associated with pre‐migration and migration phases of the insect s life cycle. EmVgs were primarily expressed in the fat body, which could be a possible EmVg expression site. EmVgs were expressed throughout developmental stages, suggesting that they might be prominent for nymphal development of E. maura.