Thaumetopoea is a genus of Lepidoptera referred to as the processionary moths species, that comprises famous defoliators of forest trees. They are also a threat to human and animal health due to the urticating setae carried by their larvae. Their phylogenetic relationships were studied so far using morphological data, mitochondrial DNA and only a few nuclear markers. Results remained controversial so far, notably for the winter Conifer‐feeding species complex encompassing T. pityocampa and T. wilkinsoni. In particular, since the first identification of divergent mitochondrial clades, several new species were described and incongruent phylogenies were proposed in this group. We here explored the potential of nuclear RAD‐seq data to resolve these inconsistencies and compare the resultant phylogeny with the information provided by the mitochondrial COI gene. It allows to propose a robust phylogeny and decipher cases of mitochondrial introgressions and nuclear‐mitochondrial discordance, which raises doubts about the validity of some recently described species. Hence, we recommend caution before describing new taxa in this group from mitochondrial data alone. Species delineation between geographically bounded and genetically differentiated lineages cannot be addressed pertinently without dedicated sampling and associated population genomic and ecological studies.

The genus Ostrinia (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) comprises two of the most important maize pests worldwide, the Asian and the European corn borers. Here, we present an annotated, chromosome-level genome assembly for the most closely related species, the Adzuki bean borer Ostrinia scapulalis, which feeds on various dicotyledon plants. The previous reference genome assembly for this species was generated from short-read sequencing data, resulting in high fragmentation and low completeness. Combining PacBio long read and Hi-C sequencing, we generated a 476 Mb genome with 48 contigs organised into 31 chromosomes (30 autosomes and one Z sex chromosome), with a contig N50 of 16.1 Mbp and BUSCO completeness exceeding 98%. We further combined published and novel RNA-seq data encompassing multiple life stages, tissues, and sexes to annotate 14,261 gene models, reaching a proteome BUSCO completeness of 95%. This highly contiguous reference genome assembly provides a much-improved resource for carrying comparative genomic approaches and better understanding speciation and host plant adaptation in the Ostrinia genus

French Vertical Flow Treatment Wetlands (VF TW) have become a popular technology for treating raw domestic wastewater and performing solids removal and mineralization. However, clogging, solids deposition and biofilm development in the pores of the filter media remain a critical operational challenge, requiring labor-intensive maintenance and potentially disrupting system performance. One promising solution is the use of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)-based biosensor for real-time monitoring of biofilm development. Despite its potential, MFC biosensor technology still needs more in-depth research to explore the design and electrochemical performance in TW environment. This present study evaluated the electrochemical performance of MFCs operating under different external resistances, providing insights for the development of an MFC-based biosensor for clogging detection. Four air-cathode MFCs were inoculated with sludge sample from a French VF TW pilot-scale, installed at the REFLET/INRAE research platform (Craponne, France). The bacteria source was amended with phosphate buffer solution, micronutrients, and sodium acetate. During the start-up phase, the MFCs were operated with an external resistance of 1000 Ω. The system was considered stabilized when the current output remained steady. The MFC performance was then evaluated under two external resistances, tested in duplicate, 100Ω (MFC 1, MFC 2) and 1000Ω (MFC 3, MFC 4). Electrochemical characterization was performed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the anodic biofilm structure was analyzed using environmental scanning electron microscopy (E-SEM). The results showed that MFCs operating at 100Ω had the highest current output, with 0.56 mA for MFC1 and 1.11 mA for MFC2. A significant difference was observed between these duplicates (p < 2.2.10-16). This variability may be attributed to connection problems in MFC1, which could have affected electron transfer efficiency. However, the MFCs operating at 1000Ω exhibited a lower current output (0.39 mA), which did not show a statistically significant difference between duplicates (p = 0.8351). These results were expected as a higher external resistance leads to reduced current generation. The current output at 1000Ω was smoother and more stable throughout the operating cycle, which is a desirable feature for long-term monitoring applications. EIS analysis indicated that MFC-1000Ω and MFC-100Ω had similar charge transfer impedance values of 36.33Ω and 33.68Ω, respectively, suggesting comparable electron transfer rates between the electrode and electrolyte. This parameter is related to response and sensitivity of the biosensor. In addition, E-SEM images demonstrated the formation of an anodic biofilm in both external resistor conditions, with a thinner biofilm observed at 1000Ω, which may help mitigate electrode fouling over time. These results highlight the influence of external resistance on the MFC operation, with direct implications for biosensor design. The higher resistance provided a more stable and sufficient signal output, making it a potential external resistor to be applied for long-term clogging monitoring in French VF TWs. Future studies should focus on optimizing electrode and design to align with the French VF TW characteristics. Furthermore, the inclusion unsaturated and intermittent feeding conditions could be interesting strategies to improve sensitivity and reliability of the biosensor.

[...]

Clogging is considered an operational challenge in French vertical flow treatment wetlands (VFTWs), causing hydraulics and aeration problems. The available monitoring methods are labor intensive. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as real-time biosensors, including for treatment wetlands (TW) systems. In this study, French VFTW sludge was investigated as inoculum in MFCs, to assessing its adaptation into electrochemical environment as a step for clogging MFC-based biodetector implementation in such systems. The results show that the inoculum was successfully adapted, with stable current generation at 0.4 mA. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated the establishment of a biofilm with electroactive characteristics and non-limiting anode. Metagenomic analysis showed that the French VFTW harbor electroactive species, and the MFC created a selective pressure on the VFTW sludge inoculum and significantly shaped the microbial community and function, stimulating the enrichment of electroactive bacteria (EAB), such Geobacterales (4.11% to 5.83%), with potential expression of cytochrome-c for extracellular electron transference (EET). This study illustrates the feasibility of developing electroactive biofilms from French VFTW and suggests its use as an inoculum, improving the integration of TW-MFC systems. Considering these results, the well-adapted anodic biofilm could enable the detection of aeration limitations via cathodic reactions in future studies.

Première céréale cultivée dans le monde, le maïs représente près de 50% de la production mondiale de céréales. La France cultive au total plus de 3 millions d’hectares de maïs soit environ 11% de sa surface agricole utile (SAU) ce qui représente 25% de la production européenne. La culture du maïs regroupe quatre types de produits : la maïs grain, le maïs fourrage, le maïs doux et le maïs semence. Le maïs est utilisé à 14% pour l’alimentation humaine, 61% pour l’alimentation animale, 20% pour les usages non alimentaires et représente un enjeu non seulement sur le plan nutritionnel mais aussi sur le plan des échanges économiques. Même si de nouveaux ravageurs sont apparus en Europe ces dernières années, la culture du maïs reste principalement impactée par la pyrale du maïs (Ostrinia nubilalis), un papillon (lépidoptère) qui provoque des pertes de rendement importantes, ce qui nécessite de développer des moyens de lutte adaptés. Avant 1990, la lutte contre la pyrale du maïs reposait sur des mesures prophylactiques et sur l’utilisation d’insecticides de synthèse essentiellement à base de larvicide représentant un risque à la fois pour la santé humaine et l’environnement. Fondée sur des recherches initiées en 1973 par le laboratoire de zoologie et de lutte biologique de l’INRA d’Antibes, devenu depuis l’Institut Sophia Agrobiotech (ISA de Sophia-Antipolis), la lutte biologique contre la pyrale du maïs à l’aide de trichogrammes (Trichogramma brassicae), un petit hyménoptère qui pond dans les œufs de la pyrale et empêche ainsi son développement, a été mise au point grâce à un partenariat public/privé signé en 1977 entre l’INRA et l’UNCCA, l’Union nationale des coopératives d’approvisionnement. La production industrielle de Trichogramma brassicae a ensuite été développée par la société BIOTOP, filiale de l’UNCCA créée en 1991. Après la création d’In Vivo en 2001, résultat de la fusion de l’UNCAA avec la coopérative SIGMA, In Vivo rachète la société Bioline Ltd qui fusionnera avec Biotop pour créer Bioline Agrosciences, filiale d’In Vivo jusqu’en mars 2025, date de son rachat par le fonds Eurazeo. Aujourd’hui, environ 120 000 ha de maïs grains sont protégés des attaques de la pyrale en France grâce aux trichogrammes, ce qui constitue un véritable succès en matière de lutte biologique dans le domaine des grandes cultures. Dans le cadre ou postérieurement à cette « success story » de lutte biologique en plein champs, les recherches menées par INRAE ont généré de nombreux autres impacts que cette étude détaille.

<div><p>This note is grounded in the examination of Afrotropical butterflies belonging to the entomological collections at CBGP, Montpellier, France. In the course of historical specimen referencing, the species Stempfferia insulana (Aurivillius, 1923; Lycaenidae) was recorded from Gabon. This is the first report of this species for this country, and the most western data for this Central-Western African species.</p></div>

The Neotropical butterfly genus Adelpha Hübner exhibits remarkable species diversity and striking convergence in wing colour patterns potentially explained by mimicry, making it an exceptional model for exploring trait evolution and its relationship with speciation. To date, unresolved phylogenetic relationships hinder a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary biology of the genus. Using a novel multi‐marker dataset combining one mitochondrial and 15 nuclear gene fragments, we generate the most comprehensive phylogeny of the genus Adelpha to revisit its systematics and investigate the evolution of mimicry colour patterns. Our dataset encompasses 83 of the 87 known extant species and six Limenitis species that were recently excluded from Adelpha (134 of c . 160 subspecies in total), collectively displaying 14 distinct mimicry patterns. We provide conclusive evidence that corroborates previous work on the polyphyly of Adelpha as historically conceived and describe the genus Adelphina Páez &amp; Willmott n. gen . to stabilise the nomenclature. The comprehensive phylogeny provided in this study lays a solid foundation for future research into the processes driving diversification within these species interacting through mimicry. Ancestral character state reconstruction reveals the gradual evolution of mimicry patterns. The more common mimicry pattern IPHICLUS (forewing with orange subapical spot and white band) is inferred as ancestral, but repeated convergent evolution is also recovered. Evolutionary convergence is also observed for the second most abundant mimicry pattern, COCALA (orange‐white banded). Increased rates of mimicry pattern evolution are also found towards the equator. These results underscore the complexity of mimicry evolution in the Neotropical limenitidines, i.e., Adelpha and Adelphina n. gen. , emphasising the need to explore its interplay with other biotic and abiotic factors.