Biological Characteristics and Energy Metabolism of Migrating Insects

Abstract

Through long-distance migration, insects not only find suitable breeding locations and increase the survival space and opportunities for the population but also facilitate large-scale material, energy, and information flow between regions, which is important in maintaining the stability of agricultural ecosystems and wider natural ecosystems. In this study, we summarize the changes in biological characteristics such as morphology, ovarian development, reproduction, and flight capability during the seasonal migration of the insect. In consideration of global research work, the interaction between flight and reproduction, the influence and regulation of the insulin-like and juvenile hormone on the flight and reproductive activities of migrating insects, and the types of energy substances, metabolic processes, and hormone regulation processes during insect flight are elaborated. This systematic review of the latest advances in the studies on insect migration biology and energy metabolism will help readers to better understand the biological behavior and regulation mechanism of the energy metabolism of insect migration.

Keywords: energy substances; flight and reproduction; insect migration; juvenile hormone.

Figure 1

Schematic diagram of migration patterns and physiological characteristics of insects across Bohai Sea.

Figure 2

Metabolic regulation process of energy substances during insect migration flight. ACP: AKH/corazonin-related neuropeptide; ACPR: ACP receptor; ACSL: acyl-CoA synthetase; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; CPT1: carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1; CPT2: carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2; AKH: adipokinetic hormone; AKHR: AKH receptor; Ala: alanine; CA: corpus allatum; cAMP: cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CC: corpora cardiaca; DAG: diacylglycerol; DAG-BP: DAG binding protein; FABP: fatty acid binding protein; FFA: free fatty acids; Glu: glutamate; GP: glycogen phosphorylase; HDLp: high-density lipoprotein; IP3: inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate; LDLp: low-density lipoprotein; OXPHOS: oxidative phosphorylation; PA: Pyruvic acid; PKC: protein kinase C; PLC: phospholipase C; Pro: proline; ProDH: proline dehydrogenase; P5C: pyrroline-5-carboxylate; P5CDH: pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase; TAG: triacylglycerol; TCA: tricarboxylic acid cycle, Tre-2: trehalase-2; TRET1: trehalose transporter 1.