Carbon dioxide drives oviposition in <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i>.

ABSTRACT: The levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂), a powerful greenhouse gas, have risen dramatically over the past century, leading to widespread ecological effects on plants and animals alike, including insects that serve vital roles in many food webs. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ is anticipated to affect insect biodiversity by influencing essential behaviors, although the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that female Helicoverpa armigera use plant-emitted CO₂ as a primary cue for egg-laying, showing a preference for younger leaves with higher CO₂ gradients to enhance offspring survival. Elevated environmental CO₂ disrupts this preference, reducing females' attraction to optimal egg-laying sites. Employing genome editing

SUBMITTER: Chen Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12693517 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature