biostudies-literatureHu HKey-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong ProvinceNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaGuangdong Province key construction discipline Scientific Research Capacity Improvement Program69https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12841978biostudies-literatureUnknown17(1)The global migratory pest, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, has garnered widespread attention due to the serious damage it inflicts on agricultural productivity, particularly in maize. Thymol is a phytochemical that exhibits functional diversification in plant defense, encompassing antibacterial activities and insect pest management. However, the impact of thymol on <i>S. frugiperda</i> is still undetermined. This study examined the growth inhibition and mortality induction in <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae after thymol exposure. The detrimental effects of 2.0 and 4.0 mg/g thymol treatments on the growth and development of <i>S. frugiperda</i> were also examined. RNA-Seq was used to investigate the probable toxicological mechanism of thymol on <i>S. frugiperda</i>, resulting in the identificatioInsectsGrowth Inhibition, Mortality Induction, Adverse Impacts of Development, and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms of Thymol Against <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>.PMC12841978321022212020B0202230042021ZDJS001Shu BHe SXie XZhang JHu HSethuraman VLiu CYao HfalseGrowth Inhibition, Mortality Induction, Adverse Impacts of Development, and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms of Thymol Against <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>.The global migratory pest, <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>, has garnered widespread attention due to the serious damage it inflicts on agricultural productivity, particularly in maize. Thymol is a phytochemical that exhibits functional diversification in plant defense, encompassing antibacterial activities and insect pest management. However, the impact of thymol on <i>S. frugiperda</i> is still undetermined. This study examined the growth inhibition and mortality induction in <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae after thymol exposure. The detrimental effects of 2.0 and 4.0 mg/g thymol treatments on the growth and development of <i>S. frugiperda</i> were also examined. RNA-Seq was used to investigate the probable toxicological mechanism of thymol on <i>S. frugiperda</i>, resulting in the identificatio2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-13T03:12:11.993Z2026-06-13T03:08:48.112ZS-EPMC128419784159892210.3390/insects17010069