Predaceous and Phytophagous Pentatomidae Insects Exhibit Contrasting Susceptibilities to Imidacloprid.

Imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, targets insect pests but also affects natural enemies. However, the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on closely related insects remain unclear. We evaluated the harmful effects of imidacloprid on the phytophagous and predaceous . Bioassays revealed that imidacloprid was more toxic to than to and more harmful to the males than to the females of the two insects. adults recovered from imidacloprid-induced knockdown, as evidenced by restored respiratory rates, metabolic rates, and locomotion. Surviving showed reduced fecundity, suggesting a trade-off between detoxification and reproduction. Bioinformatics analysis of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and molecular docking simulations indicated a lower diversity of the nAChR gene family in than in , with weaker binding to imidacloprid, consistent with the relatively low toxicity of the insecticide in this species. This might account for the susceptibility differences to imidacloprid between the species. These findings underscore the efficacy of imidacloprid against and provide insights into the toxicities of neonicotinoids to target and non-target insects.