Intergeneric distribution and immunolocalization of a putative odorant-binding protein in true bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

Sensilla localization and sex pheromone recognition of odorant binding protein OBP4 in the mirid plant bug Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze)

Pheromone binding proteins (PBPs) are well studied in lepidopteran moths and are considered to be crucial in detection of sex pheromones as well as some green leaf volatiles. In contrast, evidence that PBPs interact with sex pheromones of hemipteran species is not available. The mirid plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze), is a notorious hemipteran pest that uses two butyrate esters, trans-2-hexenyl butyrate (E2HB) and hexyl butyrate (HB), and one hexenoic aldehyde trans-4-oxo-2-hexenal (E4O2H), as sex pheromones. In the present study, we report on an odorant binding protein, AlinOBP4, with particular focus on its potential physiological roles in the detection of A. lineolatus sex pheromone components. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that AlinOBP4 and two mirid orthologs clustered in a general phylogenetic clade with the lepidopteran ABX OBPs, the fly LUSH and the OBP83a/b subfamily. Cellular localization by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunolabeling further demonstrated that AlinOBP4 was strongly expressed in the multiporous sensilla trichodea (str) and middle long sensilla basiconica (mlsba) of male A. lineolatus adults, suggesting a key role associated with sex pheromone and odorant detection. A ligand binding assay revealed that recombinant AlinOBP4 protein highly bound not only to the sex pheromone components E4O2H but also to some host plant volatiles. These findings together with the evidence of insect PBPs available in the literature support the view that AlinOBP4 is involved in sex pheromone detection in male A. lineolatus and provide foundational information for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of chemosensory based mating behavior in hemipteran mirid bugs.

Functional Characterization of Odorant Binding Protein 27 (RproOBP27) From Rhodnius prolixus Antennae

Olfactory proteins mediate a wide range of essential behaviors for insect survival. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are small soluble olfactory proteins involved in the transport of odor molecules (=odorants) through the sensillum lymph to odorant receptors, which are housed on the dendritic membrane of olfactory sensory neurons also known as olfactory receptor neurons. Thus, a better understanding of the role(s) of OBPs from Rhodnius prolixus, one of the main vectors of Chagas disease, may ultimately lead to new strategies for vector management. Here we aimed at functionally characterize OBPs from R. prolixus. Genes of interest were selected using conventional bioinformatics approaches and subsequent quantification by qPCR. We screened and estimated expression in different tissues of 17 OBPs from R. prolixus adults. These analyses showed that 11 OBPs were expressed in all tissues, whereas six OBP genes were specific to antennae. Two OBP genes, RproOBP6 and RproOBP13, were expressed in both male and female antennae thus suggesting that they might be involved in the recognition of semiochemicals mediating behaviors common to both sexes, such host finding (for a blood meal). Transcripts for RproOBP17 and RproOBP21 were enriched in female antennae and possibly involved in the detection of oviposition attractants or other semiochemicals mediating female-specific behaviors. By contrast, RproOBP26 and RproOBP27 might be involved in the reception of sex pheromones given that their transcripts were highly expressed in male antennae. To test this hypothesis, we silenced RproOBP27 using RNAi and examined the sexual behavior of the phenotype. Indeed, adult males treated with dsOBP27 spent significantly less time close to females as compared to controls. Additionally, docking analysis suggested that RproOBP27 binds to putative sex pheromones. We therefore concluded that RproOBP27 might be a pheromone-binding protein.

Characterization of candidate odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins in the tea geometrid Ectropis obliqua Prout (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)

Insects rely heavily on their sophisticated chemosensory systems to locate host plants and find conspecific mates. Although the molecular mechanisms of odorant recognition in many Lepidoptera species have been well explored, limited information has been reported on the geometrid moth Ectropis obliqua Prout, an economically important pest of tea plants. In the current study, we first attempted to identify and characterize the putative olfactory carrier proteins, including odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs). By analyzing previously obtained transcriptomic data of third-instar larvae, five OBPs and 14 CSPs in E. obliqua were identified. Sequence alignment, conserved motif identification, and phylogenetic analysis suggested that candidate proteins have typical characteristics of the insect OBP or CSP family. The expression patterns regarding life stages and different tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The results revealed that four transcripts (OBP2, OBP4 and CSP8, CSP10) had larvae preferential expression profiles and nine candidate genes (PBP1, OBP1 and CSP2, CSP4, CSP5, CSP6, CSP7, CSP11, and CSP13) were adult-biased expressed. Further specific tissue expression profile evaluation showed that OBP1, OBP2, OBP4, and PBP1 were highly expressed at olfactory organs, implying their potential involvement in chemical cue detection, whereas CSPs were ubiquitously detected among all of the tested tissues and could be associated with multiple physiological functions. This study provided a foundation for understanding the physiological functions of OBPs and CSPs in E. obliqua and will help pave the way for the development of a new environmental friendly pest management strategy against the tea geometrid moth.

Molecular Characterization and Expression Profiling of Odorant-Binding Proteins in Apolygus lucorum

Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is one of the most important agricultural pests, with broad host range and cryptic feeding habits in China. Chemosensory behavior plays an important role in many crucial stages in the life of A. lucorum, such as the detection of sex pheromone cues during mate pursuit and fragrant odorants during flowering host plant localization. Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are involved in the initial biochemical recognition steps in semiochemical perception. In the present study, a transcriptomics-based approach was used to identify potential OBPs in A. lucorum. In total, 38 putative OBP genes were identified, corresponding to 26 ‘classic’ OBPs and 12 ‘Plus-C’ OBPs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that A. lucorum OBP proteins are more closely related to the OBP proteins of other mirid bugs as the same family OBP clustering together. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis for the first reported 23 AlucOBPs revealed that the expression level of 11 AlucOBP genes were significantly higher in antennae of both sexes than in other tissues. Three of them were male antennae-biased and six were female antennae-biased, suggesting their putative roles in the detection of female sex pheromones and host plant volatiles. In addition, three, four, two and one AlucOBPs had the highest degree of enrichment in the stylet, head, leg, and in abdomen tissues, respectively. Two other OBPs were ubiquitously expressed in the main tissues, including antennae, stylets, heads, legs and wings. Most orthologs had similar expression patterns, strongly indicating that these genes have the same function in olfaction and gustation.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of G Alpha Proteins from the Western Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus hesperus

The Gα subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins play critical roles in the activation of diverse signal transduction cascades. However, the role of these genes in chemosensation remains to be fully elucidated. To initiate a comprehensive survey of signal transduction genes, we used homology-based cloning methods and transcriptome data mining to identity Gα subunits in the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus Knight). Among the nine sequences identified were single variants of the Gαi, Gαo, Gαs, and Gα12 subfamilies and five alternative splice variants of the Gαq subfamily. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analyses of the putative L. hesperus Gα subunits support initial classifications and are consistent with established evolutionary relationships. End-point PCR-based profiling of the transcripts indicated head specific expression for LhGαq4, and largely ubiquitous expression, albeit at varying levels, for the other LhGα transcripts. All subfamilies were amplified from L. hesperus chemosensory tissues, suggesting potential roles in olfaction and/or gustation. Immunohistochemical staining of cultured insect cells transiently expressing recombinant His-tagged LhGαi, LhGαs, and LhGαq1 revealed plasma membrane targeting, suggesting the respective sequences encode functional G protein subunits.

Identification and Expression Profile of Two Putative Odorant-Binding Proteins from the Neotropical Brown Stink Bug, Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

This work presents the first identification of putative odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) from a member of the Pentatomidae, i.e. the brown stink bug Euschistus heros (Fabricius), an important pest of soybean in Brazil. Antennae from both sexes of E. heros adults (12 days old and unmated) were used to construct a cDNA library, from which two transcripts encoding putative E. heros OBPs (EherOBPs) were identified. The expression levels of EherOBP1 and EherOBP2 were found to be higher in male antennae than in female and there was difference in expression in legs, wings, and abdomens of the two sexes. The histolocalization of EherOBP1 and EherOBP2 transcripts in antennae also showed a sexual dimorphism in the chemoreception system, with different expression sites in the antennal segments between males and females, occurring predominantly at the base of the sensillum. The implications of these findings for stink bug chemoreception are discussed.

Cloning and expression profiling of odorant-binding proteins in the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris

In insects, the perception and discrimination of odorants requires the involvement of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). To gain a better molecular understanding of olfaction in the agronomic pest Lygus lineolaris (the tarnished plant bug), we used a transcriptomics-based approach to identify potential OBPs. In total, 33 putative OBP transcripts, including the previously reported Lygus antennal protein (LAP), were identified based on the characteristic OBP Cys signature and/or sequence similarity with annotated orthologous sequences. The L. lineolaris OBP (LylinOBP) repertoire consists of 20 'classic' OBPs, defined by the spacing of six conserved Cys residues, and 12 'Plus-C' OBPs, defined by the spacing of eight conserved Cys and one conserved Pro residue. Alternative splicing of OBP genes appears to contribute significantly to the multiplicity of LylinOBP sequences. Microarray-based analysis of chemosensory tissues (antennae, legs and proboscis) revealed enrichment of 21 LylinOBP transcripts in antennae, 12 in legs, and 15 in proboscis, suggesting potential roles in olfaction and gustation respectively. PCR-based determination of transcript abundance for a subset of the LylinOBP genes across multiple adult tissues yielded results consistent with the hybridization data.

Identification of the western tarnished plant bug (Lygus hesperus) olfactory co-receptor Orco: expression profile and confirmation of atypical membrane topology

Lygus hesperus (western tarnished plant bug) is an agronomically important pest species of numerous cropping systems. Similar to other insects, a critical component underlying behaviors is the perception and discrimination of olfactory cues. Consequently, the molecular basis of olfaction in this species is of interest. To begin to address this issue, we utilized homology-based PCR as a commonly accepted abbreviation but if necessary it is polymerase chain reaction methods to identify the L. hesperus olfactory receptor co-receptor (Orco) ortholog, a receptor that has been shown to be essential for olfaction. The L. hesperus Orco (LhOrco) shares significant sequence homology with known Orco proteins in other insects. Parallel experiments using the sympatric sister species, Lygus lineolaris (tarnished plant bug), revealed that the Lygus Orco gene was completely conserved. Surprisingly, a majority of the membrane topology prediction algorithms used in the study predicted LhOrco to have both the N and C terminus intracellular. In vitro immunofluorescent microscopy experiments designed to probe the membrane topology of transiently expressed LhOrco, however, refuted those predictions and confirmed that the protein adopts the inverted topology (intracellular N terminus and an extracellular C terminus) characteristic of Orco proteins. RT-PCR analyses indicated that LhOrco transcripts are predominantly expressed in adult antennae and to a lesser degree in traditionally nonolfactory chemosensory tissues of the proboscis and legs. Expression is not developmentally regulated because transcripts were detected in all nymphal stages as well as eggs. Taken together, the results suggest that LhOrco likely plays a critical role in mediating L. hesperus odorant perception and discrimination.

Distinct expression profiles and different functions of odorant binding proteins in Nilaparvata lugens Stål

BACKGROUND

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play important roles in insect olfaction. The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Delphacidae, Auchenorrhyncha, Hemiptera) is one of the most important rice pests. Its monophagy (only feeding on rice), wing form (long and short wing) variation, and annual long distance migration (seeking for rice plants of high nutrition) imply that the olfaction would play a central role in BPH behavior. However, the olfaction related proteins have not been characterized in this insect.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Full length cDNA of three OBPs were obtained and distinct expression profiles were revealed regarding to tissue, developmental stage, wing form and gender for the first time for the species. The results provide important clues in functional differentiation of these genes. Binding assays with 41 compounds demonstrated that NlugOBP3 had markedly higher binding ability and wider binding spectrum than the other two OBPs. Terpenes and Ketones displayed higher binding while Alkanes showed no binding to the three OBPs. Focused on NlugOBP3, RNA interference experiments showed that NlugOBP3 not only involved in nymph olfaction on rice seedlings, but also had non-olfactory functions, as it was closely related to nymph survival.

CONCLUSIONS

NlugOBP3 plays important roles in both olfaction and survival of BPH. It may serve as a potential target for developing behavioral disruptant and/or lethal agent in N. lugens.

Identification and tissue distribution of odorant binding protein genes in the lucerne plant bug Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze)

Insect odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are required for insect olfaction perception and play a key role in transporting hydrophobic semiochemicals across the sensillum lymph to the olfactory receptors (Ors). We constructed two high-quality cDNA libraries from the male and female antennae of the lucerne plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Miridae), a hemipteran species in a large and economically important phylogenetic group of phytophagous insects. A total of 1538 male ESTs and 1576 female ESTs were sequenced and analyzed, which produced 2915 high-quality ESTs for further analysis. The 2915 ESTs were assembled to 1423 unigenes. Of the 1423 unigenes, 895 (63%) showed no significant similarity with any known GenBank entry. The most prevalent transcripts in the cDNA libraries are OBPs, chemosensory proteins (CSPs), protein takeout precursors, antennae-specific proteins. We identified 14 genes encoding 12 "classical OBPs" with only six conserved cysteines and 2 "Plus-C OBPs" with two additional conserved cysteines and a conserved proline immediately after the sixth cysteine. AlinOBP4 has a very high amino acid identity of 89% to LAP, a well studied OBP of the tarnished plant bug Lygus lineolaris. The expression profiles of the 14 OBPs in different tissues (antennae, heads, thoraxes, abdomens, legs and wings) were measured by real-time qPCR. The results revealed some OBP genes are highly and differentially expressed in male and female antennae, and four OBP genes have an extremely high transcript level in the legs. Of two Plus-C OBP genes, one (AlinOBP14) is highly expressed only in the heads and another (AlinOBP7) is expressed in all olfactory tissues with much lower transcript levels comparing to other OBPs. The possible physiological functions of these OBPs are discussed.

Molecular characterization and expression pattern of two general odorant binding proteins from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella

In the Lepidoptera, odorant signals are thought to be mediated by general odorant binding proteins (GOBPs) in the sensillar lymph surrounding the olfactory receptors. We describe the identification and characterization of two new cDNAs encoding GOBPs from the antennae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), a species for which no GOBPs have been identified to date. We focused our investigation on this olfactory protein family by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction strategies. The deduced amino acid sequences of PxylGOBP1 and PxylGOBP2 revealed open reading frames of 168 and 163 amino acids, respectively, with six cysteine residues in conserved positions relative to other known GOBPs. The alignment of the mature PxylGOBPs with other Lepidoptera GOBPs showed high sequence identity (70-80%) with other full-length sequences from GenBank. Sequence identity between PxylGOBP1and PxylGOBP2 was only 50%, suggesting that the two proteins belong to different classes of lepidopteran GOBPs. The expression patterns of the two PxylGOBP genes, with respect to tissue distribution and sex, were further investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. Although the two GOBP genes were expressed only in the antennae of both sexes, reflecting the antennal specificity of GOBPs, the transcription levels of these genes depended on the sex, the age, the mating status, and the genes.

Large gene family expansions and adaptive evolution for odorant and gustatory receptors in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Gaining insight into the mechanisms of chemoreception in aphids is of primary importance for both integrative studies on the evolution of host plant specialization and applied research in pest control management because aphids rely on their sense of smell and taste to locate and assess their host plants. We made use of the recent genome sequence of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, to address the molecular characterization and evolution of key molecular components of chemoreception: the odorant (Or) and gustatory (Gr) receptor genes. We identified 79 Or and 77 Gr genes in the pea aphid genome and showed that most of them are aphid-specific genes that have undergone recent and rapid expansion in the genome. By addressing selection within sets of paralogous Or and Gr expansions, for the first time in an insect species, we show that the most recently duplicated loci have evolved under positive selection, which might be related to the high degree of ecological specialization of this species. Although more functional studies are still needed for insect chemoreceptors, we provide evidence that Grs and Ors have different sets of positively selected sites, suggesting the possibility that these two gene families might have different binding pockets and bind structurally distinct classes of ligand. The pea aphid is the most basal insect species with a completely sequenced genome to date. The identification of chemoreceptor genes in this species is a key step toward further exploring insect comparative genetics, the genomics of ecological specialization and speciation, and new pest control strategies.

Genome and EST analyses and expression of a gene family with putative functions in insect chemoreception

Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are thought to be responsible for the transport of semiochemicals across hydrophobic interfaces to olfactory receptors. In insects, a second class of OBPs with four conserved cysteines has been variously named as sensory appendage proteins, olfactory segment-D proteins, and chemosensory proteins (CSPs). The physiological functions of these proteins have remained elusive. Here we report a comprehensive survey of both genome and expressed sequence tags (EST) databases. This showed that CSPs are apparently only present in the phylum, Arthropoda, and in two subphyla, Crustacea and Uniramia. This is the first report of a putative CSP in Crustacea and suggests that the origin of these genes predates the divergence of Uniramia and Crustacea. For the Uniramia, we identified 74 new genes encoding putative CSPs of insect species from 10 different orders. Using tissue-specific EST libraries, we have examined the relative expression of putative CSP genes in many tissues from 22 insect species suggesting that the genes are expressed widely. One Drosophila CSPs is expressed sixfold higher in head than other CSPs. One Bombyx mori CSPs was found at a very high level in pheromone gland, and for the first time, six CSPs were identified in B. mori compound eyes. The different frequencies of CSP transcripts were observed between solitary and gregarious EST libraries of Locusta migratoria.

Ultrastructural characterization of antennal sensilla and immunocytochemical localization of a chemosensory protein in Carausius morosus Brünner (Phasmida: Phasmatidae)

The aim of this work was to investigate the olfactory system of the walking stick insect, Carausius morosus. Morphological, ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies of adult female antennae were conducted by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Extensive cross-section series were made through the last antennal segment to define the cuticular apparatus, wall pore distribution and the number of innervating receptor neurons of each sensillum type. Single-walled wall pore sensilla occur in three subtypes: (i) with 27 or 28 branched receptor neurons, (ii) with two branched neurons and (iii) with one or two unbranched neurons, respectively. Double-walled wall pore sensilla were found in two subtypes with spoke channels, one with four unbranched neurons, the other with two unbranched neurons. One terminal pore sensillum was found, showing two cavities within the hair and being innervated by six sensory cells. Immunocytochemical experiments were performed to show the localization of a 19 kDa soluble protein found in the chemosensory organs of C. morosus. This protein shows an amino acid sequence homologous to the family of chemosensory proteins (CSP). The polyclonal antibody raised against the purified protein (CSP-cmA) showed, for the first time in CSPs, a strong labeling in olfactory sensilla, specifically in the sensillum lymph surrounding the dendritic branches of SW-WP sensilla and in the uninnervated lumen between the two concentric walls of DW-WP type 1 sensilla.

Identity and expression pattern of chemosensory proteins in Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae)

Analyzing the chemosensory organs of the moth Heliothis virescens, three proteins belonging to the family of insect chemosensory proteins (CSPs) have been cloned; they are called HvirCSP1, HvirCSP2 and HvirCSP3. The HvirCSPs show about 50% identity between each other and 30-76% identity to CSPs from other species. Overall, they are rather hydrophilic proteins but include a conserved hydrophobic motif. Tissue distribution and temporal expression pattern during the last pupal stages were assessed by Northern blots. HvirCSP mRNAs were detected in various parts of the adult body with a particular high expression level in legs. The expression of HvirCSP1 in legs started early during adult development, in parallel with the appearance of the cuticle. HvirCSP1 mRNA was detectable five days before eclosion (day E-5), increased dramatically on day E-3 and remained at high level into adult life. The tissue distribution and the time course of appearance of HvirCSPs are in agreement with a possible role in contact chemosensation.

Pheromones cause disease: pheromone/odourant transduction

This paper compares two models of the sense of smell and demonstrates that the new model has advantages over the accepted model with implications for medical research. The accepted transduction model had an odourant or pheromone contacting an aqueous sensory lymph then movement through it to a receptor membrane beneath. If the odourant or pheromone were non-soluble, the odourant/pheromone supposedly would be bound to a soluble protein in the lymph to be carried across. Thus, an odourant/carrier protein complex physically moved through the receptor lymph/mucus to interact with a membrane bound receptor. After the membranous receptor interaction, the molecule would be deactivated and any odourant/pheromone-binding protein recycled. This new electrical chemosensory model being proposed here has the pheromone or other odourant generating an electrical event in the extra-cellular mucus. Before the pheromone arrives, proteins of the 'carrier class' dissolved in the receptor mucus slowly and continuously sequester ions. A sensed pheromonal chemical species sorbs to the mucus and immediately binds to the now ion-holding dissolved protein. The binding of the pheromone to the protein causes a measurable conformational change in the pheromone/odourant-binding protein, desequestering ions. Releasing the bound ions changes the potential differences across a nearby super-sensitive dendritic membrane resulting in dendrite excitation. Pheromones will be implicated in the aetiology of the infectious, psychiatric and autoimmune diseases. This is the third article in a series of twelve to systematically explore this contention (see references 1-9).

Purification and molecular cloning of chemosensory proteins from Bombyx mori

Soluble low molecular weight acidic proteins are suspected to transport stimulus molecules to the sensory neurons within insect sensilla. From the antennae of Bombyx mori, we have purified and sequenced a protein (BmorCSP1) bearing sequence similarity to a class of soluble chemosensory proteins recently discovered in several orders of insects. Based on its N-terminal sequence, the cDNA encoding this protein has been amplified and cloned. Differential screening of a B. mori antennal cDNA library led to the identification of a second gene encoding a related protein (BmorCSP2), sharing 35-40% identity to BmorCSP1 and chemosensory proteins from other species. The predicted secondary structures of moth's, chemosensory proteins comprise alpha-helical foldings at conserved positions and a reduced hydrophobicity with respect to this novel family of chemosensory proteins.

Diversity of odourant binding proteins revealed by an expressed sequence tag project on male Manduca sexta moth antennae

A small expressed sequence tag (EST) project generating 506 ESTs from 375 cDNAs was undertaken on the antennae of male Manduca sexta moths in an effort to discover olfactory receptor proteins. We encountered several clones that encode apparent transmembrane proteins; however, none is a clear candidate for an olfactory receptor. Instead we found a greater diversity of odourant binding proteins (OBPs) than previously known in moth antennae, raising the number known for M. sexta from three to seven. Together with evidence of seventeen members of the family from the Drosophila melanogaster genome project, our results suggest that insects may have many tens of OBPs expressed in subsets of the chemosensory sensilla on their antennae. These results support a model for insect olfaction in which OBPs selectively transport and present odourants to transmembrane olfactory receptors. We also found five members of a family of shorter proteins, named sensory appendage proteins (SAPs), that might also be involved in odourant transport. This small EST project also revealed several candidate odourant degrading enzymes including three P450 cytochromes, a glutathione S-transferase and a uridine diphosphate (UDP) glucosyltransferase. Several first insect homologues of proteins known from vertebrates, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, yeast and bacteria were encountered, and most have now also been detected by the large D. melanogaster EST project. Only thriteen entirely novel proteins were encountered, some of which are likely to be cuticle proteins.

Filogenia, sistemática e entomologia prática: heteroptera (Hemiptera)

A aplicação do trabalho em sistemática e filogenética pode ter muitos efeitos práticos na entomologia aplicada. A filogenia é o estudo das relações evolucionárias dos organismos; a sistemática usa os resultados da filogenia para contrair sistemas de classificação. Se alguém sabe algo sobre as relações filogenéticas e sistemáticas de uma praga de uma cultura, então ele sabe os parentes da praga ou cultura, e pode predizer o que poderão fazer no futuro. Tal conhecimento e predições são especialmente importantes em países em desenvolvimento, os quais estão diversificando sua agricultura. Insetos que se alimentam de plantas selvagens podem se tornar pragas quando os parentes destas plantas são introduzidas como culturas. Similarmente, nesses países, parentes selvagens de pragas de outros locais, podem eles tornarem-se pragas quando a mesma cultura é introduzida. Habilidade de fazer tais predições permite aos países estarem preparados para combater pragas antes que elas tomem este status. Exemplos de tais predições de heterópteros para as culturas no Brasil incluem: certos Blissidae (pragas do arroz e da cana de açúcar na Ásia), certos Alydidae (pragas de legumes na Ásia e agora da soja no Brasil); também alguns triatomíneos Reduviidae (vetores da doença de Chagas na Região Neotropical, potencialmente transmissores da doença de Chagas na Índia). Em adição, o conhecimento da filogenia e da sistemática pode permitir o controle de percevejos do gêneros Lygus, um grupo de pragas da Região Holártica (Miridae).