Climate warming is expected to impact the response of species to insecticides. Recent studies show that this interaction between insecticides and temperature can depend on other factors.Here, we tested for the influence of transgenerational effects on the Insecticide x Temperature interaction in the crop pest moth Spodoptera littoralis. Specifically, we analysed reaction norms among experimental clutches based on a split-plot design crossing the factors temperature, insecticide and clutch. The study was performed on 2280 larvae reared at four temperatures (23, 25, 27 and 29°C), and their response to the insecticide deltamethrin (three concentrations and a control group) was tested. Temperature had a global influence with effects on larval survival, duration of development, pupal body mass, and significant reaction norms of the clutches for temperature variations of only 2°C. In addition to the expected effect of deltamethrin on mortality, the insecticide slightly delayed the development of S. littoralis, and the effects on mortality and development differed among the clutches.Projection models integrating all the observed responses illustrated the additive effects of deltamethrin and temperature on the population multiplication rate. Variation in the response of the clutches showed that transgenerational effects influenced the impact of insecticide and temperature. Although no evidence indicated that the Insecticide x Temperature interaction depended on transgenerational effects, the studies on the dependence of the Insecticide x Temperature interaction on other factors continue to be crucial to confidently predict the combined effects of insecticides and climate warming.

Effects of low concentrations of pesticides, with no or moderate mortality of targeted species, are poorly studied even though these low concentrations are common under natural conditions. Studying their effects is critical because they can induce positive hormetic responses, possibly leading to greater pest multiplication and promoting the evolution of pest resistance. Here, we investigated the responses of the pest moth Spodoptera littoralis to low concentrations of deltamethrin, and tested for variation in effects of the pesticide between developmental stages and sexes. Indeed, we show that a given concentration of deltamethrin has different effects between stages, and even between sexes. Two experimental concentrations led to very high mortality early in S. littoralis development (4 th larval instar), but only to low mortality rates in adults. Moreover, our highest experimental concentration had only detrimental effects in adult females, but improved the reproductive success of adult males. Model projections showed that the lethality from treatments at the 4 th larval instar was the predominant effect. Because of the high multiplication rate of S. littoralis, it was also found that treatments with very similar effects on larval mortality can lead to either population extinction or rapid pest resurgence.

Transgenerational effects on sensitivity to pesticides are poorly studied. This study investigated the transgenerational influences of maternal body mass in the major pest moth Spodoptera littoralis, with a focus on sensitivity to chlorpyrifos pesticide. In 147 clutches of a laboratory strain of S. littoralis, we compared larval mortality between control larvae and larvae treated with chlorpyrifos. Because of the classic positive relationships between offspring size and maternal size and between offspring size and offspring quality, sensitivity to chlorpyrifos was predicted to be lower in larvae of larger mothers. Surprisingly, we found the opposite result, with higher pesticide toxicity in larvae of larger mothers. This result is partly explained by the lack of a relationship between larval mass and larval sensitivity to chlorpyrifos. This means that another offspring characteristic linked to maternal size should have affected larval sensitivity to chlorpyrifos. More generally, knowledge of the effects of the traits and ecological environments of mothers on offspring sensitivity to pesticides remains limited. Ecotoxicologists should pay more attention to such maternal effects on sensitivity to pesticides, both in pests and non-target species.

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Molecular analyses based on the comparison of Chirocephalus species mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences obtained from Algeria, Morocco and France with other available sequences were performed. The analysis clarified the status of the genus Chirocephalus Prévost, 1803 in Algeria and its phylogenetic links with other populations. Three lineages occur in Algeria representing three different species: Chirocephalus salinus Daday, 1910, C. sanhadjaensis Boumendjel, Rabet and Amarouayache, 2018 and a new species sampled in Reghaïa (Alger, Algeria) near Algiers. All these species, belonging to the "diaphanus" group, seem to be endemic to Algeria except C. salinus also present in France (Corsica). The new species C. algeriensis sp. nov. is described and its affinities with other species of the genus are presented. This species is until now restricted to Algiers region and shares several characters with C. diaphanus Prévost, 1803. It is separated from all other species by the shape and size of the second antennal appendages of the male and the female. The resting eggs of C. algeriensis sp. nov. are morphologically similar to those of many Chirocephalus but a variation of size of eggs can be used at a specific level.