Mechanisms Responsible for Larval Diapause in Anastatus japonicus Ashmead, Shown by Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses

Diapause enables insect survival in unfavorable environments. The parasitic wasp <i>A. japonicus</i>, a natural enemy of several fruit-tree pests, undergoes larval diapause. Previous work has shown that larval diapause in <i>A. japonicus</i> can be induced by medium temperatures in combination with short-day photoperiods; however, the molecular functions associated with this response remain poorly understood. Here, integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approaches were employed to investigate the molecular signatures associated with larval diapause in <i>A. japonicus</i>. The identification of 3399 differentially expressed genes and 3112 differentially expressed proteins was carried out between diapause and non-diapause larvae. Among these, five gene-protein pairs showed consistent differential expression, including farnesol dehydrogenase, crystallin (associated with longevity-related pathways), forkhead-associated (FHA) domain-containing proteins, and the detoxification enzyme cytochrome P450. These findings show that larval diapause in <i>A. japonicus</i> is accompanied by extensive physiological and biochemical remodeling, and juvenile hormone-related signaling is likely involved in this process. In summary, these results provide insights into future gene function research, especially with regard to the mechanism of larval diapause in <i>A. japonicus</i>.