This study investigates the genetic basis of industrial melanism in peppered moths, showing that multiple alleles at the ivory locus, including structural variants, contribute to the trait in different regions.

bioRxiv · Feb 26, 2026 · PreprintEvolutionary Biology

Ghost W chromosomes and unique genome architecture in ghost moths of the family Hepialidae

Anna Voleníková, Ken Sahara, Jana Štundlová, Martina Dalíková, Petr Koutecký, Patrick Grof‐Tisza, Thomas J. Simonsen, Michal Žurovec, Irena Provazníková, James R. Walters, František Marec, Petr Nguyen

This study investigates the W chromosome in ghost moths, revealing large genomes, absence of typical sex chromatin, and potential origin from a B chromosome.

bioRxiv · Sep 3, 2023 · PreprintGenomics

High-quality haploid genomes corroborate 29 chromosomes and highly conserved synteny of genes in Hyles hawkmoths (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Anna K. Hundsdoerfer, Tilman Schell, Franziska Patzold, Charlotte J Wright, Atsuo Yoshido, František Marec, Hana Daneck, Sylke Winkler, Carola Greve, Lars Podsiadłowski, Michael Hiller, Martin Pippel

The paper assembles and compares chromosome-level genomes of two Hyles hawkmoth species, revealing conserved synteny and chromosomal rearrangements.

bioRxiv · Apr 8, 2022 · PreprintGenomics

A conserved role of the duplicated Masculinizer gene in sex determination of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella

Sander Visser, Anna Voleníková, Petr Nguyen, Eveline C. Verhulst, František Marec

The paper identifies and characterizes duplicated Masc genes in Ephestia kuehniella, showing their conserved role in male sex determination through expression patterns and RNAi experiments.

PLoS Genetics · Aug 2, 2021Peer-reviewedGenetics

Jekyll or Hyde? The genome (and more) of Nesidiocoris tenuis, a zoophytophagous predatory bug that is both a biological control agent and a pest

Kim Ferguson, S. Visser, Martina Dalíková, Irena Provazníková, Alberto Urbaneja, Meritxell Pérez‐Hedo, František Marec, John H. Werren, Bas J. Zwaan, Bart A. Pannebakker, Eveline C. Verhulst

The paper presents the first genome of Nesidiocoris tenuis, a predatory bug with dual roles as a biological control agent and pest, using linked-read sequencing and various genomic analyses.

Insect Molecular Biology · Dec 11, 2020Peer-reviewedGenomics

A generic white pupae sex selection phenotype for insect pest control

CM Ward, RA Aumann, MA Whitehead, Katerina Nikolouli, Gary Leveque, Georgia Gouvi, Elisabeth Fung, Sarah Julia Reiling, Haig Hugo Vrej Djambazian, MA Hughes, Samuel Whiteford, Carlos E. Cáceres-Barrios, TNM Nguyen, Amanda Choo, P Crisp, , Marc F. Schetelig

The paper identifies a conserved gene responsible for the white pupae phenotype in multiple fruit fly species and demonstrates its utility for creating sexing strains in pest control.

bioRxiv · May 8, 2020 · PreprintGenetics

Maleness-on-the-Y (MoY) orchestrates male sex determination in major agricultural fruit fly pests

Angela Meccariello, Marco Salvemini, Pasquale Primo, Brantley Hall, Panagiota Koskinioti, Martina Dalíková, Andrea Gravina, Michela Anna Gucciardino, Federica Forlenza, Maria‐Eleni Gregoriou, Domenica Ippolito, Simona Maria Monti, Valeria Petrella, Maryanna Martina Perrotta, Stephan Schmeing, , Giuseppe Saccone

The paper identifies a Y-linked gene, MoY, essential for male sex determination in medflies and shows its conservation across multiple fruit fly species, enabling potential genetic control strategies.

Science · Aug 29, 2019Peer-reviewedGenetics