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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Environmental sensing, circadian regulation, and neuroendocrine programming of embryonic diapause in the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae): An integrative review
Authors
Dr. Saurav Shome
Abstract
Embryonic diapause in the domesticated mulberry silkworm, Bombyx
mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), represents a remarkable example of
environmentally regulated developmental plasticity and transgenerational
biological programming. Unlike many insect diapause systems in which
environmental cues are directly perceived by the dormant organism, diapause in B.
mori is maternally determined, whereby photoperiodic and thermal
information experienced by the mother is transmitted through physiological
pathways that ultimately program the developmental fate of the progeny embryo.
This review provides an integrative synthesis of the current understanding of
the regulatory framework underlying embryonic diapause induction in B. mori,
with particular emphasis on the interactions among environmental perception,
circadian timekeeping, and neuroendocrine regulation. The article examines the
genetic and physiological foundations of diapause competence, including
voltinism-associated variation, major diapause-related loci, and the
contribution of circadian clock genes to seasonal adaptation. The mechanisms
through which photoperiod, temperature, and nutritional status are perceived
via photoreceptive and thermosensory pathways—including carotenoid-dependent
photoreception and BmTRPA1-mediated thermal signalling—are discussed in
relation to their downstream effects on hormonal regulation. Emphasis is given
to the circadian clock network and its functional integration with GABAergic
signalling and diapause hormone (DH) secretion from the suboesophageal
ganglion, which together constitute the key neuroendocrine pathway governing
maternal diapause determination. Recent advances in genome editing, pan-genomic
analysis, transcriptomics, and molecular signalling approaches have substantially
reshaped our understanding of this complex regulatory system. These studies
reveal that diapause is not merely the consequence of a single hormonal trigger
but rather an emergent phenotype resulting from the coordinated integration and
processing of environmental information across multiple physiological and
molecular networks. By integrating classical physiological discoveries with
contemporary molecular insights, this review highlights B. mori as a
powerful model for understanding seasonal developmental regulation and
establishes a conceptual framework for future studies aimed at manipulating
diapause responses for sustainable and climate-resilient sericulture.
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Pages:9-28
How to cite this article:
Dr. Saurav Shome "Environmental sensing, circadian regulation, and neuroendocrine programming of embryonic diapause in the mulberry silkworm <i>Bombyx mori</i> (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae): An integrative review". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 9-28
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