Data from: Energy mobilization in Asian ladybug under extreme flight stimulation: Sexual differences in behavior and metabolism
Data files
May 21, 2026 version files 55.32 KB
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D-V-M-preM.csv
8.59 KB
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Genes__expression-F.csv
15.27 KB
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Genes__expression-M.csv
14.99 KB
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README.md
3.72 KB
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Sugars_and_Enzymes.csv
2.02 KB
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Triglyceride_Content-1.csv
5.21 KB
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Triglyceride_Content-2.csv
4.79 KB
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Triglyceride_Content-all.csv
726 B
Abstract
This study takes Harmonia axyridis as the research object to systematically analyze the differences in flight capacity, energy metabolic substance content, and expression patterns of related genes between male and female individuals under different flight durations via tethered flight tests. We preliminarily analyzed the original accumulation of energy substances and their post-flight consumption by measuring body weight before and after flight. Subsequently, we quantified the flight performance parameters of individuals under different sex and flight duration treatments using a flight mill system and data acquisition device to evaluate their flight capacity. Combined with the dynamic changes of core energy substances such as glycogen and trehalose, as well as the expression levels of metabolism-related genes, we compared the differences in flight and energy metabolism between males and females. The results showed that female individuals had higher original energy reserves and better long-duration and long-distance flight capacity than males. In addition, females primarily consumed glycogen and trehalose to supply energy in the early flight stage, then mobilized a small amount of triglycerides for energy compensation in the late stage; whereas males maintained energy supply by increasing trehalose content through glycolipid conversion in the middle and late flight stages. Meanwhile, trehalase activity and gene expression analyses indicated that males might mainly rely on increasing soluble trehalase activity to promote trehalose decomposition, while females predominantly depend on membrane-bound trehalase. Our study not only fills the research gap in the flight-metabolism coupling mechanism of Harmonia axyridis but also provides an important theoretical basis for the application and strategic optimization of biological control of this ladybeetle.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.t1g1jwthr
Description of the data and file structure
These datasets contains experimental data on flight performance, energy metabolism, and gene expression of male and female Harmonia axyridis under different flight durations, obtained via tethered flight assays. It aims to reveal the sex-specific energy allocation strategies and flight-metabolism coupling mechanisms of this important natural enemy insect for biological control. The dataset includes:
Flight performance parameters (flight duration, distance, and velocity) recorded by the flight mill system;
Pre- and post-flight body weight data for estimating energy substance consumption;
Quantitative measurements of core energy metabolites (triglycerides, glycogen, trehalose, and glucose) at different flight stages;
Activity data of soluble trehalase and membrane-bound trehalase;
Expression levels of key energy metabolism-related genes (trehalase family genes).
All data were collected under controlled laboratory conditions to compare how males and females mobilize and utilize energy reserves to support sustained flight, and to analyze sex-specific metabolic and molecular regulatory patterns.
Files and variables
Files:
- D-V-M-preM.csv
- Genes__expression-F.csv
- Genes__expression-M.csv
- Sugars_and_Enzymes.csv
- Triglyceride_Content-1.csv
- Triglyceride_Content-2.csv
- Triglyceride_Content-all.csv
Description: These files contain all raw experimental data from tethered flight tests, energy metabolism assays, trehalase activity measurements, and gene expression analyses of male and female Harmonia axyridis under different flight durations. The data are organized into multiple worksheets for different types of measurements. Missing values are represented by blank cells.
Variables
- Group: Sample ID, unique identifier.
- Sex: Sex of the ladybirds (categorical: Male / Female).
- Time: Assigned flight duration treatment (hours: 0, 6, 10.).
- Distance: Total flight distance (meters).
- Speed: Average flight speed (meters per second, m/s).
- PRE-Flight-Weight: Body weight before the flight test (grams, g).
- Weight Loss%: Percentage Change in Body Weight Pre- and Post-flight.
- Triglyceride Content: Triglyceride concentration (mg/mg prot).
- Glycogen Content: Glycogen concentration (n mol/ug Protein).
- Total Trehalose Content: Trehalose concentration (n mol/ug protein).
- Total Glucose Content: Glucose concentration (n mol/ug Protein).
- Soluble Trehalase Activity: Activity of soluble trehalase (n mol glucose/μg protein/minute).
- Membrane-bound Trehalase Activity: Activity of membrane-bound trehalase (n mol glucose/μg protein/minute).
- Gene Name: Name of the trehalase family gene (e.g., TRE1-1, TRE1-2, and reference gene rp49).
- Relative Expression: Relative gene expression level (calculated by 2 -ΔΔCt method).
Code/software
These datasets are provided in CSV format and can be opened and viewed with mainstream spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20, including descriptive statistics, t-tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), to examine time- or sex-specific differences in flight performance, energy metabolism, enzyme activity, and gene expression. All figures and visualizations were generated using Origin 2024. No custom code or scripts are included in this submission, and all analyses can be reproduced using the provided raw data via standard workflows in the above software.