The green lacewing venom system and the complex mechanisms underlying its evolution.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Entomology

Background:

• Venom systems have evolved independently in many lineages, but insect venoms, especially in Neuroptera (lacewings, antlions), remain understudied.
• Neuropteran larvae are predators that utilize venom injected via pincer-like mouthparts to subdue prey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively investigate the venom system of the common green lacewing, *Chrysoperla carnea*, a representative of the largely unexplored Neuroptera.
• To characterize the composition, activity, and evolutionary origins of neuropteran venom.

Main Methods:

• Integrated analysis of high-quality genome and long-read transcriptomes across all life stages.
• Micro-computed tomography (microCT) reconstruction of venom glands.
• Tissue-specific expression analysis, venom proteomics, and functional assays.

Main Results:

• Re-description of the neuropteran venom system, confirming insecticidal and cytotoxic venom activity.
• Identification of diverse toxin gene families, showing greater similarity to antlion venom than previously thought.
• Elucidation of evolutionary mechanisms including gene co-option, duplication, diversification, and alternative splicing contributing to the venom arsenal.

Conclusions:

• The neuropteran venom system is a complex trait shaped by multiple genomic and evolutionary processes.
• Alternative splicing of toxin genes is a significant, rarely documented mechanism contributing to venom diversity in animals.
• This research provides novel insights into the evolution of insect venom and complex molecular traits.