Identification and evolution analysis on chemosensory protein genes in Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Insect chemosensory proteins are small soluble proteins expressed in various insect species, which are believed to be involved in chemosensory communication. In this study, based on the successful transcriptome sequencing in Phenacoccus solenopsis, we identified 12 putative chemosensory protein (CSPs) genes namely PsolCSP1-PsolCSP12, respectively. With 10%-50% similarities to Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and Hemiptera, these genes had high homology with the reported CSPs in other insects, which demonstrated the highly conservative of CSPs different species. The results are helpful for further research on molecular structure and function of CSPs in P. solenopsis.