Silencing tyrosine hydroxylase or dopa decarboxylase gene disrupts cuticle tanning during larva‐pupa‐adult transformation in Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

BACKGROUND The 28‐spotted potato ladybird, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, is a notorious defoliator of many solanaceous and cucurbitaceous plants. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopa decarboxylase (DDC) are responsible for cuticle tanning pathway in insects. RESULTS We identified HvTH and HvDDC in H. vigintioctopunctata, and found that high levels of them were accumulated just before or right after molting. Injection of dsHvTH or feeding 3‐iodo‐tyrosine (3‐IT) at the third instar larval stage repressed tanning of the larval cuticle, reduced larval feeding, inhibited larval growth, and consequently caused 100% of larval mortality. Knockdown of HvDDC at the third instar larval stage hardly affected the coloration of larval head, and partially inhibited pigmentation of larval bodies and around 80% of the HvDDC RNAi larvae developed into albino pupae and adults. Moreover, depletion of HvTH or HvDDC at the fourth instar larval stage resulted in albino pupae and adults. The HvTH or HvDDC hypomorph adults fully or partially failed to remove the larval/pupal exuviae, possessed pale and abnormal wings, and poorly tanned heads and bodies, and eventually, struggled for several days without feeding on leaves before death. CONCLUSION These results show that TH and DDC play key roles in larval and adult cuticle tanning and development in H. vigintioctopunctata. Also, these findings suggest that dopa‐ and dopamine‐originated pigments are essential for larval and adult feeding behavior and the molting process during emergence. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. Dysfunction of TH causes albino larvae, pupae and adults of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata. Silencing HvDDC exerts little effect on melanin deposition in larva, while having a great influence in pupal and adult cuticles. Injection of dsHvTH or dsHvDDC results in the death of all the adults.