Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) is a highly adaptable polyphagous migratory pest in tropical and subtropical regions. Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are molecular chaperones that play important roles in the adaptation to various environment stressors. The present study aimed to clarify the response mechanisms of S. frugiperda to various environmental stressors. We obtained five S. furcifera sHsp genes (SfsHsp21.3, SfsHsp20, SfsHsp20.1, SfsHsp19.3, and SfsHsp29) via cloning. The putative proteins encoded by these genes contained a typical α-crystallin domain. The expression patterns of these genes during different developmental stages, in various tissues of male and female adults, as well as in response to extreme temperatures and UV-A stress were studied via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the expression levels of all five SfsHsp genes differed among the developmental stages as well as among the different tissues of male and female adults. The expression levels of most SfsHsp genes under extreme temperatures and UV-A-induced stress were significantly upregulated in both male and female adults. In contrast, those of SfsHsp20.1 and SfsHsp19.3 were significantly downregulated under cold stress in male adults. Therefore, the different SfsHsp genes of S. frugiperda play unique regulatory roles during development as well as in response to various environmental stressors.

草地贪夜蛾（ Spodoptera frugiperda ，JE Smith）是热带、亚热带地区适应性极强的杂食性迁飞性害虫。小热休克蛋白（sHsps）是分子伴侣，在适应各种环境应激源中发挥着重要作用。本研究旨在阐明草地贪夜蛾对各种环境应激源的响应机制。我们通过克隆获得了5个白背飞虱sHsp基因（ SfsHsp21.3 、 SfsHsp20 、 SfsHsp20.1 、 SfsHsp19.3和SfsHsp29 ）。这些基因编码的假定蛋白质包含典型的α-晶状体蛋白结构域。通过实时定量聚合酶链反应研究了这些基因在不同发育阶段、雄性和雌性成虫不同组织中的表达模式，以及对极端温度和 UV-A 应激的反应。结果表明，所有五个SfsHsp基因的表达水平在雄性和雌性成虫的发育阶段以及不同组织之间存在差异。在极端温度和 UV-A 诱导的应激下，大多数SfsHsp基因的表达水平在雄性和雌性成虫中均显着上调。相比之下，雄性成虫在冷应激下SfsHsp20.1和SfsHsp19.3的表达显着下调。因此，草地贪夜蛾的不同SfsHsp基因在发育过程以及对各种环境应激的响应中发挥着独特的调节作用。