DOI: 10.5061/dryad.4mw6m90mp
title: Data from: Impact of short- and long-duration thermal stress on antioxidant enzyme activity in Parthenium beetles

description: Insects encounter variable temperature conditions in their natural
 habitats. Under non-optimal temperatures, they experience thermal-stress
 and oxidative damage, which are mitigated by antioxidant enzymes like
 superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and lipid peroxidation (LPO).
 While the short-term effects of thermal stress on anti-oxidant enzyme
 activities in insects are well understood, the long-term effects are less
 explored. We investigated both short-term (3 and 6 hours) and long-term
 (24 hours) effects of thermal-stress on SOD, CAT, and LPO activities in
 the Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister at cold
 (15ºC), control/optimal (25ºC), and hot (35ºC) temperatures. Although Z.
 bicolorata is an effective biocontrol agent for noxious Parthenium weed,
 no prior study assessed the impact of thermal stress on antioxidant enzyme
 activities in this beetle. Our results revealed that antioxidant enzyme
 activities increased above control levels in both larvae and adults when
 exposed to thermal stress for short durations. Under long-term
 thermal-stress, CAT and LPO activities decreased below control levels,
 while SOD activity increased. Regardless of temperature conditions, early
 larval instars exhibited higher enzyme activities compared to later
 instars. In adults, males showed higher SOD and CAT activities, whereas
 LPO activity did not differ significantly between sexes. Our findings
 suggest that short-term thermal stress can stimulate protective enzyme
 activity in these beetles and help them adapt to sub-optimal temperatures.
 However, prolonged exposure may lead to excessive stimulation, potentially
 inhibiting protective enzyme activity and causing the beetles to activate
 alternative pathways to manage thermal stress. Moreover, fourth instars
 and adult females are the most thermal-stress-tolerant stages for
 Parthenium biocontrol.
description: # Impact of short- and long-duration thermal stress on antioxidant enzyme
 activity in Parthenium beetles
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4mw6m90mp](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.4mw6m90mp) ## Description of the data and file structure The dataset consists of a data file named Experimental_Data.xlsx. The present study examines the short-term (3 and 6 hours) and long-term (24 hours) effects of thermal stress on antioxidant defense mechanisms in the Parthenium beetle, *Zygogramma bicolorata* Pallister. Specifically, the activities of key antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)—and the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured under different thermal conditions. Thermal stress was applied at three temperature regimes: cold stress (15°C), optimal/control temperature (25°C), and heat stress (35°C). In total, four stress durations were considered: no stress (0 hours, control), and stress exposures of 3, 6, and 24 hours. The study encompassed multiple developmental stages of *Z. bicolorata*, including second, third, and fourth instar larvae, as well as adult males and females. Each stage was evaluated for the three physiological parameters, viz. SOD (measured as U/mg), CAT (measured as U/mg), and LPO (measured as nmol TBARS/mg protein) in response to the varying thermal and temporal stress conditions. Each experiment was replicated ten times per stage per setup (analysis data sheet) and per duration (DATA sheet). This comprehensive experimental design aimed to elucidate the biochemical responses of *Z. bicolorata* to thermal stress, contributing to a better understanding of the insect’s adaptability and resilience under changing environmental temperatures.