Changes in larval phenotype after RNAi-mediated AeELO2 knockdown. (A) Quantitation of AeELO2 expression in larvae after RNAi-mediated knockdown. (B) Quantitation of AeELO9 expression in larvae after RNAi-mediated knockdown. (C) Abnormal molting caused by AeELO2 knockdown. Here, 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent abnormally molting larvae in the AeELO2 knockdown group; 5 and 6 are the larvae in the gus-dsRNA treatment group; 7 and 8 represent the blank control group. (D) AeELO2 knockdown results in a red thorax. Here, 1 and 4 are the abnormal larvae after RNAi-mediated AeELO2 knockdown; 2 and 5 represent the larvae in the negative control group (gus-dsRNA treated); 3 and 6 are the larvae in the blank control group (water treated). (E) The larvae with a red thorax became swollen for a short time after death. Here, 1 represents the larvae with a red thorax in the AeELO2 knockdown group; 2 and 3 represent the larvae in the control groups; 4 represents the larvae within 12 h after death; 5 and 6 represent the larvae in the control groups at 12 h after death; 7 shows the dissected state of the larva shown in 4. In addition, 8 and 9 show larvae from the control groups; 10 represents larvae from the AeELO2 knockdown group. Abbreviations: DEPC, blank control, larvae treated with diethyl pyrocarbonate water; GUS, larvae treated with gus-dsRNA; ELO2, larvae treated with AeELO2-dsRNA; ELO9, larvae treated with AeELO9-dsRNA; **** p < 0.0001, ns, not significant.