Oral RNAi toxicity assay suggests clathrin heavy chain as a promising molecular target for controlling the 28-spotted potato ladybird, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata.

We conclude that (i) species with numerous 21-nt matches in homologous genes are more likely to be susceptible to dsRNA; (ii) dsRNA can be safely designed to avoid negative effects on non-target organisms at both transcriptional and organismal levels; (iii) HvChc can be used as an efficient RNAi target gene to effectively manage H. vigintioctopunctata.