RNAi-mediated silencing of ferritin genes in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens affects survival, growth and female fecundity.

NlFer1 and NlFer2 are essential for BPH development and reproduction, and the insect is highly sensitive to their depletion, suggesting that the two gut-highly-expressed genes are promising candidates for application in RNAi-based control of this destructive pest.