An insect trypsin-like serine protease as a target of microRNA: Utilization of microRNA mimics and inhibitors by oral feeding

► An insect microRNA (miRNA) targets a trypsin-like serine protease. ► Oral feeding of the synthetic miRNA mimic reduced survival, growth and fecundity. ► miRNA mimics/inhibitors remained functional through oral feeding and reduced/increased the serine protease transcript levels. ► miRNA mimics/inhibitors can be utilized by oral feeding to study miRNA-target interactions.