Inward rectifier potassium (Kir) channels in the soybean aphid Aphis glycines: functional characterization, pharmacology, and toxicology.

•The genome of Aphis glycines possessed 2 Kir channel genes: ApKir1 and ApKir2.•ApKir1 and ApKir2 formed barium-inhibitable Kir channels in Xenopus oocytes.•ApKir1 produced larger K+-currents with stronger rectification compared to ApKir2.•ApKir1 was more sensitive to barium compared to ApKir2.•Small molecule inhibition of Kir channels in vivo was lethal to aphids within 24 h.