Crop sequence effects on root maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae: Delia spp.) infestations in canola

Isolation and characterization of gut bacteria associated with the degradation of host-specific terpenoids in Pagiophloeus tsushimanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larvae

Insect intestinal bacteria play an important role in resisting defensive substances of host plants. Pagiophloeus tsushimanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeds exclusively on camphor trees (Cinnamomum camphora, Laurales: Lauraceae) in China, causing substantial economic and ecological losses. It is unclear how the larvae of P. tsushimanus outcome the main secondary metabolites of C. camphora such as D-camphor, eucalyptol, and linalool. In this study, we isolated terpenoid-degrading bacteria from the gut of P. tsushimanus larvae by using selective culture medium. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses were performed with 16S rDNA sequences to identify the bacteria, and results showed ten strains belonged to four genera, including Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Serratia, and Corynebacterium. Then, gas chromatography was employed to determine the degradability of D-camphor, eucalyptol, and linalool by the isolated strains, results showed that Z5 strain (i.e., Corynebacterium variabile, Actinomycetales: Corynebacteriaceae), F1 strain (i.e., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonadales: Pseudomonaceae), and A3 strain (i.e., Serratia marcescens, Enterobacterales: Enterobacteriaceae) had the highest degradation rates of D-camphor, linalool, and eucalyptol, respectively. The intestinal bacteria were capable of terpenoid degradation in vitro, which suggested that these gut bacteria associated with P. tsushimanus play an important role in overcoming host plant secondary metabolite defense, thereby facilitating the host specialization of this pest.

The Microbial Diversity of Cabbage Pest Delia radicum Across Multiple Life Stages

The cabbage root fly Delia radicum is a worldwide pest that causes yield losses of many common cabbage crops. The bacteria associated with D. radicum are suggested to influence the pest status of their host. In this study, we characterized insect-associated bacteria of D. radicum across multiple life stages and of their diet plant (turnip, Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) by sequencing the V3–V4 region of 16S rRNA genes using the Illumina MiSeq platform. In total, over 1.2M paired-end reads were obtained, identifying 1006 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in samples obtained from the eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of D. radicum, as well as turnips that were either fresh or infested with D. radicum larvae. The microbial community in D. radicum was dominated by Wolbachia, a common endosymbiont of arthropods which we found in all of the investigated insect samples, with the pupal stage having the highest relative abundance. Moderate amounts of Firmicutes were found only in adult D. radicum flies, but not in previous life stages. Actinobacteria were mostly found on the eggs and on the skin of fresh plants on which the eggs were deposited. These plants also harbored a large amount of Pseudomonas. The bacterial diversity of the healthy turnip was low, whereas the microbial community of decaying turnips that were heavily infested by D. radicum larvae and showing symptoms of advanced soft rot was characterized by a high bacterial diversity. Taken together, this work provides insights into the bacterial communities associated with the cabbage pest D. radicum and its associated disease symptoms.

Detoxifying symbionts in agriculturally important pest insects

Pest insects lead to excessive agricultural and therefore economical losses on crops worldwide. These insects have to withstand toxic molecules that are inherent to plant defences, as well as those that are produced and introduced by humans in the form of insecticides. In recent years, research on insect–microbe symbioses has recognized that microbial symbionts may play a role protecting against these toxins, leading to a form of defensive symbiosis between the pest insect and different types of microorganisms that we term detoxifying symbioses. In this minireview, we will highlight well‐characterized and emerging insect model systems of detoxifying symbioses and assess how the microorganisms influence the host's success.

Experimentally comparing the attractiveness of domestic lights to insects: Do LEDs attract fewer insects than conventional light types?

LED lighting is predicted to constitute 70% of the outdoor and residential lighting markets by 2020. While the use of LEDs promotes energy and cost savings relative to traditional lighting technologies, little is known about the effects these broad-spectrum "white" lights will have on wildlife, human health, animal welfare, and disease transmission. We conducted field experiments to compare the relative attractiveness of four commercially available "domestic" lights, one traditional (tungsten filament) and three modern (compact fluorescent, "cool-white" LED and "warm-white" LED), to aerial insects, particularly Diptera. We found that LEDs attracted significantly fewer insects than other light sources, but found no significant difference in attraction between the "cool-" and "warm-white" LEDs. Fewer flies were attracted to LEDs than alternate light sources, including fewer Culicoides midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Use of LEDs has the potential to mitigate disturbances to wildlife and occurrences of insect-borne diseases relative to competing lighting technologies. However, we discuss the risks associated with broad-spectrum lighting and net increases in lighting resulting from reduced costs of LED technology.