Author
Claudia Lange
langec@landcareresearch.co.nz
Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua group
Christchurch, New Zealand
Abstract
Insects rely on close relationships with symbiotic microbes to survive, adapt, and thrive. Microbiota play a fundamental role in the fitness and adaptability of their host insects by influencing physiological, behavioural, and ecological traits, inhibiting antagonists like pathogenic fungi, and stimulating the immune system. Microbiome communities in the gut, reproductive organs, cuticle, and other tissues enable insect populations to respond flexibly to shifting climates or new geographical ranges. In this way, microbiota provide a rapid means of adaptation on timescales far shorter than that of genetic adaptation.
As microbiota are acquired vertically (from the parents) and horizontally (from the environment), changes to the insect natural breeding and living environment have impacts on the microbiome composition. Artificial ‘clean’ rearing procedures may lead to dysbiosis, where insect health, reproduction, and performance are impacted.
This talk will give an overview of the role of insect microbiomes in biological control. Factors that cause microbiome change, consequences for the host, and implications for biocontrol will be presented, and outstanding questions and future research directions will be discussed.
keywords
Microbiomes
Highlights
Insects rely on close relationships with symbiotic microbes to survive, adapt, and thrive
microbiota provide a rapid means of adaptation
breeding and living environment have impacts on the microbiome composition