Comparative metagenomic study unveils new insights on bacterial communities in two pine-feeding <i>Ips</i> beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Climate change has recently boosted the severity and frequency of pine bark beetle attacks. The bacterial community associated with these beetles acts as "hidden players," enhancing their ability to infest and thrive on defense-rich pine trees. There is limited understanding of the environmental acquisition of these hidden players and their life stage-specific association with different pine-feeding bark beetles. There is inadequate knowledge on novel bacterial introduction to pine trees after the beetle infestation. Hence, we conducted the first comparative bacterial metabarcoding study revealing the bacterial communities in the pine trees before and after beetle feeding and in different life stages of two dominant pine-feeding bark beetles, namely Ips sexdentatus

SUBMITTER: Khara A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496174 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature