Gut bacteria facilitate leaf beetles in adapting to dietary specialization by enhancing larval fitness.

ABSTRACT: Dietary specialization between insect stages can reduce intraspecific food competition. The involvement of gut bacteria and the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon received limited attention. Plagiodera versicolora is a pest harming Salicaceae trees. Here, we confirmed dietary specialization in P. versicolora, wherein adults prefer new leaves, while larvae predominantly consume mature leaves when both types are available. We demonstrated the larval preference for mature leaves confers ecological advantages by promoting growth, development and immunity and this advantage is contingent upon the presence of gut bacteria. Gut microbiota in larvae revealed a significant enrichment of Pantoea when feeding new leaves, with P. anthophila exhibiting the most pronounced inhibitory effect on larval

SUBMITTER: Ma M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496516 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature