Three Antibiotics Exert Differential Effects on the Larval Microbiome and Fitness of <i>Hyphantria cunea</i>.

ABSTRACT: The severe damage caused by the fall webworm Hyphantria cunea is closely related to its internal microbiota. However, due to the widespread use of antibiotics and their environmental persistence, the specific effects of various antibiotics on the microbiome and fitness of H. cunea larvae remain ambiguous. This study investigated the impacts of three antibiotics (tetracycline, rifampicin, and kanamycin) on microbiome assembly, functional traits, and host fitness. Our findings revealed that each antibiotic distinctly altered the microbial community: tetracycline primarily decreased bacterial diversity (e.g., reduced abundance of Actinomycetota) and suppressed host fecundity; kanamycin lowered microbial evenness (e.g., decreased Bacillota) and diminished pupal weig

SUBMITTER: Li TP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12472531 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature