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Insects
Special Issues
Ecologically Important Symbioses in Insects
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Ecologically Important Symbioses in Insects

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Physiology, Reproduction and Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 3873

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kerry M. Oliver

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: symbiosis; host-microbe; host-parasitoid; defensive mutualism; aphids; heritable symbionts; symbiont genomes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Insects perform critical functions in natural and managed terrestrial ecosystems that are often mediated by microorganisms. For example, microbial symbionts influence herbivore interactions with plants by synthesizing limiting nutrients, breaking down difficult-to-digest plant polymers, and detoxifying plant defenses. Symbionts also influence interactions with natural enemies by producing bioactive compounds that disable threats. Thus, ‘hidden’ microbial players can have large effects on insect performance with large implications for food security and natural systems challenged by climate disruption. We are pleased to invite original research papers and review articles focused on ecological symbioses. Suitable topics for this Special Issue include (but are not limited to) research on symbiont-mediated phenotypes, mechanisms underlying symbiont function, symbiont genomics, coordination of host and symbiont functions, symbiont transmission, interactions between insect immunity and symbionts, the population dynamics of ecological symbioses, and the manner in which a changing climate impacts insect–microbe interactions.

Prof. Dr. Kerry M. Oliver
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • symbiosis
  • endosymbiosis
  • heritable symbiosis
  • host-microbe
  • microbiome
  • host-parasitoid
  • insect-plant
  • symbiont functions, symbiont mechanisms
  • symbiont transmission
  • aphids
  • horizontal gene transfer
  • ecological symbioses, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, climate change

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 6100 KiB  
Article
Ant-Plant Mutualism in Mauritia flexuosa Palm Peat Swamp Forests: A Study of Host and Epiphyte Diversity in Ant Gardens
by Yakov Quinteros-Gómez, Jehoshua Macedo-Bedoya, Abel Salinas-Inga, Flavia Anlas-Rosado, Victor Santos-Linares, Geancarlo Alarcon-Iman, Doris Gómez-Ticerán, Franco Angeles-Alvarez, Sergio Olórtegui-Chamolí, Julio Solis-Sarmiento, Enoc Jara-Peña and Octavio Monroy-Vilchis
Insects 2024, 15(12), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15121011 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 577
Abstract
Mutualisms characterized by reciprocal benefits between species are a fundamental relationship of tropical ecosystems. Ant Gardens (AGs) represent an interesting ant-plant mutualism, involving specialized interactions between vascular epiphytes and ants. While this relationship has been extensively studied in various tropical regions, the available [...] Read more.
Mutualisms characterized by reciprocal benefits between species are a fundamental relationship of tropical ecosystems. Ant Gardens (AGs) represent an interesting ant-plant mutualism, involving specialized interactions between vascular epiphytes and ants. While this relationship has been extensively studied in various tropical regions, the available information on Peruvian ecosystems is limited. The objective of this study was to identify the ant and epiphyte species that constitute AGs. From February 2023 to January 2024, a study was conducted on two 50 × 10 m transects within the Mauritia flexuosa peat swamp forest, located within the Water Association Aguajal Renacal del Alto Mayo (ADECARAM) Tingana in San Martín, Peru. A total of 69 ant gardens were documented, comprising 18 phorophyte species, 19 epiphyte species, and three ant species. The results demonstrated that neither the height nor the diameter at breast height (DBH) of phorophytes exhibited a statistically significant correlation with the number of AGs per host. However, a positive correlation was observed between the length and width of the AGs and the number of ants per AG. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of AG mutualism in Peruvian ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecologically Important Symbioses in Insects)
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8 pages, 952 KiB  
Article
No Evidence for Wolbachia Effects on the Thermal Preference of the Invasive Pest Liriomyza huidobrensis
by Yuxi Zhu, Xinyu Wang, Sibo Wang, Zhangrong Song and Yuzhou Du
Insects 2024, 15(10), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100784 - 9 Oct 2024
Viewed by 765
Abstract
Heritable endosymbiont Wolbachia is prevalent among arthropods, serving multiple functions for their hosts. However, the role of Wolbachia in mediating thermal preference selection remains largely unexplored. In this study, we utilized a custom-built thermal gradient to evaluate the thermal preference (Tp) of 1367 [...] Read more.
Heritable endosymbiont Wolbachia is prevalent among arthropods, serving multiple functions for their hosts. However, the role of Wolbachia in mediating thermal preference selection remains largely unexplored. In this study, we utilized a custom-built thermal gradient to evaluate the thermal preference (Tp) of 1367 individuals of the invasive leaf-miner Liriomyza huidobrensis with or without Wolbachia wLhui from Yunnan and Xinjiang populations. Under meticulously controlled conditions and with a vast sample size, we found no significant difference in the mean Tp between wLhui-infected and uninfected leaf miners from either population when host age and sex were not considered. Furthermore, generalized linear model (GLM) analysis revealed no significant correlation between average Tp and age, sex, or Wolbachia infection, nor interactions among these factors, except in the Xinjiang population, where Tp was strongly associated with host age. Finally, we discuss the ecological implications of these findings and propose future research directions on Wolbachia-mediated host Tp in the leaf miner. Overall, our findings do not provide evidence that Wolbachia significantly affects the thermal preference of L. huidobrensis. Further studies across different systems are needed to investigate the complex interactions between Wolbachia and insect thermal behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecologically Important Symbioses in Insects)
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13 pages, 3504 KiB  
Article
On the Origins of Symbiotic Fungi in Carmine Cochineals and Their Function in the Digestion of Plant Polysaccharides
by Pilar González-Román, Diana Hernández-Oaxaca, Rafael Bustamante-Brito, Marco A. Rogel and Esperanza Martínez-Romero
Insects 2024, 15(10), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100783 - 9 Oct 2024
Viewed by 906
Abstract
The cochineal insect Dactylopius coccus Costa (Hemiptera) has cultural and economic value because it produces carminic acid that is used commercially. In this study, distinct fungi were cultured from dissected tissue and identified as Penicillium, Coniochaeta, Arthrinium, Cladosporium, Microascus [...] Read more.
The cochineal insect Dactylopius coccus Costa (Hemiptera) has cultural and economic value because it produces carminic acid that is used commercially. In this study, distinct fungi were cultured from dissected tissue and identified as Penicillium, Coniochaeta, Arthrinium, Cladosporium, Microascus, Aspergillus, and Periconia. Fungi were microscopically observed inside cochineals in the gut, fat body, and ovaries. Since cochineals spend their lives attached to cactus leaves and use the sap as feed, they can obtain fungi from cacti plants. Indeed, we obtained Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium fungi from cacti that were identical to those inside cochineals, supporting their plant origin. Fungi could be responsible for the degrading activities in the insect guts, since cellulase, pectinase, and amylase enzymatic activities in insect guts decreased in fungicide-treated cochineals. Our findings set the basis for the further study of the interactions between insects, fungi, and their host plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecologically Important Symbioses in Insects)
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Review

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23 pages, 2426 KiB  
Review
Biorefinery and Bioremediation Strategies for Efficient Management of Recalcitrant Pollutants Using Termites as an Obscure yet Promising Source of Bacterial Gut Symbionts: A Review
by Rongrong Xie, Blessing Danso, Jianzhong Sun, Majid Al-Zahrani, Mudasir A. Dar, Rania Al-Tohamy and Sameh S. Ali
Insects 2024, 15(11), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15110908 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 896
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) in the form of agricultural, forestry, and agro-industrial wastes is globally generated in large volumes every year. The chemical components of LCB render them a substrate valuable for biofuel production. It is hard to dissolve LCB resources for biofuel production [...] Read more.
Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) in the form of agricultural, forestry, and agro-industrial wastes is globally generated in large volumes every year. The chemical components of LCB render them a substrate valuable for biofuel production. It is hard to dissolve LCB resources for biofuel production because the lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose parts stick together rigidly. This makes the structure complex, hierarchical, and resistant. Owing to these restrictions, the junk production of LCB waste has recently become a significant worldwide environmental problem resulting from inefficient disposal techniques and increased persistence. In addition, burning LCB waste, such as paddy straws, is a widespread practice that causes considerable air pollution and endangers the environment and human existence. Besides environmental pollution from LCB waste, increasing industrialization has resulted in the production of billions of tons of dyeing wastewater from several industries, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, tanneries, and food processing units. The massive use of synthetic dyes in various industries can be detrimental to the environment due to the recalcitrant aromatic structure of synthetic dyes, similar to the polymeric phenol lignin in LCB structure, and their persistent color. Synthetic dyes have been described as possessing carcinogenic and toxic properties that could be harmful to public health. Environmental pollution emanating from LCB wastes and dyeing wastewater is of great concern and should be carefully handled to mitigate its catastrophic effects. An effective strategy to curtail these problems is to learn from analogous systems in nature, such as termites, where woody lignocellulose is digested by wood-feeding termites and humus-recalcitrant aromatic compounds are decomposed by soil-feeding termites. The termite gut system acts as a unique bioresource consisting of distinct bacterial species valued for the processing of lignocellulosic materials and the degradation of synthetic dyes, which can be integrated into modern biorefineries for processing LCB waste and bioremediation applications for the treatment of dyeing wastewaters to help resolve environmental issues arising from LCB waste and dyeing wastewaters. This review paper provides a new strategy for efficient management of recalcitrant pollutants by exploring the potential application of termite gut bacteria in biorefinery and bioremediation processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecologically Important Symbioses in Insects)
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