Sex-specific gut bacteria manipulation impacts offspring production in the honeybee parasite small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray

Abstract

Symbiotic bacteria play crucial roles in growth, development, behaviour, immunity, and metabolism of insects. Most of the research until now has explored the role of gut bacteria in insect model systems. The extent to which gut bacteria affect mating behaviour and reproduction of insect pest species still needs, however, to be fully comprehended. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of gut bacteria manipulation on mating behaviour and fecundity of a major beehive pest, the small hive beetle Aethina tumida (Murray). We manipulated gut bacteria of both sexes and determined the effects on mating behaviour and reproductive output. Our results provided evidence that manipulation of the gut bacteria influences reproduction in both sexes, negatively affecting mating latency, mating number, mating duration and offspring number (larvae). These results highlight the role of gut bacteria on the reproduction of insect pests, which might help in designing new pest control methods.