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Larval RNA Interference in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum
11:00

Larval RNA Interference in the Red Flour Beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Published on: October 13, 2014

Multispecies interactions affect cytoplasmic incompatibility in Tribolium flour beetles

L Stevens, D T Wicklow

    The American Naturalist
    |May 12, 2009
    PubMed

    Insights

    Certain fungi and bacteria can cure confused flour beetles of a reproductive parasite. This discovery suggests natural antibiotic patches in grain may influence insect population dynamics.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Entomology
    • Genetics

    Background:

    • Cytoplasmic incompatibility in *Tribolium confusum* is caused by a maternally inherited rickettsia-like bacteria.
    • Infection leads to sterility in crosses between infected males and uninfected females.
    • Tetracycline treatment can cure beetles of this bacterial infection.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if other microbial species, specifically actinomycetes or fungi, can cure *Tribolium confusum* of the rickettsia-like bacteria.
    • To identify specific microbial strains capable of curing the infection.

    Main Methods:

    • Infected *Tribolium confusum* progeny were raised on wheat grain molded with various strains of *Streptomyces* (actinomycete) and *Penicillium* (fungi).
    • Microbial strains included known tetracycline producers and related species commonly found in grain.
    • Curing rates were assessed by observing the reproductive success of treated beetles.

    Main Results:

    • *Streptomyces aureofaciens* (NRRL 2209) demonstrated high curing rates (8/10 males, 9/10 females).
    • Other tested strains, including *Streptomyces griseus*, *Penicillium verrucosum*, and *Penicillium aurantiogriseum var. polonicum*, showed low or no curing rates.
    • No curing was observed in control groups (autoclaved grain, brewer's yeast).

    Conclusions:

    • Specific actinomycete and fungal strains can effectively cure *Tribolium confusum* of rickettsia-like bacterial infections.
    • The findings suggest that localized antibiotic contamination in grain, from microbes like *S. aureofaciens*, can create pockets of cured insects.
    • This phenomenon may contribute to the observed polymorphism of infection within natural *Tribolium* populations.

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