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Alteration of the Microbiome is Associated with Changes in Mating and Locomotion in Callosobruchus maculatus

David J Esteban1, Monica Feeley2, Maithri Goud2

  • 1Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave, Box 731, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12604, USA. daesteban@vassar.edu.

Microbial Ecology
|May 1, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Altering the microbiome of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus through chemical treatment impacts its life history and mating behaviors. This study reveals a link between the microbiome and evolved traits in this model organism.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • The seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus serves as a key model organism for investigating the evolution of mating behaviors and life history traits influenced by environmental and genetic factors.
  • The role of the host microbiome in shaping these traits is an area of active research, with limited understanding of its direct impact on C. maculatus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that the microbiome of C. maculatus is intrinsically linked to host life history traits and mating behaviors.
  • To investigate the effects of microbiome manipulation on beetle survival, fecundity, mating success, and locomotion.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a chemical treatment protocol for surface sterilizing C. maculatus eggs and their food source to manipulate the larval microbiome.
  • Analysis of microbial community structure in adult beetles post-treatment.
  • Assessment of beetle life history traits (survival, fecundity) and mating behaviors (mate choice, mating latency, locomotion) in treated versus control groups.

Main Results:

  • Chemical treatment effectively eliminated surface bacteria and significantly altered the adult beetle microbiome, reducing diversity and changing community structure.
  • Treated beetles exhibited reduced survival among smaller individuals but increased fecundity in surviving females.
  • Mating behaviors were enhanced in treated beetles, showing a higher success rate, shorter latency, and increased female preference for treated males, alongside increased locomotion.

Conclusions:

  • Perturbations to the larval microbiome through chemical treatment induce significant alterations in adult C. maculatus life history traits and behaviors.
  • The study provides strong evidence for a correlation between shifts in the beetle's microbiome and observed changes in mating success, fecundity, and locomotion.
  • These findings underscore the importance of the microbiome as a mediator of host traits and evolutionary processes in C. maculatus.
Keywords:
CallosobruchusLocomotionMating behaviorMicrobiomeReproductive success

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