Ceratitis capitata microbiota: Implications in insect control

The Medfly Ceratitis capitata is responsible for extensive damage in agriculture with important economic losses. Several strategies have been proposed to manage this insect pest including insecticides and sterile insect technique. Lately, the microbiota of insect is investigated to develop new control strategies for insect pests and vectors. Indeed, bacteria can play an important role in insect ecology influencing the pest status. However, in-deep studies on microbial composition of C. capitata are already limited. We report the characterization of the microbial communities associated with specific organs of three different strains of C. capitata to select possible candidates for a symbiotic control approach. Our results confirm Klebsiella and Providencia as dominant in guts while a diversified microbial community has been detected in reproductive organs. We revealed for the first time the presence of the bacteria Chroococcidiopsis and Propionibacterium as stable components of the medfly’s microbiota. Propionibacterium was already described as part of the microbiota of other insects, such as mosquito, likely accomplishing a possible nutritional role, while Chroococcidiopsis was never detected in insects before and its role in the reproductive organs needs further investigation. Additionally, we confirm the presence of Asaia in both guts and reproductive organs. This is of particular importance since Asaia has been already proposed as a tool in the Symbiotic Control of Vector-Borne Diseases. In conclusion, our findings provide new knowledge about the microbiota associated with C. capitata and stress the characterization of microbial symbionts as possible tools for symbiotic control approach implementing the pest management programs.