Project Grant 20236701339897

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** MANY INSECTS HOUSE SYMBIOTIC BACTERIA THAT SYNTHESIZE CRITICAL NUTRIENTS ON WHICH THEIR INSECT HOSTS RELY. IN MOST CASES, THESE BACTERIA ARE PASSED FROM MOTHER TO OFFSPRING IN THE EGG, ENSURING THAT OFFSPRING 'INHERIT' THE CRITICAL SYMBIOTIC PARTNER. WE ARE STUDYING A TRUE BUG (IN THE ORDER HEMIPTERA) THAT INSTEAD ACQUIRES ITS CRITICAL BACTERIAL PARTNER FROM THE ENVIRONMENT, INGESTING IT WHEN ONLY A 2ND STAGE NYMPH. THE SYMBIONT IS AN OBLIGATE PARTNER FOR BUG SUCCESS - WITHOUT IT, BUGS DIE AT HIGH RATES, DEVELOP SLOWLY AND DO NOT REPRODUCE. THIS ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSMISSION IS UNUSUAL IN THE TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE DRYNESS AND HETEROGENEITY MAY MAKE FINDING THE PARTICULAR BACTERIUM CHALLENGING. OUR PROJECT SEEKS TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER THERE ARE PARTICULAR COSTS AND BENEFITS TO THIS ARRANGEMENT, AND WHETHER BUGS SOMETIMES FAIL TO ACQUIRE THEIR SYMBIONT IN NATURE. THE BUG, LEPTOGLOSSUS ZONATUS IS A SERIOUS PEST OF POMEGRANATES, ALMONDS AND PISTACHIOS, AND VARIABILITY IN WHAT SYMBIONTS ARE ACQUIRED, AND WHETHER THEY ARE ACQUIRED AT ALL COULD EXPLAIN THE APPARENT BOOM AND BUST DYNAMICS OF THIS BUG. IT MAY ALSO SUGGEST TOOLS TO PREVENT SYMBIONT ACQUISITION BY THE BUG TO PROMOTE MANAGEMENT OF THIS PEST.IN OUR PROJECT WE WILL 1) CONFINE AND FOLLOW BUGS ON WHOLE TREES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE RATE OF SYMBIONT ACQUISITION IS VARIABLE. WE WILL 2) EXAMINE THE ABILITY OF ORCHARD SUBSTRATES (SOIL, TREE FOLIAGE) TO SERVE AS SOURCES OF THE SYMBIONT FOR THE BUGS. WE WILL 3) DETERMINE WHETHER A DELAY BEFORE THE SYMBIONT IS ACQUIRED CAUSES FITNESS DEFICITS FOR BUGS. AND WE WILL 4) EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SYMBIONT STRAINS FOR BOTH JUVENILE PERFORMANCE AND ADULT FECUNDITY.THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE BOTH FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED SIGNIFICANCE. AT A FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, THIS PROJECT ASSESSES THE RISKS OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSMISSION OF A BENEFICIAL MICROBIAL PARTNER FOR TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS. WE WILL EVALUATE THE RISKS OF NOT ACQUIRING THE SYMBIONT, OR OF ACQUIRING A SYMBIONT THAT PROVIDES A REDUCED BENEFIT COMPARED TO OTHER STRAINS. FOR PEST MANAGEMENT, ELUCIDATING THE RISK THAT BUGS DO NOT ACQUIRE THEIR SYMBIONT, OR ACQUIRE ONE THAT IS DEFICIENT IN ITS BENEFITS IS THE FIRST STEP TO EXPLOITING THESE VULNERABILITIES FOR ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE, TARGETED SYMBIONT-INFORMED PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.