How Two Predators Feed on Dactylopius opuntiae1 Beneath its Ventral Side

Salas-Monzón, Raquel; Rodríguez‐Leyva, Esteban; Lomelí-Flores, J. Refugio; Vanegas-Rico, Juan Manuel

doi:10.3958/059.045.0324

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Larvae feed mainly on D. opuntiae and other Dactylopius spp. with low concentrations of carminic acid (Vanegas‐Rico et al., 2016; Trejo‐Reyes et al., 2021), with a preference for first instars over other developmental stages (Salas‐Monzón et al., 2020). In contrast, H. trifurcata adults feed on all developmental stages of D. opuntiae (Vanegas‐Rico et al., 2016), which can represent up to 70% of the total food they require to complete their life cycle and produce offspring with high fecundity, fertility, and longevity (Vanegas‐Rico et al., 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior to introduction into the colonies, field‐collected predators were quarantined for 15 days, to ensure they were free from any disease that may affect the colony. Groups of each predator species and developmental stage were established (n = 10 individuals per group) based on their predation capacity: third instar L. bellula (Salas‐Monzón et al., 2020), fifth instar L. coccidivora (Barreto‐García et al., 2020), fourth instar and adult H. trifurcata (Vanegas‐Rico et al., 2016). Each group of individuals were placed in Ziploc bags and exposed to CO 2 for 20 min; all individuals were then transferred to an ethyl acetate chamber for 15 min.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ability to metabolize carminic acid has a fitness cost for predators; carminic acid from the consumption of D. coccus has negative effects on the development and reproductive capacity of L. coccidivora (Barreto‐García et al., 2020). Larvae of the specialist predator, L. bellula , have received attention as predators of D. opuntiae (Salas‐Monzón et al., 2020) because they feed on all development stages (Vanegas‐Rico et al., 2010). Both larvae and adults of the specialist H. trifurcata (Vanegas‐Rico et al., 2016) have been associated with D. opuntiae in the field and occasionally feed on commercially established colonies of D. coccus (Aldama‐Aguilera et al., 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bacteria associated with carminic acid metabolism in the intestinal tract of three predators of Dactylopius opuntiae

Martínez‐Martínez,

Rodríguez‐Leyva,

Aranda‐Ocampo

et al. 2023

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Dactylopius spp. produce carminic acid as part of defence against predation. The average carminic acid concentration varies depending on the species, e.g., for prickly pear cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell), and cochineal, Dactylopius coccus Costa (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), it is 3–5 and 19–25%, respectively. Generalist predators such as Laetilia coccidivora Comstock (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and specialist predators such as Leucopis bellula Williston (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) and Hyperaspis trifurcata Schaeffer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) require detoxification mechanisms, which could be provided by gut bacteria. We determined the diversity of gut‐associated cultivable bacteria in these three predators and their ability to metabolize carminic acid. The bacteria were identified morphologically and by partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. In vitro assays were done to determine their ability to metabolize carminic acid. The greatest culturable bacterial diversity was found in L. coccidivora larvae and H. trifurcata adults, followed by H. trifurcata larvae. The lowest diversity was found in L. bellula larvae. DNA sequencing revealed the presence of Bacillus cereus Frankland & Frankland, Enterococcus gallinarum (Bridge & Sneath) Collins et al., and Enterococcus casseliflavus Collins et al. in L. coccidivora larvae, Enterobacter spec. in larvae of H. trifurcata, Lactococcus lactis (Lister) Schleifer in adults of H. trifurcata, and Staphylococcus spec. in larvae and adults of H. trifurcata. Bacillus pumilus Meyer & Gottheil was only found in L. bellula larvae. In vitro assays showed that all isolates evaluated could metabolize carminic acid, suggesting they play an important role in the predators' ability to metabolize carminic acid. Presence of E. gallinarum, which had the most efficient metabolism of carminic acid, might allow L. coccidivora to feed on the two Dactylopius species regardless of carminic acid concentration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bacteria associated with carminic acid metabolism in the intestinal tract of three predators of Dactylopius opuntiae

Martínez‐Martínez,

Rodríguez‐Leyva,

Aranda‐Ocampo

et al. 2023

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…Larvae of the specialist predator, Le. bellula, have received attention as predators of D. opuntiae [21] because they feed on all development stages [17]. Both larvae and adults of the specialist H. trifurcata [18] have been associated with D. opuntiae in the eld and occasionally feed on commercially established colonies of D. coccus [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacteria associated with the intestinal tract of three predators of Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae)

Martínez-Martínez¹,

Rodríguez‐Leyva²,

Aranda-Ocampo³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Insects depend on gut bacteria for many metabolic functions including detoxification. Dactylopius (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) species (e.g. D. opuntiae and D. coccus) produce carminic acid possibly acting as part of their immune response to predation; thus predators of Dactylopius species may require intestinal symbionts to metabolize carminic acid acquired from their prey. The average content of carminic acid in D. opuntiae and D. coccus is 3–5% and 19–25% respectively; the predators Leucopina bellula and Hyperaspis trifurcata are specialists on D. opuntiae while Laetilia coccidivora feeds on both D. opuntiae and D. coccus. We determined the diversity of bacteria associated with the gut of these predators to test the hypothesis that it would vary significantly depending on the level of prey specialism. Bacteria were isolated from the intestine of Le. bellula, L. coccidivora and H. trifurcata larvae and also adults of H. trifurcata. Bacteria were identified morphologically and by partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The greatest bacterial diversity was found in L. coccidivora and H. trifurcata adults, followed by H. trifurcata larvae. The lowest diversity was found in Le. bellula. Sequencing revealed the presence of Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus gallinarum and E. casseliflavus in L. coccidivora larvae; Enterobacter sp. in larvae of H. trifurcata; Lactococcus lactis in adults of H. trifurcate; and Staphylococcus sp. in larvae and adults of H. trifurcate. Bacillus pumilus was only found in Le. bellula. The possible role of these bacteria in the ability of predators to feed on D. opuntiae and D. coccus is discussed.

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Control of the prickly pear cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell), in Morocco: an overview

Sabbahi

Hock

2022

J Plant Dis Prot

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How Two Predators Feed on Dactylopius opuntiae1 Beneath its Ventral Side

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Bacteria associated with carminic acid metabolism in the intestinal tract of three predators of Dactylopius opuntiae

Bacteria associated with carminic acid metabolism in the intestinal tract of three predators of Dactylopius opuntiae

Bacteria associated with the intestinal tract of three predators of Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae)

Control of the prickly pear cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell), in Morocco: an overview

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