Oviposition decreased in response to enriched water: a field study of the pitcher‐plant mosquito, <i>Wyeomyia smithii</i>

Hoekman, David; terHorst, Casey P.; Bauer, Arnold J.; Braun, Sarah Jean; Gignac, Paul M.; Hopkins, Robin; Joshi, Sonali; Laskis, Kristina Odette; Sanscrainte, Neil D.; Travis, Joseph; Miller, Thomas E.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.2006.00840.x

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…W. smithii mosquitoes develop exclusively in pitcher plants, where larvae molt through four consecutive aquatic instars and an aquatic pupal stage before emerging as terrestrial adults [4,8]. In addition to contributing to the mechanical disruption of captured prey, studies of W. smithii in natural settings also implicate larvae as key mediators of assembly of S. purpurea-associated communities [9][10][11]. While recent studies have used surveys at geographical scales to parameterize the contribution of W. smithii mosquitoes to ecosystem scale processes [12,13], the species is rarely maintained in continuous laboratory culture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial communities in carnivorous pitcher plants colonize and persist in inquiline mosquitoes

Arellano

Coon

2022

anim microbiome

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Background The leaves of carnivorous pitcher plants harbor diverse communities of inquiline species, including bacteria and larvae of the pitcher plant mosquito (Wyeomyia smithii), which aid the plant by processing captured prey. Despite the growing appreciation for this microecosystem as a tractable model in which to study food web dynamics and the moniker of W. smithii as a ‘keystone predator’, very little is known about microbiota acquisition and assembly in W. smithii mosquitoes or the impacts of W. smithii-microbiota interactions on mosquito and/or plant fitness. Results In this study, we used high throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons to characterize and compare microbiota diversity in field- and laboratory-derived W. smithii larvae. We then conducted controlled experiments in the laboratory to better understand the factors shaping microbiota acquisition and persistence across the W. smithii life cycle. Methods were also developed to produce axenic (microbiota-free) W. smithii larvae that can be selectively recolonized with one or more known bacterial species in order to study microbiota function. Our results support a dominant role for the pitcher environment in shaping microbiota diversity in W. smithii larvae, while also indicating that pitcher-associated microbiota can persist in and be dispersed by adult W. smithii mosquitoes. We also demonstrate the successful generation of axenic W. smithii larvae and report variable fitness outcomes in gnotobiotic larvae monocolonized by individual bacterial isolates derived from naturally occurring pitchers in the field. Conclusions This study provides the first information on microbiota acquisition and assembly in W. smithii mosquitoes. This study also provides the first evidence for successful microbiota manipulation in this species. Altogether, our results highlight the value of such methods for studying host-microbiota interactions and lay the foundation for future studies to understand how W. smithii-microbiota interactions shape the structure and stability of this important model ecosystem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial communities in carnivorous pitcher plants colonize and persist in inquiline mosquitoes

Arellano

Coon

2022

anim microbiome

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“…Second, when none of the preferred parts were available the number of total eggs laid decreased rapidly, and although the left middle seam remained available for oviposition this site did not replace the preferred site. A previous study on mosquitoes suggested that the decreased oviposition rate observed on highly enriched leaves may be due to a pungent odor that is caused by the extreme anoxic environment and repels gravid female mosquitoes (Hoekman et al, 2007). Similar behavior was also observed in peach twig borers, Anarsia lineatella Zeller, of which female adults can determine whether peach fruits are fresh and viable for oviposition so that their larvae can have enough time to develop into adults before the peach fruits decompose (Sidney et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

The predatory bug Orius strigicollis shows a preference for egg-laying sites based on plant topography

Huang

Ren

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Background Oviposition site selection is an important factor in determining the success of insect populations. Orius spp. are widely used in the biological control of a wide range of soft-bodied insect pests such as thrips, aphids, and mites. Orius strigicollis (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is the dominant Orius species in southern China; however, what factor drives its selection of an oviposition site after mating currently remains unknown. Methods Here, kidney bean pods (KBPs) were chosen as the oviposition substrate, and choice and nonchoice experiments were conducted to determine the preferences concerning oviposition sites on the KBPs of O. strigicollis. The mechanism of oviposition behavior was revealed through observation and measurement of oviposition action, the egg hatching rate, and the oviposition time. Results We found that O. strigicollis preferred the seams of the pods for oviposition, especially the seams at the tips of the KBPs. Choice and nonchoice experiments showed that females did not lay eggs when the KBP tail parts were unavailable. The rates of egg hatching on different KBP parts were not significantly different, but the time required for females to lay eggs on the tip seam was significantly lower. Decreased oviposition time is achieved on the tip seam because the insect can exploit support points found there and gain leverage for insertion of the ovipositor. Discussion The preferences for oviposition sites of O. strigicollis are significantly influenced by the topography of the KBP surface. Revealing such behavior and mechanisms will provide an important scientific basis for the mass rearing of predatory bugs.

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Testing successional hypotheses of stability, heterogeneity, and diversity in pitcher-plant inquiline communities

Miller

terHorst

2012

Oecologia

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Succession is a foundation concept in ecology that describes changes in species composition through time, yet many successional patterns have not been thoroughly investigated. We highlight three hypotheses about succession that are often not clearly stated or tested: (1) individual communities become more stable over time, (2) replicate communities become more similar over time, and (3) diversity peaks at mid-succession. Testing general patterns of succession requires estimates of variation in trajectories within and among replicate communities. We followed replicate aquatic communities found within leaves of purple pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea) to test these three hypotheses. We found that stability of individual communities initially decreased, but then increased in older communities. Predation was highest in younger leaves but then declined, while competition was likely strongest in older leaves, as resources declined through time. Higher levels of predation and competition corresponded with periods of higher stability. As predicted, heterogeneity among communities decreased with age, suggesting that communities became more similar over time. Changes in diversity depended on trophic level. The diversity of bacteria slightly declined over time, but the diversity of consumers of bacteria increased linearly and strongly throughout succession. We suggest that studies need to focus on the variety of environmental drivers of succession, which are likely to vary through time and across habitats.

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Oviposition decreased in response to enriched water: a field study of the pitcher‐plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii

Cited by 7 publications

References 32 publications

Bacterial communities in carnivorous pitcher plants colonize and persist in inquiline mosquitoes

Bacterial communities in carnivorous pitcher plants colonize and persist in inquiline mosquitoes

The predatory bug Orius strigicollis shows a preference for egg-laying sites based on plant topography

Testing successional hypotheses of stability, heterogeneity, and diversity in pitcher-plant inquiline communities

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