Monophagous olive moth and its bacterial microbiota: unveiling the holobiont towards pest management

Abstract

Symbiotic-based pest management strategies are promising but require previous knowledge on the microbial community structure and on key microorganisms. Highly specialised pests, as the monophagous olive moth, are likely to have co-evolved microbiota that aid in overcoming specific plant defences that have emerged from the tight insect-plant interaction. Here we report a first attempt to identify olive moth bacterial microbiome based on 16S sequencing. This preliminary analysis intended to highlight potential host–symbiont interactions, representing key aspects in the moth survival and adaptation, such as nutrition (e.g. Pseudomonas sp.), detoxification (e.g. Acetinobacter sp. or Staphylococcus sp.), and protection/defence (e.g. Actinobacteria).