Bacterial symbionts in tephritid fruit flies: biological roles and management strategies

Abstract

Tephritid fruit flies cause significant losses in global agriculture, particularly in fruit and vegetable production. Conventional pest control methods are increasingly scrutinized for their environmental and health impacts, leading to growing interest in alternative strategies. Bacterial symbionts offer a promising avenue for pest management by playing crucial roles in the biology and ecology of fruit flies, including nutrition, reproduction, immunity, and environmental adaptability. The manipulation of symbionts, such as Wolbachia, has been explored for reproductive control through cytoplasmic incompatibility, while Providencia rettgeri has been shown to enhance male mating competitiveness, improving the efficacy of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Symbionts like Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. produce microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) with potential applications in attract-and-kill strategies, offering a targeted pest control approach. Furthermore, probiotic applications of symbionts in SIT programs have demonstrated enhanced fitness and survival of sterile flies, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. Despite these advancements, the integration of bacterial symbionts into pest management faces challenges, including non-target effects, environmental variability, and regulatory constraints. Addressing these challenges requires further research into symbiont-host molecular interactions, ecological dynamics, and effective integration into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems. This review explores the potential of bacterial symbionts to revolutionize Tephritid fruit fly control, emphasizing their diverse biological roles and practical applications. It further highlights the need for continued research to optimize and validate symbiont-based strategies for sustainable and effective pest management in agricultural systems.