Gut bacteria symbiosis affects cuticular hydrocarbon profile and mating success in wild Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) males

Abstract

Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a highly polyphagous species and a seriouslypest with a significant economic importance, having a great number of studiesfocused in its management. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in thesymbiotic relationship between gut bacteria and their insect hosts. In this context,the objective of this work was to evaluate the role of gut microbiota on symbioticand aposymbiotic wild medfly adult sexual behaviour, especially on mate choiceand mating success. We also evaluate latency and mating time, sperm transference,testes and ovarian sizes and female fecundity. Finally, we compared cuticularhydrocarbon profiles to explore other possible mechanisms that mediate medflymating success. For this purpose, teneral wild medfly adults were separated intotwo groups, symbiotic and aposymbiotic. Aposymbiotic adults were treated withan antibiotic mixture (tetracycline plus ciprofloxacin) until sexual maturity. Resultsof sexual behaviour assays showed that symbiotic males were more successful inmating in comparison with aposymbiotic males, and female preference could berelated with a greater sexual organ development of symbiotic females and differencesin male hydrocarbon cuticular profiles. Results support the hypothesis thatthe presence of gut bacteria can play a beneficial role on the sexual behaviour.Knowledge about the importance of cuticular hydrocarbons acting in mating recognitionwas obtained. This work is the first to report the influence of gut microbiotaon this component of the exoskeleton for wild medfly and might be usefulfor the improvement of sustainable strategies for pest management such as thesterile insect technique.