Acta Entomologica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 64 ›› Issue (6): 743-756.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2021.06.010

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Research progress of the influence of microorganisms on insect behavior

 CHENG Dai-Feng*, LI Hui-Jing, LU Yong-Yue   

  1.  (College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China)
  • Online:2021-06-20 Published:2021-06-15

Abstract:  In the long evolutionary process, a variety of forms of interaction between microorganisms and insects have been formed. The wide distribution of microorganisms provides background conditions for their contact with insects and influence on insect behavior. To further explore the phenomenon and mechanism of microorganisms influencing insect behaviors, the research progress of the influence of microorganisms on insect behaviors was reviewed in this article. Host location and selection of insects can be influenced by chemical signal substances produced by microorganisms, and the synthesis of semiochemicals in insects and host plants can also be influenced by microorganisms. Microorganisms have also been found to play important roles in intraspecific and interspecific relationships of insects. Microorganisms can even influence the reproductive behavior of insects by altering, for example, insect sex pheromones. Besides, social and aggregation behaviors of insects are also found to be influenced by semiochemicals synthesized by microorganisms. Considering the current research status of the influence of microorganisms on insect behaviors, the following aspects are suggested to be further investigated: (1) How are semiochemicals that influence insect behavior synthesized in the processes of influencing insect behavior by microorganisms? (2) Do microorganisms involve more interspecies interaction in influencing insect behavior? (3) How do host insects acquire and maintain symbiotic microoganisms that influence insect behavior at certain stages?

Key words: Microorganism, volatile, insect behavior, semiochemical, interspecies interaction, chemical ecology