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Title: BACTERIA IN THE GUT OF THE SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG NEZARA VIRIDULA L. (HETEROPTERA: PENTATOMIDAE)

Author
item HIROSE, EDSON - FED. UNIV. OF PARANA
item DE SOUZA, JORGE - IBL/BARC
item PANIZZI, ANTONIO - EMBRAPA
item CATTELAN, ALEXANDRE - EMBRAPA
item Aldrich, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/17/2005
Publication Date: 1/1/2006
Citation: Hirose, E., De Souza, J.T., Panizzi, A.R., Cattelan, A.J., Aldrich, J.R. 2006. Bacteria in the gut of the southern green stink bug nezara viridula l. (heteroptera: pentatomidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 98(6):91-95.

Interpretive Summary: The southern green stink bug (SGSB), Nezara viridula (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae) is an exotic species in the southern United States and other semitropical regions of the world where it is a significant pest of a variety of field, fruit, and vegetable crops. The pest status the SGSB (and other stink bugs) is increasing because the insects are able to attack crops genetically modified to kill other insects, and they are difficult to control with conventional insecticides. We studied the intestinal bacteria of N. viridula in order to better understand the relationship between the insect and bacteria as a first step in efforts that might be undertaken to control the SGSB by genetically modifying its symbiotic bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and a third bacterium (close to Pantoea sp.) were isolated and identified from the stomach of SGSBs using modern molecular genetic techniques. No bacteria from the midgut region of the intestine (where there are so-called gastric caeca in which these kinds of insects normally harbor symbiotic bacteria) could be grown on artificial media. The absence of culturable bacteria in the midgut of N. viridula suggests that, although unculturable, symbiotic bacteria are present in the gastric caeca that inhibit the growth of the bacteria found in the foregut. The information on the identity of the bacteria present in the gut of the SGSB is of interest to scientists trying to develop new strategies to control this and other insect pests by genetically modifying the symbiotic bacteria of the pest insects, a process termed paratransgenesis. The data are also of interest to scientists and pest managers studying and monitoring plant diseases transmitted by stink bugs.

Technical Abstract: Laboratory studies indicated the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and a third bacterium (close to Pantoea sp.) in the gut of southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). Culturable bacteria were more abundant in the crop/stomachs and drastically reduced in the gastric caeca. The variable pH in the gut did not affect the presence of the bacteria. Elimination of bacteria from the guts using Kanamicin did not affect nymph developmental time and mortality, but caused reduced weight at adult emergence.