New Insights into Beetle-Microorganism Mutualistic Interactions and Potential Management Applications

Research on bark and wood-boring beetles and their mutualistic interactions with microorganisms is rapidly evolving, driven by the need to understand the ecological mechanisms underlying the extraordinary diversity and success of these insect groups within Coleoptera. Beetles, comprising more than 400,000 described species, have adapted to diverse habitats and niches, and mutualistic interactions with microorganisms have emerged as a critical factor for their ecological and evolutionary success. Recent advances using high-throughput sequencing and other molecular techniques have highlighted how symbiotic microorganisms contribute to beetle nutrition, defense, and communication, specifically by detoxifying plant defenses and synthesizing behavior-modifying pheromones. However, while various studies have underscored the (functional) diversity of beetle-associated microbiomes, significant knowledge gaps on underlying mechanisms, ecological dynamics, and evolutionary pathways of these associations remain. In addition, the dual role of bark and wood-boring beetles as both beneficiaries of mutualistic microbes and vectors of plant pathogens presents ongoing challenges in agriculture and forestry, prompting debates about the best ways to leverage or disrupt these interactions for pest control.This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the mutualistic relationships between bark and wood-boring beetles and their associated microorganisms, with an emphasis on mechanisms, functional outcomes, and innovative management strategies. The objectives are to deepen our understanding of how microbiomes drive beetle success, explore the impact of microbe-mediated interactions on beetle behavior and pest potential, and evaluate strategies to manipulate these symbioses to curb the spread and impact of destructive beetle pests. Key questions include: What mechanisms govern mutualistic associations? How does microbial diversity support beetle adaptation? And how can new knowledge inform sustainable pest management?This Research Topic focuses on the mutualistic interactions between bark and wood-boring beetles and microorganisms, limiting its scope to ecological, functional, and management-related perspectives on these relationships. Contributions are encouraged on foundational and applied aspects, but non-mutualistic or incidental microbial associations fall outside these boundaries. To gather further insights into bark and wood-boring beetle-microorganism mutualisms in agricultural, urban, nursery, and forest contexts, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and all type of articles accepted by the journal and addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Diversity and specificity of mutualistic microbial associations in bark and wood-boring beetleso Functional roles of microbiomes in beetle nutrition, behavior, and adaptationo Interactions between beetles, mutualistic microbes, and plant pathogenso Approaches and challenges in manipulating microbial mutualisms for beetle pest managemento Evolutionary and ecological consequences of beetle-microbe mutualismso Novel methods and technologies for studying beetle microbiomeso Behavioral manipulation utilizing symbiont volatileso Use of RNAi to manipulate beetle symbiont viabilityo Chemically mediated interactions between beetles, host trees, and microbeso Host tree defense response to the beetle-microbe complex Topic editors: Antonio Gugliuzzo, Christopher M. Ranger, Dineshkumar Kandasamy, Martin Schebeck, Monique J. Rivera Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74386/new-insights-into-beetle-microorganism-mutualistic-interactions-and-potential-management-applications