Social Beetles

Biedermann, Peter H. W.; Nuotclà, Jon A.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_108-1

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…O. disjunctus is also coprophagic, and it is thought that microbes within frass continue digesting plant material as a kind of ‘external rumen’ between periods of consumption by the beetles (Biedermann & Nuotclà, 2020; Mason & Odum, 1969; M. D. Ulyshen, 2018; Valenzuela-González, 1992). The frass is also notable, as the adults feed it to the larvae, and parents and teneral siblings construct chambers from frass around metamorphosing pupa (Biedermann & Nuotclà, 2020; Gray, 1946; Schuster & Schuster, 1985; Valenzuela-González, 1992) ( Fig. 1C ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Large amounts of beetle frass accumulate within these galleries (Figure 1B). O. disjunctus is also coprophagic, and it is thought that microbes within frass continue digesting plant material as a kind of 'external rumen' between periods of consumption by the beetles (Biedermann & Nuotclà, 2020;Mason & Odum, 1969;M. D. Ulyshen, 2018;Valenzuela-González, 1992).…”

Section: Actinomycetes With Antimicrobial Properties Are Widespread In O Disjunctus Galleriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…D. Ulyshen, 2018;Valenzuela-González, 1992). The frass is also notable, as the adults feed it to the larvae, and parents and teneral siblings construct chambers from frass around metamorphosing pupa (Biedermann & Nuotclà, 2020;Gray, 1946;Schuster & Schuster, 1985;Valenzuela-González, 1992) (Figure 1C). Given the high nutrient content of frass, and the complex parental behaviors associated with it, we drew parallels between this system and the other insect/actinomycete systems described above.…”

Section: Actinomycetes With Antimicrobial Properties Are Widespread In O Disjunctus Galleriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With this in mind, we assessed Odontotaenius disjunctus , a subsocial passalid beetle commonly found in decomposing logs across eastern North America, and its frass (fecal material), as a model system for studying the ecology of actinomycete specialized metabolism. Frass is an abundant and easily sampled material in O. disjunctus galleries, and it is an important nutrient source in this system for both adult and larval survival, and pupal chamber construction (Biedermann & Nuotclà, 2020; Mason & Odum, 1969; Schuster & Schuster, 1985; Valenzuela-González, 1992). Notably, O. disjunctus does not appear to have mycangia or other specialized structures that harbor microbial symbionts (M. D. Ulyshen, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple lineages of Streptomyces produce antimicrobials within passalid beetle galleries across eastern North America

Pessotti¹,

Hansen²,

Reaso³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Some insects form symbioses in which actinomycetes provide defense against pathogens by making antimicrobials. The range of chemical strategies employed across these symbioses, and how these strategies relate to insect social behavior and mechanisms of symbiont transmission, remains underexplored. Here, we assess subsocial passalid beetles Odontotaenius disjunctus (known as bessbugs), and their frass (fecal material), as a model insect/actinomycete system. Through chemical and phylogenetic analyses, we found that O. disjunctus associates with an exceptionally wide variety of actinomycetes and antimicrobials. Metabolites detected directly in frass displayed both synergistic and antagonistic inhibition of a fungal entomopathogen, Metarhizium anisopliae, and multiple streptomycete isolates inhibited this pathogen when co-cultivated directly in frass. Together, these findings support a model in which coprophagy as a vertical transmission mechanism leads to relaxed symbiote specificity, resulting in a rich and dynamic repertoire of antimicrobials that insulates O. disjunctus against the evolution of pathogen resistance.

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