Importance of symbiotic microbes on the diversification of wood-dwelling insects

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K14473
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39050:Insect science-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Toki Wataru 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 助教 (50611406)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 消化共生 / 栽培共生 / 木質 / 木材 / 酵母 / カミキリムシ / コメツキモドキ / ツツシンクイムシ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Development of microbe-transferring organs and presence of symbiotic fungi in Lepturinae were examined. Xylose-assimilating yeasts were isolated from developed microbe-transferring organs of most lepturine species, suggesting the digestive mutualism between lepturine insects and yeasts. Species compositions of isolated yeasts were different among larval food habits, suggesting the different origin of mutualism.
Associated fungi were revealed for a ship timber beetle and a stag beetle.

Free Research Field

昆虫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

森林において、多くの木材依存性昆虫が酵母と共生関係にあることを明らかにした。昆虫の利用する木材の部位や状態によって共生酵母が異なり、多様な昆虫－微生物共生関係があることを示した。