The interaction of bacteria and harmonine in harlequin ladybird confers an interspecies competitive edge.

Chaowei Zhang, Hang Zhou, Kang He, Yiqi Xiao, Mengyao Chen, Zhangqi Zuo, Runguo Shu, Yuhang Geng, Shuo Jin, Yang Mei, Bingbing He, Fei Li
Author Information
  1. Chaowei Zhang: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  2. Hang Zhou: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. ORCID
  3. Kang He: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  4. Yiqi Xiao: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  5. Mengyao Chen: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  6. Zhangqi Zuo: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. ORCID
  7. Runguo Shu: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. ORCID
  8. Yuhang Geng: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  9. Shuo Jin: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  10. Yang Mei: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  11. Bingbing He: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
  12. Fei Li: Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biology and Ecological Regulation of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. ORCID

Abstract

The harlequin ladybird, , is a predatory beetle used globally to control pests such as aphids and scale insects. Originating from East Asia, this species has become highly invasive since its introduction in the late 19th century to Europe and North America, posing a threat to local biodiversity. Intraguild predation is hypothesized to drive the success of this invasive species, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, a feeding assay revealed that while harlequin ladybirds survive feeding on seven-spotted ladybird eggs, the reverse is not true. However, seven-spotted ladybirds that had fed on harlequin ladybird eggs were able to survive the feeding assay when treated with penicillin. Microbiome sequencing and whole genome analysis of harlequin ladybird eggs revealed a newly discovered pathogenic bacterium strain named The median lethal concentration (LC50) of was found to be 2.1 �� 10 times higher in the harlequin ladybird compared to the seven-spotted ladybird. The high tolerance observed in harlequin ladybirds was attributed to harmonine, specifically produced in the fat body of this species. Silencing three key genes in the harmonine biosynthesis pathway-, , and reduced the production of the compound, leading to increased levels and higher mortality. Treating RNAi-altered individuals with penicillin reversed this effect, successfully reducing presence and increasing insect survival. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that , a newly identified pathogenic bacterium carried by harlequin ladybirds, interacts with harmonine to confer an interspecies competitive advantage over native ladybird species in nonnative regions.

Keywords

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Grants

  1. 2021YFD1400100 2021YFD1400101/MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs)
  2. 32102271/MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
  3. 2022T150579/China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (China Postdoctoral Foundation Project)

MeSH Term

Animals
Coleoptera
Serratia
Predatory Behavior
Penicillins

Chemicals

Penicillins

Word Cloud

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