Microbial signaling coordinates group oviposition and predator defense in migratory locusts.
Microbial-produced 2,4,6-TMP coordinates oviposition and predator defense in Locusta migratoria, influencing behavior through specific olfactory receptors.
- Why it matters: Understanding how insects synchronize reproduction and defend eggs is crucial for ecological insights and pest management, yet the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown.
- What they did: The study identified a microbiota-derived volatile, 2,4,6-TMP, produced by Enterobacter roggenkampii, that attracts conspecifics and repels predators via olfactory receptors LmOR34, LmOR36, and SinOR43a-1, confirmed through genetic and semi-field experiments.
- The result: This bacterial signaling system links reproductive behavior with predator deterrence, revealing a complex ecological strategy that could inform biological control approaches for locust populations.