New Insights into Cockroach Control: Using Functional Diversity of
Blattella germanica Symbionts.
INSECTS 2020;
11:insects11100696. [PMID:
33066069 PMCID:
PMC7601444 DOI:
10.3390/insects11100696]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary
Insect hosts have close relationships with microbial symbionts. The limited metabolic networks of most insects are enhanced by these symbiotic relationships. Using symbiotic microorganisms for biological control of insects and insect-borne diseases has become an important research topic and shows potential for the development of applicable control approaches. Blattella germanica (L.) is public health pest worldwide; it is difficult to control because of its strong reproductive ability, adaptability, and resistance to insecticides. In this paper, the diverse biological functions (nutrition metabolism, reproductive regulation, insecticide resistance, defense, and behavior management) of symbionts, their interaction mechanism with hosts, and the research progress in the control of B. germanica are reviewed and discussed.
Abstract
Insects have close symbiotic relationships with several microbes, which extends the limited metabolic networks of most insects. Using symbiotic microorganisms for the biological control of pests and insect-borne diseases has become a promising direction. Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattaria: Blattidae) is a public health pest worldwide, which is difficult to control because of its strong reproductive ability, adaptability, and resistance to insecticides. In this paper, the diverse biological functions (nutrition, reproductive regulation, insecticide resistance, defense, and behavior) of symbionts were reviewed, and new biological control strategies on the basis of insect–symbiont interaction were proposed. We highlight new directions in B. germanica control, such as suppressing cockroach population using Wolbachia or paratransgenes, and combining fungal insecticides with synergistic agents to enhance insecticidal efficacy.
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