Publication Abstract

Living with the enemy: insects and their pathogens

Living with the enemy: insects and their pathogens

Helen E. Roy, Helen Hesketh, Morag McCracken, Richard Comont, Gabriele Rondoni, Remy Poland, Grant Stentiford* and Rosemary S. Hails

Entomopathogens (pathogens that cause disease in insects) are diverse and widespread in the natural world; 50 % of living organisms are microbial, and insect pathogens are ubiquitous in both above and below-ground ecosystems (Hajek, 2004; Vega et al., 2009).  The life history traits of these tiny organisms defy imagination and the dramatic way in which they effect their hosts is contrary to their size. However, the role of pathogens as natural enemies of insects, including those of conservation value, is seldom considered (Roy and Cottrell, 2008; Roy et al., 2009).  Indeed, most studies on insect life history refer only to predators and parasitoids.  It is not surprising that insect pathogens have been neglected because there have been many technical difficulties associated with their detection and identification, particularly within a natural community context.  Even when pathogens are included in studies, it is likely that their abundance and effect is underestimated because many adopt a covert (hidden) lifestyle within their host, while for others, a change in fitness (e.g. to reproduce), rather than death, may be the negative outcome.  Modern molecular techniques coupled with histopathological methods provide ways of overcoming these difficulties.

Reference:

Helen E. Roy, Helen Hesketh, Morag McCracken, Richard Comont, Gabriele Rondoni, Remy Poland, Grant Stentiford* and Rosemary S. Hails (2010) Living with the enemy: insects and their pathogens. British Wildlife 22, 94-100.

Helen E. Roy, Helen Hesketh, Morag McCracken, Richard Comont, Gabriele Rondoni, Remy Poland, Grant Stentiford* and Rosemary S. Hails

British Wildlife 22, 94-100.