Gut health for pests: How microbes could change pest control
If you’ve ever drunk a Yakult, spooned some Greek yogurt or taken a probiotic supplement, you already know that tiny microbes living in your gut can make a big difference to your health.
The ‘beneficial’ bacteria in your gut help break down food, produce vitamins, and keep your digestive system in balance. Without them, you wouldn’t feel quite the same.
It turns out that insects also rely on tiny microbes within them to survive and thrive. These specific microbes are called endosymbionts, and they could open new doors to managing pests in sustainable, smarter and more targeted ways.