Plant-sucking stinkbugs are especially associated with mutualistic gut bacterial symbionts. Here, we explored the symbiotic relationship of a pistachio stinkbug, Acrosternum heegeri Fieber by histological, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), real-time PCR and molecular phylogenetic techniques. Furthermore, the effects of the symbiont on the resting/wandering behaviors of the newborn nymphs, pre-adult survival rates, and stage compositions were investigated. Transmission electron microscopy and real-time PCR analyses showed that a rod-shaped gammaproteobacterium was persistently located within the posterior midgut crypts. Molecular phylogenetic and FISH techniques strongly suggested that this symbiont should be placed in the genus Pantoea of the Enterobacteriales. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of the bacterial cells on the egg surface which the surface sterilization of the eggs resulted in the successful removal of the symbiont from the eggs. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. heegeri showed no significant differences in the wandering behaviors of the first nymphal stages, while the symbiont-free insects suffered retarded growth and lower survivability. Together, the results highlight the habitat and acquisition features of Pantoea symbiont and its contribution in A. heegeri biology that might help us for better pest management in the future.

中文翻译：

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开心果臭虫 Acrosternum heegeri (Hem.: Pentatomidae) 的 gammaproteobacterial 共生体的栖息地可视化、采集特征和必要性

吸食植物的臭虫尤其与共生的肠道细菌共生体有关。在这里，我们探索了开心果臭虫的共生关系，顶针Fieber 通过组织学、荧光原位杂交（FISH）、实时荧光定量PCR和分子系统发育技术。此外，研究了共生体对新生若虫的休息/游走行为、成虫前存活率和阶段组成的影响。透射电子显微镜和实时 PCR 分析表明杆状 gammaproteobacterium 持续位于后中肠隐窝内。分子系统发育和 FISH 技术强烈建议该共生体应置于该属中泛菌属肠杆菌目。扫描电子显微镜证实了鸡蛋表面上存在细菌细胞，鸡蛋的表面灭菌导致成功地从鸡蛋中去除了共生体。共生与非共生A. heegeri第一若虫阶段的游走行为没有显着差异，而无共生体的昆虫生长迟缓，生存能力降低。总之，结果突出了栖息地和采集特征泛菌属共生体及其在A. heegeri生物学可能有助于我们在未来更好地管理害虫。