Bacillus thuringiensis bioinsecticide influences Drosophila oviposition decision

Abstract

Behavioural avoidance has obvious benefits for animals facing environmental stressors such as pathogen-contaminated foods. Most current bioinsecticides are based on the environmental and opportunistic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills targeted insect pests upon ingestion. While food and oviposition avoidance of Bt bioinsecticide by targeted insect species was reported, this remained to be addressed in non-target organisms, especially those affected by chronic exposure to Bt bioinsecticide such as Drosophila species. Here, using a two-choice oviposition test, we showed that female flies of three Drosophila species (four strains of D. melanogaster, D. busckii and D. suzukii) avoided laying eggs in the presence of Bt var. kurstaki bioinsecticide, with potential benefits for the offspring and females fitness. Avoidance occurred rapidly, regardless of the fraction of the bioinsecticide suspension (spores and toxin crystals versus soluble toxins/components) and independently of the female motivation for egg laying. Our results suggest that, in addition to recent findings of developmental and physiological alterations upon chronic exposure of non-target Drosophila, this bioinsecticide may have greater ecological implications in the field for the Drosophila community and their associated natural enemies than previously thought.