Bacteria associated to Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera dryophthoridae) in Italy

Abstract

Thirty-five bacterial strains were selected on the basis of colony morphology from larvae and pupae of Rhynchophorous (Olivier) ferrugineus collected from infested Phoenix canariensis Chabaud trees growing in different Italian locations. 16S rDNA sequencing showed that bacteria isolated from larvae were mostly Gram positive and belonged to Bacillus, Brevibacillus and Paenibacillus genera. Bacteria isolated from pupae were affiliated to Bacillus and five different Gram negative genera (Alcaligenes, Morganella, Myroides, Providencia and Serratia). Some strains produced lytic enzymes like chitinase, lecithinase, lipase and protease in vitro. The enthomopathogenic strains belonging to Bacillus thuringiensis, Providencia rettgeri and Serratia marcescens species may be considered of interest as potential biocontrol agents of R. Ferrugineus.