Carpoglyphus lactis (Acari: Astigmata) from various dried fruits differed in associated microorganisms.

Aims: Carpoglyphus lactis is a stored product mite infesting saccharide rich stored commodities including dried fruits, wine, beer, milk products, jams and honey. The association with microorganisms can improve the survival of mites on dried fruit. Methods and Results: The microbial communities associated to C .lactis were studied in specimens originating from the packages of dried apricot, plums and figs and compared to the laboratory strain. Clone libraries of 16S rRNA and ITS genes were constructed and analyzed at OTU97. The population growth on dried yeasts was 12 to 25 times higher on rearing diet than on dried fruits. The food boli formed by bacteria and plan remnants were common on control and dried apricot diet. The treatment and pretreatment of rearing diet by antibiotics provided a clue about the absence of antagonistic bacteria which might slow down the C. lactis population growth. Conclusions: The sequences of high similarity to Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Elizabethkingia anopheles, Ewingella americana, Erwinia billingiae, Bacillus cereus and Serratia rubidaea were prevailing in the 16S rRNA library from mites fed on dried fruits. The ITS library showed smaller differences among laboratory strains on rearing diet and field strains, with the exception of mites on dried plums. The C. lactis had no antagonistic bacterial strains which were suppressed by antibiotics. Significance and Impact of the Study: The shifts of the microbial community in the gut of C. lactis were induced by the diet changes. The identified yeast and bacteria are suggested as the main food source of stored product mites on dried fruits.