Gut Microbiota and Its Ecological Interactions in Bactrocera zonata and Its Impact on Food Security & Agricultural Pest Management: A Comprehensive Review

Bactrocera zonata or peach fruit fly, is a quarantined pest and is a major threat to horticultural crops especially in Pakistan and South Asian region. Influence of gut microbiota in determining the biological and behavioral features of B. zonata concerning digestion, immunity, mating, and foraging. Bacterial species which are Enterobacter, Lactobacillus, and Acetobacter are involved in the various aspects of nutritional acquisition, immunology, and fertility through producing volatile metabolites that impacts on sexual activity. It also plays a part in the ecological adaptations of gut microbiota; they put forward new approaches to integrated pest management (IPM). This Integrated pest management deals with microbiome change, pheromones disruption and the use of microbiome boosted baits, which supports the environmental objectives of agriculture. Digital surveillance and monitoring systems can be used to enhance the real-time adoption. IPM strategies such as microbiota manipulation and pheromone intervention present ecological innovative pest control solutions to chemical insecticides. These methods involve using protein based chemicals, microorganisms and mechanical attractants such as methyl eugenol and protein hydrolysate lures. Modern technologies provide higher accuracy and efficacy of these methods: digital video surveillance, and the use of automated equipment in monitoring contribute to suppression of B. zonata. This review predisposes indications of microbiome-targeted approaches towards changing the ‘paradigm of pest control’ in the context of IPM, reducing pesticide reliance, perusing conservation of beneficial insects and indeed nurturing sustainable agriculture. This biological control aims for field testing, gut microbiota manipulation, and targeted microbial management for location dependent pest management solutions for optimization of pest control and to tackle current and emerging issues in agriculture.