Intestinal microbiome interactions influence Metarhizium-based biocontrol efficacy against the sugar beet weevil
In this work, we investigated the role of the intestinal microbiome in shaping the outcome of infections by Metarhizium brunneum and M. robertsii in adult sugar beet weevils. We show that certain microbial taxa are significantly associated with mycotic individuals, while diverse microbial communities in non-mycotic individuals may act protectively against fungal infection. Furthermore, the identification of microbial genera with potential insecticidal properties highlights promising avenues for developing more effective and sustainable integrated pest management strategies.