The Gut Microbiota in Camellia Weevils Are Influenced by Plant Secondary Metabolites and Contribute to Saponin Degradation
ABSTRACT The camellia weevil (CW [Curculio chinensis]) is a notorious host-specific predator of the seeds of Camellia species in China, causing seed losses of up to 60%.The weevil is capable of overcoming host tree chemical defenses, while the mechanisms of how these Chair beetles contend with the toxic compounds are still unknown.Here, we examined