Diversity of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on insect oviposition sites

Alternative strategies are needed in pest management to protect crops from pests. Occurrence of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on crop plants, especially on sites that are selected by pests, may be associated with host selection by insects. We carried out laboratory investigations as well as screen house and field experiments to understand whether epiphytic LAB occur at oviposition sites of agricultural and horticultural crops, probably modulating pest abundance by attraction or repulsion. The diversity of such epiphytic LAB associated with insect oviposition sites is discussed.