Yeasts associated with Triplax japonica (Erotylidae)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the species of yeast associated with Triplax japonica. Adult beetles were collected at four locations in Japan (Tsukuba, Kasumigaura, and Tsuchiura in Ibaraki prefecture, and Toyota in Aichi prefecture) using commercial Pleurotus eryngii as bait traps or from naturally occurring unidentified Pleurotus. As a result, seven species of yeast belonging to four genera (Candida anglica, C. boleticola, Meyerozyma guilliermondii, Meyerozyma sp., Suhomyces chickasaworum, Suhomyces sp. and Teunomyces cretensis) were isolated from insect body surfaces. Six species of yeast (except for M. guilliermondii) were isolated from samples of Tsukuba, and six species (except for T. cretensis) were isolated from samples at Kasumigaura. Only S. chickasaworum was isolated from samples at Tsuchiura, and only Suhomyces sp. was isolated from samples at Toyota. Therefore, it was shown that Triplax japonica is associated with various yeasts.