16S rDNA samples extracted from T. ni. Raw sequence reads. Trichoplusia ni

Increasing temperatures from climate change, is causing many countries to look to potable water alternatives, reclaimed wastewater, for agriculture. Wastewater contains pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) that are biologically active and long lived in the environment, even after wastewater treatment. Run-off and overflow from farms and wastewater treatment plants contribute high concentrations of PPCPs to the environment. This study assessed the effects of PPCPs on a common agricultural pest, Trichoplusia ni. Trichoplusia ni larvae were reared on artificial diets contaminated with PPCPs at environmentally relevant concentrations and plants grown hydroponically in PPCP spiked growth solution. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products had effects on developmental time and mortality for both diet and plant reared cabbage loopers. There were significant changes in the microbial communities in these insects by treatment and life stage. Our results suggest that PPCPs at concentration in the environment can have biologically and microbial effects on a common agricultural pest.