The abundance and diversity of gut bacteria of rice leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) across life stages

Abstract

Abstract The bacterial community living in the insect gut may play an important role in nutrition, immunity and protection, detoxification of toxins, and inter- and intra-specific communication. Rice leaffolder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is a notorious pest in rice, and the diversity of the gut bacteria of C. medinalis across life stages are not well understood. Here, the diversity and abundance of the gut bacterial community in C. medinalis through life stages were investigated using Illumina Miseq technology. A total of 22 bacterial phyla, 42 classes, 100 orders, 179 families, 350 genera and 395 species were identified across the different life stages of C. medinalis. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phyla were the dominant bacterial taxa. Members of the genera Enterococcus, unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, Wolbachia, Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Microbacterium, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Lampropedia, and Sphingobacterium were found at all life stages. Enterococcus and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae occupied higher relative abundance among bacteria community in the 2nd to 5th instar larvae, pupae and adults. The structure of bacterial community differed across the life stages of C. medinalis. Our findings will enrich the understanding of gut bacteria in C. medinalis, and will provide foundation and assistance for the development of novel pest management strategies through utilization of microbiota.