Comparative Analyses of Gut Microbiomes in (Coleoptera: Meloidae) Adults Reveal Their Distinct Microbes, Microbial Diversity and Composition Associated to Food.

Gut microbiota crucially affects metabolism and health. Linnaeus has been listed as a medicinal insect in the Pharmacopeia of the People's Republic of China due to the presence of cantharidin, which has a curative effect on many cancers and skin diseases. In order to analyze the effects of dietary habits and gender on the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in and provide a basis for an artificial diet, in this study, the full-length 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to analyze the gut microbiota of 35 adults, including wild female adults (WFA), wild male adults (WMA), female adults fed with luffa flowers (LFA), male adults fed with luffa flowers (LMA), female adults fed with artificial diet (AFA), and male adults fed with artificial diet (AMA). The results displayed that the major bacterial phyla present in the gut microbiota of the were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, Teneriicutes, and Actinobacteria. The major bacterial genera were , , , , , , , , , and . Food habits had a significant effect on the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in , whereas gender did not exhibit a remarkable impact on the diversity and composition of gut microbiota. The artificially fed group of had more beneficial microorganisms in the intestine and higher food utilization efficiency. These results provide a basis for subsequent examination of gut microbiota in or other Coleoptera insects, as well as the artificial rearing of blister beetles.