This study investigated bacterial diversity in the gut of diapausing larvae and pupae
of bamboo borer (Omphisa fuscidentalis) in non-feeding stages by using culture dependent
methods. The densities of culturable bacteria in guts of diapausing larvae were high in the
foregut and hindgut and it was significantly higher than that from pupae (P < 0.05). Genetic
analysis of cultured, isolated bacteria revealed 33 sequences of 16S rRNA genes, from which
the bacteria could be divided into three phyla groups, namely Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes
and Bacteriodes. Current result therefore is the first report of gut bacteria in diapausing larval
and pupal stages of O. fuscidentalis. The results indicated that density of bacteria decrease
metamorphosis from larvae to pupae and the diversity of bacteria in O. fuscidentalis is similar to
many insects gut. Thus, gut bacteria in O. fuscidaentalis may provide larvae digestion and contribute
nutrition.
Keywords
Omphisa fuscidentalis, gut bacteria, larval diapause, culture-dependent