Microbiota of the Banana Aphid - Pentalonia nigronervosa - from Puerto Rico
Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are widely known for their associations with heritable bacterial symbionts, yet the diversity of transient microbial communities within these insects remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the microbiota of Pentalonia nigronervosa, the banana aphid, across diverse environmental conditions in Puerto Rico. Thirty specimens were collected from Musa spp. (banana and plantains) across eight locations spanning five regions of the island. Using metagenomic DNA sequencing (16S rDNA and ITS2 genes) and QIIME2 analysis, we aim to characterized bacterial and fungal communities associated with these aphids.
Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are widely known for their associations with heritable bacterial symbionts, yet the diversity of transient microbial communities within these insects remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the microbiota of Pentalonia nigronervosa, the banana aphid, across diverse environmental conditions in Puerto Rico. Thirty specimens were collected from Musa spp. (banana and plantains) across eight locations spanning five regions of the island. Using metagenomic DNA sequencing (16S rDNA and ITS2 genes) and QIIME2 analysis, we aim to characterized bacterial and fungal communities associated with these aphids.
University of California San Diego Microbiome Initiative