Bacterial communities associated with Megalopyge opercularis (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae): exploring poisonous lepidopterans

Megalopyge opercularis (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Megalopyridae) is a nocturnal moth of medical importance because it causes adverse immunological reactions in humans. In this study, we determined the microbiota composition of M. opercularis at the larval (caterpillars) and adult (moths) stages by next-generation sequencing. DNA was extracted from the caterpillars and moths, and the 16S rRNA prokaryote gene was then amplified and sequenced with next-generation sequencing to assess bacterial richness. Comparison of the microbiota of the caterpillars and adults revealed variation in species composition and diversity. The microbiota of the caterpillars of M. opercularis was composed of 259 species, dominated by the families Geodermatophilaceae (12%), Propionibacteriaceae (10.41%), Clostridiaceae (9.63%), and Nitriliruptoraceae (7.72%). In the adult moths, we found 138 species, and the most abundant families were Nostocaceae (24%) and Methylobacteriaceae (21%). Species richness in M. opercularis was higher in the caterpillars compared to adults. We determined that only some groups of bacteria could persist from 1 stage to another. The results obtained are essential to know about the ecology of M. opercularis and contribute to our understanding of the impact that microorganisms have on the physiological mechanisms of poisonous lepidopterans.