Characterization of the Microbial Communities in the Ant Lion Euroleon coreanus(Okamoto) (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae)

Euroleon coreanus(Okamoto) is widely distributed in China, and the larval stage can be treated as traditional Chinese medicine. However, the host-bacterium relationship remains unexplored, as there is a lack of knowledge on the microbial community of ant lions. Hence, in the current study, we explored the microbial community of the larval ant lion E. coreanususing Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Results indicated that a total of 10 phyla, 126 genera, and 145 species were characterized from the second instars of E. coreanus, and most of the microbes were classified in the phylum Proteobacteria. Cronobacter muytjensiiwas the most abundant species characterized in the whole body and gut of E. coreanus, and the unclassified species in the genera Brevundimonasand Lactobacilluswere relatively more abundant in the head and carcass. In addition, no Wolbachia-like bacteria were detected, whereas bacteria like Francisella tularensissubsp. Holarctica OSU18 and unclassified Rickettsiellawere first identified in ant lion E. coreanus.