Isolation and characterization of adult gut microflora of Xenocatantops humilis (Orthoptera: Catantopidae)

Grasshoppers are an integral part of food chain, food web and ecosystem balance. They are consumed in many parts of the world by humans as a protein source. Some species are a serious threat to agriculture and vegetation. Gut microflora plays an essential role in the metabolic activities of insects including reproduction and behavior. Identification and Characterization of gut microbial taxa can lead to better understanding of insect-microbe interactions and development of advanced, more efficient biological methods of pest control. Microbiological and genomic analyses of gut isolates of adult Xenocatantops showed the occurrence of Bacillus paramycoides of the Bacillus cereus group along with other diverse microbial genera.