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<p>The microbiota associated with the reproductive tissues of insects can play an important role in altering host fitness: they can manipulate host fecundity to the microbe’s benefit, modulate their host’s immune system, or provide essential nutrients for host gamete production. Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are eusocial bees that provide pollination services in natural and agricultural systems across the global tropics and subtropics, yet their reproductive microbiome remains poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the bacterial microbiota present in the ovaries and testes of two Australian stingless bee species, <i>Tetragonula carbonaria</i> and <i>Tetragonula hockingsi</i>, using 16S sequencing. Acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacteraceae) dominated the microbiota of ovaries and testes, primarily represented by several <i>Bombella</i>-like strains at the genus level. Phylogenetic analysis of these <i>Bombella</i>-like bacteria places them with those identified from the guts of other stingless bee species, suggesting that this group may have co-evolved with Meliponine hosts. Notably, we found no evidence in <i>Tetragonula</i> reproductives of <i>Wolbachia</i> or other parasitic reproductive endosymbionts known to be capable of manipulating insect reproduction. To further investigate the incidence of such endosymbionts within stingless bees, we conducted a large in silico search of genomic sequencing data from 18 species of stingless bees (almost all workers). This also returned no evidence of known insect reproductive endosymbionts. In contrast to solitary bees, therefore, our findings suggest that parasitic reproductive endosymbionts are particularly uncommon in the stingless bees.</p>

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Bacterial microbiota associated with the reproductive tissue of stingless bees

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月18日

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  • Genevieve Law,
  • James Hereward,
  • Nathan Lo,
  • Rosalyn Gloag

摘要

The microbiota associated with the reproductive tissues of insects can play an important role in altering host fitness: they can manipulate host fecundity to the microbe’s benefit, modulate their host’s immune system, or provide essential nutrients for host gamete production. Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are eusocial bees that provide pollination services in natural and agricultural systems across the global tropics and subtropics, yet their reproductive microbiome remains poorly characterized. Here, we investigated the bacterial microbiota present in the ovaries and testes of two Australian stingless bee species, Tetragonula carbonaria and Tetragonula hockingsi, using 16S sequencing. Acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacteraceae) dominated the microbiota of ovaries and testes, primarily represented by several Bombella-like strains at the genus level. Phylogenetic analysis of these Bombella-like bacteria places them with those identified from the guts of other stingless bee species, suggesting that this group may have co-evolved with Meliponine hosts. Notably, we found no evidence in Tetragonula reproductives of Wolbachia or other parasitic reproductive endosymbionts known to be capable of manipulating insect reproduction. To further investigate the incidence of such endosymbionts within stingless bees, we conducted a large in silico search of genomic sequencing data from 18 species of stingless bees (almost all workers). This also returned no evidence of known insect reproductive endosymbionts. In contrast to solitary bees, therefore, our findings suggest that parasitic reproductive endosymbionts are particularly uncommon in the stingless bees.