The gut microbiotas of insects are important for many processes, including
digestion, nitrogen fixation, and nutrient recycling. Bacterial 16S ribosomal
DNA (rDNA) extracted from excised Neodiprion abietis larval guts was
amplified using PCR. Two combinations of primers produced six fragments
that were separated using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE).
The DNA fragments were sequenced directly. BLAST-n analysis and
comparison-rank searches, using the Ribosomal Database Project II, revealed
four predicted bacterial species, one that had similarity to Alphaproteobacteria
and three that aligned with Gammaproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analysis by
maximum parsimony and neighbour joining confirmed these findings and
suggest that Rahnella, Yersinia, Enterobacter, and a Caulobacter-like species
inhabit the N. abietis larval gut.