Microbiota Associated with the Gastrointestinal Tract of the Common House Cricket, Acheta domestica

Abstract

The location and morphology of the bacteria associated with the gastrointestinal tract of Acheta domestica were studied, and these bacteria were partially characterized. Bacteria were associated with the peritrophic membrane in the midgut and with the gut wall and cuticular structures of the hindgut. No bacteria were associated with the fat bodies. Colony-forming unit determinations indicated that there were three times more cultivatable bacteria in the hindgut than in the midgut. Of these bacteria, 40 to 85% cleared uric acid anaerobically, and 90 to 100% cleared uric acid aerobically. Of the 25 isolates obtained, 21 belonged to the genera Citrobacter, Klebsiella, Yersinia, Bacteroides , and Fusobacterium.