Biological and Microbial ControlRhizosphere-derived microbiome of Ailanthus altissima drives gut microbiome composition in Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae).

The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), a highly polyphagous invasive pest, preferentially feeds on tree-of-heaven (TOH), Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae). However, the bacterial interactions between this pest and its host plant remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the bacterial community composition and functional profiles in the SLF gut, TOH leaves, and TOH rhizosphere soil using amplicon and metagenomic sequencing. This study showed that the bacterial alpha-diversity differed significantly among the 3 sample types (P < 0.05). Venn analysis identified 4 shared amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) between the TOH rhizosphere soil and SLF gut, suggesting potential bacterial interactions or transfer. Further source-tracking analysis indicated that most gut bacteria originated from the rhizosphere soil. However, the dominant taxa varied across compartments: Proteobacteria dominated both the SLF gut and TOH leaves, while Acidobacteria predominated in the TOH rhizosphere soil. Network analysis revealed significant correlations between gut and rhizosphere microbes, notably Candidatus Vidania and Fastidiosipila (P < 0.05, r = 1). Functional profiling showed that the rhizosphere microbiome was enriched in nitrogen cycling and carbon fixation pathways, whereas the gut microbiome was associated with carbohydrate metabolism and nutrient assimilation. These results provide new insights into the potential roles of microbiomes in mediating plant-insect interactions and underscore the rhizosphere as a critical microbial source for SLF. Understanding these microbial connections may support the development of innovative and sustainable pest management strategies.