Distinct microbiome signatures associated with wing polyphenism in the wing-dimorphic planthopper Nilaparvata lugens

Wing polyphenism is crucial for the ecological adaptation of the wing-dimorphic planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, yet its underlying association with symbiotic microbiota remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated three N. lugens strains (Field, HSD, and Lab) exhibiting stable but distinct macropterous-to-brachypterous ratios. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that the composition and structure of the microbiota differed significantly not only among the diverse strains but also between distinct wing morphs within the same genetic background and living environment. Furthermore, functional predictions demonstrated that the relative abundance of aerobic bacteria and specific metabolic pathways, notably steroid hormone biosynthesis and linoleic acid metabolism, were positively correlated with the macropterous ratio. These findings suggest that wing morph determination in N. lugens is intimately associated with distinct microbiome configurations and host-microbe metabolic interactions, providing a novel microecological perspective on insect phenotypic plasticity. However, further experimental validations are required to determine whether these microbial shifts drive wing morph development or are a consequence of divergent host physiology.