16S rRNA gene amplicon data of midgut microbial diversity in German cockroach, Blattella germanica

Blattella germanica, commonly known as German cockroach, is a globally prevalent household pest. The gut microbiota of B. germanica is influenced by multiple factors, yet their interactive effects remain poorly understood compared with other insect taxa. Midgut-specific microbial communities also remain understudied relative to whole gut or hindgut microbiota. In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing datasets were generated from midgut samples collected across varying life stages (adult and nymph), sexes (male and female), environmental origins (laboratory-reared and field-collected), and physiological states (fed and starved).

Genomic DNA was extracted using the HiYield Genomic DNA isolation kit and amplified targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene using primer pair 338 F/806R. Raw sequences reads were subsequently analyzed using QIIME2 pipeline following quality control and host decontamination. Taxonomic classification consistently identified the bacterial families Lactobacillaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Dysgonomonadaceae, Christensenellaceae, and Rikenellaceae across all treatment groups. Diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, and Chao1) showed similar trends across samples, indicating stable patterns of microbial diversity and richness. These datasets support the exploration of specific midgut-associated taxa as potential targets for biological control strategies against B. germanica.