Gut bacteria are essential for normal cuticle development in herbivorous turtle ants

Microbial symbionts can help their hosts metabolise diverse diets. A study on herbivorous turtle ants identifies the cuticular components which are nitrogen-enriched by gut bacteria, highlighting the role of symbionts in insect evolution.

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christophe Duplais, Vincent Sarou-Kanian, Dominique Massiot, Alia Hassan, Barbara Perrone, Yannick Estevez, John T. Wertz, Estelle Martineau, Jonathan Farjon, Patrick Giraudeau, Corrie S. Moreau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21065-y