Metagenome assembled genomes of two B. distincta gut symbionts

The two-spotted stink bug, Bathycoelia distincta, is a serious pest of macadamias in South Africa. Nothing is currently known regarding its gut microbiome and what functional roles its symbionts play. In this study, metagenomic sequence data obtained from the midgut crypts of the insect, were used to obtain high quality genomes of two prominent symbionts. The Pantoea species is an obligate symbiont in the midgut crypts (M4 section) and is described as a new species, Pantoea bathycoeliae sp. nov. The other species was more dominant in the rest of the gut and could only be classified to the genus level as a Sodalis species.