P. Lukasik

Limited variation in microbial communities across populations of Macrosteles leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

The paper surveys microbial symbionts in Macrosteles leafhoppers, finding limited variation in symbiont prevalence across populations and over time.

Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology

This study shows that silverfish co-habiting with ants have diets and microbiomes converging with their ant hosts, indicating host specialization influences feeding ecology.

Facultatively intra-bacterial localization of a planthopper endosymbiont as an adaptation to its vertical transmission

The paper describes how an endosymbiont in a planthopper uses a unique cellular localization strategy to ensure maternal transmission and discusses its genomic features and evolutionary implications.

Variable organization of symbiont-containing tissue across planthoppers hosting different heritable endosymbionts

The paper examines the organization of symbiont-containing tissues in planthoppers with different endosymbionts, identifying seven symbiont localization types and seven bacteriome organization types.

Till evolution do us part: The diversity of symbiotic associations across populations of Philaenus spittlebugs

The paper investigates the diversity and distribution of symbiotic bacteria in Philaenus spittlebugs across populations, revealing variation in primary and facultative symbionts and potential transmission via parasitoids.

Microbial symbionts are shared between ants and their associated beetles

The paper compares the microbiota of army ants and their associated beetles, finding shared microbial genotypes across unrelated species.

Optimizing insect metabarcoding using replicated mock communities

This study evaluates metabarcoding protocols for insect communities using mock communities, finding that mild lysis is better for presence/absence, while homogenization improves biomass estimates.

Alternative transmission patterns in independently acquired nutritional co-symbionts of Dictyopharidae planthoppers

The paper examines symbiont transmission patterns in planthoppers, revealing two distinct strategies for transmitting co-primary symbionts acquired independently by different host lineages.

The effect of ethanol concentration on the morphological and molecular preservation of insects for biodiversity studies

This study examines how ethanol concentration affects insect preservation for morphology and DNA, finding trade-offs between the two.

Evolutionary relationships among Massospora spp. (Entomophthorales), obligate pathogens of cicadas

This study investigates the evolutionary relationships and species boundaries of Massospora spp. using molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphology, revealing a monophyletic group with distinct lineages and potential synonymies.

The structured diversity of specialized gut symbionts of the New World army ants

This study investigates the microbial communities of New World army ants, revealing specialized gut symbionts and their evolutionary history across different host species and geographic regions.