Gut Bacterial Diversity and Putative Functional Roles in Red Weaver Ant ( <scp> <i>Oecophylla smaragdina</i> </scp> )

ABSTRACT Oecophylla smaragdina (red weaver ant) is traditionally consumed across various regions including Mexico and Africa as a protein and nutrient‐rich food source, as well as for its medicinal properties as recognized by indigenous healers. Like other animals, ants engage in mutualistic associations with microbial symbionts residing within their bodies. These endosymbionts play critical roles in host biology, including nutritional supplementation, digestion, nitrogen recycling, and pathogen defense. Despite their importance, the gut‐specific bacterial communities of ants and their functional contributions particularly in the context of bioactive compound production remain underexplored. In this study, the gut microbiota of O. smaragdina colonies collected from India was investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical characterization of culturable isolates. Several bacterial genera were identified for the first time in this species, with members of the families Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcaceae emerging as the most dominant. Notably, the gut bacterial profile observed in this study diverges from those reported in previous investigations, suggesting unique microbial diversity within O. smaragdina collected from India. Interestingly, some endosymbionts exhibited similarities to human gut microbiota, highlighting the potential complexity and diversity of the ant gut ecosystem. The identification of diverse and unique gut‐associated bacterial taxa in O. smaragdina highlights their potential as promising candidates for future bioprospecting and exploration of microbial metabolites with prospective health benefits.