Microbial community of predatory bugs of the genus Macrolophus (Hemiptera: Miridae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The predatory mirids of the genus Macrolophus are key natural enemies of various economically important agricultural pests. Both M. caliginosus and M. pygmaeus are commercially available for the augmentative biological control of arthropod pests in European greenhouses. The latter species is known to be infected with Wolbachia -inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility in its host- but the presence of other endosymbionts has not been demonstrated. In the present study, the microbial diversity was examined in various populations of M. caliginosus and M. pygmaeus by 16S rRNA sequencing and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.

Results

Besides Wolbachia, a co-infection of 2 Rickettsia species was detected in all M. pygmaeus populations. Based on a concatenated alignmen

SUBMITTER: Machtelinckx T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3287520 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature