Infection by Wolbachia bacteria and its influence on the reproduction of the stored-product psocid, Liposcelis tricolor

Wolbachia are maternally inherited intracellular bacteria that infect a wide range of arthropods and nematodes and are associated with various reproductive abnormalities in their hosts. The infection by Wolbachia of the psocid, Liposcelis tricolor (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), was investigated using long PCR amplification of the wsp gene that codes for a Wolbachia surface protein. The results showed that L. tricolor was positive for Wolbachia . Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Wolbachia found in L. tricolor was related to the B-group. Wolbachia infection in L. tricolor could be removed through antibiotic treatment. The results of crosses including female(W+) x male(W+), female(W-) x male(W+), female(W+) x male(W-), and female(W-) x male(W-), suggested that the removal of Wolbachia resulted in lower egg production by L. tricolor . The mean embryonic mortality of offspring produced by L. tricolor without Wolbachia was significantly higher than that of control.