Characterisation of Wolbachia-like bacteria isolated from the parthenogenetic stored-product pest psocid Liposcelis bostrychophila (Badonnel) (Psocoptera)
2003; Elsevier BV; Volume: 40; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0022-474x(02)00098-x
ISSN1879-1212
AutoresMohammed Abdi Sheikh Yusuf, Bryan Turner,
Tópico(s)Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
ResumoThe widespread psocid, Liposcelis bostrychophila, is a stored-product pest of grain and farinaceous foods. Its ubiquity is in part due to its parthenogenetic reproduction which is shown to be the result of the presence of rickettsial bacteria in the ovaries and developing oocytes. Based on similarities in 16S rDNA sequences, the bacteria are identified as Wolbachia-like. There is little difference in these sequences among a number of L. bostrychophila populations from around the UK and there was no correlation with patterns of similarity among the insect 12S rDNA sequences. Treatment with antibiotics and heat reduced or removed the bacterial infections. Rifampicin (1%) produced aposymbiotic psocids within 4 weeks and the egg production in such treated individuals was greatly reduced. Tetracycline and maintenance at a temperature of 37°C reduced the bacterial loads in the oocytes but did not significantly impact egg production. Closely related bisexual psocid species have no detectable 16S rDNA, which supports EM observations, and were unaffected by the antibiotic treatments.
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