Wolbachia are bacteria that infect more than 20 percent of arthropod species. Infections have profound implications for host reproduction, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, male-killing, and feminization. Transfer of Wolbachia between species has been hypothesized between parasitic wasps and their dipteran hosts. We attempted to transfer Wolbachia between species by rearing Wolbachia-free, Muscidifurax raptor, M. zaraptor and M. raptorellus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on Wolbachia-infected horn fly, Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae) for 10 consecutive generations. Wolbachia was detected in M. raptor in Generation 7, but no other positive results were recorded.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Pteromalidae Muscidifurax raptor
Species 2: Hymenoptera Pteromalidae Muscidifurax zaraptor
Species 3: Diptera Muscidae Haematobia irritans (horn fly)
Keywords: Wolbachia, horizontal transmission
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