Ectoparasitic Mites: Vectors of Bacterial Symbionts among Insects
Journal: Biology Bulletin
Year: 2023

Abstract Inherited endosymbiotic bacteria from the genera Rickettsia, Wolbachia, and Spiroplasma cause the death of male offspring in ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae). As a rule, bacteria are transmitted through the cytoplasm of the mother’s egg to offspring, vertically. In addition to vertical transfer, there is increasing evidence of horizontal transfer of symbionts between unrelated insect taxa. Insect parasites such as mites can be potential vectors of endosymbiotic bacteria. The parasi