First report of the association between and (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): effect on life history parameters of the parasitoid.

The symbiosis between microorganisms and host arthropods can cause biological, physiological, and reproductive changes in the host population. The present study aimed to survey facultative symbionts of the genera , , , , and in (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the laboratory and evaluate the influence of infection on the fitness of these hosts. For this purpose, 16S rDNA primers were used to detect these facultative symbionts in the host species, and the hosts' biological and morphological features were evaluated for changes resulting from the infection caused by these microorganisms. The bacterial symbionts studied herein were not detected in the samples analysed, but the endosymbiont was detected in and altered the biological and morphological aspects of this parasitoid insect. The results of this study may help to elucidate the role of in maintaining the quality of populations/lineages of .