Molecular identification of a Wolbachia endosymbiont in a Tetranychus urticae strain (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Wolbachia, a maternally inherited bacterium, is involved in alterations of arthropod sexuality. Reproductive incompatibilities are often observed in miles, but the existence of this microorganism in their cytoplasm has not yet been demonstrated. We identified the presence of Wolbachia in a strain of the spider mite Tetranychus urticae based on the amplification and sequencing of part of the 16S rDNA and ftsZ genes. In order to establish the phylogenetic relationships between Wolbachia found in T. urticae and in other arthropods, we aligned the resulting sequences with already published ones. For both 16S and ftsZ genes the Wolbachia carried by T. urticae clustered together with Wolbachia found in other arthropods.