ScienceAsia 26 (2000) : 093-103 |doi: 10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2000.26.093

Distribution of the Reproduction-modifying Bacteria, Wolbachia, in Natural Populations of Tephritid Fruit Flies in Thailand

Pattamaporn Kittayapong^a,*, John R Milne^a, Saen Tigvattananont^b and Visut Baimai^a

ABSTRACT: Wolbachia are bacteria that infect the reproductive tissues of numerous arthropod species, including tephritid fruit flies. These bacteria are potentially useful for management of tephritid fruit fly pest populations and may also influence tephritid speciation. The extent to which Wolbachia is distributed among tephritid fruit flies is currently unknown. We conducted a PCR-based survey from October 1995 to June 1998 to determine the prevalence and types of Wolbachia present in tephritid fruit flies in Thailand. Infected flies emerged from twenty of 126 fruit and flower collections and comprised 13 (of 46) species, twelve of which were in the genus Bactrocera. However, only 40% of individuals from infected populations, on average, were infected. Further, for infected species collected at numerous locations, less than one-half of locations had infected flies. Finally, 80% of infected collections were taken during just 3 months (October to December 1997) throughout the 33 month long survey. The useof PCR primers revealed that members of both A and B Wolbachia groups were present. They comprised the Aus subgroup (Group A), and the Con, Dei and Pip subgroups (Group B). Wolbachia from flies of nine collections could not be typed and may represent new subgroups, although there are other possibilities. Most flies carried a single subgroup of Wolbachia. Flies of two collections, however, were doubly infected. Our results indicate that Wolbachia prevalence and type varies substantially among and within tephritid fruit fly species. It is, therefore, crucial to understand the effects of these subgroups on tephritids as well as the factors that control Wolbachia prevalence before a role in pest management or speciation can be assessed for these bacteria.

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a Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
b Department of Plant Production Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology, Lad Krabang, Bangkok, Thailand.

* Corresponding author, E-mail: grpkt@mahidol.ac.th.

Received 15 Jul 1999, Accepted 16 Mar 2000