Y. Argov et al., Possible symbiont-induced thelytoky in Galeopsomyia fausta, a parasitoid of the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella, PHYTOPARASI, 28(3), 2000, pp. 212-218
Galeopsomyia fausta (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a thelytokous parasitic wa
sp attacking the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidop
tera: Gracillariidae). To improve the performance of that wasp as a natural
enemy, the nature of its uniparental reproduction was studied. It was foun
d that the production of males can be induced by antibiotic treatments, but
attempts to establish a biparental G, fausta line have failed. The reprodu
ctive barrier between antibiotic-induced males and conspecific females appe
ars to be the non-receptivity of females. The results imply involvement of
microorganisms in the thelytokous reproduction of G. fausta, but no Wolbach
ia was detected in polymerase chain reaction.