Wolbachia in the invasive European paper wasp Polistes dominulus

Abstract

The European paper wasp Polistes dominulus has been expanding its North American range since its introduction in the 1970s. We screened P. dominulus from Italy and the northeastern U.S. for the presence of the intracellular reproductive symbiont Wolbachia. Infection rates among females varied from 16 % to 87 % among U.S. sites and from 33 % to 71 % in Italy. We also found infected haploid and diploid males, indicating that this is not a male-killing Wolbachia infection. Our data show that infected individuals from New York, Massachusetts, and Italy carry the same Wolbachia strain, and that some mtDNA haplotypes include both infected and uninfected individuals. We discuss possible implications of Wolbachia infection in this invasive social hymenopteran.

Insight into the routes of Wolbachia invasion: high levels of horizontal transfer in the spider genus Agelenopsis revealed by Wolbachia strain and mitochondrial DNA diversity

“…Typically, within a host species, a single strain is associated with one or a set of similar mitotypes, and divergent strains are linked to different mitotypes, excluding recent Wolbachia horizontal transfer (Jiggins 2003; Shoemaker et al . 2004; Stahlhut et al . 2006).…”

“…Previous studies that broadly explored Wolbachia and mitochondrial variation among infected populations found that the two genomes are generally in linkage disequilibrium (Hurst & Jiggins 2005). Typically, within a host species, a single strain is associated with one or a set of similar mitotypes, and divergent strains are linked to different mitotypes, excluding recent Wolbachia horizontal transfer (Jiggins 2003;Shoemaker et al 2004;Stahlhut et al 2006). However, other studies have found instances of deviation from strict co-evolution between Wolbachia and mtDNA.…”

Reduction in post-invasion genetic diversity in Crangonyx pseudogracilis (Amphipoda: Crustacea): a genetic bottleneck or the work of hitchhiking vertically transmitted microparasites?

“…Without further study of the system in this area, it is difficult to determine why there were so few C. pseudogracilis. Indeed, low sample numbers in the native range did not preclude Stahluhut et al (2006) from demonstrating that Wolbachia infection prevalence in invasive and Table 4. Further causes of decline may include general changes in the habitat over time, recent environmental disturbances, changes in pest (in particular mosquito) management, or even the result of a feminising microparasite driving local populations to extinction (Hatcher et al 1999).…”

Effects of social immunity and unicoloniality on host–parasite interactions in invasive insect societies

“…Interestingly the prevalence of the intracellular bacterial symbiont Wolbachia is similarly high in the native and introduced range of P. dominulus (Stahlhut et al . ), suggesting that this vertically transmitted bacterium has been co‐introduced with its host. The high prevalence of Wolbachia in both ranges could indicate low fitness costs associated with infection in this host species (Hurst et al .…”

“…Moreover, the Strepsiptera parasitoid, Xenos pallidus infecting the native Polistes fuscatus in the introduced area are not yet adapted to P. dominulus (Pickett & Wenzel 2000;Gamboa et al 2004). Interestingly the prevalence of the intracellular bacterial symbiont Wolbachia is similarly high in the native and introduced range of P. dominulus (Stahlhut et al 2006), suggesting that this vertically transmitted bacterium has been co-introduced with its host. The high prevalence of Wolbachia in both ranges could indicate low fitness costs associated with infection in this host species (Hurst et al 1999).…”