Cytoplasmic Introgression and Diversity in Wolbachia infected Uzifly Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae)

Abstract

Inherited bacterial symbionts from the genus Wolbachia have attracted much attention by virtue of their ability to manipulate the reproduction of their arthropod hosts. The Wolbachia-induced reproductive alterations bear greater effect on ecological, evolutionary and genetic aspects of a particular host. In the present investigation, we examined diversity in E. sorbillans infected with Wolbachia. The DNA finger printing of infected populations clearly showed diversity in E. sorbillans populations. We also, noticed that two E. sorbillans populations rejected the Null Hypothesis of homogeneity which clearly indicated diversity in populations. In Uzifly, population diversity results from effective migration rate of the Uzifly and crossing with different geographic populations that likely cause cytoplasmic introgression through hybridization events. Wolbachia through cytoplasmic introgression perhaps promotes the diversity in E. sorbillans populations. Overall, our study assessed the impact of Wolbachia on E. sorbillans diversity, population structure and dynamics.