Possible symbiont-induced thelytoky in Galeopsomyia fausta, a parasitoid of the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella

Galeopsomyia fausta (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a thelytokous parasitic wasp attacking the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). To improve the performance of that wasp as a natural enemy, the nature of its uniparental reproduction was studied. It was found that the production of males can be induced by antibiotic treatments, but attempts to establish a biparental G, fausta line have failed. The reproductive barrier between antibiotic-induced males and conspecific females appears to be the non-receptivity of females. The results imply involvement of microorganisms in the thelytokous reproduction of G. fausta, but no Wolbachia was detected in polymerase chain reaction.