Prevalence and Effects of Endosymbiotic Bacterium Wolbachia in Spider Mites: Interactions and Implications for Pest Management

Spider mites are pests of crops and ornamental plants. It has a cosmopolitan distribution and causes huge economic loss by yield reduction. Wolbachia is a prevalent endosymbiont in spider mites. Wolbachia imparts cytoplasmic incopmpatibility, parthenogenesis, mitochondrial DNA variation, behavioural changes, and varied effects on fecundity and longevity in spider mites. Co-infection with other endosymbiotic bacteria such as Cardinium, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia are also common with profound effects on host mites, host bacterial flora and host plants.32 species of spider mites belonging to 9 genera are reported to have infected with Wolbachia. Highest infection is reported in tetranychus genera followed by bryobia.The detection, effects and applications of Wolbachia infection in spider mites are discussed. Wolbachia prevalence in the spider mite host is greatly dependent upon the host genotype, Wolbachia density and environmental factors. Dissecting the Wolbachia-spider mite interactions may enhance knowledge on evolutionary and ecological aspects of animal microbe interactions. This study will contribute to understand the Wolbachia- spider mite interactions and may pave way to the control of this agricultural pest.