Occurrence of Wolbachia in Brazilian samples of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

Wolbachia bacteria were detected by PCR followed by sequencing of a fragment of the 16S ribosomal gene, in a natural population sample and in two laboratory colonies of the medfly, C. capitata (Wied.), from Brazil. Sequencing revealed that the fragment was compatible with the Wolbachia type A group found in several insect species. This is the first description of a natural Wolbachia infection in C. capitata, since several other samples from different regions so far analyzed seemed to be free of infection.