Characterization of the first Wolbachia from the genus Scaptodrosophila, a male-killer from the rainforest species S.claytoni

Abstract

The Scaptodrosophila genus represents a large group of drosophilids with a worldwide distribution and a predominance of species in Australia, but there is little information on the presence and impacts of Wolbachia endosymbionts in this group. Here we describe the first Wolbachia infection from this group, wClay isolated from Scaptodrosophila claytoni (van Klinken), a species from the east coast of Australia. The infection is polymorphic in natural populations, occurring at a frequency of around 6%–10%. wClay causes male killing, producing female-biased lines; most lines showed 100% male killing, though in 1 line it was <80%. The lines need to be maintained through the introduction of males ..