Parthenogenesis and Sex-Ratio Distorting Bacteria in <i>Empoasca</i> (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Leafhoppers

Abstract Endosymbiotic bacteria can induce parthenogenesis in many haplo-diploid species, but little is known about their role asexual reproduction diplodiploids. Bacteria are essential for the lineages of springtails and booklice, possibly some weevils, whether they causative agent remains to be proven. This would require comparing unisexual forms closely related bisexual such model species very rare. Empoasca leafhoppers from Madeira Archipelago provide an excellent case test bacterial infections cause parthenogenesis. Here we examined diversity sex-distorting bacteria, Wolbachia, Cardinium, Rickettsia, Arsenophonus, three apomictic morphotypes (A, B, C) relatives Empoasca. Wolbachia group B was present all species. Rickettsia were only restricted forms, suggesting association between infection reproduction. In addition, found Asaia third time Cicadellidae, although this may have do with reproductive mode its host. Adult females morphotype C reared on plants watered tetracycline solution did not result production male offspring. To our knowledge, first study suggest a possible XO/XX diplodiploid based range sex ratio-distorting bacteria.