Male-killing bacterium in a fifth ladybird beetle, Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Gregory D.D. Hurst; Tansy C. Hammarton; John J. Obrycki; Tamsin M.O. Majerus; Linda E. Walker; Dominique Bertrand; Michael E.N. Majerus

doi:10.1038/hdy.1996.122

Male-killing bacterium in a fifth ladybird beetle, Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Gregory D.D. Hurst, Tansy C. Hammarton, John J. Obrycki, Tamsin M.O. Majerus, Linda E. Walker, Dominique Bertrand, Michael E.N. Majerus

Entomology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inherited symbionts which selectively cause the death of male hosts are found widely across the Insecta. Previous studies have shown a single, but different micro-organism to be responsible for male-killing in each taxonomic group studied. We here produce evidence that within a group of insects, the Coccinellidae, there is more than one causal agent of male lethality. We report a novel observation of a male-killing trait in the species Coleomegilla maculata. Six of 26 crosses were found to produce a female- biased sex ratio associated with a low egg hatch-rate. The trait was matrilinearly inherited and was observed to be tetracycline-sensitive. However, tests which indicate the presence of a Rickettsia, previously found to cause male-killing in another member of the Coccinellidae, Adalia bipunctata, proved negative. We therefore conclude that the phenomenon of male-killing is multicausal, within, as well as between, taxonomic groups of the Insecta.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	177-185
Number of pages	9
Journal	Heredity
Volume	77
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1996.122
State	Published - Aug 1996

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Michael Ashburner for advice and loan of equip-ment, and Mr Alan Feast and Mr Roger Day for technical support. This work was carried out in a laboratory built with the support of the Wolfson Foundation. We wish to thank Christ's College, Cambridge (G. H.), the Weilcome Foundation and the Balfour Browne Fund (T. H.), and the NERC (grant GR 9/993 to M. M.) for financial support.

Keywords

Coleomegilla maculata
female-biased sex ratio
inherited symbiont
male- killing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Genetics
Genetics(clinical)

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10.1038/hdy.1996.122

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title = "Male-killing bacterium in a fifth ladybird beetle, Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)",

abstract = "Inherited symbionts which selectively cause the death of male hosts are found widely across the Insecta. Previous studies have shown a single, but different micro-organism to be responsible for male-killing in each taxonomic group studied. We here produce evidence that within a group of insects, the Coccinellidae, there is more than one causal agent of male lethality. We report a novel observation of a male-killing trait in the species Coleomegilla maculata. Six of 26 crosses were found to produce a female- biased sex ratio associated with a low egg hatch-rate. The trait was matrilinearly inherited and was observed to be tetracycline-sensitive. However, tests which indicate the presence of a Rickettsia, previously found to cause male-killing in another member of the Coccinellidae, Adalia bipunctata, proved negative. We therefore conclude that the phenomenon of male-killing is multicausal, within, as well as between, taxonomic groups of the Insecta.",

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author = "Hurst, {Gregory D.D.} and Hammarton, {Tansy C.} and Obrycki, {John J.} and Majerus, {Tamsin M.O.} and Walker, {Linda E.} and Dominique Bertrand and Majerus, {Michael E.N.}",

note = "Funding Information: Michael Ashburner for advice and loan of equip-ment, and Mr Alan Feast and Mr Roger Day for technical support. This work was carried out in a laboratory built with the support of the Wolfson Foundation. We wish to thank Christ's College, Cambridge (G. H.), the Weilcome Foundation and the Balfour Browne Fund (T. H.), and the NERC (grant GR 9/993 to M. M.) for financial support.",

year = "1996",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1038/hdy.1996.122",

language = "English",

volume = "77",

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AU - Hurst, Gregory D.D.

AU - Hammarton, Tansy C.

AU - Obrycki, John J.

AU - Majerus, Tamsin M.O.

AU - Walker, Linda E.

AU - Bertrand, Dominique

AU - Majerus, Michael E.N.

N1 - Funding Information: Michael Ashburner for advice and loan of equip-ment, and Mr Alan Feast and Mr Roger Day for technical support. This work was carried out in a laboratory built with the support of the Wolfson Foundation. We wish to thank Christ's College, Cambridge (G. H.), the Weilcome Foundation and the Balfour Browne Fund (T. H.), and the NERC (grant GR 9/993 to M. M.) for financial support.

PY - 1996/8

Y1 - 1996/8

N2 - Inherited symbionts which selectively cause the death of male hosts are found widely across the Insecta. Previous studies have shown a single, but different micro-organism to be responsible for male-killing in each taxonomic group studied. We here produce evidence that within a group of insects, the Coccinellidae, there is more than one causal agent of male lethality. We report a novel observation of a male-killing trait in the species Coleomegilla maculata. Six of 26 crosses were found to produce a female- biased sex ratio associated with a low egg hatch-rate. The trait was matrilinearly inherited and was observed to be tetracycline-sensitive. However, tests which indicate the presence of a Rickettsia, previously found to cause male-killing in another member of the Coccinellidae, Adalia bipunctata, proved negative. We therefore conclude that the phenomenon of male-killing is multicausal, within, as well as between, taxonomic groups of the Insecta.

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Male-killing bacterium in a fifth ladybird beetle, Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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