Insect Symbiosis, Volume 2

Written by authorities on symbionts, the microbes associated with insects and mites, this work summarizes current knowledge of symbiotic organisms in the biology of insects. In this second volume, repeat authors describe brand-new aspects of their research, while a new group covers recently developing aspects of symbiotic relationships, including two new examples of using symbionts in crop protection.

Summarizing current knowledge on symbiotic organisms in the biology of insects, Insect Symbiosis, Volume IIdescribes the diversity of symbiotic bacteria associated with pests such as whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, psyllids, and tsetse flies. The book illustrates how symbiosis research has important ramifications for evolutionary biology, physiology, parasitology, genetics, and animal behavior and is especially relevant to the control of agricultural and disease-carrying pests. In this second volume, a few repeat authors describe brand new aspects of their research, while a new group covers recently developing aspects of symbiotic relationships. The book includes updated information on Wolbachia biology and how it influences insect life, supplies two new examples of using symbionts in crop protection, and discusses the recent “bug in a bug” mealy bug case. The book provides analysis and synthesis of cutting-edge research in insect symbiosis that sheds light on the evolution of the host/symbiont relationship, and in turn, on the general study of evolution, physiology, and genetics.

Diversity of Prokaryote–Insect Associations within the Sternorrhyncha (psyllids, whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs), P. Baumann An Alpha-Proteobacterium Invades the Mitochondria of the Tick Ixodes ricinus, N. Lo, T. Beninati, L. Sacchi, and C. Bandi Inherited Bacteroidetes Symbionts in Arthropods, M.S. Hunter and E. Zchori-Fein Complexity of Insect–Fungal Associations: Exploring the Influence of Microorganisms on Attine Ant–Fungus Symbiosis, M. Poulsen and C.R. Currie The Evolutionary Origin and Maintenance of the Mutualistic Symbiosis Between Termites and Fungi, D.K. Aamen and K.K. Boomsma Mollicutes Associated with Arthropods and Plants, E.-D. Ammar and S.A. Hogenhout A Newly Discovered Virus Manipulates Superparasitism Behavior in a Parasitoid Wasp, J. Varaldi, S. Gandon, A. Rivero, S. Patot, and F. Fleury Symbiont Culture, A.C. Darby and S.C. Welburn Comparative Genomics in Buchnera aphidicola, Primary Endosymbiont of Aphids, A. Latorre and A. Moya Wolbachia Genomics: Accelerating Our Understanding of a Pervasive Symbiosis, J.C. Brownlie and S.L. O’Neill The Role of Wolbachia in the Biology and Pathogenesis of Filari, J.D. Turner, J.M. Foster, M. Ganatra, B.E. Slatk, and M.J. Taylor Paternal Sex Ratio Chromosomes in Parasitoid Wasps: An Overview of the Ins and Outs of These Extremely Selfish B chromosomes, J.J.F.A. van Vugt, H. de Jong, and R. Stouthamer Insecticidal Bacterial Effectors from Symbionts of Insect-Killing Nematodes, R.H. ffrench-Constant, A. Dowling, and N. Waterfield Insect Pest Control Using Wolbachia and/or Radiation, K. Bourtzis and A.S. Robinson Paratransgenesis Applied to Control Insect-Transmitted Plant Pathogens: The Pierce’s Disease Case , T. Miller, C. Lauzon, D. Lampe, R. Durvasula, and S. Matthews Index