Sanaei, E., Albery, G.F., Yeoh, Y.K., Lin, Y.-P., Cook, L.G., & Engelstädter, J. 2023 Host phylogeny and ecological associations best explain Wolbachia host shifts in scale insects. Molecular Ecology DOI: 10.1111/mec.16883
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Notes: Wolbachia's success in infecting an enormous number of arthropod species is attributed to two features: the range of phenotypes they induce in their hosts, and their ability to switch between host species. We detected the same Wolbachia strain in scale insects and several intimately associated species (ants, wasps and flies). This indicates putative host shifts and potential routes of transfers via these associates and highlights the importance of ecological connectivity in Wolbachia host-shifting
