Bacterial Symbiote Activation of Insect Parthenogenese Reproduction

ORGANISMS existing in mutualistic interrelationships often show unusual chemical interdependencies; for example, the pupation of the beetle Xyleborus ferrugineus depends on a sterol source provided by its ectosymbiotic fungi^{1, 2}. We now report that bacterial endosymbiotes are transmitted transovarially in this beetle. We also present evidence that natural maturation of the oocytes and haploid parthenogenesis in this insect depend on its bacterial symbiotes.