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Abstract
Parasitoid-host associations are often highly specific, and the specificity of these interactions can be influenced by parasitoid or host encoded mechanisms, contributions by microbes, or a combination of these factors. Here we investigate the microbial communities of several, cryptic species of parasitoid wasps and their hosts. Collections in French Guiana yielded nine cryptic species of Blepharoneura flies and three cryptic species of Bellopius parasitoid wasps from two plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae. 16S rDNA sequencing identified Wolbachia as the major member of the Bellopius microbial community. In Blepharoneura pupal samples, Acinetobacter and Empedobacter were the most abundant members of the bacterial community. The Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) system was used to identify the Wolbachia strains present. Two Wolbachia strains were found, strain type 19 (ST-19) and ST-13 infecting Bellopius wasps. Both Wolbachia strains fall into Wolbachia Supergroup A..