Effect Of Wolbachia Research Articles

Promising Role of Wolbachia as Anti-parasitic Drug Target and Eco-Friendly Biocontrol Agent.

Wolbachia is the most common endosymbiotic bacteria in insectborne parasites and it is the most common reproductive parasite in the world. Wolbachia has been found worldwide in numerous arthropod and parasite species, including insects, terrestrial isopods, spiders, mites and filarial nematodes. There is a complicated relationship between Wolbachia and its hosts and in some cases, they create a mutual relationship instead of a parasitic relationship. Some species are not able to reproduce in the absence of infection with Wolbachia. Thus, the use of existing strains of Wolbachia bacteria offers a potential strategy for the control of the population of mosquitoes and other pests and diseases. We searched ten databases and reviewed published papers regarding the role of Wolbachia as a promising drug target and emerging biological control agents of parasitic diseases between 1996 and 2017 (22 years) were considered eligible. Also, in the current study several patents (WO008652), (US7723062), and (US 0345249 A1) were reviewed. Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria, which are inherited from mothers, is transmitted to mosquitoes and interferes with pathogen transmission. They can change the reproduction of their host. Wolbachia is transmitted through the cytoplasm of eggs and have evolved different mechanisms for manipulating the reproduction of its hosts, including the induction of reproductive incompatibility, parthenogenesis, and feminization. The extensive effects of Wolbachia on reproduction and host fitness have made Wolbachia the issue of growing attention as a potential biocontrol agent. Wolbachia has opened a new window to design a costly, potent and ecofriendly drug target for effective treatment and elimination of vector-borne parasitic diseases.

Widespread Wolbachia infection in an insular radiation of damselflies (Odonata, Coenagrionidae)

Wolbachia is one of the most common endosymbionts found infecting arthropods. Theory predicts symbionts like Wolbachia will be more common in species radiations, as host shift events occur with greatest frequency between closely related species. Further, the presence of Wolbachia itself may engender reproductive isolation, and promote speciation of their hosts. Here we screened 178 individuals belonging to 30 species of the damselfly genera Nesobasis and Melanesobasis — species radiations endemic to the Fiji archipelago in the South Pacific — for Wolbachia, using multilocus sequence typing to characterize bacterial strains. Incidence of Wolbachia was 71% in Nesobasis and 40% in Melanesobasis, and prevalence was also high, with an average of 88% in the Nesobasis species screened. We identified a total of 25 Wolbachia strains, belonging to supergroups A, B and F, with some epidemic strains present in multiple species. The occurrence of Wolbachia in both males and females, and the similar global prevalence found in both sexes rules out any strong effect of Wolbachia on the primary sex-ratio, but are compatible with the phenotype of cytoplasmic incompatibility. Nesobasis has higher species richness than most endemic island damselfly genera, and we discuss the potential for endosymbiont-mediated speciation within this group.

The effect of Wolbachia on gene expression in Drosophila paulistorum and its implications for symbiont-induced host speciation

BackgroundThe Neotropical fruit fly Drosophila paulistorum (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a species complex in statu nascendi comprising six reproductively isolated semispecies, each harboring mutualistic Wolbachia strains. Although wild type flies of each semispecies are isolated from the others by both pre- and postmating incompatibilities, mating between semispecies and successful offspring development can be achieved once flies are treated with antibiotics to reduce Wolbachia titer. Here we use RNA-seq to study the impact of Wolbachia on D. paulistorum and investigate the hypothesis that the symbiont may play a role in host speciation. For that goal, we analyze samples of heads and abdomens of both sexes of the Amazonian, Centro American and Orinocan semispecies of D. paulistorum.ResultsWe identify between 175 and 1192 differentially expressed genes associated with a variety of biological processes that respond either globally or according to tissue, sex or condition in the three semispecies. Some of the functions associated with differentially expressed genes are known to be affected by Wolbachia in other species, such as metabolism and immunity, whereas others represent putative novel phenotypes involving muscular functions, pheromone signaling, and visual perception.ConclusionsOur results show that Wolbachia affect a large number of biological functions in D. paulistorum, particularly when present in high titer. We suggest that the significant metabolic impact of the infection on the host may cause several of the other putative and observed phenotypes. We also speculate that the observed differential expression of genes associated with chemical communication and reproduction may be associated with the emergence of pre- and postmating barriers between semispecies, which supports a role for Wolbachia in the speciation of D. paulistorum.

No evidence for an effect of Wolbachia on mtDNA variation and evolution in natural populations of Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Wolbachia are widespread maternally-inherited endosymbiotic bacteria that infect numerous arthropods. This study represents a thorough survey of the Wolbachia infection patterns in the pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker), an important rice pest in China, based on nucleotide comparisons for the surface protein (wsp) and cell division protein (ftsZ) genes. The effects of Wolbachia on mtDNA variation and evolution of S. inferens were also investigated. Although we identified six genetically diverse strains, we found infections to be infrequent, with only 7.8% of hosts infected, and identified geographical differences in infection rates between southern and northern populations. Nucleotide indexes (haplotype diversity (Hd), nucleotide diversity (Π) and number of variable sites (S) of mtDNA in infected populations were not significantly lower or higher than that in the uninfected populations. Furthermore, there was no association between Wolbachia infection status and phylogeny of mtDNA haplotypes. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that significant differentiation mainly existed within groups rather than among the groups. Additionally, using Tajima's D and Fu's F values, the mtDNA genes did not deviate significantly from neutral evolution. Taken together these results indicate that currently there were no effects of Wolbachia infection on host mtDNA variation and evolution in S. inferens.

Genotype of Wolbachia pipientis Endosymbiont Affects Octopamine Metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster Females

The effect of the genotype of the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis on the metabolism of octopamine (one of the main biogenic amines in insects) was studied in young Drosophila melanogaster females. The activity of tyrosine decarboxylase (key octopamine synthesis enzyme) and the activity of octopamine-dependent N-acetyltransferase (the enzyme of its degradation) were measured. It was demonstrated that the activity of both studied enzymes is increased under normal conditions in females infected with bacteria of the pathogenic wMelPop strain and decreased in those infected with bacteria of the wMelCS genotype, while it does not differ from those in uninfected flies in females infected with the wMel genotype. It was also found that the intensity of tyrosine decarboxylase response to heat stress is decreased in all females infected with Wolbachia. Thus, the effect of Wolbachia on octopamine metabolism was for the first time demonstrated in the Drosophila females, and it was shown that the nature of this effect is determined by the symbiont genotype.

Wolbachia induce cytoplasmic incompatibility and affect mate preference in Habrobracon hebetor to increase the chance of its transmission to the next generation.

Wolbachia are common intracellular bacteria that are generally found in arthropods, including a high proportion of insects and also some nematodes. This intracellular symbiont can affect sex ratio with a variety of reproductive anomalies in the host, including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in haplodiploids. In this study, we questioned if the parasitoid wasp, Habrobracon hebetor (Hym.: Braconidae), an important biological control agent of many lepidopteran larvae, is infected with Wolbachia. To test this, DNA was extracted from adult insects and subjected to PCR using specific primers to Wolbachia target genes. The results showed a high rate of Wolbachia infection in this parasitoid wasp. To determine the biological function of Wolbachia in H. hebetor, we removed this bacterium from the wasps using antibiotic treatment (cured wasps). Results of crossing experiments revealed that Wolbachia induced CI in H. hebetor in which cured females crossed with infected males produced only males, while both male and female progeny were observed for other crosses. Also, we showed that the presence of Wolbachia in females increased fecundity and female offspring of this parasitoid wasp. The presence of Wolbachia in the males had no significant effect on fecundity and female production, but might have incurred costs. We also investigated the effect of Wolbachia on mate choice and found that Wolbachia affects mating behavior of H. hebetor. Together, we showed that Wolbachia induces CI in H. hebetor and affects host mating behavior in favor of its transmission. Wolbachia utilize these strategies to increase the frequency of infected females in the host population.

Cross-Generational Effects of Heat Stress on Fitness and Wolbachia Density in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia symbionts are now being released into the field to control the spread of pathogenic human arboviruses. Wolbachia can spread throughout vector populations by inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility and can reduce disease transmission by interfering with virus replication. The success of this strategy depends on the effects of Wolbachia on mosquito fitness and the stability of Wolbachia infections across generations. Wolbachia infections are vulnerable to heat stress, and sustained periods of hot weather in the field may influence their utility as disease control agents, particularly if temperature effects persist across generations. To investigate the cross-generational effects of heat stress on Wolbachia density and mosquito fitness, we subjected Ae. aegypti with two different Wolbachia infection types (wMel, wAlbB) and uninfected controls to cyclical heat stress during larval development over two generations. We then tested adult starvation tolerance and wing length as measures of fitness and measured the density of wMel in adults. Both heat stress and Wolbachia infection reduced adult starvation tolerance. wMel Wolbachia density in female offspring was lower when mothers experienced heat stress, but male Wolbachia density did not depend on the rearing temperature of the previous generation. We also found cross-generational effects of heat stress on female starvation tolerance, but there was no cross-generational effect on wing length. Fitness costs of Wolbachia infections and cross-generational effects of heat stress on Wolbachia density may reduce the ability of Wolbachia to invade populations and control arbovirus transmission under specific environmental conditions.

Wolbachia Infection Associated with Increased Recombination in Drosophila.

Wolbachia is a maternally-transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that infects a large diversity of arthropod and nematode hosts. Some strains of Wolbachia are parasitic, manipulating host reproduction to benefit themselves, while other strains of Wolbachia exhibit obligate or facultative mutualisms with their host. The effects of Wolbachia on its host are many, though primarily relate to host immune and reproductive function. Here we test the hypothesis that Wolbachia infection alters the frequency of homologous recombination during meiosis. We use D. melanogaster as a model system, and survey recombination in eight wild-derived Wolbachia-infected (strain wMel) and Wolbachia-uninfected strains, controlling for genotype. We measure recombination in two intervals of the genome. Our results indicate that Wolbachia infection is associated with increased recombination in one genomic interval and not the other. The effect of Wolbachia infection on recombination is thus heterogenous across the genome. Our data also indicate a reproductive benefit of Wolbachia infection; infected females show higher fecundity than their uninfected genotypic controls. Given the prevalence of Wolbachia infection in natural populations, our findings suggest that Wolbachia infection is likely to contribute to recombination rate and fecundity variation among individuals in nature.

Drosophila female fertility and juvenile hormone metabolism depends on the type of Wolbachia infection.

Maternally inherited intracellular bacteria Wolbachia cause both parasitic and mutualistic effects on their numerous insect hosts, including manipulating the host reproductive system in order to increase the bacteria spreading in a host population, and increasing the host fitness. Here, we demonstrate that the type of Wolbachia infection determines the effect on Drosophila melanogaster egg production as a proxy for fecundity, and metabolism of juvenile hormone (JH), which acts as gonadotropin in adult insects. For this study, we used six D. melanogaster lineages carrying the nuclear background of interbred Bi90 lineage and cytoplasmic backgrounds with or without Wolbachia of different genotype variants. The wMelCS genotype of Wolbachia decreases egg production in infected D. melanogaster females in the beginning of oviposition and increases it later (from the sixth day after eclosion), whereas the wMelPop Wolbachia strain causes the opposite effect, and the wMel, wMel2 and wMel4 genotypes of Wolbachia do not show any effect on these traits compared with uninfected Bi90 D. melanogaster females. The intensity of JH catabolism negatively correlates with the fecundity level in the flies carrying both wMelCS and wMelPop Wolbachia The JH catabolism in females infected with genotypes of the wMel group does not differ from that in uninfected females. The effects of wMelCS and wMelPop infection on egg production can be levelled by the modulation of JH titre (via precocene/JH treatment of the flies). Thus, at least one of the mechanisms promoting the effect of Wolbachia on D. melanogaster female fecundity is mediated by JH.

Effects of Wolbachia/Cardinium Infection on the Mitochondrial Phylogeny of Oligonychus castaneae (Acari: Tetranychidae).

A wide range of invertebrates harbor intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria. Within these endosymbionts, Wolbachia and Cardinium, have been attracting particular attention because these bacteria frequently affect the genetic structure and genetic diversity of their hosts. They cause various reproductive alterations such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis induction, male-killing, and feminization. Through these alterations, they also affect the maternally inherited organelles of their hosts. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be used for molecular phylogenetic analysis of invertebrates. However, in Wolbachia- or Cardinium-infected invertebrates, phylogenetic trees based on mtDNA are often inconsistent with those based on nuclear DNA. In the present study, we determined the Wolbachia/Cardinium infection status of 45 populations of the mite, Oligonychus castaneae Ehara & Gotoh (Acari: Tetranychidae), collected throughout Japan. Then, we compared phylogenetic trees of O. castaneae based on both the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of mtDNA and the 28S rRNA gene of nuclear DNA to clarify the effects of Wolbachia and/or Cardinium infection. We found 106 Wolbachia-infected individuals and 250 Cardinium-infected individuals in a total of 450 individuals, indicating an infection rate of 79%. No double-infected individuals were observed. In the 28S tree, almost all populations formed a single group. In the COI tree, O. castaneae formed four separate groups that more closely followed Wolbachia/Cardinium infection than geographic distribution. These results strongly suggest that the endosymbionts affected mitochondrial variation of O. castaneae.

Wolbachia infection may improve learning and memory capacity of Drosophila by altering host gene expression through microRNA

Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria present in a wide range of invertebrates. Although their dramatic effects on host reproductive biology have been well studied, little is known about the effects of Wolbachia on the learning and memory capacity (LMC) of hosts, despite their distribution in the host nervous system, including brain. In this study, we found that Wolbachia infection significantly enhanced LMC in both Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans. Expression of LMC-related genes was significantly increased in the head of D. melanogaster infected with the wMel strain, and among these genes, crebA was up-regulated the most. Knockdown of crebA in Wolbachia-infected flies significantly decreased LMC, while overexpression of crebA in Wolbachia-free flies significantly enhanced the LMC of flies. More importantly, a microRNA (miRNA), dme-miR-92b, was identified to be complementary to the 3’UTR of crebA. Wolbachia infection was correlated with reduced expression of dme-miR-92b in D. melanogaster, and dme-miR-92b negatively regulated crebA through binding to its 3’UTR region. Overexpression of dme-miR-92b in Wolbachia-infected flies by microinjection of agomirs caused a significant decrease in crebA expression and LMC, while inhibition of dme-miR-92b in Wolbachia-free flies by microinjection of antagomirs resulted in a significant increase in crebA expression and LMC. These results suggest that Wolbachia may improve LMC in Drosophila by altering host gene expression through a miRNA-target pathway. Our findings help better understand the host-endosymbiont interactions and, in particular, the impact of Wolbachia on cognitive processes in invertebrate hosts.

Drosophila melanogaster infected with Wolbachia strain wMelCS prefer cooler temperatures

1. Temperature plays a fundamental role in the dynamics of host–pathogen interactions. Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacteria that infects about 40% of arthropod species, which can affect host behaviour and reproduction. Yet, the effect of Wolbachia on host thermoregulatory behaviour is largely unknown, despite its use in disease vector control programs in thermally variable environments.2. Here, a thermal gradient was used to test whether Drosophila melanogaster infected with Wolbachia strain wMelCS exhibited different temperature preferences (Tp) to uninfected flies.3. It was found that Wolbachia‐infected flies preferred a cooler mean temperature (Tp = 25.06 ± 0.25 °C) than uninfected flies (Tp = 25.78 ± 0.24 °C).4. This finding suggests that Wolbachia‐infected hosts might seek out cooler microclimates to reduce exposure to, and lessen the consequences of, high temperatures. This finding has generated hypotheses that will be fruitful in areas of research for exploring the mechanisms by which the change in Tp occurs in this complex and significant host–pathogen–environment interaction.

Microbe Profile: Wolbachia: a sex selector, a viral protector and a target to treat filarial nematodes.

Wolbachia is the most widespread genus of endosymbiotic bacteria in the animal world, infecting a diverse range of arthropods and nematodes. A broad spectrum of associations from parasitism to mutualism occur, with a tendency to drive reproductive manipulation or influence host fecundity to spread infection through host populations. These varied effects of Wolbachia are exploited for public health benefits. Notably, the protection of insect hosts from viruses is being tested as a potential control strategy for human arboviruses, and the mutualistic relationship with filarial nematodes makes Wolbachia a target for antibiotic therapy of human and veterinary nematode diseases.

Drosophila melanogaster inhabiting northern regions of European Russia are infected with Wolbachia which adversely affects their life span

Wolbachia is a genus of bacteria causing intracellular infection in the natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster on all continents. In D. melanogaster , Wolbachia affects various life history traits, behaviour, sensitivity to stress and viral infection. The phenotypic effects of Wolbachia might evolve to promote its further spreading, increasing the interest in exploring the spread of Wolbachia , in particular, at the boundar­ies of the D. melanogaster habitat, in association with the effects on vital traits of host species. In this paper, we present data on the level of Wolbachia infection in two D. melanogaster populations from the northern regions of European Russia: Alexandrov (56.41° N, 38.72° E) and Valday (58.02° N, 33.24° E). The flies were collected in private apple gardens located in two small hamlets without supermarkets or fruit markets, from 2010 to 2015. The both populations demonstrated the same level of infection: in average, 69.7 % of the inbred lines (ILs) obtained from single females of the Alexan­drov population and 68.4 % of ILs obtained from single females of the Valday population. The infection rate varied from year to year showing a tendency to reduc­tion, its overall level being within the range previously observed in other habitats. Life spans were compared in sub-lines of the same IL, one infected with Wolbachia and the other treated with tetracycline healing this infection. In four out of five ILs, the lifespan of both males and females was severely affected by Wolbachia ; in different ILs, the mean life spans reduced from 1.8 to 5.4 times and from 1.4 to 2.4 times, respectively. Our results confirm that, despite D. melanogaster widespread distribution, the Wolbachia effect on their life span has been mostly negative.

Wolbachia enhances insect-specific flavivirus infection in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes transmit a diverse group of human flaviviruses including West Nile, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Mosquitoes are also naturally infected with insect‐specific flaviviruses (ISFs), a subgroup of the family not capable of infecting vertebrates. Although ISFs are not medically important, they are capable of altering the mosquito's susceptibility to flaviviruses and may alter host fitness. Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium of insects that when present in mosquitoes limits the replication of co‐infecting pathogens, including flaviviruses. Artificially created Wolbachia‐infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are being released into the wild in a series of trials around the globe with the hope of interrupting dengue and Zika virus transmission from mosquitoes to humans. Our work investigated the effect of Wolbachia on ISF infection in wild‐caught Ae. aegypti mosquitoes from field release zones. All field mosquitoes were screened for the presence of ISFs using general degenerate flavivirus primers and their PCR amplicons sequenced. ISFs were found to be common and widely distributed in Ae. aegypti populations. Field mosquitoes consistently had higher ISF infection rates and viral loads compared to laboratory colony material indicating that environmental conditions may modulate ISF infection in Ae. aegypti. Surprisingly, higher ISF infection rates and loads were found in Wolbachia‐infected mosquitoes compared to the Wolbachia‐free mosquitoes. Our findings demonstrate that the symbiont is capable of manipulating the mosquito virome and that Wolbachia‐mediated viral inhibition is not universal for flaviviruses. This may have implications for the Wolbachia‐based DENV control strategy if ISFs confer fitness effects or alter mosquito susceptibility to other flaviviruses.

Variation in Wolbachia effects on Aedes mosquitoes as a determinant of invasiveness and vectorial capacity

Wolbachia has been introduced into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to control the spread of arboviruses, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Studies showed that certain Wolbachia strains (such as wMel) reduce replication of dengue viruses in the laboratory, prompting the release of mosquitoes carrying the bacterium into the field, where vectorial capacity can be realistically assessed in relation to native non-carriers. Here we apply a new analysis to two published datasets, and show that wMel increases the mean and the variance in Ae. aegypti susceptibility to dengue infection when introgressed into Brazil and Vietnam genetic backgrounds. In the absence of other processes, higher mean susceptibility should lead to enhanced viral transmission. The increase in variance, however, widens the basis for selection imposed by unexplored natural forces, retaining the potential for reducing transmission overall.

Model-based inference from multiple dose, time course data reveals Wolbachia effects on infection profiles of type 1 dengue virus in Aedes aegypti.

Infection is a complex and dynamic process involving a population of invading microbes, the host and its responses, aimed at controlling the situation. Depending on the purpose and level of organization, infection at the organism level can be described by a process as simple as a coin toss, or as complex as a multi-factorial dynamic model; the former, for instance, may be adequate as a component of a population model, while the latter is necessary for a thorough description of the process beginning with a challenge with an infectious inoculum up to establishment or elimination of the pathogen. Experimental readouts in the laboratory are often static, snapshots of the process, assayed under some convenient experimental condition, and therefore cannot comprehensively describe the system. Different from the discrete treatment of infection in population models, or the descriptive summarized accounts of typical lab experiments, in this manuscript, infection is treated as a dynamic process dependent on the initial conditions of the infectious challenge, viral growth, and the host response along time. Here, experimental data is generated for multiple doses of type 1 dengue virus, and pathogen levels are recorded at different points in time for two populations of mosquitoes: either carrying endosymbiont bacteria Wolbachia or not. A dynamic microbe/host-response mathematical model is used to describe pathogen growth in the face of a host response like the immune system, and to infer model parameters for the two populations of insects, revealing a slight—but potentially important—protection conferred by the symbiont.

Vector species-specific association between natural Wolbachia infections and avian malaria in black fly populations

Artificial infection of mosquitoes with the endosymbiont bacteria Wolbachia can interfere with malaria parasite development. Therefore, the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes has been proposed as a malaria control strategy. However, Wolbachia effects on vector competence are only partly understood, as indicated by inconsistent effects on malaria infection reported under laboratory conditions. Studies of naturally-occurring Wolbachia infections in wild vector populations could be useful to identify the ecological and evolutionary conditions under which these endosymbionts can block malaria transmission. Here we demonstrate the occurrence of natural Wolbachia infections in three species of black fly (genus Simulium), which is a main vector of the avian malaria parasite Leucocytozoon. Prevalence of Leucocytozoon was high (25%), but the nature and magnitude of its association with Wolbachia differed between black fly species. Wolbachia infection was positively associated with avian malaria infection in S. cryophilum, negatively associated in S. aureum, and unrelated in S. vernum. These differences suggest that Wolbachia interacts with the parasite in a vector host species-specific manner. This provides a useful model system for further study of how Wolbachia influences vector competence. Such knowledge, including the possibility of undesirable positive association, is required to guide endosymbiont based control methods.

Wolbachia affects sleep behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria present in a wide range of insects. Although their dramatic effects on host reproductive biology have been well studied, the effects of Wolbachia on sleep behavior of insect hosts are not well documented. In this study, we report that Wolbachia infection caused an increase of total sleep time in both male and female Drosophila melanogaster. The increase in sleep was associated with an increase in the number of nighttime sleep bouts or episodes, but not in sleep bout duration. Correspondingly, Wolbachia infection also reduced the arousal threshold of their fly hosts. However, neither circadian rhythm nor sleep rebound following deprivation was influenced by Wolbachia infection. Transcriptional analysis of the dopamine biosynthesis pathway revealed that two essential genes, Pale and Ddc, were significantly upregulated in Wolbachia-infected flies. Together, these results indicate that Wolbachia mediates the expression of dopamine related genes, and decreases the sleep quality of their insect hosts. Our findings help better understand the host-endosymbiont interactions and in particular the Wolbachia’s impact on behaviors, and thus on ecology and evolution in insect hosts.

Maternal age influence on diapause induction in sexual and asexual Trichogramma brassicae

ABSTRACTIn this study, the effect of maternal age on prepupae diapause of progeny in sexual (Wolbachia free) and asexual (Wolbachia infected) Trichogramma brassicae was studied at two temperatures. Maternal generation (G1) of both populations was reared at 10L:14D photoperiod, 14 and 20 °C, separately. Mated females from G1 were supplied with eggs of Ephestia kuehniella, each 48 h from one day after emergence to death. The tendency to diapause in progeny (G2) was determined by rearing at 10 °C. According to the results, reproductive modes, maternal temperature and age have significant effect on the mean number of eggs laid by G1 and the diapause percentage of G2. Offspring whose maternal generation was reared at 20 °C had higher diapause percentage than those reared at 14 °C. Diapause percentage in sexual population was higher than the asexual, which demonstrates a negative effect of Wolbachia on this process. Wolbachia infection modifies the effect of maternal age on the diapause percentage in the offspring at 20 °C but not at 14 °C. The result can be due to lower Wolbachia density at 14 °C and greater Wolbachia density at 20 °C.