Male-killer dynamics in the tropical butterfly, Acraea encedana (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Sex ratio distortion in the tropical butterfly Acraea encedana is caused by infection with a male-killing bacterium of the genus Wolbachia. Previous research on this species has reported extreme female bias, high bacterial prevalences, and full sex role reversal. In this paper, we provide an assessm...

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Published in中国昆虫科学:英文版 no. 6; pp. 717 - 722
Main Author Sami Saeed M. Hassan Eihab Idris Michael E. N. Majerus
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 2013
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Summary:Sex ratio distortion in the tropical butterfly Acraea encedana is caused by infection with a male-killing bacterium of the genus Wolbachia. Previous research on this species has reported extreme female bias, high bacterial prevalences, and full sex role reversal. In this paper, we provide an assessment for the dynamics of the male-killer, based on a survey for sex ratios and Wolbachia prevalences among wild populations of A. encedana in Uganda. The study reveals that Wolbachia infection showed considerable variation over both spatial and temporal scales.
Bibliography:female bias, PCR, population dynamics, prevalence, Wolbachia, Uganda
11-3386/Q
Sex ratio distortion in the tropical butterfly Acraea encedana is caused by infection with a male-killing bacterium of the genus Wolbachia. Previous research on this species has reported extreme female bias, high bacterial prevalences, and full sex role reversal. In this paper, we provide an assessment for the dynamics of the male-killer, based on a survey for sex ratios and Wolbachia prevalences among wild populations of A. encedana in Uganda. The study reveals that Wolbachia infection showed considerable variation over both spatial and temporal scales.
ISSN:1672-9609
1744-7917