Features

• Describes detailed electron microscopy (EM) studies of bacteria from the ovary of Ixodes ricinus
• Focuses on the more specialized intracellular symbionts with exclusive or almost exclusive transmission from mother to offspring
• Reviews recent advances in understanding of the origin and evolutionary elaboration of mutualism in termites
• Provides an overview about what is known about the diverse relationships of spiroplasmas and phytoplasmas with their insect and plant hosts
• Outlines the current state of the art in Buchnera aphidicola research, with a special focus on the main gene and genomic features of this bacteria that are a consequence of the symbiotic integration
• Describes the discovery of insecticidal proteins and speculates on their role in the biology of the bacteria-nematode-insect tritrophic interaction
• Investigates the use of the incompatible insect technique (IIT) and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of both the sterile insect technique and IIT

Summary

In this second volume, a few repeat authors describe brand new aspects of their research, while a new group covers recently developing aspects of symbiotic relationships. The book includes updated information on Wolbachia biology and how it influences insect life, supplies two new examples of using symbionts in crop protection, and discusses the recent “bug in a bug” mealy bug case. The book provides analysis and synthesis of cutting-edge research in insect symbiosis that sheds light on the evolution of the host/symbiont relationship, and in turn, on the general study of evolution, physiology, and genetics.