Did putting sexuality aside preserve all the potentialities of this function in thelytokous populations of Trichogramma (Hym. : Trichogrammatidae) ?
La mise en sommeil de la sexualité a-t-elle préservé toutes les potentialités de cette fonction chez les populations thélyto- ques de Trichogrammes (Hym. : Trichogrammatidae) ?
Résumé
The absence of sexuality in species showing a thelytokous mode of reproduction can lead to a deterioration of this function, which could come to light in male and/or female after a return to bisexuality. Such a reversibility of the thelytoky is possible when it is induced by symbionts. In that way, Wolbachiabacteria are responsible of this mode of reproduction in the studied Trichogrammagenus. In seven thelytokous strains belonging to six species, the bisexuality return caused by a course of antibiotics did not allow the detection of a noticeable decrease of sexual abilities in individuals. No relationships between these abilities and the prevalence of Wolbachiain the Trichogramma species, which could be in relation to the symbiosis age, was noted.