Instant evolution in whiteflies: Just add bacteria
Thursday, April 7, 2011 - 13:31
in Biology & Nature
In just six years, bacteria in the genus Rickettsia spread through a population of the sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), an invasive pest of global importance. Infected insects lay more eggs, develop faster and are more likely to survive to adulthood compared to their uninfected peers.