TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - Disentangling the Roles of Wolbachia and Citrus Host in Shaping Volatile Profiles of Tetranychus urticae
VL  - 66
IS  - Suppl
SP  - 74
EP  - 74
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Pilar, Troncho
AU  - Sandra, Vacas
AU  - Aitor, Gavara
AU  - Vicente, Navarro
AU  - Monica, Hurtado Ruiz
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/gnr3-k358
DO  - 10.24349/gnr3-k358
DA  - 2026-07-20
ET  - 2026-07-20
KW  - Endosymbiont
KW  - Mite
KW  - Chemical ecology
KW  - Multitrophic interactions
AB  - Volatile compounds play an essential role in arthropod communication and multitrophic interactions, yet the factors shaping herbivore-associated volatile profiles remain incompletely understood. In phytophagous mites, host plant identity and microbial symbionts may both influence the chemical signatures emitted during feeding. In citrus agroecosystems, the two-spotted spider mite T etranychus urticae commonly harbors the endosymbiont Wolbachia, but its potential contribution to mite-associated volatile profiles has received little attention. In this study, we characterized volatile blends released by T. urticae populations differing in Wolbachia infection status (infected vs. antibiotic-cured) while feeding on three citrus phenotypes relevant to Mediterranean orchards: lemon (Citrus × limon), sour orange (C. aurantium), and Clemenules mandarin (Citrus x clementina) grafted on Carrizo citrange. Volatiles emitted by feeding mites were collected using headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and analyzed by GC–MS. The composition and relative abundance of mite-associated volatiles varied markedly depending on the citrus phenotype on which mites were feeding, indicating a strong host-mediated modulation of the volatile profile released by T. urticae. Across hosts, Wolbachia-infected mites were generally associated with lower relative abundance of compounds commonly linked to plant defensive responses and higher representation of aromatic compounds, compared with cured mites. These results suggest that the volatile signature emitted by T. urticae during feeding reflects the combined influence of host plant chemistry and mite-associated symbionts. Our findings support a potential role of Wolbachia in modulating herbivore-associated chemical cues, with possible consequences for herbivore behavior and the perception of these cues by natural enemies.
ER -