Das Projekt "The Endosymbiont Wolbachia in Beneficial Insects used in Greenhouses: The Potential for Improving the Breeding of Antagonists" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Magistrat der Stadt Wien, Hochschuljubilaeumsstiftung der Stadt Wien. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Institut für Forstentomologie, Forstpathologie und Forstschutz.Wolbachia is found in about 16 percent of all insect species and can induce both parthenogenesis and cytoplasmic incompatibility in its hosts. It can also be identified quickly and accurately using a polymerase chain reaction test. Those Wolbachia that induce parthenogenesis can be used to improve parasitisation and fertility rates in beneficial insect breeding programmes (thereby lowering costs). The aim of this project is to identify the presence or absence of Wolbachia in various beneficial insect species. The main focus is on the Hymenoptera (chalcid and parasitic wasps), Coleoptera (ladybirds), Acarina (predatory mites) and Nematoda. Wolbachia has been found in members of all these insect orders and has already been used to improve breeding conditions for selected hymenopteran species (e.g. Trichogramma sp.).