Symbiotic microbiota associated with two mealybug species Paracoccus marginatus (Papaya mealybug) and Ferrisia virgata (Two-tailed mealybug)

In this study we aimed to reveal microbial communities associated with two different mealybug species, Paracoccus marginatus (papaya mealybug, PM) and Ferrisia virgata (Two-tailed mealybug, TM) collected from the same host plant. We tested the hypothesis that the mealybug microbial ecology results from interaction between phylogenetic constraints and dietary adaptations.