Symbiotic-bacteria
Guides
Bromius obscurus
Western Grape Rootworm, Brown and Black Beetle
Bromius obscurus is a small leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae) and the sole member of its genus. It is a Holarctic species with a notable geographic parthenogenesis pattern: North American populations reproduce sexually while European populations are triploid and reproduce asexually. The species is recognized as a pest of grape vines in Europe and western North America. Adults possess a stridulatory apparatus on the wings, the first documented in the subfamily Eumolpinae.
Cercopoidea
froghoppers, spittlebugs
The superfamily Cercopoidea comprises hemipteran insects commonly known as froghoppers or spittlebugs. Adults possess powerful hind legs enabling jumps up to 70 cm vertically and 100 times their body length. Nymphs are renowned for producing foam shelters ("cuckoo spit") from excreted xylem sap, within which they develop concealed from predators and environmental extremes. The group exhibits xylem-feeding, an unusual trait among sap-feeding insects requiring symbiotic bacteria to supplement nutrient-poor diet.
Cryptocercus clevelandi
Cryptocercus clevelandi is a wood-feeding cockroach species described from the northwestern United States. Like other members of the genus Cryptocercus, it harbors bacterial symbionts in its fat body that aid in digesting cellulose from wood. The species was formally described by Byers in 1997.
Hermannia
Hermannia is a genus of oribatid mites in the family Hermanniidae, established by Nicolet in 1855. These mites are characterized by a stocky body form and distinctive gastronotal setal ontogeny. The genus has a holarctic distribution with species found in arctic tundra, temperate forests, and Mediterranean regions. Several species have been well-studied including H. scabra, H. reticulata, and H. gibba, with research focusing on morphological development, population ecology, and symbiotic microorganisms.
Hermanniidae
Hermanniidae is a family of oribatid mites in the order Sarcoptiformes, containing at least three genera—Hermannia, Neohermannia, and Galapagacarus—with approximately 80 described species. Members are primarily soil-dwelling mites with holarctic and pantropical distributions, including significant diversity in Australian wet forests and the Philippines. The family is characterized by stocky body morphology and distinctive setal arrangements that vary among species.
Philanthini
Philanthini is a tribe of wasps within the family Crabronidae, established by Latreille in 1802. Members are commonly known as beewolves or bee-killer wasps due to their specialized predatory behavior. The tribe includes genera such as Philanthus, which are notable for their distinctive hunting strategies and, in some species, the use of symbiotic bacteria to protect larval food stores. These wasps are solitary and nest in soil, provisioning their offspring with paralyzed bees.
Sitophilus
Grain Weevils
Sitophilus is a genus of weevils comprising approximately 14 species, several of which are major pests of stored grain, nuts, and seeds worldwide. The genus includes three of the most economically significant stored-product insects: the rice weevil (S. oryzae), wheat weevil (S. granarius), and maize weevil (S. zeamais). Adults are characterized by a pronounced rostrum and elbowed antennae. Females bore into individual grains to deposit single eggs, sealing the hole with secretion; larvae develop entirely within the grain, often leaving it hollow upon emergence. Many species maintain intracellular symbiotic relationships with γ-Proteobacteria that supplement their nutrient-poor cereal diet.