بررسی حضور همزمان باکتری‌های همزیست در شته‌ی گال‌زای Forda hirsuta Mordvilko (Hem.: Pemphigidae) و کنه‌ی انگل آن Erythraeus (Erythraeus) pistacicus (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae)

Pistachio, a vital agriculture product in Iran, is attacked by various pests. Among them, the species Forda hirsuta Mordvilko is recognized as the dominant gall-inducing aphid in pistachio orchards, which causes economically significant damage in some habitats. This study was conducted to investigate the presence of symbiotic bacteria in the gall-inducing aphid Forda hirsuta and its parasitic mite Erythraeus (Erythraeus) pistacicus in various populations of these species in cultivated and wild pistachio habitats in northeastern Iran. To this end, samples were evaluated for bacterial symbionts through PCR using specific primers. Our findings revealed the simultaneous presence of Wolbachia and Cardinium bacteria in the studied populations of the aphid and its parasitic mite. The infection rates of Wolbachia in the Mashhad and Feizabad populations were 40% and 50%, respectively, in the aphid Forda hirsuta, and 40% and 70% in the parasitic mite Erythraeus (Erythraeus) pistacicus. The presence of Cardinium was observed only in the Feizabad population, with a frequency of 30% and 20% in the aphid Forda hirsuta and the mite Erythraeus (Erythraeus) pistacicus, respectively. Despite identifying these endosymbionts in the parasitic mite, it should be noted that Parasitengona mites harbor diverse gut microbial communities. These communities can be influenced by factors such as complex environmental interactions, host diet, habitat, and evolutionary history. Therefore, ensuring that the bacteria identified in this study specifically belong to the parasitic mite and not its host is not a simple task. Ultimately, studying bacterial symbionts in insects and their natural enemies, including predatory and parasitic mites, can provide a valuable framework for better understanding the complex interactions between symbionts and their hosts. This can lead to the development of more effective biological control strategies, particularly in reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.