Bacterial endosymbionts often significantly impact host physiology and ecology and can, therefore, influence ecological processes such as species introductions. Wolbachia pipientis is an intracellular endosymbiont common in arthropods that are transmitted to offspring through the egg. Wolbachia have diverse effects on hosts, including cytoplasmic incompatibility, mating, parthenogenesis induction, nutritional enhancement, pathogen resistance, and increased fertility and lifespan, to name a few. The kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria) is a legume-eating insect native to Asia introduced into northern Georgia in 2009. Kudzu bug distribution has expanded throughout the southeastern US and is now common in 15 states. Kudzu bugs harbor two bacterial symbionts: Candidatus Ishikawaella capsulata and Wolbachia pipientis. The relationship between kudzu bugs and Candidatus is well studied, but that with Wolbachia is less understood. This study uses multi-locus sequence typing to characterize Wolbachia in kudzu bug samples from early in the US introduction (2013) and current populations (2024). The following questions were address: 1) Did frequency of Wolbachia infection change over time introduced populations?; 2) Is there genetic variation in Wolbachia between native and introduced kudzu bug populations or between 2013 and 2024 introduced populations?
