Cass, B.N., Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Entomology and Insect Science, University of Arizona, 410 Forbes, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
Mozes-Daube, N., Department of Entomology, ARO, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay, Israel
Iasur-Kruh, L., Department of Entomology, ARO, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay, Israel
Bondy, E.C., Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, 410 Forbes, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
Kelly, S.E., Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, 410 Forbes, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
Hunter, M.S., Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, 410 Forbes, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
Zchori-Fein, E., Department of Entomology, ARO, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay, Israel

Facultative bacterial endosymbionts are common, influential associates of arthropods, yet their movement among host species has not been well documented. Plant-mediated transmission of Rickettsia has been shown for the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Bemisia tabaci in USA cotton fields harbors the secondary symbionts Rickettsia and Hamiltonella, and co-occurs with Trialeurodes sp. nr. abutiloneus whiteflies. To determine whether symbionts may be shared, the microbial diversity of these whiteflies on cotton across the USA was analyzed. Trialeurodes sp. nr. abutiloneus bore Portiera, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia. No Rickettsia or Hamiltonella were detected. These results provide no evidence for horizontal transmission of symbionts between these whitefly genera. © 2014 Institut Pasteur.