Endosymbiotic Rickettsiales (Alphaproteobacteria) from the spider genus Amaurobioides (Araneae: Anyphaenidae)

Abstract

Endosymbiotic bacteria are commonly found in terrestrial arthropods and their effects have been studied extensively. Here we present the first recorded case of endosymbiotic bacteria found in the spider family Anyphaenidae. A fragment of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I “barcoding” region belonging to unidentified Rickettsiales, presumably belonging to the genus Rickettsia, was sequenced from six individuals of Amaurobioides africana Hewitt, 1917.