Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to clarify the influence of endosymbiont Wolbachia on the reproductive fitness and adult longevity of Nasonia vitripennis. 【Methods】 Different concentrations of rifampicin (a kind of antibiotics) were used to feed N. vitripennis adults for removing Wolbachia in their bodies to assess the effect of Wolbachia on the reproductive fitness and adult longevity of N.vitripennis in the next ten consecutive generations. 【Results】 The results showed that the low rifampicin concentrations (0.1-0.5 mg/mL) had lower toxicity, while high rifampicin concentrations (0.7-10.0 mg/mL) had higher toxicity to N. vitripennis, but Wolbachia could be removed by all the concentrations of rifampicin. The number of offspring as well as sex ratio (female to all offspring ratio) of N. vitripennis decreased significantly after removing Wolbachia, while there was no significant difference in adult longevity between the Wolbachia infected and uninfected individuals. 【Conclusion】 All the different concentrations of rifampicin can remove Wolbachia from N. vitripennis, but the efficiency varies. Wolbachia  has distinct effects on the number of offspring and sex ratio of N. vitripennis, while has no evident influence on its adult longevity.

Key words: Wolbachia, Nasonia vitripennis, rifampicin, reproductive fitness, sex ratio, longevity