Many insects live on nutrient-poor diets; to compensate, they have evolved obligate associations with microorganisms that are transmitted directly between generations. The bacterial associates of some Hemiptera insects have been identified and understood, but several remain unknown. Our objective is to identify the diversity of bacterial endosymbionts in Issidae using modern microscopy and molecular methods, and compare their identities to known symbionts from related insects. To do so, we will extract DNA from insect samples, amplify bacterial symbiont 16S genes, sub-clone PCR products, sequence the products, and determine their phylogenetic relationships to other insect symbionts and free-living bacteria. Our study will contribute to a broader understanding of the diversity and evolution of symbiotic associations in insects
