Sajjad Moshavernia, Saeed Shahabi, Azim Paksa
Bed bugs of the species Cimex hemipterus have re-emerged globally as important urban pests, causing dermatological, allergic, and psychological impacts. Endosymbiotic bacteria such as Wolbachia play essential roles in arthropod biology, yet data from the Middle East remain scarce. This study aimed to provide the first molecular evidence of Wolbachia supergroup T in Iranian populations of C. hemipterus, using 16 S rRNA for symbiont detection and mitochondrial COI for host identification and genetic analysis. Adult specimens were collected from four districts of Tehran, and genomic DNA was analyzed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Host identity was confirmed as C. hemipterus, showing low genetic divergence from global populations. Wolbachia infection was detected in 20% of specimens, with a significantly higher prevalence in females than males (χ² = 5.4, p = 0.02). Infections were restricted to two districts, and phylogenetic analysis placed all sequences within supergroup T. COI-based haplotype analysis revealed low genetic diversity and significantly negative neutrality test values, which may be consistent with recent population expansion or purifying selection. Overall, C. hemipterus populations in Tehran appear genetically homogeneous and closely related to globally distributed lineages, which may be consistent with recent expansion and possible human-mediated dispersal. Wolbachia infection occurs at moderate and spatially heterogeneous levels, highlighting regional variability and the need for broader multilocus studies.