Table 1.
Comparison of various biological features of feminizing Wolbachia and the f element in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare.
| Biological Feature | Feminizing Wolbachia | f Element |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion of genetic males into phenotypic females | Yes | Yes |
| Presence of cytoplasmic microorganisms | Yes (bacteria) | No |
| Thermosensitivity | Yes | Yes |
| Mendelian inheritance | No | No |
| Mode of inheritance | Exclusively maternal | Mainly maternal, occasionally paternal |
| Stability of sex ratio bias in progenies | Yes (80–90% females) | No (60–70% females on average, but ranges from 0% to 100% females) |
| Presence of intersex individuals in progenies | Yes (up to 25%) | Rare (<1%) |
| Experimental reversal into males by implantation of androgenic gland | Failure | Success |
| Epistasis with masculinizing M gene | Wolbachia > M gene | M gene > f element |