Evolutionary ecology of <i>Wolbachia</i> ‐lepidopteran insects relationships: Multifaceted effects, transmission patterns and practical applications

Abstract Wolbachia , a maternally transmitted Gram‐negative bacterium, infects a significant proportion of arthropods, with Lepidoptera exhibiting some of the highest infection rates. This review synthesised current knowledge on the evolutionary ecology of Wolbachia in Lepidoptera, with a focus on functional effects, transmission patterns and practical applications. Wolbachia drives mitochondrial haplotype homogenisation and mito‐nuclear discordance, complicating phylogenetic studies. While Wolbachia threatens endangered species by reducing genetic diversity and effective population size, it also offers biocontrol potential against agricultural pests. Horizontal transmission, facilitated by hybridisation, parasitoids, predation and environmental mediation, enables cross‐species spread, with strains from supergroups A and B prevalent in Lepidoptera. Phylogenetic analyses reveal non‐concordance between Wolbachia and host or geographic lineages, likely due to host migratory behaviour. Future research should prioritise multi‐omics approaches, field monitoring tools and risk assessment models to harness Wolbachia for biodiversity conservation and sustainable pest management.