INTRODUCTION: Phage WO represents the sole bacteriophage identified to infect Wolbachia, exerting a range of impacts on the ecological dynamics and evolutionary trajectories of its host. Given the extensive prevalence of Wolbachia across various species, phage WO is likely among the most prolific phage lineages within arthropod populations. To examine the diversity and evolutionary dynamics of phage WO, we conducted a screening for the presence of phage WO in Wolbachia-infected cricket species from China. METHODS: The presence of phage WO was detected using a PCR-based methodology. To elucidat...