Effects of High-Level Acylsugar-Producing Tomato Lines on the Development of Tomato Psyllids (Hemiptera: Triozidae).

Acylsugars have been shown to provide activity against numerous insect pests of tomatoes. Comparison of acylsugar levels in four tomato plant lines, FA7/AS, FA2/AS, CU071026, and 'Yellow Pear', found that the acylsugar contents in the elevated acylsugar lines were significantly higher than the commercial Yellow Pear (control) tomato plant line. Adult choice tests indicated that the tomato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli, preferred to settle on the Yellow Pear and FA2/AS lines over the line with the highest content of acylsugars, FA7/AS, and the parental line, CU071026. The no-choice test demonstrated that adults laid fewer eggs on the high acylsugar tomato lines than on the control tomato line, Yellow Pear. For all high acylsugar lines, the relative growth index of the psyllid was significantly lower compared with the commercial line, indicating a reduced potential for population growth. Although some tomato psyllids completed their life cycle on the high acylsugar tomato plant lines, the percent survival of psyllids to the adult stage when developing on the high acylsugar lines was significantly less (range = 43.7-57.1%) than on the commercial tomato line (83.8%). All mortality occurred during the early stages of development (egg stage to third instar), which has implications for acquisition and transmission of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum, the causal agent of tomato vein greening disease. Therefore, with reduced attractiveness for tomato psyllids and significantly reduced survival, the high-acylsugar tomato plant lines have the potential to be part of an integrated pest management program for this pest

Odorants for surveillance and control of the Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri).

BackgroundThe Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri, can transmit the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter while feeding on citrus flush shoots. This bacterium causes Huanglongbing (HLB), a major disease of citrus cultivation worldwide necessitating the development of new tools for ACP surveillance and control. The olfactory system of ACP is sensitive to variety of odorants released by citrus plants and offers an opportunity to develop new attractants and repellents.ResultsIn this study, we performed single-unit electrophysiology to identify odorants that are strong activators, inhibitors, and prolonged activators of ACP odorant receptor neurons (ORNs). We identified a suite of odorants that activated the ORNs with high specificity and sensitivity, which may be useful in eliciting behavior such as attraction. In separate experiments, we also identified odorants that evoked prolonged ORN responses and antagonistic odorants able to suppress neuronal responses to activators, both of which can be useful in lowering attraction to hosts. In field trials, we tested the electrophysiologically identified activating odorants and identified a 3-odor blend that enhances trap catches by ∼230%.ConclusionThese findings provide a set of odorants that can be used to develop affordable and safe odor-based surveillance and masking strategies for this dangerous pest insect

Jumping plant-lice of the Paurocephalinae (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea): systematics and phylogeny

Much confusion exists with respect to the content and definition of the psyUid subfamily Paurocephalinae. Based on a cladistic analysis of 22 morphological characters (16 adult and 6 larval), the subfamily is redefined to comprise the following five valid genera: Aphorma (3 species), Camarotoscena (12 valid species, with 1 new synonymy), DiC/idophlebia (= Aconopsylla, Haplaphalara, Paraphalaroida, Sinuonemopsylla and Woldaia; 24 species), Paurocephala (52 species) and Syntomoza (= Anomoterga and Homalocephata; 7 species). The tribe Diclidophlebiini is synonymised with the subfamily Paurocephalinae. The seven new generic synonymies produce 25 new species combinations. A key to genera for adults and fifth instar larvae is presented. In their revised definitions the genera exhibit relatively restricted distributions and host ranges: Aphorma: Palaearctic, Oriental - Ranunculaceae; Camarotoscena: Palaearctic - Salicaceae; Diclidophtebia: pantropical - Tiliaceae, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae, Melastomataceae, Rhamnaceae, Ulmaceae and Euphorbiaceae; Paurocephala: Old World tropics - Moraceae, Urticaceae. Ulmaceae (all Urticales), Malvaceae. Sterculiaceae (all Malvales) and Clusiaceae (rheales); Syntomoza: Oriental, Afrotropical, Palaearctic - Flacourtiaceae, Salicaceae. The following taxa which have been referred to the Paurocephalinae are transferred to other taxa: Atmetocranium to the Calophyidae and Primascena to the Aphalaroidinae; Pseudaphorma is symonymised with Aphatara, and P. astigma with A. polygoni; the position of Strophingia is confirmed in the Strophingiinae.peer-reviewe

Efficacy of Surround® WP against the European pear psyllid (Cacosylla pyri) in large-scale field trials

Are pre-flowering applications of Surround® WP sufficient to keep the European pear psyllid (Cacopsylla pyri) below the economic threshold for the whole season

The need of an epidemio-surveillance network to prevent Huanglongbing arrival in the South of the Mediterranean Basin

HuangLongBing (HLB) originated in the 1900's in Asia where it is transmitted by the psyllid Diaphorina citri. In South Africa another form of HLB, transmitted by Trioza erytreae was described in the 1960's. The "African" and "Asian" forms may occasionally occur in a same area (Peninsula Arabia), where both species of the psyllids vectors are present, and each psyllid can carry both forms of the bacteria associated with HLB - Ca. L. asiaticus and Ca.L africanus. In the 2000's the arrival of HLB on the American continent re-boosted research on HLB. In Africa, after South Africa, HLB has caused severe damages in East Africa, mainly Kenya and Tanzania. Recently Ca. L asiaticus was identified in Ethiopia (1).On the west side, in Cameroon, syndrome of HLB was described and T. eythreae was present. This psyllid also invaded Madeira and the Canary Islands ten years ago. The Mediterranean basin produces around 18 million tons of citrus yearly. Because of the importance of movements, trade, tourism, pilgrims, Citrus production is in danger. The threat could come from the East (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen) the South (Ethiopia, Somalia) and the West (Cameroon, Canarias). Cirad in collaboration with Embrapa -Brazil, Cameroon and partners in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey will start actions for a prevention strategy. A training curse on symptoms, psyllids identification and molecular diagnosis is scheduled on early 2011 and will be the foundation of an epidemio-surveillance network in the South Mediterranean basin. (Texte intégral

First report of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in Costa Rica

In November 2003, the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) was found for the first time in Costa Rica, in Alajuela, Heredia and San Jose provinces. Figure 1 shows an adult female and nymphal instars of Asiatic citrus psyllid

Looking for ecological control of carrot psyllid

The results suggest that a one-week trap replacement period, which is the current practise in carrot psyllid monitoring, is too long at the early growth stages of carrot. Regardless of the oviposition (laying of eggs) preference for a certain carrot cultivars, the possibility of a functional push-pull control strategy based on limonene seems unlikely, since the repellent effect of limonene could not be verified. Further field studies with possible repellent compounds, such as winter host volatiles, will be needed to develop an efficient ecological control method for this species

Wirkung von Surround gegen den Gemeinen Birnenblattsauger (Cacopsylla pyri) im praxisnahen Grossversuch

Fragestellung: Wirkt vor der Blüte appliziertes Surround auch gegen spätere Generationen des Gemeinen Birnenblattsaugers (Cacopsylla pyri

FIRST RECORD IN ITALY OF PSYLLAEPHAGUS BLITEUS RIEK (Hymenoptera Encyrtidae) PARASITOID OF GLYCASPIS BRIMBLECOMBEI MOORE (Hemiptera Psyllidae)

Psyllaephagus bliteus Riek (Hymenoptera Encyrtidae), parasitoid of the red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera Psyllidae), has been recorded for the first time in Italy in September 2011. The arrival of P. bliteus in Sicily is due to an accidental introduction, probably together with its host, as already happened in New Zealand, Brazil, Spain and Morocco