A new species of Dysmicoccus damaging lavender in French Provence (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

RésuméUne nouvelle espèce de Dysmicoccus nuisible à la lavande en Provence (France) (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Pseudococcidae). Dysmicoccus lavandulae Germain, Matile-Ferrero & Williams n. sp. est décrite et illustrée. Ses séquences ADN sont présentées. L'espèce vit sur Lavandula x intermedia cultivée pour la production d'essence de lavande en Provence. La liste des espèces de pseudococcines vivant sur les lavandes spontanées en France est dressée. Le statut des 2 genres voisins Trionymus Berg et Dysmicoccus Ferris est discuté. AbstractDysmicoccus lavandulae Germain, Matile-Ferrero & Williams n. sp. is described and illustrated, and its DNA sequences given. The species lives on Lavandula x intermedia, the cultivated form of lavender grown in the French region of Provence. In addition the mealybug species recorded in France on indigenous lavender are listed. The status of two related genera, Trionymus Berg and Dysmicoccus Ferris, is discussed.

Source of Hyalesthes obsoletus Signoret planthopper (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) in southern France and potential effects of landscape

“…Flavescence dorée of grapevines, transmitted by Scaphoideus titanus Ball et al , 2014), which are prokaryotes colonizing plant phloem (Weintraub & Beanland, 2006). Phytoplasmas transmitted by insects are responsible for diseases in hundreds of plant species (Lee et al , 2000; Weintraub & Beanland, 2006), e.g., grapevine (Johannesen et al , 2008; Chuche & Thiery, 2014), lavender (Danet et al , 2010; Germain et al , 2015), maize (Jovic et al , 2007), and strawberry (Danet et al , 2003).…”

“…In Provence (southern France), the stolbur phytoplasma (transmitted by H. obsoletus ) causes a lavender and lavandin disease called ‘yellow decline’ (Danet et al , 2010; Gaudin et al , 2011; Germain et al , 2015), which is responsible for important economic losses (Gaudin et al , 2011). When infected, lavender and lavandin plants become yellow, puny, and finally die, leading to an early uprooting due to lower and non-profitable yields (uprooting after 6–7 years instead of 12–15 years).…”

“…When infected, lavender and lavandin plants become yellow, puny, and finally die, leading to an early uprooting due to lower and non-profitable yields (uprooting after 6–7 years instead of 12–15 years). This crop, grown in Provence since many generations, is adapted to dry and hot summers, and contributes €30 million per year to the local economy (Germain et al , 2015). As no curative method exists against stolbur phytoplasma, farmers grow tolerant cultivars on part of the acreages (Gaudin et al , 2011).…”