Dictyophara europaea(Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae): description of immatures, biology and host plant associations

Abstract

The European lantern fly Dictyophara europaea (Linnaeus, 1767), is a polyphagous dictyopharid planthopper of Auchenorrhyncha commonly found throughout the Palaearctic. Despite abundant data on its distribution range and reports on its role in the epidemiology of plant-pathogenic phytoplasmas (Flavescence dorée, FD-C), literature regarding the biology and host plants of this species is scarce. Therefore, the aims of our study were to investigate the seasonal occurrence, host plant associations, oviposition behaviour and immature stages of this widespread planthopper of economic importance. We performed a 3-year field study to observe the spatio-temporal distribution and feeding sources of D. europaea. The insects's reproductive strategy, nymphal molting and behaviour were observed under semi-field cage conditions. Measurement of the nymphal vertex length was used to determine the number of instars, and the combination of these data with body length, number of pronotal rows of sensory pits and body colour pattern enabled the discrimination of each instar. We provide data showing that D. europaea has five instars with one generation per year and that it overwinters in the egg stage. Furthermore, our study confirmed highly polyphagous feeding nature of D. europaea, for all instars and adults, as well as adult horizontal movement during the vegetation growing season to the temporarily preferred feeding plants where they aggregate during dry season. We found D. europaea adult aggregation in late summer on Clematis vitalba L. (Ranunculaceae), a reservoir plant of FD-C phytoplasma strain; however, this appears to be a consequence of forced migration due to drying of herbaceous vegetation rather than to a high preference of C. vitalba as a feeding plant. Detailed oviposition behaviour and a summary of the key discriminatory characteristics of the five instars are provided. Emphasis is placed on the economic importance of D. europaea because of its involvement in epidemiological cycles of phytoplasma-induced plant diseases.

Wolbachia infection in natural populations of Dictyophara europaea, an alternative vector of grapevine Flavescence dorée phytoplasma: effects and interactions

“…Plants and conditions used for insect rearing were set as described in Krstić et al . (). The cages had previously been planted with seedlings of Crepis foetida , Salvia pratensis , Plantago lanceolata , Linaria vulgaris and Agropyron repens .…”

“…Collection was performed from mid‐July to mid‐September between 2011 and 2015 using entomological sweep nets and mouth aspirators. Due to the adults' polyphagous feeding behaviour (Krstić et al, ), specimens were collected from different host plants and whenever possible they were collected from C. vitalba (Table S1) to obtain as many FDp‐infected specimens as possible (Filippin et al, ). Overall, from 27 locations in southeastern Europe with 6–14 specimens per location samples were collected for molecular analysis.…”

“…According to Biedermann & Niedringhaus (), the planthopper exploits various herbaceous plants and grasses for feeding. Nevertheless, D. europaea is regularly found, especially in late summer dry season (Krstić et al, ), in association with Clematis vitalba , the climbing shrub that frequently occupies vineyard ecosystems and acts as a reservoir plant of grapevine disease Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp), phylogenetic group FD‐C (FD3) (Filippin et al, ). The biology and ecology of this important planthopper, a tentative or proven vector of phytoplasma(s), have been studied in detail to determine its oviposition, behaviour and plant associations (Krstić et al, ).…”

“…Nevertheless, D. europaea is regularly found, especially in late summer dry season (Krstić et al, ), in association with Clematis vitalba , the climbing shrub that frequently occupies vineyard ecosystems and acts as a reservoir plant of grapevine disease Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp), phylogenetic group FD‐C (FD3) (Filippin et al, ). The biology and ecology of this important planthopper, a tentative or proven vector of phytoplasma(s), have been studied in detail to determine its oviposition, behaviour and plant associations (Krstić et al, ). In recent years, the general interest in D. europaea has increased due to evidence of its involvement in the transmission and epidemiology of FDp disease in grapevine in southeastern Europe (Filippin et al, ).…”

Morphological phylogeny of Dictyopharidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha)

“…Polyphagous Dictyophara europaea (Linné) in Europe is a potentially multilateral vector in the transmission of diverse phytoplasma diseases, e.g. Flavescence dorée, and may acquire phytoplasmas from a variety of plant sources (Krstić et al ., ). Another dictyopharid planthopper, Cuernavaca longula (Remes Lenicov), endemic to South America, is an effective agent for the biological control of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.)…”