Plant Selection and Population Trend of Spittlebug Immatures (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Olive Groves of the Apulia Region of Italy

Dongiovanni, C.; Cavalieri, Vincenzo; Bodino, Nicola; Tauro, Daniele; Carolo, M. di; Fumarola, Giulio; Altamura, Giuseppe; Lasorella, Cesare; Bosco, Domenico

doi:10.1093/jee/toy289

Cited by 52 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Some plant genera, however, demonstrated to be of key importance for hosting high numbers of P. spumarius in olive agroecosystems. Asteraceae and Fabaceae were the botanical families more selected by nymphs, as also noticed in our previous study carried out in South Apulia (Lecce Province) [8]. The exploitation of plant taxa was not constant throughout the year, both for nymphs and adults.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…However, since spittlebug nymphs have limited movement capability, patterns in oviposition preference by females of the previous year generation could partly cause the spatial distribution of juveniles in the agroecosystem [62,63]. Aggregation of nymphs occurring mainly on some plant species, or in specific areas within the olive agroecosystem, could favor the application of targeted control measures, e.g., mowing, provided that they are carried out with a correct timing [8,54].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most important differences between the two areas concerned (i) host-plant association that, besides being determined by insect preference, was driven by ground cover floral composition, (ii) summer colonization of olive trees by adults, that visited olive canopies in a higher number and for a prolonged period in Northern Italy, and (iii) spittlebug population level that appeared to be higher in Northern Italy. Actually, several reports indicated that the populations of P. spumarius and of other spittlebug species are quite low under warm and dry Mediterranean conditions [6,7], although with some exceptions [8]. The knowledge of preferential plant selection by both nymphal and adult stages of the main X. fastidiosa vector in Europe may allow designing more effective integrated pest management programs, so far based on soil tilling to eliminate nymphs and on insecticide applications targeting adults on the crop canopy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nymphal populations of spittlebugs and their host-plants were monitored within the PSU using the quadrat sampling method, frequently used to quantify the abundance of spittlebug nymphs [6,8,39,40]. Thirty quadrats (secondary sampling unit for preimaginal instars: SSU p ; 0.25 m 2 -100 cm × 25 cm each) were randomly positioned on the ground cover inside each PSU.…”

Section: Sampling Of Nymphal Stagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spittlebugs of Mediterranean Olive Groves: Host-Plant Exploitation throughout the Year

Bodino

Cavalieri

Dongiovanni³

et al. 2020

Insects

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123

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Spittlebugs are the vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells in Europe, the causal agent of olive dieback epidemic in Apulia, Italy. Selection and distribution of different spittlebug species on host-plants were investigated during field surveys in 2016–2018 in four olive orchards of Apulia and Liguria Regions of Italy. The nymphal population in the herbaceous cover was estimated using quadrat samplings. Adults were collected by sweeping net on three different vegetational components: herbaceous cover, olive canopy, and wild woody plants. Three species of spittlebugs were collected: Philaenus spumarius L., Neophilaenus campestris (Fallén), and Aphrophora alni (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae). Philaenus spumarius was the predominant species both in Apulia and Liguria olive groves. Nymphal stages are highly polyphagous, selecting preferentially Asteraceae Fabaceae plant families, in particular some genera, e.g., Picris, Crepis, Sonchus, Bellis, Cichorium, and Medicago. Host-plant preference of nymphs varies according to the Region and through time and nymphal instar. In the monitored sites, adults peak on olive trees earlier in Apulia (i.e., during inflorescence emergence) than in Liguria (i.e., during flowering and beginning of fruit development). Principal alternative woody hosts are Quercus spp. and Pistacia spp. Knowledge concerning plant selection and ecological traits of spittlebugs in different Mediterranean olive production areas is needed to design effective and precise control strategies against X. fastidiosa vectors in olive groves, such as ground cover modifications to reduce populations of spittlebug vectors.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Sampling Of Nymphal Stagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Spittlebugs of Mediterranean Olive Groves: Host-Plant Exploitation throughout the Year

Bodino

Cavalieri

Dongiovanni³

et al. 2020

Insects

Self Cite

123

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“…In Europe, only three Aphrophoridae species have been identified as vectors, Philaenus spumarius (L., 1758), P. italosignus Drosopoulos & Remane (2000) and Neophilaenus camprestris (Fallén, 1805) [ 5 , 6 ]. Philaenus spumarius was the first vector identified in Europe [ 5 , 7 ] and is still by far the most abundant [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Populations and Host/Non-Host Plants of Spittlebugs Nymphs in Olive Orchards from Northeastern Portugal

Villa

Rodrigues

Baptista

et al. 2020

Insects

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The Aphrophoridae family contains important vectors of Xylella fastidiosa, a serious bacterial plant disease. In olive orchards, nymphs usually feed on the ground-cover vegetation. However, detailed information about their populations and host/non-host plants in some regions threatened by Xylella, such as the northeast of Portugal, is very limited. The goal of our work was to identify the vector species, nymphal development period, and their host and non-host herbaceous plants in olive orchards from northeastern Portugal. Ground-cover plant species hosting or not hosting nymphs were identified during the spring of 2017 to 2019 in olive orchards. Nymphal development period, nymph aggregation, and nymph’s preferred feeding height of the ground-cover plants were recorded. The most abundant Aphrophoridae species was Philaenus spumarius followed by Neophilaenus sp. Nymphs developed from April to early May and showed a low number of individuals per foam (generally between one and three). They preferred the middle part of the plants. Philaenus spumarius feeds preferentially on Asteraceae and Fabaceae, and Neophilaenus sp. on Poaceae. Some abundant plants, such as Bromus diandrus, Astragalus pelecinus, Chrysanthemum segetum, Trifolium spp., Caryophyllaceae, and Brassicaceae, were barely colonized by Aphrophoridae nymphs. This knowledge is essential for the selection of the species composition of ground-cover vegetation to minimize the presence of vectors of X. fastidiosa in olive groves.

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The hidden land conservation benefits of olive‐based (Olea europaea L.) landscapes: An agroforestry investigation in the southern Mediterranean (Calabria region, Italy)

Brunori

Maesano

Moresi³

et al. 2019

Land Degrad Dev

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Olive groves are key elements of the Mediterranean basin landscape. In southern Italy, olive polycultural systems are predominant over specialized ones. These systems occupy marginal and inner areas and are highly susceptible to abandonment. Their ecological functions in sensitive semi‐arid Mediterranean areas have not been studied enough. The purpose of this study was to address the measurable environmental benefits of olive‐based agroforestry systems in terms of (a) landscape structure, transformation, and degradation risk caused by landslides and wildfires; (b) soil quality; and (c) environmental quality. Land structure and land vulnerability layers (soil consumption, landslides and wildfires, and soil fertility loss) and spatial data analyses were performed in a QGIS environment. The land transformation over a recent period (1990–2012) was analysed, and the ecological role of modern and traditional olive grove assets, their impact on landscape quality and their soil carbon storage in agricultural, forested, and semi‐natural areas were quantified. Rapid land cover change leads to land rewilding, affecting the stability of sloping areas due to the increase in transitional re‐naturalized areas following agricultural abandonment. Under these harsh environmental conditions, traditional olive‐based agroforestry systems are widespread and resilient agricultural approaches that are able to preserve habitat diversity, landscape complexity, and soil health. Extensive sustainable agricultural management may be a pivotal strategy for counteracting land degradation phenomena, such as landslides, wildfires, and the uncontrolled re‐naturalization of terraced systems in the Mediterranean. The olive‐based agroforestry systems may become smart agricultural landscapes for multipurpose agriculture, forest uses, and for the preservation of lots of ecological services.

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Plant Selection and Population Trend of Spittlebug Immatures (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) in Olive Groves of the Apulia Region of Italy

Cited by 52 publications

References 26 publications

Spittlebugs of Mediterranean Olive Groves: Host-Plant Exploitation throughout the Year

Spittlebugs of Mediterranean Olive Groves: Host-Plant Exploitation throughout the Year

Populations and Host/Non-Host Plants of Spittlebugs Nymphs in Olive Orchards from Northeastern Portugal

The hidden land conservation benefits of olive‐based (Olea europaea L.) landscapes: An agroforestry investigation in the southern Mediterranean (Calabria region, Italy)

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