Suitability of Different Host Plants for Oviposition and Development of Homalodisca vitripennis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and Its Implication on Mass Rearing

Abstract

The glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a major pest of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in Texas and California. It is a known vector of Pierce's disease and is considered the most significant insect pest threatening the grape industry in the United States. We evaluated the preference of four host plants for feeding and oviposition by H. vitripennis adult females. We also measured the suitability of nine host plants for the growth and development of eggs and nymphs under greenhouse and laboratory conditions, respectively. Embryonic survival exceeded 85% on all tested host plants, with the exception of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. More than 80% of the nymphs successfully reached adulthood on sweet potato, black-eyed pea [Vigna unguiculata unguiculata (L.) Walp.], and eggplant (Solanum melongena L). Developmental time of immature H. vitripennis nymphs was significantly affected by the plants on which they fed. The nymphs were more likely to die during the first instar on host plants such as Texas mountain laurel Evonymus japonica (Thunb.), or citrange Citrus sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata. Host suitability (nutrients) and stem and leaf texture, which varied among host plant species selected, seem to both play a significant role in nymphal development. Adult females were able to feed on woody plants, but a preference for black-eyed pea and sweet potato was observed. In captivity and given the plant choices offered, they deposited more egg masses on hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.) and black-eyed pea.

Culture Independent Survey of the Microbiota of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis) Using 454 Pyrosequencing

“…were provided by Isabelle Lauziè re and were reared as previously described (Lauziere and Setamou 2009). All the H. vitripennis were surface sterilized with 70% EtOH for 1 min, 10% bleach for 1 min and three washes in Nanopure H 2 O for 1 min.…”

Settling behavior of the glassy‐winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis, vector of Xylella fastidiosa, on southern highbush blueberry cultivars

“…As host plant quality plays an important role in insect settling/feeding behavior and larval development on many other plant species (Setamou & Jones, 2005; Patt & Setamou, 2007; Lauziere & Setamou, 2009), the mechanism(s) underlying differential attractiveness of blueberry cultivars to the GWSS need to be elucidated. These could include visual, olfactory, or gustatory cues, or a combination thereof.…”

“…Although leafhoppers utilize numerous plant species as hosts, they show a relative preference for some plant hosts over others; this difference primarily is attributed to host plant nutrient and metabolite composition, particularly in the xylem sap (Redak et al., 2004; Mizell et al., 2008). The feeding duration of adults and the ability of nymphs to develop on the host plant for a minimum period of time, both of which are functions of the energy contents of the host plant, influence the outcome of plant–insect interactions (Munyaneza & Upton, 2005; Setamou & Jones, 2005; Lauziere & Setamou, 2009), including the risk of pathogen transmission. Parameters associated with the transmission of X. fastidiosa by GWSS are well‐documented for several traditional hosts of X. fastidiosa (Hopkins & Purcell, 2002; Jackson et al., 2008), but not much is known about vector interactions with new hosts, such as blueberry.…”

Incidencia de la cochinilla rosada del hibisco en cultivares de mango de Nayarit, México

“…Así mismo es evidente que la incidencia de la plaga es muy baja en las yemas terminales, lo que indica que la plaga prefiere alimentarse de otras estructuras jugosas y dulces. De acuerdo a Lauzière & Sétamou (2009) es importante considerar que el tiempo de desarrollo de los individuos es afectado significativamente por las plantas de las cuales se alimentan. Los nutrientes que proporciona la planta así como la textura de algunas de sus partes (características que varían entre las plantas hospederas), parecen jugar un papel significativo en el desarrollo de las ninfas.…”