Captures of Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) Adults Affected by the Presence of Volunteer Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is a key potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) pest that has the ability to vector the plant pathogenic bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso), the putative causal agent of zebra chip disease of potato. The insect primarily feeds and completes its life cycle on Solanaceous crops and weeds; however, in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington, B. cockerelli has been found in association with crops such as maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum spp), both belonging to the Poaceae family. We hypothesize that this is due to the presence of volunteer potato; in this region, the potato crop is in a 3-yr rotation with either maize or wheat. Consequently, we evaluated potato, maize, wheat, maize + volunteer potato, wheat + volunteer potato on captures of B. cockerelli adults in a 2-year field experiment using an inverted leaf blower and yellow sticky cards. Data collected in this study confirms that B. cockerelli has an affinity for potato, although, B. cockerelli could be found in maize and wheat mainly when volunteer potatoes were present. In addition, B. cockerelli counts varied depending if using inverted leaf blower or yellow sticky cards. Knowing that B. cockerelli is found in fields where volunteer potatoes are present, it should be taken into consideration for large-scale potato psyllid management.