Distribution of Phony Peach Vectors in South Carolina1

Abstract

The objective of this research was to determine the distribution of leafhopper vectors of phony peach disease in South Carolina. Eleven collection sites were chosen from. Coastal Plain and Piedmont areas to account perhaps for the pattern of disease range. Leafhoppers were trapped in 1965-66 by using Tangle-foot®-covered traps hung in peach trees, and sweeping of Vegetation under the trees. The major vector, Homalodisca coagulata , (Say), was found to be distributed mainly in the Coastal Plain area, peach trees. Oncometopia orbona (F.) and Graphocephala versuta (Say) were collected from all sites. Cuerna costalis (F.) was taken from several spots, but nowhere was it abundant. The distribution of H. insolita (Walker) was nearly the same as that of H. coagulata even though it was collected in fewer numbers. Although G. versuta, C. costalis , and H. insolita , are classified mainly as grass feeders, their having beencollected from several traps indicates their association with peach trees.