Effect of temperature on the development and reproduction of the sugarcane white leaf insect vector, Matsumuratettix hiroglyphicus (Matsumura) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Abstract

The biological and life-history parameters of the leafhopper, Matsumuratettix hiroglyphicus (Matsumura), a vector of sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma, were studied on sugarcane host plants, at different constant temperatures, in the laboratory. The results revealed no complete life cycle development at extreme low and high temperatures of 20°C and 38°C, respectively. There was a significant decrease in adult longevity, and reduced developmental time from egg to adult, with increasing temperatures. Low fecundity and reduced female oviposition period occurred at high temperatures. The sex ratio of male offspring appeared to be higher with increasing temperature (30–35°C), while, at lower temperatures (25–27°C), the ratio of female offspring appeared to be higher. According to the obtained life-history parameters, including intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), and net reproductive rate (R0) (rm=0.067, λ=10.70days, and R0=21.2), 27°C was the optimum temperature for M. hiroglyphicus development. The lowest temperature developmental threshold and degree-days for leafhopper development from the egg to nymph stages was 11.5°C and 132degree-days, and for development from egg to adult, 12.8°C and 345degree-days. These results provide useful information for predicting M. hiroglyphicus population growth, and thus for evaluation of related insect control programs.