Leafhoppers1 Associated with Citrus Orchards on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Abstract

In the order Hemiptera, leafhoppers are the most diverse family, with more than 25,000 species distributed worldwide. Leafhoppers (Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) are of phytosanitary importance, because they are efficient vectors of plant pathogens such as phytoplasmas and other bacteria and viruses that cause diseases in a wide range of plants. Citrus variegated chlorosis disease is caused by the bacteria Xyllela fastidiosa (Wells et al. 1987), currently distributed and causing problems in citrus crops in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Costa Rica. However, there are only a few studies of Mexican leafhoppers associated with disease and relationship with a host plant. This research focused on taxonomy of Cicadellidae mainly on species related to citrus plants (Rutaceae). As a result, 25 leafhopper species were identified on the Peninsula of Yucatan. But, only four species, according to the literature, were associated with citrus plants: Homalodisca sp., Oncometopia clarior (Walker851), Phera obtusifrons Fowler, 1899, and Hortensia similis (Walker,1851). The rest of the leafhopper species collected, apparently used citrus plants only as temporary habitat, although some might be important pests of other crops.