Jumping Plant Lice Research Articles

Wing buzzing as a mechanism for generating vibrational signals in psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea).

Psyllids, or jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea), are a group of small phytophagous insects that include some important pests of crops worldwide. Sexual communication of psyllids occurs via vibrations transmitted through host plants, which play an important role in mate recognition and localization. The signals are species-specific and can be used to aid in psyllid taxonomy and pest control. Several hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism that generates these vibrations, of which stridulation, that is, friction between parts of the forewing and thorax, has received the most attention. We have investigated vibrational communication in the European pear psyllid species Cacopsylla pyrisuga (Foerster, 1848) using laser vibrometry and high-speed video recording, to directly observe the movements associated with signal production. We describe for the first time the basic characteristics of the signals and signal emission of this species. Based on observations and analysis of the video recordings using a point-tracking algorithm, and their comparison with laser vibrometer recordings, we argue that males of C. pyrisuga produce the vibrations primarily by wing buzzing, that is, tremulation that does not involve friction between the wings and thorax. Comparing observed signal properties with previously published data, we predict that wing buzzing is the main mechanism of signal production in all vibrating psyllids.

Uncovering Symbionts Across the Psyllid Tree of Life and the Discovery of a New Liberibacter Species, "Candidatus" Liberibacter capsica.

Sap-feeding insects in the order Hemiptera associate with obligate endosymbionts that are required for survival and facultative endosymbionts that can potentially modify resistance to stress, enemies, development, and reproduction. In the superfamily Psylloidea, the jumping plant lice (psyllids), less is known about the diversity and prevalence of their endosymbionts compared to other sap-feeding pests such as aphids (Aphididae). To address this knowledge gap, using 16S rRNA sequencing we identify symbionts across divergent psyllid host lineages from around the world. Taking advantage of a new comprehensive phylogenomic analyses of Psylloidea, we included psyllid samples from 44 species of 35 genera of five families, collected from 11 international locations for this study. Across psyllid lineages, a total of 91 OTUs were recovered, predominantly of the Enterobacteriaceae (68%). The diversity of endosymbionts harbored by each psyllid species was low with an average of approximately 3 OTUs. Two clades of endosymbionts (clade 1 and 2), belonging to Enterobacteriaceae, were identified that appear to be long term endosymbionts of the psyllid families Triozidae and Psyllidae, respectively. We also conducted high throughput metagenomic sequencing on three Ca. Liberibacter infected psyllid species (Russelliana capsici, Trichochermes walkeri, and Macrohomotoma gladiata), initially identified from 16S rRNA sequencing, to obtain more genomic information on these putative Liberibacter plant pathogens. The phylogenomic analyses from these data identified a new Ca. Liberibacter species, Candidatus Liberibacter capsica, that is a potential pathogen of solanaceous crops. This new species shares a distant ancestor with Ca. L. americanus, which occurs in the same range as R. capsici in South America. We also detected the first association between a psyllid specializing on woody hosts and the Liberibacter species Ca. L. psyllaurous, which is a globally distributed pathogen of herbaceous crop hosts in the Solanaceae. Finally, we detected a potential association between a psyllid pest of figs (M. gladiata) and a Ca. Liberibacter related to Ca. L. asiaticus, which causes severe disease in citrus. Our findings reveal a wider diversity of associations between facultative symbionts and psyllids than previously reported and suggest numerous avenues for future work to clarify novel associations of ecological, evolutionary, and pathogenic interest.

Description of an Australian endemic species of Trioza (Hemiptera: Triozidae) pest of the endemic tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia (Myrtaceae).

Psyllids, also known as jumping plant lice, are phloem feeding Hemiptera that often show a strict species-specific relationship with their host plants. When psyllid-plant associations involve economically important crops, this may lead to the recognition of a psyllid species as an agricultural or horticultural pest. The Australian endemic tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia (Maiden & Betche) Cheel., has been used for more than a century to extract essential oils and, long before that, as a traditional medicine by Indigenous Australian people. Recently, a triozid species has been found to damage the new growth of tea trees both in Queensland and New South Wales, raising interest around this previously undocumented pest. Furthermore, adults of the same species were also collected from Citrus plantations, leading to potential false-positive records of the exotic pest Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio 1918), the African Citrus psyllid. Here we describe for the first time Trioza melaleucae Martoni sp. nov. providing information on its distribution, host plant associations and phylogenetic relationships to other Trioza species. This work enables both morphological and molecular identification of this new species, allowing it to be recognized and distinguished for the first time from exotic pests as well as other Australian native psyllids. Furthermore, the haplotype network analysis presented here suggests a close relationship between Trioza melaleucae and the other Myrtaceae-feeding Trioza spp. from Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan.

Jumping plant lice (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) in rest stops of Hungarian highways

AbstractIn the framework of a survey of arthropods in rest stops of Hungarian highways, 19 species of jumping plant lice were collected. Three species belong to the family Aphalaridae, one to Calophyidae, two to Liviidae, nine to Psyllidae and four to Triozidae. Two species (Livilla variegataandTrioza neglecta) are alien, non-indigenous species; the others are native to Hungary. The most abundant species wereCalophya rhois,Cacopsylla melanoneuraandTrioza neglecta. The specimens ofC.melanoneurawere found in 20,T. neglectain 10 andC. rhoisin 6 localities out of the 31 rest stops surveyed.

Taxonomy of jumping plant lice of the sub-family Ciriacreminae (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) from Cameroon

Taxonomy of jumping plant lice of the sub-family Ciriacreminae (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) from Cameroon

Trioza turouguei sp. nov. (Hemiptera, Psylloidea, Triozidae), a new psyllid species from Taiwan inducing pea-shaped stem galls on Cinnamomum osmophloeum (Lauraceae), with notes on its galling biology.

Trioza turougueisp. nov., a new species of jumping plant lice (Hemiptera, Triozidae) from Taiwan, is described and illustrated based on adults and immatures. The latter induce pea-shaped galls on the stems of Cinnamomum osmophloeum Kaneh. (Lauraceae). The gall phenology of the new species is described. A list of species of Triozidae associated with Cinnamomum in the Old World is provided. The following nomenclatorial acts are proposed: Trioza inflata Li, 1992 = Trioza xiangicamphorae Li, 1992, syn. nov.; Siphonaleyrodes formosanus Takahashi, 1932, stat. rev., is removed from synonymy with Trioza cinnamomi (Boselli, 1931).

Identification, sexual dimorphism, and allometric effects of three psyllid species of the genus Psyllopsis by geometric morphometric analysis (Hemiptera, Liviidae).

Jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) are considered important vectors of plant diseases and also economically important pests in agriculture and forest ecosystems. Three psyllid species Psyllopsis repens Loginova, 1963, Psyllopsis securicola Loginova, 1963, and Psyllopsis machinosus Loginova, 1963 associated with the ash tree Fraxinus are morphologically very similar. So far, their distinction has been possible only by comparing their male and female genitalia. In this research, forewing shape and size characteristics, sexual dimorphism and their allometric effects, using geometric morphometric analysis, were examined for identification purposes. The results showed significant differences in wing shape and size between the species studied. Based on the results, two species P. machinosus and P. securicola can be differentiated with the vein M1+2, as in P. securicola the vein M1+2 is located between Rs and M3+4 veins, but the vein M1+2 is closer to the vein M3+4 in P. machinosus; also, P. repens can be differentiated from the two species P. machinosus and P. securicola by vein M. Hence, the veins M1+2, M3+4, Rs and M were the most important wing characters for discrimination of the three species, especially in the field. The analysis also showed significant differences in wing shape and size between male and female of the three species, and the allometric analysis showed that significant shape differences still remain in constant size in P. machinosus and P. repens. Geometric changes in the forewings of both sexes for the three species are illustrated.

Generic synopsis of the jumping plant-lice (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea) from Colombia.

Jumping plant-lice (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Psylloidea) are a group of phloem-feeding insects with nearly 4000 described species. Previous records from Colombia comprise 19 genera of all eight known families. The revision of material deposited in six Colombian and three foreign museums yielded another nine genera that constitute new country records. Material from 16 departments was examined. Each genus is diagnosed and information is provided on biology, damage and host-plants. Local distribution maps and a generic key for the identification of adults are provided.

Caterpillar mimicry by plant galls as a visual defense against herbivores

Plant galls, induced by arthropods and various other organisms have an intimate relationship with host plants, and gall-inducers have limited mobility. In addition to their own photosynthesis, galls are resource sinks rich with nutrients, with neighboring plant organs commonly serving as external photosynthate sources. Galls, if not well defended, may therefore be attractive food sources for herbivores. Galls produced by some aphids, jumping plant lice, thrips, and gall midges in Japan, Palearctic region and in the Middle East visually resemble lepidopteran caterpillars. I propose that such visual resemblance may reduce herbivory of galls and surrounding plant tissues, resulting in an increase in galler survival due to reduced gall damage and in enhanced galler growth due to improved nutrient inflow to the galls, when herbivores avoid colonizing or consuming plant parts that look as if they have been occupied by other herbivores. Potential predators and parasitoids of caterpillars may be attracted to the caterpillar-like galls and then attack real caterpillars and other invertebrate herbivores, which would also be beneficial for both gallers and their hosts.

Diversity and host specificity of Psylloidea (Hemiptera) inhabiting box mistletoe,Amyema miquelii(Loranthaceae) and three of its hostEucalyptusspecies

This study is the first direct comparison of the diversity of phytophagous insects associated with a parasitic plant and its host plants. Specifically, we compared the species composition, density and host specificity of psylloids or jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), inhabiting hemiparasitic box mistletoe Amyema miquelii, and three of its host Eucalyptus species: Eucalyptus blakelyi, Eucalyptus melliodora and Eucalyptus polyanthemos. Insects were sampled by restricted canopy fogging in remnant Eucalyptus woodlands in an agricultural region of temperate south-eastern Australia. Although most psylloids are understood to be mono- or oligophagous, most species in our survey were found on the foliage of both mistletoes and eucalypts. Nevertheless, analysis of density patterns and reference to previous work on psylloids supports the high degree of host specificity for psylloids, leading to distinct assemblages on these two intimately associated plants. We show that (1) there were two mistletoe-associated species of psylloid and 18 eucalypt-associated species; (2) there were a large number of tourist species, as indicated by known psylloid/plant host associations; and (3) psylloid density was higher on eucalypt than mistletoe leaves. The different psylloid assemblages found on box mistletoes compared with their host plants are likely to be due to differences in the foliar properties implicated in host specificity and host selection by phytophagous insects. Further research is required to understand the ecological dynamics and evolutionary origins of these arboreal assemblages.

Biology and epidemics of Candidatus Liberibacter species, psyllid‐transmitted plant‐pathogenic bacteria

AbstractCandidatus Liberibacter species are Gram‐negative bacteria that live as phloem‐limited obligate parasites in plants, and are associated with several plant diseases. These bacteria are transmitted by insects called psyllids, or jumping plant lice, which feed on plant phloem sap. Citrus huanglongbing (yellow shoot) or citrus greening disease is associated with three different species of Ca. Liberibacter – Ca. L. asiaticus, Ca. L. africanus and Ca. L. americanus – all originally found on different continents. Ca. L. asiaticus is the most severe pathogen, spread by Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri and causing devastating epidemics in several countries. Ca. L. africanus occurs in Africa where it is spread by the African citrus psyllid Trioza erytreae. Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum is associated with diseases in several solanaceous plants, and transmitted by potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli. Zebra chip disease is causing large damage in potato crops in North America. In Europe Ca. Liberibacter solanacearum is associated with diseases of the Apiaceae family of plants, carrot and celery, and transmitted by psyllids Trioza apicalis and Bactericera trigonica. When Ca. Liberibacter is suspected as the disease agent, the diagnosis is confirmed by DNA‐based detection methods. Ca. Liberibacter‐associated plant diseases can be controlled by using healthy plant propagation material, eradicating symptomatic plants, and by controlling the psyllid populations spreading the disease.

An annotated checklist of the psyllids of California (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

A revised checklist to the species of Psylloidea (Hemiptera) from California is presented, with information on host plantdata, distributions, introduced and pest species, parasites, parasitoids, and predators, and biological control programs. Thelist includes 164 species, of which six are newly recorded. In total, this comprises a 26% increase in the number of speciesrecorded for California since the last published checklist in 1988. Choricymoza Bliven is a new synonym of PhylloplectaRiley, and 10 species previously in Euphalerus Schwarz are recombined under Nyctiphalerus Bliven. California has therichest native psyllid fauna in North America, and the influence of climatic and floristic diversity on this diversificationis considered. Key words: biogeography, host plant, jumping plant lice, species diversity, pest species.

Jumping mechanisms in jumping plant lice (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha, Psyllidae)

Jumping mechanisms and performance were analysed in three species of psyllids (Hemiptera, Sternorrhyncha) that ranged from 2 to 4 mm in body length and from 0.7 to 2.8 mg in mass. Jumping was propelled by rapid movements of the short hind legs, which were only 10-20% longer than the other legs and 61-77% of body length. Power was provided by large thoracic muscles that depressed the trochantera so that the two hind legs moved in parallel planes on either side of the body. These movements accelerated the body to take-off in 0.9 ms in the smallest psyllid and 1.7 ms in the largest, but in all species imparted a rapid forward rotation so that at take-off the head pointed downwards, subtending angles of approximately -60 deg relative to the ground. The front legs thus supported the body just before take-off and either lost contact with the ground at the same time as, or even after, the hind legs. In the best jumps from the horizontal, take-off velocity reached 2.7 m s(-1) and the trajectory was steep at 62-80 deg. Once airborne, the body spun rapidly at rates of up to 336 Hz in the pitch plane. In many jumps, the wings did not open to provide stabilisation, but some jumps led directly to sustained flight. In their best jumps, the smallest species experienced a force of 637 g. The largest species had an energy requirement of 13 μJ, a power output of 13 mW and exerted a force of nearly 10 mN. In a rare jumping strategy seen in only two of 211 jumps analysed, the femoro-tibial joints extended further and resulted in the head pointing upwards at take-off and the spin rate being greatly reduced.

The use of GIS methodology in jumping plant lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidae) studies in Serbia

Entomofaunistic studies contain a large number of data regarding the number of collected species, the number of individuals within species, time of collection, localities, species biology and morphology natural enemies and hosts. Besides thematic and temporal components this kind of studies include spatial component which is crucial for the use of GIS methodology and advanced possibilities of geospatial analysis. During our studies on jumping plant lice (Psylloidea) fauna and their natural enemies on the territory of Serbia which lasted for several years, a large number of spatially referenced data related to this group of insects were collected. The process of collecting, archiving and classifying the data on each species was improved by applying the GIS methodological approach after which the data were entered into database. The analysis of data using thematic and spatial queries, as well as graphic, numeric and textual display of the results from studies enabled simpler and more complete survey of horizontal and vertical distribution of jumping plant lice, their biology and relationship with plants, predators and parasitoids.

The jumping plant-lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) of the Tatra National Park

The jumping plant-lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) of the Tatra National Park The article provides a list of jumping plant lice of the Tatra National Park (TNP). Field studies were conducted in the years 2001-2007 at 27 sites. Insects were collected by sweeping, beating and visually inspecting the host plants. Psyllids of 46 species of 13 genera of Psyllidae and Triozidae were recorded. This number of species comprises nearly 50% of the Polish fauna of psyllids. Three species were recorded from Poland for the first time.

Jumping plant lice (Homoptera, Psyllinea) from the relict steppes of Central Yakutia

The psyllid fauna of the relict steppes of Central Yakutia is studied for the first time. Among the six species examined, two are new for Yakutia.

Diversity, richness, and patterns of radiation among gall-inducing psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) in the Orient and Eastern Palearctic

Psyllids, or jumping plant lice, which induce diverse and exquisite galls — from simple leaf-margin rolls to complex two-tier galls — in the Orient and eastern Palearctic, have not been comprehensively documented. Considering their richness and diversity, this article consolidates and discusses patterns of congruence and radiation among the psyllids of the two biogeographical regions.

Pugionipsylla, a new jumping plant lice genus (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Psyllidae) from China

A new jumping plant lice genus Pugionipsylla with two new species, P. fysidice and P. zhangi, is described and illistrated based on the specimens from Guangxi and Hainan. A key to the species is provided. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Entomological Museum of China Agricultural University, Beijing.

Phytophagous Insects That Attack Larrea spp. (Zygophyllaceae) in Argentina and Their Potential for Biocontrol of Creosotebush (L. Tridentata) in North America

Abstract The genus Larrea originated in semiarid southern South America, where four species occur today. It spread to semiarid southwestern North America only 11,000 to 14,000 years before present where one species, L. tridentata (DC.) Coville (creosotebush), evolved. Creosotebush has increased greatly during the past 100 years to become a weed of major importance in rangelands by competing with beneficial forage plants. Biological control is possible through the introduction of natural enemies from closely related species of Larrea in Argentina. We and other workers have found a total of 110 species of insects that attack Larrea spp. there. Probably 15 species were sufficiently damaging, consistently found, and apparently host specific in our field collections to warrant further testing as candidates for introduction. These include three species of grasshoppers, three scale insects, two flat-headed wood-boring beetles, one leaf chafer, two jumping plant lice, several undetermined species of foliage-feeding caterpillars, darkling beetles, and a katydid.

Five jumping plant lice species (Homoptera, Psylloidea) new forTurkish fauna

Five jumping plant lice species (Homoptera, Psylloidea) new forTurkish fauna