Leafhopper Species Research Articles

Identification of Empoasca onukii (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and Monitoring of its Populations in the Tea Plantations of South China.

Tea green leafhoppers (Empoasca spp.) are considered one of the major pests in tea plantations in Asia. They are, however, difficult to monitor due to their size and flying and jumping abilities. In this study, we clarified the identification of the leafhopper species encountered in our study plantations and examined the impacts of sampling methods in estimating population abundance and sex ratio. The natural sex ratio of eggs, nymphs, and adults of tea green leafhopper and the differences between male and female were tested. Despite previous reports that Empoasca vitis (Goethe) was the major leafhopper present in our study area, our results showed that only Empoasca onukii Matsuda was found. Variation in population size over time and bias in sex ratio depending on the sampling methods were found in our monitoring experiments. In general, adult males were more attracted to yellow sticky cards than females. We believe that because female leafhoppers should be the target in pest control, yellow sticky cards may not be the most suitable monitoring or effective control of tea green leafhopper. We demonstrate the importance of understanding the implications of sampling techniques for population estimation and sex ratio bias as well as how temporal variation may affect monitoring results. Precise monitoring should take into consideration the different life histories of male and female.

Review of Chinese species of the leafhopper genus Scaphoidella Vilbaste, 1968 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae), with description of a new species.

The Chinese leafhopper species of the genus Scaphoidella Vilbaste are reviewed, and one new species Scaphoidella dietrichi sp. n. is described and illustrated. Two species are recorded from China for the first time: Scaphoidella clavatella Dai & Dietrich, 2011 and Scaphoidella zhangi (Viraktamath & Mohan, 2004). A key based on the male genitalia is given to distinguish Chinese species of this genus and a map provided their geographic distribution. The type specimens of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Wolbachia infection in leafhoppers and planthoppers: Diversity, density and geographic distribution in tropical rice agroecosystems

Members of the genus Wolbachia are a group of endosymbiotic bacteria that infect a wide range of arthropods and cause reproductive alterations in their hosts. A survey of these endosymbionts in leafhoppers and planthoppers in rice agroecosystems from 20 provinces in 4 different geographic regions of Thailand was carried out during January 2012 to December 2013. Most species were collected from growing rice fields among 5 habitat types surveyed from the Central and the Northeast regions. Infections of Wolbachia were screened by using polymerase chain reaction with wsp, ftsZ, 16S rRNA and groE gene primers and distinguished between A and B supergroup using wsp primers. Species of 15 leafhoppers and 18 planthoppers were collected and identified with 1, 14, 2, 14, 1 and 1 sp. representing the family Aphrophoridae, Cicadellidae, Cixiidae, Delphacidae, Lophopidae and Meenoplidae, respectively. Wolbachia were detected in 1377 of 1849 individuals (74.5%) representing 17 of 33 species (51.5%) of leafhoppers and planthoppers. Wolbachia had not been previously reported from Oliarus sp., Pyrilla perpusilla, Sogatella kolophon and S. vibix. The relative densities of Wolbachia within each individual were determined using quantitative real-time PCR and the result showed that the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus had the highest Wolbachia density. These findings indicated that Wolbachia are distributed throughout leafhoppers and planthoppers from Thailand, suggesting that Wolbachia dynamics in nature may be affected by ecological factors.

A new genus and species of the leafhopper subtribe Paraboloponina from China (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae).

A new leafhopper genus and species Forficus maculatus Qu gen. nov., sp. nov. of the subtribe Paraboloponina (Deltocephalinae, Drabescini) are described from China. A checklist to the Paraboloponina from China is given and a key to genera is provided.

Molecular Phylogeny and Genetic Analysis of Green Leafhopper - <I>Nephotettix</I> <I>Virescens</I> (Distant) Using Mitochondrial COI Gene

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of taxa, is of crucial importance to quarantine, pest management and analysis. Advances in DNA technology has resulted in an exceedingly vary of molecular techniques which might be employed in phylogenetically focussed approaches. Use of DNA sequence data derived from region of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (mtCOI) has been widely used to estimate phylogenetic relationships at different taxonomic levels across insects. The present study investigates the molecular evolution of the Nephotettix virescens using COI gene (DDBJ accession No. AB976528; ENA accession No. LM994675) and its usefulness for reconstructing phylogenetic relationships within and among the leafhopper species.

A new species of the leafhopper genus Bhatia Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from China.

A new leafhopper species Bhatia multispinosa Lu & Zhang is described from the Emei Mountains in China. A checklist to the species of Bhatia Distant from China is provided, together with a key for their separation.

Review of species of the Scaphoideus albovittatus group (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae) from China, with a checklist and distribution summary for Chinese species in the genus.

The thirteen known leafhopper species of the Scaphoideus albovittatus species group, characterized by the presence of a dorsal white longitudinal stripe, are recognized. Eight species, including three new species, are reported in this group from China: S. albovittatus Matsumura (China: Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan; Japan, Korea, Russia), S. coniceus Li (China: Hainan, Yunnan), S. intermediusMatsumura (China: Taiwan), S. kumamotonisMatsumura (China: Anhui, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang; Japan), S. maaiKitbamroong & Freytag (China: Yunnan, Hainan; Thailand), S. rostratus sp. nov. (China: Yunnan), S. sagittatus sp. nov. (China: Yunnan) and S. yuani sp. nov. (China: Guangxi). The detailed morphology of the new species is described; photographs of external habitus and male and female genitalia of the species from China are given. A checklist and a key to the species in this group are also provided, as well as a checklist with distribution summaries for all valid species in the genus from China.

Overview on a century progress in research on sesame phyllody disease

Sesame is the most ancient oil seed plant cultivated in the tropics of Asia and South Africa. Among the major constraints, phyllody associated with phytoplasma presence is the major limiting factor affecting its cultivation firstly described more than 100 years ago. Almost all the sesame varieties under cultivation are susceptible to the disease that continues to cause severe economic losses. Different symptomatology is present: the most common symptoms are phyllody, flower virescence and witches’ broom affecting growth and yield. Several detection methods like Diene's stains and TEM techniques were developed for the detection of phytoplasmas in phloem sieve tissues, however the PCR based assays were established for the identification of the phytoplasmas associated with the disease. After rRNA sequencing and restriction analyses, a wide genetic diversity was identified among sesame phyllody associated phytoplasmas: four ribosomal groups 16SrI, 16SrII, 16SrVI and 16SrIX were detected. The disease spreads in nature by different leafhopper species, among them Orosius orientalis was reported as the major vector. Moreover many weed species are reported hosts of the sesame phyllody-associated phytoplasmas. No effective control measures of the disease were developed, exceptresistance, management of insect vectors andaltering the dates of sowing to avoid peaks of insect vector population. So far no resistant genotype of sesame is available. However, attempts have been made to confer resistance against the phyllody disease in sesame through intra-and interspecific crosses of two wild species Sesamum mulayanum and S. alatum. The review reports uptodate information about history, geographic distribution, symptomatology, diagnosis, genetic diversity, epidemiology and management of sesame phyllody disease.

Exitianus indicus(Distant): a putative vector for ‘CandidatusPhytoplasma cynodontis’ in India

Chlorotic little leaves, witches’ broom and shortened stolons/rhizomes on Cynodon dactylon was observed in and around sugarcane fields at Sugarcane Research Institute, Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India during August–September 2013. The association of phytoplasmas with symptomatic C. dactylon was confirmed by direct and nested PCR amplification of phytoplasma 16Sr gene. Out of the different prevalent species of leafhoppers on Bermuda grass, only Exitianus indicus tested positive for phytoplasma presence. Phylogenetic analysis of 16Sr gene sequence suggested that the identified phytoplasmas from C. dactylon and E. indicus in the present study were 99% similar and belonged to 16SrXIV group. The study suggests that, E. indicus may be a putative vector for ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma cynodontis’ and may play a role in transmitting 16SrXIV group phytoplasmas in nature.

A new species of the leafhopper genus Calodia Nielson, 1982 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Coelidiinae) from China, with a key to Chinese species.

This paper describes and illustrates a new Calodia leafhopper species from China (Oriental Region), namely Calodia dentispina Fan, Li & Chen, sp. n. (Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae: Coelidiini) and provides a distribution map for the new species. A key to the Chinese coelidiine genera and species of Calodia is also provided.

Mitochondrial COI and 16sRNA evidence for a single species hypothesis of E. vitis, J. formosana and E. onukii in East Asia.

Tea green leafhopper is one of the most damaging tea pests in main tea production regions of East Asia. For lack of recognized morphological characters, the dominant species of tea green leafhoppers in Mainland China, Taiwan and Japan have always been named as Empoasca vitis Göthe, Jacobiasca formosana Paoli and Empoasca onukii MATSUDA, respectively. Furthermore, nothing is known about the genetic relationships among them. In this study, we collected six populations from Mainland China, four populations from Japan and one population from Taiwan, and examined the genetic distances in the COI and 16sRNA regions of mtDNA among them. The results showed that the genetic distances based on single gene or the combined sequences among eleven leafhopper populations were 0.3–1.2%, which were all less than the species boundary of 2%. Moreover, there were at least two haplotypes shared by two distinct populations from different regions. The phylogenetic analysis based on single gene or combined sets also supported that tea green leafhoppers from Mainland China, Taiwan and Japan were closely related to each other, and there were at least two specimens from different regions clustered ahead of those from the same region. Therefore, we propose that the view of recognizing the dominant species of tea green leafhoppers in three adjacent tea production regions of East Asia as different species is unreliable or questionable and suggest that they are a single species.

Interaction between non-structural protein Pns10 of rice dwarf virus and cytoplasmic actin of leafhoppers is correlated with insect vector specificity.

Many insect-transmissible pathogens are transmitted by specific insect species and not by others, even if the insect species are closely related. The molecular mechanisms underlying such strict pathogen-insect specificity are poorly understood. Rice dwarf virus (RDV), a plant reovirus, is transmitted mainly by the leafhopper species Nephotettix cincticeps but is transmitted ineffectively by the leafhopper Recilia dorsalis. Here, we demonstrated that virus-containing tubules composed of viral non-structural protein Pns10 of RDV associated with the intestinal microvilli of N. cincticeps but not with those of R. dorsalis. Furthermore, Pns10 of RDV specifically interacted with cytoplasmic actin, the main component of microvilli of N. cincticeps, but not with that of R. dorsalis, suggesting that the interaction of Pns10 with insect cytoplasmic actin is consistent with the transmissibility of RDV by leafhoppers. All these results suggested that the interaction of Pns10 of RDV with insect cytoplasmic actin may determine pathogen-vector specificity.

New leafhopper species of Jikradia from Mesoamerica with new records, revised key to species, distribution, origin, and checklist (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Coelidiinae: Teruliini).

The following four new species of leafhoppers are described and illustrated: Jikradia dentata n. sp. and J. trispinata n. sp. from Guatemala, J. variabilis n. sp. from Belize, and J. exilis n. sp. from Costa Rica. Jikradia basipendula Nielson and J. krameri Nielson are new records for Guatemala. Belize is a new record for the genus. A record of the first introduction of the genus in the Old World is reviewed. A revised key to the known species is provided with a review of its possible origin. A checklist of all known species is also given.

Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Resistance to Empoasca in Common Bean

ABSTRACTEmpoasca species leafhoppers are a major insect pest of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), that cause significant economic losses in both tropical (E. kraemeri) and temperate (E. fabae) regions of the Americas. The objective of this study was to use Insertion–Deletion (InDel) and single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from the BARCBean6K_3 Beadchip to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with traits related to leafhopper resistance in common bean. Traits for leaf curl and leaf burn damage, as well as Empoasca spp. nymph counts, were evaluated in an inbred backcross line population (Matterhorn*/EMP507) of beans in temperate (Michigan) and tropical (Puerto Rico) climates. Fourteen QTL associated with resistance to E. fabae and E. kraemeri were identified on five chromosomes explaining up to 66.0% of the phenotypic variation for single resistance traits. A major QTL cluster associated with multiple resistance traits and closely linked to the P color gene was detected for both leafhopper species in multiple seasons under both choice and no‐choice treatments on Pv07 (LH7.1, LH7.2, LH7.3), thus validating a similar QTL identified in previous studies. A novel QTL (LH2.2) for E. fabae nymph counts, identified on Pv02 in three seasons, may be associated with antibiosis resistance. Resistance to each leafhopper species appears to be controlled by separate genetic mechanisms in common bean as there was little overlap of QTL regions between species. These QTL could be used to develop beans with leafhopper resistance as an alternative to costly chemical controls while reducing risks to the environment and human health.

Mixed Infection and Natural Spread of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ and Mungbean Yellow Mosaic India Virus Affecting Soya Bean Crop in India

AbstractSuspected phytoplasma and virus‐like symptoms of little leaf, yellow mosaic and witches’ broom were recorded on soya bean and two weed species (Digitaria sanguinalis and Parthenium hysterophorus), at experimental fields of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India, in August–September 2013. The phytoplasma aetiology was confirmed in symptomatic soya bean and both the weed species by direct and nested PCR assays with phytoplasma‐specific universal primer pairs (P1/P6 and R16F2n/R16R2n). One major leafhopper species viz. Empoasca motti Pruthi feeding on symptomatic soya bean plants was also found phytoplasma positive in nested PCR assays. Sequencing BLASTn search analysis and phylogenetic analysis revealed that 16Sr DNA sequences of phytoplasma isolates of soya bean, weeds and leafhoppers had 99% sequence identity among themselves and were related to strains of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. PCR assays with Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) coat‐protein‐specific primers yielded an amplicon of approximately 770 bp both from symptomatic soya bean and from whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) feeding on soya bean, confirmed the presence of MYMIV in soya bean and whitefly. Hence, this study suggested the mixed infection of MYMIV and ‘Ca. P. asteris’ with soya bean yellow leaf and witches’ broom syndrome. The two weed species (D. sanguinalis and P. hysterophorus) were recorded as putative alternative hosts for ‘Ca. P. asteris’ soya bean Indian strain. However, the leafhopper E. motti was recorded as putative vector for the identified soya bean phytoplasma isolate, and the whitefly (B. tabaci) was identified as vector of MYMIV which belonged to Asia‐II‐1 genotype.

Lietuvoje aptikti vabzdžiai, galimi fitoplazmų ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ ir ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pruni’ giminingų kamienų pernešėjai

Phytoplasma strains affiliated with groups 16SrI, 16SrIII, 16SrV and 16SrXII have been found in Lithuania, but their insect vectors in the country have not been determined. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ and ‘Ca. Phytoplasma pruni’-related phytoplasma strains were identified in five leafhopper species and three spittlebug species occurring in Lithuania. The occurrence in Lithuania of Anaceratagallia ribauti, reported as a vector of stolbur phytoplasma (‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’, subgroup 16SrXII-A) elsewhere in Europe, provokes the question of whether this phytoplasma may be present but yet undetected in Lithuania. The finding of subgroup 16SrI-C strains in A. ribauti, Aphrodes sp., Macrosteles sexnotatus and Euscelis incisus; 16SrI-B strains – in Aphrophora alni, Aphrodes sp. and Cicadella viridis; 16SrIII-B strains – in A. ribauti; and 16SrIII-P – in Aphrodes sp. and E. incisus is consistent with the hypothesis that these leafhopper species are vectors of the respective phytoplasmas in Lithuania. Transmission trials were initiated based on these results. Results thus far have revealed that Lithuanian biotype of E. incisus is capable of vectoring subgroup 16SrI-C phytoplasma strains that are found in Lithuania. The presence of diverse phytoplasmas in three spittlebug species, Aphrophora alni, Lepyronia coleopterata and Philaenus spumarius, indicates that these xylem feeders actually ingested phloem sieve cell contents during feeding on phytoplasmainfected plants, bringing into focus the question of whether some of such xylem feeders might act as occasional vectors of phytoplasmas.

Differential genome evolution between companion symbionts in an insect-bacterial symbiosis.

ABSTRACTObligate symbioses with bacteria allow insects to feed on otherwise unsuitable diets. Some symbionts have extremely reduced genomes and have lost many genes considered to be essential in other bacteria. To understand how symbiont genome degeneration proceeds, we compared the genomes of symbionts in two leafhopper species, Homalodisca vitripennis (glassy-winged sharpshooter [GWSS]) and Graphocephala atropunctata (blue-green sharpshooter [BGSS]) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Each host species is associated with the anciently acquired “Candidatus Sulcia muelleri” (Bacteroidetes) and the more recently acquired “Candidatus Baumannia cicadellinicola” (Gammaproteobacteria). BGSS “Ca. Baumannia” retains 89 genes that are absent from GWSS “Ca. Baumannia”; these underlie central cellular functions, including cell envelope biogenesis, cellular replication, and stress response. In contrast, “Ca. Sulcia” strains differ by only a few genes. Although GWSS “Ca. Baumannia” cells are spherical or pleomorphic (a convergent trait of obligate symbionts), electron microscopy reveals that BGSS “Ca. Baumannia” maintains a rod shape, possibly due to its retention of genes involved in cell envelope biogenesis and integrity. Phylogenomic results suggest that “Ca. Baumannia” is derived from the clade consisting of Sodalis and relatives, a group that has evolved symbiotic associations with numerous insect hosts. Finally, the rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions are higher in “Ca. Baumannia” than in “Ca. Sulcia,” which may be due to a lower mutation rate in the latter. Taken together, our results suggest that the two “Ca. Baumannia” genomes represent different stages of genome reduction in which many essential functions are being lost and likely compensated by hosts. “Ca. Sulcia” exhibits much greater genome stability and slower sequence evolution, although the mechanisms underlying these differences are poorly understood.

Overwintering Biology of Egg Parasitoids of Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Perennial Grasses, Volunteer Maize, Stubble, and Drip-Irrigated Maize

Abstract Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Ciaadellidae) is the most important leafhopper vector of maize plant pathogens in the Americas. However, until now, no study has investigated the overwintering biology of its egg parasitoids. The objective in this study was to find egg parasitoids of D.maidis in perennial grass, volunteer maize, stubble, and drip-irrigated maize habitats in the winter season. Two-week-old D. maidis females were allowed to oviposit on young maize plants for 72 h under laboratory conditions. The oviposited healthy D.maidis eggs (sentinel eggs) on the young maize plants were exposed to natural parasitism maintained on perennial grasses, volunteer maize, and stubble 2 mo after the onset of winter, and on perennial grasses, volunteer maize, and drip-irrigated maize at the end of winter. The abundance of D. maidis adults in these habitats was also determined. Two months after the start of winter, D.maidis eggs were parasitized by the wasp Oligosita sp. from perennial grasses and volunteer maize, whereas at the end of winter, the eggs were parasitized by the wasps Oligosita sp. and Anagrus columbi Perkins from perennial grasses, volunteer maize, and drip-irrigated maize. Overall, more adult parasitoids of D. maidis eggs were found on perennial grasses. Adult corn leafhoppers were absent from perennial grasses at the end of winter; however, other Deltocephalinae leafhopper species were present, suggesting that egg parasitoids of D. maidis use another leafhopper host during winter. Furthermore, adults of five Deltocephalinae species were parasitized by dryinids and strepsipterans throughout the 2012–2013 winter in perennial grasses.

Two new species of the leafhopper subgenus Empoasca (Empoasca) Walsh (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Empoascini) from China.

Two new species of the leafhopper subgenus Empoasca (Empoasca) namely, E. (E.) dorsodenticulata Yu & Yang, sp. n. and E. (E.) spiculata Yu & Yang, sp. n. from China are described and illustrated and a key provided for Chinese subgenera of Empoasca.

Effects of Montane Heathland Restoration on Leafhopper Assemblages (Insecta: Auchenorrhyncha)

AbstractAt the beginning of the 20th century, many montane heathlands were abandoned and became subject to natural succession or afforestation by humans. Thus, the formerly large montane heathlands slowly degraded into small and isolated patches. In this study, we evaluate the influence of restoration measures on leafhopper (Auchenorrhyncha) assemblages of montane heathland ecosystems in Central Europe. Our analyses comprised three different site types that were adjacent to each other: (1) montane heathlands, (2) restoration sites, and (3) control sites. Leafhoppers showed a clear response to montane heathland restoration. Thus, after 4–5 years since implementation of restoration measurements restoration sites were characterized by the highest species richness. However, detailed analyses of leafhopper diversity, species composition, and environmental parameters on the three site types revealed that restoration sites were rather similar to control sites and significantly differing from montane heathlands. We conclude that leafhoppers are excellent bioindicators for restoration measurements because they reflected environmental differences between the three site types. Restoration measurements might only be a useful instrument to promote typical montane heathland leafhopper communities in the long run. Colonization by leafhoppers is, however, dependent on many different factors such as leafhopper mobility, vegetation structure, microclimate, and the establishment of ericaceous dwarf shrubs. Practitioners should establish a management regime (grazing and sod‐cutting) that creates a mosaic of different habitat structures and increases typical heathland vegetation, thus, favoring the colonization of typical heathland leafhoppers.