Potential Planthopper Vectors of Palm Phytoplasmas in Florida with a Description of a New Species of the Genus Omolicna (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

Authors

  • Susan E. Halbert Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, P.O. Box 147100, Gainesville, FL 32614-7100, USA
  • Stephen W. Wilson Department of Biology and Agriculture, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093, USA
  • Blake Bextine University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75799, USA
  • Susan B. Youngblood Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, 4618 E. State Rd 64, Bradenton, FL 34208, USA

Keywords:

Fulgoroidea, palm, planthopper, phytoplasma, Derbidae, Cixiidae

Abstract

Planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) have been implicated in transmission of phytoplasmas that cause lethal decline in palms. Surveys of insects feeding on palms located in Florida resulted in the discovery of Omolicna joi sp. nov., described here. Patara albida (Hemiptera: Derbidae), a palm feeder, has become established in South Florida. Haplaxius crudus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae), the proven vector of the phytoplasma that causes lethal yellows (LY ), was thought to be restricted to the southern tier of Florida counties, thus limiting the distribution of LY . We found that H. crudus can overwinter consistently as far north as Gainesville (N 29.63380° W -82.37200°). Thus, the northern limit of LY might be a function of the physiology of the pathogens rather than the distribution of the vector.

 

Salta plantas (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) han sido implicados en la transmisión de fitoplasmas que causan deterioro letal en palmas. Un muestreo de campo sobre insectos que se alimentan de las palmas en Florida resultó en el descubrimiento de una especie nueva, Omolicna joi sp. nov., que se describe aquí. Patara albida (Hemiptera: Derbidae) se ha establecido en el sur de la Florida. Se pensaba que Haplaxius crudus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae), el vector del amarillamiento letal del cocotero (ALC), estaba restringido a los condados más sureños de Florida, limitando la distribución de ALC. Descubrimos que H. crudus pueden invernar tan al norte como Gainesville (N 29.63380° W -82.37200°). Por lo tanto, el límite norte de ALC podría estar basado en la fisiología del patogeno en lugar de en la distribución del vector.

 

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Published

2014-04-06

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Section

Research Papers