Processed kaolin affects the probing and settling behavior of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Lividae).

BACKGROUND: Alternative methods that have the potential to reduce the entry of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), the major citrus pest worldwide, into commercial groves could be a viable approach for huanglongbing management. Kaolin is an aluminum silicate that when sprayed on plants forms a white particle film that interferes with host recognition by the insects. Diaphorina citri orients towards the host plants by visual and olfactory cues. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of processed kaolin on D. citri settling (no-choice) and probing behavior [electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique] under laboratory conditions, and to study its host plant finding ability and dispersal under field conditions in the absence and presence of young shoots. RESULTS: Under laboratory conditions, kaolin caused an overall reduction of 40% in the number of psyllids settled on treated seedlings; furthermore, the proportion of individuals that were able to reach the phloem was 50% lower on kaolin-treated plants than on untreated plants. In the field, the plant finding ability of D. citri was disrupted on kaolin-treated trees (overall reduction of 96%), regardless of the vegetative condition, and psyllid dispersal was slower in kaolin-treated plots than in the untreated control. CONCLUSION: This study clearly demonstrates that processed kaolin interferes negatively with different aspects of the host plant finding ability of D. citri. These findings suggest that processed kaolin has a high potential to reduce huanglongbing primary infection. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

A survey of mealybugs infesting South-Brazilian wine vineyards

ABSTRACTMealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are important pests of the grapevine Vitis spp. and are responsible for direct and indirect damage to production. The main mealybug species present in wine grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in Southern Brazil were identified and their incidence evaluated. Bunch-samples (n = 50) from 131 vineyards located in the Serra Gaúcha Region (RS) of Brazil were analyzed at harvest, and the occurrence of mealybugs in the roots was evaluated at the time of eradication of plants for replanting. Mealybugs were reared in laboratory until adulthood for species determination. The species Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell, 1983), Dysmicoccus sp., Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813), Pl. minor(Maskell, 1897), Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret, 1875) and Pseudococcus sp. were identified in bunches. Dysmicoccus sp., D. umbambae Granara de Willink, 2009, Pl. citri and Pseudococcus sp. were found in the roots. Pl. citri (31.4%) and Dysmicoccus sp. (22.7%) were the most common species found in wine grape bunches in the Serra Gaúcha Region.

Comportamento de prova do pulgão-verde Schizaphis graminum (Rond. ) (Hemiptera: aphididae) em plantas de trigo tratadas com silício e dimetoato / Greenbug Schizaphis graminum (Rond. ) (Hemiptera: aphididae) probing behavior in wheat plants treated with silicon and dimetoate

No presente trabalho objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do silício e do inseticida dimetoato no comportamento de prova do pulgão-verde Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em plantas de trigo. Os tratamentos foram: 1) silício no solo, 2) silício no solo + foliar, 3) silício via foliar, 4) silício no solo + aplicação de inseticida, 5) silício no solo + foliar e aplicação de inseticida, 6) silício via foliar + aplicação de inseticida, 7) sem silício e aplicação de inseticida e 8) sem silício e sem aplicação de inseticida. Os dados foram comparados pela análise de variância multifatorial para cada um dos fatores separadamente. Os dados de porcentagem foram analisados pelo teste de quiquadrado. Não foi verificado interação do silício e dimetoato e, também, do efeito isolado do silício no comportamento de prova do pulgão. Entretanto, em plantas tratadas com dimetoato, uma maior porcentagem de insetos apresentaram fase xilemática e um menor número de pulgões alcançaram o floema. De maneira geral, a aplicação do dimetoato mudou o comportamento de prova do pulgão-verde.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of silicon and the insecticide dimetoate in the probing behavior of the greenbug Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in wheat plants. The treatments were: 1) silicon in soil, 2) silicon in the soil plus foliar spraying, 3) silicon foliar, 4) silicon soil plus insecticide, 5) silicon in soil plus foliar and insecticide, 6) foliar spraying of silicon and insecticide, 7) insecticide and 8) untreated. The data was compared by the multifactorial analysis of variance for each one of the factors separately. The percentage data was analyzed by the test of Chi-Square. It was not verified interaction of silicon and dimetoate and, also, of the isolated effect of silicon in the probing behavior of the greenbug. However, in plants treated with the dimetoate, a larger percentage of insects presented the xylem phase and lower number of aphids reached the phloem. In general, the application of dimetoate changed the probing behavior of the S. graminum.

Behavioral evidence for local reduction of aphid-induced resistance.

Twenty-five aphids of three different species, Brevicoryne brassicae L, Myzus persicae Schulzer, and Rhopalosiphum padi L(Hemiptera: Aphididae) were each allowed to infest leaves of a young plant of their respective host plant species for 4 days, except that the oldest expanded leaf (the 'systemic' leaf) was kept free of aphids. Each preinfested plant thus had two types of leaves, local leaves (preinfested with aphids) and one systemic leaf, the oldest true leaf that had been kept free of aphids.In subsequent choice tests, settling preference of aphids was tested between the systemic leaves of these preinfested plants and leaves of uninfested control plants. Aphids significantly preferred leaves of control plants in settling choice tests, thus indicating some resistance in the systemic (uninfested) leaves of the preinfested plants. Plant penetration and feeding was further investigated with the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique using B. brassicae on broccoli, its host plant. The tests included both the systemic and infested (local) leaves of preinfested plants as well as control plants. Aphid-induced resistance in systemic leaves was confirmed by EPG data. Fewer aphids showed phloem feeding on systemic leaves, only 30% as compared to 100% on control leaves. However, on local leaves 100% of the aphids showed phloem feeding, indicating a strong reduction in systemic resistance induced by aphids in these leaves. Phloem factors are the main cause of induced resistance. The possible roles of different phases of salivary secretion in systemically-induced resistance and its local reduction are discussed. In addition to these preinfestation experiments, EPG tests were also done on aphids on broccoli plants that were exposed to volatiles emitted from aphid-infested broccoli plants to compare probing behavior of volatile-induced resistance with systemic resistance due to preinfestation. Phloem factors also appeared to be involved in volatile-induced resistance, although some behavioral details differed.

Effect of silicon applied to wheat plants on the biology and probing behaviour of the greenbug Schizaphis graminum (Rond) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Foi avaliado o efeito do silício, aplicado em plantas de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) sobre o pulgão-verde Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Plantas de trigo foram tratadas com silício incorporado no solo e aplicado nas folhas. Foram avaliadas as durações dos períodos pré-reprodutivo, reprodutivo e pós-reprodutivo, como também a fecundidade e a longevidade do pulgão-verde. O comportamento alimentar foi investigado utilizando-se a técnica de Electrical Penetration Graphs (EPG-DC) e "honeydew clock". Plantas tratadas com silício mostraram efeito adverso sobre o desenvolvimento do pulgão. A penetração dos estiletes não foi afetada pelos tratamentos com silício. Contudo, os estiletes foram retirados mais freqüentemente das plantas tratadas com silício, o que reduziu o tempo de prova. O xilema e o floema foram igualmente alcançados em todos os tratamentos e os pulgões permanecerem alimentando-se no floema por períodos similares. Entretanto, a excreção de honeydew foi reduzida no tratamento com silício, indicando menor taxa de ingestão ou maior retenção de seiva no corpo do pulgão. Portanto, alterações químicas e indução de resistência estão provavelmente envolvidas na redução da performance do pulgão, sem, entretanto, alterar seu período de alimentação.

The effect of silicon-treated wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) on the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was evaluated. Plants were treated with silicon incorporated to the soil and by foliar spraying. Aphid development was evaluated by observing the duration of the pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive periods, as well as fecundity and longevity. Probing behaviour was investigated by using the DC electrical penetration graphs (EPG) technique and a “honeydew clock”. Silica treated plants had a clear adverse effect on aphid development. Stylet penetration was not affected by treatments showing no physical barriers by the plant tissue. However, stylet was withdrawn more often on plants treated with silica, resulting in reduction of probing time. Sieve elements were reached equally by aphids in all treatments and the insects remained ingesting phloem sap for similar periods. However, honeydew excretion was highly reduced indicating lower sap ingestion rate or higher sap retention inside the body. Chemical changes and induced resistance are possibly related to the reduction of aphid performance.