Abdominal Color of the Asian Citrus Psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is Associated with Flight Capabilities

Abstract

We examined the propensity for flight initiation and flight capability of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, Hemiptera: Liviidae) with a flight mill. We measured continuous flight by D. citri for up to 3 h, which equated to a distance of as2.4 km. We compared the flight capability of D. citri depending on their sex and morphotype (color of abdomen). Two general morph otypes exist within this species: green-blue and gray-brown. We observed that ' =*32% of psyllids from the green-blue morphotype tested exhibited long durations of flight (>60 s); whereas <5% of psyllids from the gray-brown morphotype performed such long duration flights. There was no significant difference in flight performance between the two sexes within both the gray-brown and green-blue morphotypes. Furthermore, psyllids from the gray-brown morphotype were characterized by smaller pronotums and shorter wings than psyllids from the green-blue morphotype. In addition, males, in general, were characterized by smaller pronotums and shorter wings than females. However, neither pronotum nor wing size were associated with flight capability of D. citri. Our results may help explain dispersal behavior of D. citri with respect to practical management on an area-wide scale.

Protein interaction networks at the host–microbe interface inDiaphorina citri, the insect vector of the citrus greening pathogen

“…Blue ACP were found to have higher levels of haemocyanin 1 gene expression than grey or yellow morphs (figure 3), lending support to the hypothesis that blue abdominal coloration in the ACP is due at least in part to oxygenated copper associated with this protein. Compared with grey/brown ACP, blue morphs have been found to be capable of longer durations of flight [48], which may be enabled by enhanced oxygen transport capabilities, and to be more insecticide resistant [49]. Additional functional analysis of haemocyanin is warranted to decipher its role at the interface of metabolism and immunity in the ACP.…”

Host plant affects morphometric variation ofDiaphorina citri(Hemiptera: Liviidae)

“…Although blue/green ACP were reported to be larger and to fly farther than gray/brown ACP, no association was found between distance flown and wing length (Martini, Hoyte & Stelinski, 2014). However, abdominal color morphs of ACP were not associated with traditional morphometric variation in this study, in contrast to host plant type.…”

“…Several other species tested, such as the rootstock Poncirus trifoliate possessed low numbers of ACP eggs, nymphs, and adults (Westbrook et al, 2011). Provision of high quality laboratory-reared ACP is imperative for many research projects and species used for rearing include Bergera koenigii (L.) (curry tree) (Simmons et al, 2013; Martini, Hoyte & Stelinski, 2014), Citrus medica L. (Hall & Hentz, 2016), Citrus macrophylla Wester (alemow) (Hall & Richardson, 2013) and Murraya paniculata (orange jasmine) (Hall, Lapointe & Wenninger, 2007; Paris et al, 2015). Recently Hall & Hentz (2016) reported on differences in development times and times to peak emergence in ACP reared on five different species of Rutaceae under greenhouse conditions.…”

Comparison of Insect Vacuums for Sampling Asian Citrus Psyllid (Homoptera: Psyllidae) on Citrus Trees

“…Green-blue color morphs are known to have greater fitness, with greater fecundity, greater flight capability, greater mass, and greater resistance to insecticides compared with other color morphs (Wenninger & Hall 2008;Wenninger et al 2009;Tiwari et al 2013;Martini et al 2014). It is therefore possible that the green-blue morphotype of D. citri has the greatest potential for infesting new flush in the spring.…”