Continuous indoor rearing of Philaenus spumarius, the main European vector of Xylella fastidiosa

Abstract

The phytosanitary emergence triggered by Xylella fastidiosa introduction in Europe urgently calls for research on its main vector, the meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius. The difficulties faced in altering P. spumarius life cycle setting up a continuous indoor rearing under artificial conditions, obtaining a continuous availability of insects for laboratory trials, represent a great limit for research. Here, we propose a methodology to rear P. spumarius in the laboratory allowing the supply of nymphs and adults before they become available in the field. This crucial step forward will permit to overcome the seasonality barrier, reducing time and efforts currently required for experimentation on the meadow spittlebug. The proposed methodology would allow producing the data urgently required to fill the knowledge gap and finally set up an effective and environmentally friendly control strategy of P. spumarius.

Sulfoxaflor and Natural Pyrethrin with Piperonyl Butoxide Are Effective Alternatives to Neonicotinoids against Juveniles of Philaenus spumarius, the European Vector of Xylella fastidiosa

“…Philaenus spumarius nymphs were collected in Sevilla, Huelva and Madrid (Spain) from April to June in 2018 and 2019 on herbaceous plants belonging to families Asteraceae ( Carduus tenuiflorus Curtis, Scolymus hispanicus L.) and Umbelliferae ( Eryngium campestre L.) and transported to the lab on small S. oleareceus potted plants. The mass rearing indoors of this monovoltine vector species is difficult and up to now, it is not possible to have a continuous supply of individuals for testing even though recently some achievements have been reached [37]. Therefore, nymphs collected in the field each week were used right away for the pesticide screening, a number of treatments were performed simultaneously and replicates varied with nymph availability.…”

Three scenarios in insect-borne diseases

“…Therefore, F. vulgare must be considered a European native emerging alien invasive species, potentially dangerous, also considering that so far the adopted measures to limit its spread have been unsuccessful. In other words, considering the proven existing relationship between the plant and the vector, confirmed by studies in 2018 ( Morente et al (2018) in Spain and Dongiovanni et al, 2018 , Dongiovanni et al, 2019 in Apulia), the wide spread of wild sweet fennel colonizing new territories could contribute to the spread of diseases carried by the insect.…”

PM 7/141 (1) Philaenus spumarius, Philaenus italosignus and Neophilaenus campestris

“…the stem and the leaf sheath, or on stubble, dead parts of plants, plants residues, cracks and tree trunk barks, or in the litter (Cornara et al ., ). Under laboratory conditions, females oviposit on dry pine needles covering the pot surface of the host plant (Morente et al ., 2018a).…”