Dispersal of Neophilaenus campestris, a vector of Xylella fastidiosa, from olive groves to over‐summering hosts

Abstract

Neophilaenus campestris is one of the recently identified spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea) able to transmit Xylella fastidiosa to olive trees.Considering its vector ability and the wide distribution of this species in Spain, N. campestris should be considered a serious threat to key crops that are vital for Spanish agriculture such as olive, almonds and grapevines. Migration and dispersal abilities of insect vectors have profound implications in the spread of vector-borne diseases. Thus, knowledge on the dispersal ability of N.campestris is essential to model, predict and limit the spread of the diseases caused by X. fastidiosa. A mark-release-recapture technique was developed to track between-field movements of N. campestris during its late spring migration from the ground cover grasses within olive groves to sheltered areas dominated by pine trees. An indoor assay showed that the fluorescent dust used for marking did not affect the survival nor the flying ability of N. campestris. Spittlebug adults captured in olive groves at Los Santos de la Humosa (Madrid, Spain) during late spring, 2019 were dusted with four fluorescent colours and released in four different locations. Six recapture samplings were performed 23 to 42 days after release in 12 different sites located within a maximum distance of 2.8 km from the release point. Results indicated that N. campestris was able to disperse a maximum distance of 2473 m in 35 days from the olive groves to areas dominated by pine trees. Furthermore, our flight mill studies also showed that N. campestris was able to fly long distances, reaching almost 1.4 km in an 82 minutes' single flight.Moreover, we carried out a survey of directional movement of potential vectors of X. fastidiosa in an olive grove located in Villa del Prado (Madrid).

Composition of landscape impacts the distribution of the main vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in southern Spain

“…campestris usually spends summer on Pinus spp. (Bodino et al, 2020; Lago et al, 2021; Lopes et al, 2014; Mazzoni, 2005) while P . spumarius is capable to oversummer on a diversified range of trees and shrubs in the Mediterranean area, for example, oaks, agricultural crops (grapevine, olive, Prunus spp.…”

“…During summer, adults of N . campestris are frequently found on coniferous hosts (Lago, Morente, et al, 2021; Lopes et al, 2014; Mazzoni, 2005) even though this species has also been occasionally sampled on the canopies of agricultural crops including olive, almond and grapevine (Bodino et al, 2020; Morente et al, 2018). The meadow spittlebug P .…”

Insect‐plant‐fungus interactions in mycorrhizal associations, with a focus on spittlebugs and ectomycorrhizal host plants

“…In addition to direct economic damage caused by feeding, spittlebugs are vectors of X. fastidiosa , a pathogenic bacterium transmitted by xylem sap feeding insects and the cause of major diseases, including Pierce's Disease of grape vines and olive quick decline syndrome (Cornara et al, 2021; Redak et al, 2004; Saponari et al, 2019). In drier Mediterranean areas, EM trees, particularly Quercus and Pinus (Table 2), are important summer season hosts of spittlebugs (Bodino et al, 2020; Cornara et al, 2021; Drosopoulos, 2003; Lago et al, 2021), including P. spumarius , the primary European vector of X. fastidiosa (Cornara et al, 2017). This suggests that EM trees might serve as X. fastidiosa reservoirs for transmission to other plants (Cornara et al, 2021), a suggestion reinforced by the observation that over‐summering P. spumarius may play a role in fall transmission of X. fastidiosa (Bodino et al, 2021).…”

“…in nature (J. Zhang et al, 2011). Whether or not EM hosts prove to be reservoirs of X. fastidiosa infection, they are clearly important seasonal hosts of spittlebug vectors in parts of Southern Europe (Cornara et al, 2021; Lago et al, 2021; Morente et al, 2018).…”

Degree-day-based model to predict egg hatching ofPhilaenus spumarius(Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae), the main vector ofXylella fastidiosain Europe

“…Both nymphs and adults spend most of their life cycle on ground cover herbaceous vegetation, where mating, oviposition and feeding occur. In Mediterranean climates, in late spring, when the ground vegetation dries out, spittlebug adults can migrate long distances (more than 2 km far) from the ground cover to trees and shrubs (Lago, Garzo, et al 2021, Lago, Morente, et al 2021, Casarin et al 2022). Adults return in the fall to olive and other woody crops and females lay their eggs on plant debris on the soil until they naturally die during winter (Morente, Cornara, Plaza, et al 2018, Dongiovanni et al 2019, Antonatos et al 2020).…”