Environmental factors driving the abundance of Philaenus spumarius in mesomediterranean habitats of Corsica (France)

Abstract

Philaenus spumarius (Ps) is considered the main insect vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) in Europe. As such, it is a key actor of the Xf pathosystem on which surveillance and management strategies could be implemented. Although research effort has increased in the past years, the ecological factors shaping Ps abundance and distribution across landscapes are still poorly known in most regions of Europe. We selected 64 plots of 500m2 in Corsican semi-natural habitats in which we sampled nymphs and adults of Ps during three years. While local or surrounding vegetation structure (low or high scrubland) had little effect on Ps abundance, we highlighted a positive relationship between Ps abundance and the density of Cistus monspeliensis in the plots. We also found larger populations of Ps in cooler and moister plots. The pattern of host association highlighted here is unique, which calls for more studies on the ecology of Ps in Europe, to help designing surveillance and management strategy for Xf.

The most polyphagous insect herbivore? Host plant associations of the Meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.)

“…spumarius has more than 1000 hosts [ 211 ], an informed guess that had become embedded in the literature (cf. [ 4 , 54 , 212 ]), despite a lack of supporting evidence. A 1977 statement by Halkka & Mikkola [ 213 ] that there are “nearly 4000 recorded food-plant species” is clearly a typographical error.…”

“…Potential counter measures include: 1) local elimination or population reduction of P . spumarius by management of agriculturally adjacent host plants [ 2 , 106 , 212 , 237 ], 2) reduction or elimination of plant sources of Xylella fastidiosa infection [ 21 ], and 3) reduction of target plant susceptibility, through selection of cultivars with genetic resistance or other measures that reduce plant vulnerability to transmission and/or infection [ 2 , 21 , 241 , 242 ]. In turn, P .…”

Prevalence of the endoparasitoid Verrallia aucta in Central Scotland: A potential biocontrol for Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae), an important vector of Xylella fastidiosa

“…Chartois et al. (2023) found a strong association between nymph and adult P. spumarius and the rockrose shrub Cistus monspeliensis in Corsica, suggesting that retained chemical signals in generations of P. spumarius may be influencing its preference to this host, which could also provide a possible explanation to high abundance in heathland habitats in Scotland.…”

<em>Xylella fastidiosa</em> Dispersion on Vegetal Hosts on Demarcated Zones in the North Region of Portugal

“…Chatois et al (2003), highlighted a positive relationship between Ps abundance and the density of Cistus monspeliensis. They also found larger populations of Ps in cooler and moister plots [58]. Lester et al observed that among the various botanical families, those with the highest occurrence of host plants harboring Philaenus spumarius nymphs included Lamiaceae (10%), Rosaceae (10%), Onagraceae (9%), and Poaceae (9%).…”

“…In southern Italy, for instance, the summer migration of adult insects from ground-level vegetation to the canopy has been noted in conjunction with the desiccation of herbaceous plants [49,58]. In particular, adults of Philaenus spumarius were observed from May to August in the vicinity of olive orchards, and on groves of Quercus ilex, Quercus crenata, Pistacia lentiscus, P. terebinthus, Hedera helix and Myrtus communis [49,59].…”