Relationships Between Adult Abdominal Color and Reproductive Potential in Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Abstract

Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a vector of huanglongbing (citrus greening disease), exhibits three more or less distinct abdominal colors in the adult stage: gray/brown, blue/green, and orange/yellow. A previous report showed that, relative to blue/green individuals, gray/brown individuals of both sexes have lower body mass, and gray/brown females may have lower reproductive output. In the present investigation, we directly examined the relationships between female and male abdominal color and reproductive output. We also assessed how psyllid body mass was inßuenced by transfer to fresh plant material and how female and male abdominal color affected behavioral responses of males to crushed females in a petri dish assay. Relative to blue/green females, gray/brown females exhibited lower fecundity over the Þrst 2Ð5 d after mating, but fecundity did not differ over the remainder of a 21-d observation period. Regardless of abdominal color, females mated with gray/brown males showed an earlier, sharper peak in fecundity, whereas females mated with blue/green males showed a later, more gradual peak in fecundity. Gray/brown males elicited lower egg fertility in their mates, but egg fertility did not vary according to female abdominal color. MalesÑirrespective of abdominal colorÑ exhibited stronger evidence of attraction to crushed blue/ green females than to crushed gray/brown females. Gray/brown individuals of both sexes showed an increase in body mass 5Ð 6 d after transfer to a new citrus seedling, suggesting that abdominal color (which is closely related to body mass) may be inßuenced at least in part by plant quality.

Male Psyllids Differentially Learn in the Context of Copulation

“…The psyllids were then sexed (in the case of the general colony collections for females) using a dissecting microscope, or were confirmed as males, and inspected for signs of poor health. Psyllids were discarded if they displayed grey-brown coloration, which has been linked to poor fecundity [49], or if they were abnormally small in size or showed physical injury due to handling. In this way, only healthy psyllids were used in the study.…”

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

“…Overall, green-blue morphs are characterized by greater fit ness, greater body mass, and higher fecundity than gray-brown morphs Hall 2008, Wen ninger et al 2009). Also, green-blue D. citri females are more attractive to males of either morph than gray-brown females (Wenninger et al 2009). Differ ences in insecticide susceptibility between color morphs of D. citri have also been noted with the orange-yellow morph exhibiting highest susceptibil ity (Tiwari et al 2013).…”

“…Therefore, the orangeyellow morphotype is sometimes excluded from ex periments investigating biological differences in D. citri based on abdominal color, given its apparent plasticity (example: Wenninger et al 2009). Overall, green-blue morphs are characterized by greater fit ness, greater body mass, and higher fecundity than gray-brown morphs Hall 2008, Wen ninger et al 2009).…”

Pathogenicity ofHirsutella citriformis(Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) toDiaphorina citri(Hemiptera: Psyllidae) andBactericera cockerelli(Hemiptera: Triozidae)

“…Adults of both species were anesthetized with compressed carbon dioxide (Wenninger et al 2009). Using a soft paintbrush with few bristles, anesthetized insects were introduced onto Petri dishes containing fungal cultures.…”