Strepsipteran parasitism of white leafhoppers, Cofana spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in lowland rice in Cote d'Ivoire

Abstract

Three tests were conducted over a 2-year period in lowland irrigated rice fields on the WARDA Research Station at Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, to obtain information on the strepsipteran parasitism of white leafhoppers, Cofana spectra and C. unimaculata. Rice cultivars were sampled with a sweep net to collect leafhoppers for determination of the relative abundance of the two leafhopper species and the effect of rice cultivar and rice crop age on the leafhopper populations and percent strepsipteran parasitism. Dissections of the leafhoppers were made to determine the relative number of the various parasitic stages in the leafhoppers. Cofana unimaculata populations were higher than those of C. spectra while C. spectra parasitism by Halictophagus australensis Perkins (Strepsiptera: Halictophagidae) was higher than that of C. unimaculata. In two tests, there was a relationship between length of rice cultivar duration and C. unimaculata populations with populations being highest on the short duration cultivars. On most cultivars there was no correlation between Cofana populations and percentage parasitism, nor was there a relationship between cultivar growth duration and percent parasitism. The number of the various stages of the parasite was similar in both Cofana species with the male pupal parasitic stage being most common.

An assessment of the relative abundance of normal and parasitized white leafhopper Cofana spectra (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) affecting the paddy plants in West Bengal, India

“…The density of normal and strepsipteraninfected WLHs varied between months, which is in agreement with the observations reported by Peñ a and Shepard (1986), Litsinger et al (2009) and Oyediran et al (2000) in different geographical locations. The abundance of C. spectra varied throughout the seasons, i.e.…”

“…The RYMV pathogen belongs to the genus Sobemovirus and is transmitted mechanically through rice plant injuries and by insect vectors (Abo et al, 1997). Among them, C. spectra and C. unimaculata are major pests in West Africa (Oyediran et al, 2000). In Africa, WLHs (Cofana spp.)…”

Estimation of Fitness of Normal and Stylopized Paddy Pest, White Leafhopper Cofana spectra (Distant) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in West Bengal, India through Correlation of Life History Traits

“…Such variation in abundance of C. spectra is also observed in other parts of the world. 8,51 Life history theory depicts the pattern of longevity, reproduction, and development in the light of natural selection. It is also a theory of life cycle and fitness as shaped by natural selection.…”

In-Silico Diversity Analysis of Disease Resistant NBS-LRR Protein Variants in Oryza Sativa

“…The Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (rice water weevil), Diatraea saccharalis (sugarcane borer), Chilo plejadellus (rice stalk borer), Nilaparvata lugens (brown planthopper), Pseudaletia unipuncta (armyworm), Oebalus pugnax (stink bug), Cofana sp. (white leafhopper) and Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast fungus) have been reported to considerably affect the rice yield thus playing a devastating role in economy (Oyediran et al, 2000). Conventionally, several methods have been employed to minimize pests build up like field draining to stop aquatic larvae, planting trap crop for plant borers, weeding, land preparation, mixed cropping, fertilizer management, tillage, synchronous and asynchronous planting, time of planting and use of pesticides etc.…”