Vibrational Communication of Scolypopa australis (Walker, 1851) (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae)—Towards a Novel Sustainable Pest Management Tool

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine whether Scolypopa australis, the passionvine hopper, communicates using substrate-borne vibrations, as its use of such signals for communication is currently unknown. This insect is a costly pest to the kiwifruit industry in New Zealand, where few pest management tools can be used during the growing season. Vibrations emitted by virgin females and males of S. australis released alone on leaves of Griselinia littoralis were recorded with a laser vibrometer to identify and characterise potential spontaneous calling signals produced by either sex. In addition to single-insect trials, preliminary tests were conducted with female–male pair trials to determine whether individuals exchanged signals. The signal repertoire of S. australis includes a male calling signal and two female calling signals. However, no evidence of duetting behaviour that is potentially necessary for pair formation has been found to date. Our outcome suggests that a deeper understanding of the role of vibrational communication employed by S. australis is needed, and by disclosing the pair formation process, a new residue-free pest management tool against this pest may be developed. In addition, this vibration-based tool could contribute to future biosecurity preparedness and response initiatives.

Characterization of light‐dependent rhythm of courtship vibrational signals in Nilaparvata lugens: essential involvement of cryptochrome genes

“…As such, vibrational signals hold potential as a tool in pest management by disrupting malefemale communication. 5,6 Numerous recent studies involving vibrational mating disruption have displayed promise in various hemipteran species, such as the meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera:Aphrophoridae), 7 three species of aphids (the foxglove aphid, Aulacorthum solani; the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae; the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), 8 the passionvine hopper, Scolypopa australis (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae) 9 and the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum. 10 In the 1970s, the SBVS emitted by rice planthopper adults during their pre-mating period was first reported by Ichikawa et al 11,12 Subsequently, we further detailed the vibration frequency spectrum of both female vibrational signal (FVS) and male vibrational signal (MVS) of BPH.…”