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Title: CORRELATIONS OF CIBARIAL AND PRECIBARIAL MUSCLE ACTIVITIES WITH EPG WAVEFORMS AND EXCRETION IN THE SMOKE-TREE SHARPSHOOTER, HOMALODISCA LITURATA (HEMIPTERA: CICADELLIDAE)

Author
item DUGRAVOT, SEBASTIEN - UNIV OF CALIF-RIVERSIDE
item Backus, Elaine

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2006
Publication Date: 11/1/2006
Citation: Dugravot, S. and E. A. Backus. 2006. Correlations of cibarial and precibarial muscle activities with EPG waveforms and excretion in the smoke-tree sharpshooter, Homalodisca liturata (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Entomol. Soc. Am. Ann. Mtng. Available: http://esa.confex.com/esa/2006/techprogram/paper_26063.htm

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The smoke-tree sharpshooter, Homalodisca liturata, like its close relative, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, H. coagulata, is a generalist xylophagous leafhopper known to be a vector of Xylella fastidiosa. The stylet penetration behavior of sharpshooters in plants is most rigorously studied via electrical penetration graph (EPG) techniques. Using electromyography (EMG) recordings, AC EPG monitoring, and video analysis, we investigated which parts of the EPG waveforms can be directly attributed to muscle activities involved in sharpshooter feeding. We first showed that the C waveform, corresponding to xylem ingestion, is the perfect reflection of the activities of the cibarial dilator muscles. Second, precibarial valve muscle activities occur during Pathway Phase, supporting that they may be associated with the B1s waveform, proposed to be involved in X. fastidiosa inoculation. Third, correlations were made between number of cibarial pumps and excretory droplet production during sustained ingestion. This study is relevant to better understanding of how X. fastidiosa is inoculated into plants.