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Title: Multiple leafminer species attracted to the major pheromone components of the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Author
item KAWAHARA, A - University Of Florida
item JONES, M - University Of Florida
item JIA, Q - University Of Florida
item Lapointe, Stephen
item STANSLY, P - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2013
Publication Date: 9/1/2013
Citation: Kawahara, A.Y., Jones, M., Jia, Q., Lapointe, S.L., Stansly, P.A. 2013. Multiple leafminer species attracted to the major pheromone components of the citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). Florida Entomologist. 96:1213-1215.

Interpretive Summary: The citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella, is a devastating pest on citrus in Florida as it can drastically increase the plant’s susceptibility to citrus canker, a major disease of citrus throughout the world. During experiments to study the effect of the synthetic sex pheromone of this species on mating, we discovered that multiple leafminer species are attracted to traps baited with the pheromone. A preliminary molecular phylogeny is presented that suggests that at least five species of Phyllocnistis are attracted to the major pheromone components of the citrus leafminer, including two putatively new species.

Technical Abstract: The citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, is a major pest of citrus throughout the world due to leafmining damage that reduces photosynthetic capacity of leaves and increases the incidence and severity of citrus canker disease. A lure comprised of two aldehyde compounds isolated from pheromone glands of female P. citrella is widely used to monitor field populations. We conducted a preliminary molecular analysis using the 658 bp “barcode region” of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (CO1) gene to examine candidate species of Phyllocnistis that are attracted to pheromone lures containing the two major components of the sex pheromone of P. citrella. Our results demonstrated that genetically divergent groups of individuals are attracted to the two major pheromone components of P. citrella.