New North American records for the Old World psyllid Heterotrioza chenopodii (Reuter) with biological observations (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae)

Authors: Horton, David; MILICZKY, EUGENE - Washington State University; Lewis, Tamera; Cooper, William - Rodney; WATERS, TIMOTHY - Washington State University; WOHLEB, CARRIE - Washington State University; ZACK, RICHARD - Washington State University; JOHNSON, DANIEL - University Of Lethbridge; JENSEN, ANDY - Washington State Potato Foundation

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2017
Publication Date: 3/20/2018
Citation: Horton, D.R., Miliczky, E., Lewis, T.M., Cooper, W.R., Waters, T., Wohleb, C., Zack, R., Johnson, D., Jensen, A. 2018. New North American records for the Old World psyllid Heterotrioza chenopodii (Reuter) with biological observations (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 120(1):134-152.

Interpretive Summary: The psyllid Heterotrioza chenopodii feeds on weedy plants that commonly grow near potato fields. During its summer dispersal phase, Heterotrioza chenopodii often accumulates in large numbers on sticky cards that are being used to monitor an important psyllid pest of potatoes (the potato psyllid), and their presence on cards significantly complicates identifying and counting potato psyllids that are also on the cards. Scientists with USDA-ARS, Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, Wapato, WA in cooperation with scientists at Washington State University, University of Lethbridge, and the Washington State Potato Commission examined specimens of Heterotrioza chenopodii to develop a list of characteristics that can be used to rapidly identify the species. The result of this work is an updated description of Heterotrioza chenopodii, including a list of traits that will allow growers to separate this species from potato psyllid, and an updated summary of the geographic range of the psyllid. These results will help scientists, field biologists, and others to correctly identify this psyllid as it co-occurs on sticky traps with the targeted pest psyllid, the potato psyllid.

Technical Abstract: The Palearctic psyllid Heterotrioza chenopodii belongs to a complex of psyllids having plants in the Chenopodiaceae as hosts. Geographic records for this introduced species in North America date back to 1988, and include coastal regions in eastern Canada and the Northeastern U.S.; inland Virginia; Massachusetts; coastal British Columbia; California; and wetland habitats near Lincoln, Nebraska. We updated North American records for H. chenopodii to include inland Washington and Oregon, southwestern Idaho, north-central California, and southern and central Alberta. Psyllids were collected from Atriplex micrantha and unidentified Atriplex species, and from yellow sticky cards that had been placed in potato fields to monitor potato psyllid. Traits of the adult psyllid, fifth-instar nymph, and egg used in identifying specimens are summarized. We provide the first photographs of the egg, fifth-instar nymph, and terminalia of the adult male and female psyllid. Rearing trials showed that H. chenopodii developed on A. micrantha, Atriplex hortensis, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium berlandieri, and garden beet, Beta vulgaris, but failed to develop on Amaranthus tricolor. Heterotrioza chenopodii has been shown in Europe to exhibit dimorphism in wing size, producing a long-winged form in spring and summer, and a short-winged form in autumn. We confirmed in rearing trials and by field-collections that populations of H. chenopodii from central Washington State also exhibit this dimorphism. Short-winged forms began replacing long-winged forms in field populations between late August and early October.