ARS | Publication request: Synthetic substrate-borne vibrational signals that elicit Asian citrus psyllid communicatory and search responses

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 9, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vectors a harmful bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, that causes huanglongbing, an economically devastating disease of citrus. Adult male and female ACP transmit vibratory communication signals over 10-50-cm distances within their citrus tree hosts by producing wing-fanning vibrations. Males begin calling while searching for females. When a receptive female detects these signals, she replies in a duet that facilitates location of her position. This report describes explorations of new methods that use such signals to efficiently detect and trap ACP males for facilitation of targeting and control efforts. In preliminary studies, mating communication signals of virgin adult male/female pairs were recorded on citrus seedlings at 3-7 days post eclosion. Candidate signals were played back to elicit responses from other psyllids on new seedlings. A series of synthetic calls was constructed, based on the mean durations and spectral harmonics of male and female signals. The synthetic calls were tested using a vibration exciter attached to the host tree. The elicited behaviors were monitored and recorded. The results were compared to each other, as well as to results from playbacks of recordings from males and females. In general, the more harmonics that were present in the synthetic song, the greater the likelihood that a female would reply or that the male would orient to the signal. A goal of future studies is to devise an inexpensive, efficient trap for males, and ultimately to broadcast synthetic signals that can be used to interfere with mating.