New geographic records for the Nearctic psyllid Bactericera maculipennis (Crawford) with biological notes and descriptions of the egg and fifth-instar nymph (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae)

Authors: Horton, David; MILICZKY, EUGENE - Washington State University; Lewis, Tamera; Cooper, William - Rodney; Munyaneza, Joseph - Joe; MUSTAFA, TARIQ - Washington State University; THINAKARAN, JENITA - University Of Idaho; WATERS, TIMOTHY - Washington State University; WOHLEB, CARRIE - Washington State University; JENSEN, ANDY - Washington State Potato Foundation

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2016
Publication Date: 4/1/2017
Citation: Horton, D.R., Miliczky, E., Lewis, T.M., Cooper, W.R., Munyaneza, J.E., Mustafa, T., Thinakaran, J., Waters, T., Wohleb, C., Jensen, A. 2017. New geographic records for the Nearctic psyllid Bactericera maculipennis (Crawford) with biological notes and descriptions of the egg and fifth-instar nymph (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae). Entomological Society of America Proceedings. 119(2):191-214.

Interpretive Summary: The psyllid Bactericera maculipennis is very similar in appearance to a major potato pest, potato psyllid, often co-occurring with potato psyllid on certain weedy plants near potato fields. Scientists with USDA-ARS, Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory, Wapato, WA in cooperation with scientists at Washington State University and the Washington State Potato Commission examined field-collected specimens of Bactericera maculipennis 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 Bactericera maculipennis, 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 and to separate it from the closely related potato psyllid, leading to fewer mistakes in identification of this non-pest psyllid.

Technical Abstract: The Nearctic psyllid Bactericera maculipennis (Crawford) is one of only four known species of Psylloidea worldwide whose primary hosts are species of Convolvulaceae. Taxonomic syntheses of the Nearctic Psylloidea list B. maculipennis only from California and Utah. Our surveys of field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis L., an Old World plant introduced into North America, show that B maculipennis is considerably more widespread than indicated by historical accounts. We update the psyllid’s geographic range to include four states (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana) not previously included in contemporary checklists, and provide the first record of its presence in Canada (Alberta). The egg and fifth instar nymph are described. Photographs of the male and female genitalia are provided. We show that B. maculipennis develops on field bindweed and on several species of Ipomoea. Overwintering females collected in December from leaf litter and dead or dormant stems of C. arvensis at locations in Central Washington mated and began egglaying within 7 days of removal from the field, suggesting that B. maculipennis overwinters in a temperature-controlled quiescence rather than in a true reproductive diapause. Eggs and nymphs of B. maculipennis were found on stems of C. arvensis well into November in Central Washington, suggesting that this species may additionally overwinter in pre-adult stages, as indicated also by literature accounts from the 1940s and 1950s. Lastly, we propose that successful colonization of the invasive and exotic weed C. arvensis by B. maculipennis has allowed the psyllid to expand its geographic range well beyond historical boundaries. This conclusion is based upon the scarcity of native Convolvulaceae within regions in which the psyllid is newly recorded, combined with the now extensive distribution of the invasive C. arvensis in North America.