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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #355876
Research Project: Improved Biologically-Based Methods for Insect Pest Management of Crop Insect Pests

Location: Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research

Title: Visually and chemically guided behavior of the Asian citrus psyllid

Author
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2020
Publication Date: 6/11/2020
Citation: Allan, S.A. 2020. Visually and chemically guided behavior of the Asian citrus psyllid.In: Qureshi, Jawwad A., Stansly, Philip A.(eds) Biology, Ecology and Management of the Huanglongbing Vector.Boston, MA: CABI Publishing.p.399-413.

Interpretive Summary: The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (ACP), is a major citrus pest that transmits the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and Ca. L. americanus associated with the devastating huanglongbing disease in citrus. Control of the disease through control of the insect is challenging due to the high mobility and reproductive capacity of ACP. Accurate surveillance of psyllid populations is critical for effective protection of citrus crops. A scientist from USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida, summarized research on the use of visual and chemical cues by the Asian citrus psyllid for both host plant finding and mating. This information provides insight into environmental cues that control psyllid behavior and these cues can be manipulated to alter psyllid behavior or use to enhance surveillance methods. Additionally, characterization of environmental cues that D. citri perceive may lead to development of better tools and strategies to manipulate D. citri behavior to prevent psyllid infestations and huanglongbing transmission to citrus.

Technical Abstract: Location and acceptance of resources such as host plants, potential mates or oviposition sites are guided by several sensory stimuli that act in concert, in a complex fashion, to elicit specific behaviors (i.e., flight initiation, landing, probing) that terminate in use of the resource. For instance, both visual and olfactory cues are important and play a synergistic role in host plant finding and selection with additional contributions from gustatory cues. Through an understanding of how sensory cues guide host plant location and acceptance as well as interspecific interactions, it may be possible to develop better tools and strategies to manipulate D. citri behavior to prevent psyllid infestations and huanglongbing transmission to citrus.