Habitats and dispersal of the principal leafhopper vectors of Pierce’s Disease in
      the San Joaquin Valley

Frazier, N; Purcell, A

Habitats and dispersal of the principal leafhopper vectors of Pierce’s Disease in the San Joaquin Valley

Authors

Norman W. Frazier
Alexander H. Purcell

Authors Affiliations

Norman W. Frazier was Lecturer Emeritus, Entomology and Parasitology, and Entomologist, Experiment Station, University of California, Berkeley; Alexander H. Purcell was Associate Professor, Entomology and Parasitology, and Associate Entomologist, Experiment Station, University of California, Berkeley.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 53(4):1-32. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v53n04p032. July 1985.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

The green sharpshooter (DraeculaceXhala minerva [Ball]) and redheaded sharpshooter (Corneacephala fulgida [Nott.]), important leafhopper vectors of Pierce’s disease bacterium to grape and alfalfa, commonly inhabit permanent pastures and weeds alongside or in cropped fields. The species composition, stand, vigor, and persistence of grasses and other plants determine the extent to which sharpshooter populations can develop. Bermuda-grass (Cynodon dactylon) is a highly preferred host of both sharpshooters and watergrass (Echinochloa crusgalli) is a favorite host of D. minerva. Irrigation and weed control practices that produce succulent stands of preferred host plants thus increase sharpshooter populations.

Conventional sweep net sampling was useful in phenological studies and for estimates of adult sharpshooter abundance in short, dry vegetation on warm days, but inadequate for estimates of nymphal densities. An analysis of the relationship of the average number of sharpshooters per sample and the number of samples to sampling reliability was made for both sharpshooter species. Discrete generations were determined most accurately by identifying the proportion of females with mature ovaries or the relative proportions of developmental stages, rather than by evaluating changes in the relative abundance of nymphs or adults.

Adult sharpshooters disperse throughout the growing season from breeding habitats. Flights occur predominantly from 30 to 90 minutes after sunset during summer evenings when the sunset temperature is above 70°F (21°C). Draeculacephala minerva is an active flier from April through September; C. fulgida has peak flights from May through mid-September. The green sharpshooter is attracted to lights during early evening. Nearly equal numbers of males and females are usually found in breeding habitats, but female D. minerva are about five times more dispersive than males. Populations and aerial densities of both sharpshooters varied enormously according to site and year, but changes in C. fulgida populations were much more volatile than those of D. minerva.

These studies suggest that the most productive strategy for preventing diseases spread by these sharpshooters is to eliminate and prevent habitats conducive to either sharpshooter, chiefly by weed control and irrigation practices.

Literature Cited

BARNES D. F., FISHER C. K., KALOOSTIAN G. H. Flight habits of the raisin moth and other insects as indicated by the use of a rotary net. J. Econ. Entomol. 1939. 32:859-63.

BEALL G. Study of arthropod populations by the method of sweeping. Ecology. 1935. 16:216-25. DOI: 10.2307/1932428 [CrossRef]

BYERLY K. F., GUTIERREZ A. P., JONES R. E., LUCK R. F. A comparison of sampling methods for some arthropod populations in cotton. Hilgardia. 1978. 46:257-82. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v46n08p257 [CrossRef]

DAVIS M. J., PURCELL A. H., THOMSON S. V. Pierce’s disease of grapevines: isolation of the causal bacterium. Science. 1978. 199:75-77.

DAVIS M. J., THOMSON S. V., PURCELL A. H. Etiological role of the xylem-limited bacterium causing Pierce’s disease in almond leaf scorch. Phytopathology. 1979. 70:472-75.

DE LONG D. M. Some problems encountered in the estimation of insect populations by the sweeping method. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 1932. 25:13-17.

DOI Y., TERANAKA M., YORA K., ASUYAMA H. Mycoplasma or PLT group-like microorganisms found in the phloem elements of plants infected with mulberry dwarf, potato witch’s broom, aster yellows, or paulownia witch’s broom. Ann. Phytopathol. Soc. Japan. 1967. 33:259-66.

FENTON F. A., HOWELL D. E. A comparison of five methods of sampling alfalfa fields for arthropod populations. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 1957. 50:606-11.

FRAZIER N. W. Transmission by ten species of leaf hoppers of the virus causing Pierce’s disease of grapevines and dwarf of alfalfa 1943. Ph.D. diss. University of California, Berkeley

FRAZIER N. W. Phylogenetic relationship of the nine known leaf hopper vectors of Pierce’s disease of grape. Phytopathology. 1944. 34:1000

FRAZIER N. W. Xylem viruses and their insect vectors 1965. In Proc. Intl. Conf. on virus and vector on perennial hosts, with special reference to Vitis, 91-99. Univ. Calif., Div. Agric. Sci., Sept. 6-10, Davis, Calif

FREITAG J. H. Host range of the Pierce’s disease virus of grapes as determined by insect transmission. Phytopathology. 1951. 41:920-34.

FREITAG J. H., FRAZIER N. W. Natural infectivity of leafhopper vectors of Pierce’s disease virus of grape in California. Phytopathology. 1954. 44:7-11.

GIBSON E. H. The sharp-headed grain leafhopper. US Dep. Agric. Bull. 1915. 254:16

GOHEEN A. C., NYLAND G., LOWE S. K. Association of a rickettsialike organism with Pierce’s disease of grapevines and alfalfa dwarf and heat therapy of the disease in grapevines. Phytopathology. 1973. 63:341-45.

GRAY H. E., TRELOAR A. E. On the enumeration of insect populations by the method of net collection. Ecology. 1933. 14:356-67. DOI: 10.2307/1932659 [CrossRef]

HARRIS M. R., SCHLOCKER A. A survey of alfalfa dwarf disease in California. Bull. Calif. Dep. Agric. 1943. 32:163-67.

HEWITT W. B. A transmissible disease of grapevines. Phytopathology. 1939. 29:10-12.

HEWITT W. B., FRAZIER N. W., JACOB H. E., FREITAG J. H. Pierce’s disease of grapevines. Calif. Agric. Exp. St. Circ. 1942. 353:32

HEWITT W. B., HOUSTON B. R. Association of Pierce’s disease of grapevines and alfalfa dwarf in California. Plant Dis. Rep. 1941. 25:474-76.

HEWITT W. B., HOUSTON B. R., FRAZIER N. W., FREITAG J. H. Leafhopper transmission of the virus causing Pierce’s disease of grape and dwarf of alfalfa. Phytopathology. 1946. 36:117-28.

HOPKINS D. L., MOLLENHAUER H. H. Rickettsia-like bacterium associated with Pierce’s disease of grapes. Science. 1973. 179:298-300.

HOPKINS D. L., MORTENSEN J. A. Suppression of Pierce’s disease symptoms by tetracycline antibiotics. Plant Dis. Rep. 1971. 55:610-12.

McCLURE M. S. Role of wild host plants in the feeding, oviposition, and dispersal of Scaphytopius acutus (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), a vector of peach X-disease. Environ. Entomol. 1980. 9:283-92.

MIRCETICH S. M., LOWE S. K., MOLLER W. J., NYLAND G. Etiology of almond leaf scorch disease and transmission of the causal agent. Phytopathology. 1976. 66:17-24. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-66-17 [CrossRef]

MÜLLER H. J., Maramorosch K., Harris K. Effects of photoperiod and temperature on leafhopper vectors. Leafhopper vectors and plant disease agents. 1979. New York: Academic Press. p. 29-94.

NIELSON M. W. Sampling technique studies on the spotted alfalfa aphid. J. Econ. Entomol. 1957. 50:385-89.

NIELSON M. W. The leafhopper vectors of phytopathogenic viruses (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) taxonomy, biology, and virus transmission. US Dep. Agric. Tech Bull. 1968. 1382:386

NORRIS R. F., BELL C., FISCHER W. B. Weed control. Integrated pest management for alfalfa hay. 1981. Univ. Calif. Berkeley. Pub. Agric. Sci. p. 81-90. 4104 DOI: 10.1614/0890-037X(2001)015[0552:WCFHCW]2.0.CO;2 [CrossRef]

PROKOPY R. J., OWENS E. D. Visual detection of plants by herbivorous insects. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 1983. 28:337-54. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.en.28.010183.002005 [CrossRef]

PURCELL A. H. Spatial patterns of Pierce’s disease in the Napa Valley. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 1974. 25:162-67.

PURCELL A. H. Role of the blue-green sharpshooter, Hordnia circellata in the epidemiology of Pierce’s disease of grapevines. Environ. Entomol. 1975. 4:745-52.

PURCELL A. H., Maramorosch K., Harris K. F. Leafhopper vectors of xylem-borne plant pathogens. Leafhopper vectors and plant disease agents. 1979. New York: Academic Press. p. 603-25. 654 pp

PURCELL A. H. Almond leaf scorch: leafhopper and spittlebug vectors. J. Econ. Entomol. 1980. 73:834-38.

PURCELL A. H. Pierce’s disease. Grape pest management. 1981a. Univ. of Calif. Berkeley Publ., Agric. Sci. p. 62-69.

PURCELL A. H. Vector preference and inoculation efficiency as components of resistance to Pierce’s disease in European grape cultivars. Phytopathology. 1981b. 71:429-35.

PURCELL A. H. Advances in the understanding of Pierce’s disease and its insect vectors. Grape and wine centennial symp. proc. (1980). 1982. Univ. of Calif. Davis. p. 46-50. 397 pp

PURCELL A. H., ELKINTON J. S. A comparison of sampling methods for leafhopper vectors of X-disease in California cherry orchards. J. Econ. Entomol. 1980. 73:854-60.

PURCELL A. H., FINLAY A. H., McLEAN D. L. Pierce’s disease bacterium: mechanism of transmission by leafhopper vectors. Science. 1979. 206:839-41.

RICE R. E., JONES R. A. Leafhopper vectors of the western X-disease pathogen: Collections in central California. Environ. Entomol. 1972. 1:726-30.

ROMNEY V. E. The effect of physical factors upon catch of the beet leafhopper (Eutettix tenellus) by a cylinder and two sweep net methods. Ecology. 1945. 26:135-47.

SAUGSTAD E. S., BRAM R. A., NYQUIST W. E. Factors influencing sweep-net sampling of alfalfa. J. Econ. Entomol. 1967. 60:421-26.

SEVERIN H. H. P. Transmission of the virus of Pierce’s disease of grapevines by leafhoppers. Hilgardia. 1949. 19:190-202. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v19n06p190 [CrossRef]

SNEDECOR G. W., COCHRAN W. G. Statistical Methods. 1967. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Univ. Press. 593p. DOI: 10.1097/00010694-195702000-00023 [CrossRef]

SOUTHWOOD T. R. E. Migration of terrestrial arthropods in relation to habitat. Biol. Rev. 1962. 37:171-214. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-185X.1962.tb01609.x [CrossRef]

SOUTHWOOD T. R. E. Ecological Methods. 1978. 2nd ed. N.Y.: Halsted Press. 524p. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-1225-0 [CrossRef]

STERN V. Economic thresholds. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 1973. 18:259-80. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.en.18.010173.001355 [CrossRef]

TAYLOR L. R. Aggregation, variance, and the mean. Nature. 1961. 189:732-35. DOI: 10.1038/189732a0 [CrossRef]

THRESH J. M. Gradients of plant virus diseases. Ann. Appl. Biol. 1976. 82:381-406. DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1976.tb00577.x [CrossRef]

VAN DER PLANK J. E. Plant Diseases: Epidemics and Control. 1963. N.Y.: Academic Press. 349p. DOI: 10.1097/00010694-196410000-00018 [CrossRef]

WEIMAR J. L. Effect of environmental and cultural factors on the dwarf disease of alfalfa. J. Agric. Res. 1933. 47:351-68.

WEIMAR J. L. Effect of the dwarf disease on the alfalfa plant. J. Agr. Res. 1937. 55:87-104.

WINKLER A. J., HEWITT W. B., FRAZIER N. W., FREITAG J. H. Pierce’s disease investigations. Hilgardia. 1949. 19:207-64. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v19n07p207 [CrossRef]

YOUNG D. A. Jr., DAVIDSON R. H. A review of leafhoppers of the genus Draeculacephala. U.S. Dep. Agric. Tech Bull. 1198 1959. p.32.

ZIMMERMAN E. C. Insects of Hawaii. 1948. 4: Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. 268p. Homoptera: Auchenorrhycha. DOI: 10.2307/2989786 [CrossRef]

Also in this issue:

California-Catalonia connection enriches research

Science Briefs

Imported fire ants carry high price

Persea mite, thrips threaten avocados

CALFED publishes preferred options for Bay-Delta

Ecosystem health subject of landmark gathering

Organic cotton finding a niche in northern San Joaquin

Preliminary studies show yield and quality potential of organic cotton

Water relations of lysimeter-grown peach trees are sensitive to deficit irrigation

Continuous trunk diameter recording can reveal water stress in peach trees

X. fragariae and C. cladosporioides cause strawberry blossom blight

Kiwifruit size influences softening rate during storage

Historical reference crop ET reliable for irrigation scheduling during summer

Organic matter recycling varies with crops grown