Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #268728
Title: Diurnal patterns in flight activity and effects of light on host finding behavior of the Asian citrus psyllid

Author
item SETAMOU, MAMOUDOU - Citrus Center
item SANCHEZ, ADRIAN - Citrus Center
item Patt, Joseph - Joe
item NELSON, SHAD - Citrus Center
item LOUZADA, ELIEZER - Citrus Center

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Behavior
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/30/2011
Publication Date: 3/31/2012
Citation: Setamou, M., Sanchez, A., Patt, J.M., Nelson, S., Louzada, E. 2012. Diurnal patterns in flight activity and effects of light on host finding behavior of the Asian citrus psyllid. Journal of Insect Behavior. 25(3):264-276.

Interpretive Summary: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is an in invasive pest of citrus in the United States. ACP feeds and reproduces primarily on new flush growth of citrus and related plants. Because it is the vector of the bacteria that causes the deadly citrus greening disease, ACP is a pest of economic importance in all citrus growing areas where it occurs together with the disease. We investigated the daily patterns of its flight activity in the field and the effects of light on its plant colonization and egg laying behaviors. The numbers of adult ACP caught on yellow sticky cards were 3 to 4-fold higher during daytime than nighttime. Daytime flight activity of ACP also varied with time of the day with peak catches occurring at midday from 12:00 h to 15:00 h . Illumination of the traps at night increased their attractiveness to adult psyllids by 5-fold. Similarly, light significantly increased plant colonization by adults and female egg deposition on potted plants in the laboratory. These results showed that the flight activity and plant finding behavior of ACP are regulated by light and circadian rhythms. Thus, adult psyllids utilize light as visual cues in their plant finding and selection process.

Technical Abstract: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is an invasive pest of citrus in the United States. The psyllid feeds and reproduces primarily on new flush growth of citrus and other rutaceous plants. Because it vectors the bacterial causal agents of the deadly citrus greening disease, D. citri is potentially a pest of economic importance in all citrus growing areas where it occurs together with the disease. We investigated the diurnal patterns of its flight activity in the field and the effects of light on its host selection and egg laying behaviors. The numbers of adult psyllids caught on yellow sticky cards were 3 to 4-fold higher during daytime than nighttime. Daytime flight activity of D. citri adults also varied with time of the day with peak catches occurring at midday from 12:00 h to 15:00 h . Illumination of the traps at night increased their attractiveness to adult psyllids by 5-fold. Similarly, light significantly increased plant colonization by adults and female egg deposition on potted plants in the laboratory. These results showed that the flight activity and host selection behavior of adult psyllids are regulated by light and circadian rhythms. Thus, adult psyllids utilize light as visual cues in their host-plant selection process.