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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 #293585

Title: Synchronized rearing of mated and unmated Diaphorina Citri (Hemiptera:liviidae) of known age

Author
item PARIS, THOMSON - University Of Florida
item ROHDE, BARUKH - Hunter College
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy
item Mankin, Richard
item STANSLY, PHILIP - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2013
Publication Date: 12/1/2013
Citation: Paris, T.M., Rohde, B.B., Allan, S.A., Mankin, R.W., Stansly, P.A. 2013. Synchronized rearing of mated and unmated Diaphorina Citri (Hemiptera:liviidae) of known age. Florida Entomologist. 96(4):1631-1634.

Interpretive Summary: Scientists at the USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, and the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL and Immokalee, FL, have been conducting studies on the light-seeking behavior and the vibratory communication of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), an important vector of huanglongbing, which is a devastating disease of citrus. An important part of these studies is the rearing of mated and unmated ACP of known age because their behaviors are different in different stages of their life cycle. ACP are difficult to rear in large numbers because of the lack of artificial diets. This paper describes new methods that use isolation chambers to rear large numbers of unmated and mated ACP of known age for behavioral studies to improve the effectiveness of pest management programs.

Technical Abstract: Methods were developed for synchronized rearing of unmated and mated ACP of known age in isolation chambers for behavioral studies. Maintenance and survival of nymphs and adults in the isolation chambers was improved over previous methods because the plants had more room to grow and the relative humidity was easier to keep within acceptable limits.