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Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2011 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Psyllids typically breed on a narrow range of usually related host plants. However, adult psyllids often feed on a wider array of plants, a strategy which undoubtedly enhances survival and perhaps even reproduction. For example, although the Asian citrus psyllid is the most common species on commercial and dooryard citrus in Texas, the mesquite psyllid, hackberry psyllid, persimmon psyllid, and mimosa psyllid are also commonly found on citrus even though they do not breed on citrus. Similarly, adults of the Asian citrus psyllid is commonly found on hackberry, mesquite and acacia. Some psyllids, such as the willow psyllid, have been found only on willow and willow is not an alternate host for other psyllids. The potato psyllid is found in south Texas, but has not been found on citrus. Conversely, the Asian citrus psyllid has been found on potatos. Adults, but not nymphs of the Asian citrus psyllid, have been found on torchwood, an indigenous rutaceae. However, both adults and nymphs of Asian citrus psyllid have been found on common fig. This is only the second report of Asian citrus psyllid breeding on a plant outside of the rutaceae family, with both reports involving a plant in the family Moraceae. Multiple host plant utilization by the guild of psyllids raises concerns that alternate feeding hosts could serve as reservoirs for the bacterial agent of citrus greening and that it might be vectored by psyllid species other than the Asian citrus psyllid. |
