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Title: Ecology of the Asian citrus pysllid

Author
item Lapointe, Stephen
item Alborn, Hans
item Alessandro, Rocco
item ALI, JARED - University Of Florida
item FORSTER, LISA - University Of California
item Hall, David
item MANN, R - University Of Florida
item Patt, Joseph - Joe
item RAY, A - University Of California
item Richardson, Matthew
item Robbins, Paul
item SETAMOU, M - Texas A&M University
item Shatters, Robert - Bob
item STELINSKI, L - University Of Florida
item Walter, Abigail

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/16/2011
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Host selection by psyllids in general appears to involve taste rather than olfaction. Adults are often less discriminating than nymphs. A priori, there is good reason to doubt that Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) uses a long-distance sex pheromone or that ACP orients to host plant volatiles over large (m) distances. Research to discover pheromones or kairomones must accept the potential for failure, i.e., disproving the hypothesis that long-range attractants exist. Nevertheless, the urgency of the problem and the potentially high return on investment if semiochemicals were to be identified justify the efforts underway to discover attractants or repellants that may be useful in control or management of this pest. Our approaches attempt by various means to gain insight into the mechanisms by which ACP locates its preferred feeding site and conspecifics for mating. These include characterization of adult preference for host plants in lab and field trials; characterization of host plant volatiles from preferred and non-preferred genotypes; lab and field evaluations of common plant volatiles identified from flush of susceptible species; collection and analysis of databases of cuticular hydrocarbons collected from male and female ACP; electrophysiological studies including antennograms and single-cell recordings; and attempts to disrupt feeding and formation of stylet sheaths. To date, no highly attractive compounds have been identified. However, consistent results have been obtained that point the way forward. Recent results from our various efforts will be presented and discussed.