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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #280374
Title: Leafhopper and psyllid pests of potato

Author
item Munyaneza, Joseph - Joe
item HENNE, DONALD - Agrilife Research

Submitted to: INSECT PESTS OF POTATO: BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2012
Publication Date: 8/13/2012
Citation: Munyaneza, J.E., Henne, D.C. 2012. Leafhopper and psyllid pests of potato. In: Giordanengo, P., Vincent, P., Alyokhin, A., editors. Insect Pests of Potato: Global Perspectives on Biology and Management. San Diego, California:Academic Press. p. 65-102.

Interpretive Summary: Leafhoppers and psyllids are important pests of potato worldwide. These insects cause damage to potato by direct feeding or by acting as vectors of potato pathogens. Researchers at USDA-ARS Wapato, WA and Texas A&M University provided information on how to identify economically important leafhoppers and psyllids that attack potato and discussed their geographic distribution, biology, pest significance and management. This information will assist potato scientists and producers to minimize damage caused by these potato pests.

Technical Abstract: Leafhoppers and psyllids are important pests of potato worldwide. These insects cause damage to potato by direct feeding or by acting as vectors of potato pathogens. Economically important leafhoppers that attack potato include Empoasca fabae, Macrosteles fascifrons, and Circulifer tenellus. E. fabae is considered one of the most destructive potato pests in North America and feeds on phloem or mesophyll, resulting in a damaging condition referred to as ”hopperburn”. Macrosteles spp. and C. tenellus are known to transmit phytoplasmas that cause potato purple top disease, with serious epidemics having occurred in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Only a few psyllid species have so far been reported to cause damage to potato and the most studied is Bactericera cockerelli. This insect is a serious and economically important pest of potatoes, tomatoes, and other solanaceous crops in the Americas and New Zealand. This psyllid has historically been linked to psyllid yellows and recently to zebra chip disease. Zebra chip is an economically important disease associated with the bacterium liberibacter that has devastated potato producers within the insect’s range. Identification, geographic distribution, biology, pest significance and management of these potato pests are discussed.