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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 #314112
Title: The behavioral response of Diaphorina citri to ultraviolet light

Author
item PARIS, THOMSON - University Of Florida
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy
item STANSLY, PHILLIP - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is responsible for transmitting greening or huanglongbing (HLB) to citrus. It is considered the most debilitating disease of citrus worldwide. Currently, citrus growers rely on insecticides to control ACP. Previous studies, employing metalized mulch have successfully resulted in the reduction the incidence of HLB and a reduction in ACP populations in a grove consisting of young saplings. There are several hypotheses concerning the metalized polyethylene mulch as to why it lowers ACP populations and subsequently their transmission of HLB to citrus. These hypotheses include either increased temperatures resulting from the mulch around the saplings or higher amount of reflected UV light. To answer these questions, we developed laboratory experiments demonstrating ACP response to UV light. Our experiments utilized both LEDs and monochromatic colored visual targets using narrow band pass filters. In addition to emitted light, we also examined the effect of reflected light on ACP behavior using different mulch types (whitefaced black polyethylene mulch ((Ginegar Plastic Products Ltd., Kibbutz Ginegar, Israel) , DuPont™ Tyvek® Metalized, DuPont™ Tyvek® White, metalized low-density polyethylene Imaflex Coated (Pliant Corp. Schaumburg, IL, USA)) in a laboratory setting. The effect of mulch types was quantified by examining flight behavior on flight mills and a cage assay. Furthermore, a multi-choice study was developed to assess the effect of various mulch types on host plant selection and oviposition. Evidence presented will discuss the efficacy of various mulch types for the management of ACP in young citrus plantings.