Influence of light on reproductive rates of Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Authors: Hall, David; Hentz, Matthew

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/21/2018
Publication Date: 1/25/2019
Citation: Hall, D.G., Hentz, M.G. 2019. Influence of light on reproductive rates of Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Journal of Insect Science. 19(1):9. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey141.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iey141

Interpretive Summary: The Asian citrus psyllid is an important citrus pest because it transmits the bacterial pathogen responsible for citrus greening disease, also known as huanglongbing. This publication reviews research information on the influence of light on reproduction rates of the psyllid. The information is important to insectaries rearing the psyllid and for understanding epidemiology of citrus greening disease.

Technical Abstract: The impact of light was assessed on reproductive rates of Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) in an air-conditioned, polycarbonate greenhouse. This psyllid is an important pest because it transmits a bacterium presumed responsible for a serious citrus disease known as Asiatic huanglongbing. Numbers of psyllids produced were compared among rearing cages subjected to natural sunlight along with different amounts of supplemental light provided by light-emitting diode floodlights. Light to some rearing cages was purposely reduced by shading. The cages received a daily mean of 12 hours of light (range 7 to 14 h) during immature development. Irradiance during daylight hours in the cages during a 24 h oviposition period varied from 2 to 145 (mean 66) W/m2 and during immature development to the adult stage from 3 to 169 (mean 71) W/m2. Estimates of illuminance during immature development ranged from 354 to 73,500 (mean 22,409) lumens/m2. Oviposition rates were not correlated with these light variables. Numbers of adults produced were positively correlated with daily hours of light (r=0.64, P=0.0004), irradiance (r=0.47, P=0.02), and illuminance (r=0.57, P=0.001). For producing large numbers of adults, optimal targets for these light variables as measured in this study were projected to be 14 or more hours of daylight; 60 or more W/m2; and 20,000 or more lumens/m2. Oviposition rates and resulting numbers of adults produced in a cage indicated that increasing these light variables increased survival of immatures to the adult stage, possibly because host plant fitness increased as these light variables increased.