Mating communication of the variegated leafhopper, Erasmoneura variabilis, with notes on vibrational signaling of other grapevine cicadellids in California

Authors: Krugner, Rodrigo; Gordon, Shira

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2021
Publication Date: 6/6/2021
Citation: Krugner, R., Gordon, S.D. 2021. Mating communication of the variegated leafhopper, Erasmoneura variabilis, with notes on vibrational signaling of other grapevine cicadellids in California. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 114(4):528-537. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saab024.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saab024

Interpretive Summary: Leafhoppers in the subfamily Typhlocybinae are a concern for grape growers because feeding damage caused by nymphs and adults may result in loss of photosynthetic activity and growth of sooty mold on fruit. In leafhoppers, mating communication is mediated exclusively via mating calls transmitted through the plant as vibrations. Exploitation of disruptive vibrational signals for suppressing leafhopper populations could prove to be a useful tool in IPM programs, but knowledge on their vibrational communication was inexistent. Studies were conducted at the USDA-ARS in Parlier, CA, where vibrational signals produced by Erasmonuera variabilis individuals were recorded and studied using laser Doppler vibrometry. Analysis of signals emitted in trials with male-female pairs showed that females used the same signal throughout the pair formation process, whereas males emitted two types of signals before attempting to mate with a female. Data suggest that the mating behavior of E. variabilis can be divided in three phases (species identification, mate searching, and courtship) and that signals and signaling activity vary among phases. Results of this project provide a detailed description of E. variabilis communication signals that are relevant for development of vibrational disruption as a novel method to suppress populations under field conditions.

Technical Abstract: Leafhoppers in the tribe Erythroneurini are a concern for grape growers in California due to direct feeding damage by piercing the leaves. Management of leafhopper populations in vineyards may be accomplished by insecticide applications, release of natural enemies, conservation biological control, exploitation of controlled deficit irrigation, or a combination of the above. Based on research with other leafhopper species, disrupting mating behaviorally is a viable option, but nothing is known about the mating communication and circadian signaling of these species in vineyards. The objectives of this study were to 1) identify and describe vibrational signals associated with mate selection behavior of Erasmoneura variabilis and Erythroneura ziczac, and 2) evaluate the occurrence of known vibrational signals within sympatric populations of E. variabilis, E. ziczac, and Homalodisca vitripennis on grapevines. Analysis of vibrational communication signals revealed that 1) one female signal and two distinct male signals are used in E. variabilis pair formation, 2) the pair formation process in E. variabilis is divided in three communication phases, 3) E. variabilis pre-copulatory communication is longer in the presence than absence of male-male rivalry, 4) the structure of vibrational signaling in the mate selection behavior of E. ziczac resembles that of E. variabilis, and 5) E. variabilis, E. ziczac, and H. vitripennis sing at night and during the day. Results include detailed descriptions of leafhopper communication signals that are relevant for development of vibrational disruption as a novel method to suppress populations under field conditions.