Effects of Temperature on the development, performance and fitness of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (De Long & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae); a vector of maize pathogens

VAN NIEUWENHOVE, G.A; FRIAS, E.A.; VIRLA, EDUARDO G.

AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2015

1461-9555

1.Maize and its wild teosinte (Zea) relatives are the only developmental hosts of the corn leafhopper. The leafhopper and three phytopathogens that it transmits are found in a wide range of latitudes and elevations from the USA to Argentina. 2.Vector?s populations would be expected to respond to environmental conditions. Temperature plays a key role in the life history of insects, limiting its geographical range. 3.We focus on the effect of different constant temperatures on the development and fitness of D. maidis to estimate its thermal constant and threshold temperature; that may be useful information for studies to predict its potential distribution. 4. Temperature had a significant influence on egg laying and hatch, development and preimaginal survival of the vector, while the offspring sex ratio was not influenced. 5.Dalbulus maidis required 648.26 DD above a threshold of 4.9°C to complete a life cycle; it had a wide oviposition range (15 to 40°C), but its fitness occurred in a narrower range (17.5 to 35°C). Apparently, the distribution range of D. maidis could be restricted by host plant availability more than by temperature. 6.The vector is unlikely to develop permanent populations in temperate areas of the American continent because there is no availability of host plants for extended periods, with mean temperatures below 17ºC.