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Persistently transmitted plant viruses encounter multiple membrane and tissue barriers in the process of completing their infection routes within their insect vectors. Some of these viruses have been reported to overcome the elaborate barriers of the central nervous system (CNS) to travel through the nervous tissues, but the specific mechanisms of this process remain unknown. Here, we report the axonal transport mechanism of rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV), a nucleorhabdovirus, in the CNS of the green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps). The infection route of RYSV in the internal organs of its insect vector after ingestion of the virus was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. RYSV was first detected in the epithelial cells of midgut regions, from where it proceeded to the nervous system, and finally into the salivary glands. We then utilized immunofluorescence and electron microscopy to investigate the distribution of RYSV particles within the leafhopper CNS, demonstrating that non-enveloped viral particles distributed along the microtubule-based neurofilaments in the axon cytoplasm following the direct interaction of leafhopper α-tubulin with the RYSV M protein. Tubulin inhibitors inhibited the dissemination of RYSV to the CNS, then into the salivary glands in leafhoppers. We therefore describe a mechanism of plant virus transport through CNS axons as an alternative means of rapid viral dissemination in an insect vector.

In nature, leafhoppers cover their body surfaces with brochosomes as a protective coating. These leafhopper-produced brochosomes are hollow, buckyball-shaped, nanoscopic spheroids with through-holes distributed across their surfaces, representing a class of deployable optical materials that are rare in nature. Despite their discovery in the 1950s, it remains unknown why the sizes of brochosomes and their through-holes consistently fall within the range of hundreds of nanometers across different leafhopper species. Here, we demonstrate that the hierarchical geometries of brochosomes are engineered within a narrow size range with through-hole architecture to significantly reduce light reflection. By utilizing two-photon polymerization three-dimensional printing to fabricate high-fidelity synthetic brochosomes, we investigated the optical form-to-function relationship of brochosomes. Our results show that the diameters of brochosomes are engineered within a specific size range to maximize broadband light scattering, while the secondary through-holes are designed to function as short-wavelength, low-pass filters, further reducing light reflection. These synergistic effects enable brochosomes to achieve a substantial reduction in specular reflection, by up to approximately 80 to 94%, across a broadband wavelength range. Importantly, brochosomes represent a biological example demonstrating short-wavelength, low-pass filter functionality. Furthermore, our results indicate that the geometries of natural brochosomes may have evolved to effectively reduce reflection from ultraviolet to visible light, thereby enabling leafhoppers to evade predators whose vision spectrum encompasses both ultraviolet and visible light. Our findings offer key design insights into a class of deployable bioinspired optical materials with potential applications in omnidirectional antireflection coatings, optical encryption, and multispectral camouflage., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:L.W., Z.L., S.S., and T.-S.W. are inventors on a patent application related to this work filed by the Penn State Research Foundation and Carnegie Mellon University.

The dikraneurine leafhopper genus Anaka is reviewed based on a comparative morphological study. Five new species, Anakaauricula sp. nov. , Anakacruciata sp. nov. , Anakacurvata sp. nov. , Anakarosacea sp. nov. , and Anakaspiralis sp. nov. from China are described and illustrated in detail. Additionally, a key to known Anaka species is provided along with a checklist of all species and their distributions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Meng Jiao, Maofa Yang, Xiaofei Yu, Bin Yan.)

More studies are using mitochondrial genomes of insects to explore the sequence variability, evolutionary traits, monophyly of groups and phylogenetic relationships. Controversies remain on the classification of the Mileewinae and the phylogenetic relationships between Mileewinae and other subfamilies remain ambiguous. In this study, we present two newly completed mitogenomes of Mileewinae (Mileewa rufivena Cai and Kuoh 1997 and Ujna puerana Yang and Meng 2010) and conduct comparative mitogenomic analyses based on several different factors. These species have quite similar features, including their nucleotide content, codon usage of protein genes and the secondary structure of tRNA. Gene arrangement is identical and conserved, the same as the putative ancestral pattern of insects. All protein-coding genes of U. puerana began with the start codon ATN, while 5 Mileewa species had the abnormal initiation codon TTG in ND5 and ATP8. Moreover, M. rufivena had an intergenic spacer of 17 bp that could not be found in other mileewine species. Phylogenetic analysis based on three datasets (PCG123, PCG12 and AA) with two methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) recovered the Mileewinae as a monophyletic group with strong support values. All results in our study indicate that Mileewinae has a closer phylogenetic relationship to Typhlocybinae compared to Cicadellinae. Additionally, six species within Mileewini revealed the relationship (U. puerana + (M. ponta + (M. rufivena + M. alara) + (M. albovittata + M. margheritae))) in most of our phylogenetic trees. These results contribute to the study of the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships of Mileewinae.

The leafhopper genus Opsius Fieber, 1866 is revised for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Seven species are treated, including three that previously were reported by Dlabola (1979), O. pallasi (Lethierry, 1874), O. tigripes (Lethierry, 1876), and O. versicolor (Distant, 1908). Opsius heydeni (Lethierry, 1876), O. richteri Dlabola 1960, and O. scutellaris (Lethierry, 1874) are reported for the first time from the Kingdom. A new species, O. wilsoni El-Sonbati, sp. nov. is described from the southwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A key to the species of Opsius of the Kingdom is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first record of Erasmoneura vulnerata Fitch, 1851 in Switzerland is reported. Specimens were collected in 2019 using yellow sticky traps during a Scaphoideus titanus monitoring campaign in vineyards in Ticino (Southern Switzerland). E. vulnerata is a grapevine pest that has recently been introduced to Europe, whose phytophagy causes detrimental damage to grapevine leaves. Its occurrence in this area has likely been favored by the ongoing suspension of insecticide treatments for the control of the S. titanus population, the vector agent of the "Flavescence dorée" phytoplasma in grapevines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new leafhopper species Longicornus brevispinus sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province, China. A key to distinguish all species of this genus is given, and a map showing the geographic distribution of all species is also provided. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In this study, binding between the immunodominant membrane protein Imp of the 16SrV‐D phytoplasma associated with Flavescence dorée disease (FD‐Dp) and insect proteins of vectors and non‐vectors of FD‐Dp was tested. Methods and Results: Six Auchenorrhyncha species, from distantly related groups were selected: Scaphoideus titanus, Euscelidius variegatus, Macrosteles quadripunctulatus, Zyginidia pullula (Cicadomorpha), Ricania speculum and Metcalfa pruinosa (Fulgoromorpha). The vector status of each species was retrieved from the literature or determined by transmission trials in this study. A His‐tagged partial Imp protein and a rabbit polyclonal antibody were synthesized and used for Western and Far‐Western dot Blot (FWdB) experiments. Total native and membrane proteins (MP) were extracted from entire bodies and organs (gut and salivary glands) of each insect species. FWdB showed decreasing interaction intensities of Imp fusion protein with total proteins from entire bodies of S. titanus, E. variegatus (competent vectors) and M. quadripunctulatus (non‐vector), while no interaction signal was detected with the other three species (non‐vectors). A strong signal detected upon interaction of FD‐D Imp and MP from guts of closely related insects supports the role of this organ as the first barrier to ensure successful transmission. Conclusions: Our results showed that specific Imp binding, correlated with vector status, is involved in interactions between FD‐Dp and insect proteins. Significance and Impact of the Study: Integrating knowledge on host–pathogen protein–protein interactions and on insect phylogeny would help to identify the actual range of vectors of phytoplasma strains of economic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orientus ishidae (Matsumura) (subfamily Deltocephalinae) is an Asian species now widespread in Europe, and a vector of 16SrV phytoplasmas agents of grapevine Flavescence dorée (FDP). Embryonic and post-embryonic development, spatial distribution, and relationships with grapevine of nymphs were studied under field and laboratory conditions. Egg-hatching dynamics and post-embryonic development of nymphs were studied by collecting grapevine wood from managed and unmanaged vineyards (including bot European Vitis vinifera L. and wild American rootstocks) and storing it inside rearing cages at T = 21–23°C. Field sampling of nymphs were made on both grapevine and two elective host plants of O. ishidae: hazelnut and hornbeam. Taylor's Power Law was applied to assess the aggregation coefficient of early- (first and second) and late- (third to fifth) life instars on leaves and shoots of host plants. More nymphs were obtained from wood collected in unmanaged rather than managed vineyards. Under lab conditions, the embryonic development lasted 34–48 d, whereas the whole post-embryonic development averaged 27 d. Under field conditions, early instars peaked at the end of May, and late instars peaked 2–4 wk later. The aggregation patterns decreased from early to late instars, and from leaves to shoots. Very few nymphs were observed on unmanaged grapevine, either European or American, and none on managed European grapevine. Some behavioral and FDP epidemiological consequences of the results obtained are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new iassine leafhopper genus Ana gen. nov is described, based on the type species Ana doctrix sp. nov. from Argentina, and placed in the tribe Hyalojassini. The new genus is distinguished from other Neotropical Hyalojassini genera by setose forewings, submarginal vein evanescent apically and appendix narrower than first apical cell, male pygofer with a triangular expansion turned mesad on ventral margin, lacking hooks, styles bifid basally, and female sternite VII short, with posterior margin concave. The subfamilies Neobalinae and Nioniinae are recorded for the first time from Argentina. New female morphological characters of Calliscarta fasciata (Osborn) (Neobalinae) and the male terminalia of Nionia major (Osborn) (Nioniinae) are provided. An updated key to the 12 subfamilies of Cicadellidae present in Argentina is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants are generally involved in host recognition and host selection for many phytophagous insects. However, for leafhoppers and planthoppers, host recognition is mainly thought to involve a phototactic response, but it is not clear if a host plant could be selected based on the volatile cues it emits. In this study we evaluated olfactory responses in dual choice tests of two Hemiptera species, Dalbulus maidis (De Long) (Cicadellidae) and Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) (Delphacidae), vectors of maize-stunting diseases, to three maize (Zea mays L.) germplasms, a temperate and a tropical hybrid and a landrace. VOCs emitted by the germplasms were collected and identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The temperate hybrid released significantly more VOCs than the tropical hybrid and the landrace, and its volatile profile was dominated by (±)-linalool. D. maidis preferred odours emitted from the temperate hybrid, whereas P. maidis preferred odours from the tropical hybrid and the landrace over the temperate one. In order to test if linalool plays a role in the behavioural responses, we assayed this compound in combination with the tropical hybrid, to provide other contextual olfactory cues. D. maidis was attracted to the tropical hybrid plus a 0.0001% linalool solution, indicating that this compound could be part of a blend of attractants. Whereas addition of linalool resulted in a slight, though not significant, reduction in host VOC attractiveness for P. maidis. Both hopper species responded to olfactory cues in the absence of supplementary visual cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key natural enemy-pest interactions can be mapped in agricultural food webs by analysing predator gut content for the presence of a focal pest species. For this, PCR-based approaches are the most widely used methods providing the incidence of consumption of a focal pest in field sampled predators. To interpret such data the rate of prey DNA decay in the predators’ gut, described by DNA detectability half-life (t1/2), is needed. DNA decay may depend on the presence of alternative prey in the gut of generalist predators, but this effect has not been investigated in one of the major predatory arthropod groups, spiders. Methods In a laboratory feeding experiment, we determined t1/2 of the key cereal pest virus vector leafhopper Psammotettix alienus in the digestive tracts of its natural enemy, the spider Tibellus oblongus. We followed the fate of prey DNA in spiders which received only the focal prey as food, or as an alternative prey treatment they also received a meal of fruit flies after leafhopper consumption. After these feeding treatments, spiders were starved for variable time intervals prior to testing for leafhopper DNA in order to establish t1/2. Results We created a PCR protocol that detects P. alienus DNA in its spider predator. The protocol was further calibrated to the digestion speed of the spider by establishing DNA decay rate. Detectability limit was reached at 14 days, where c. 10% of the animals tested positive. The calculated t1/2 = 5 days value of P. alienus DNA did not differ statistically between the treatment groups which received only the leafhopper prey or which also received fruit fly. The PCR protocol was validated in a field with known P. alienus infestation. In this applicability trial, we showed that 12.5% of field collected spiders were positive for the leafhopper DNA. We conclude that in our model system the presence of alternative prey did not influence the t1/2 estimate of a pest species, which makes laboratory protocols more straightforward for the calibration of future field data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mustafa Kemal University Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Tarım Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The phylogeny of the Pseudosubhimalus were investigated using of two different data sets, including 91 taxa and 3853 aligned nucleotide positions from the histone H3, 28S rDNA (D2 & D9-10 region). The results suggest the placement of genus in the tribe Ciacadulini, as it was clustered with Cicadulini genera. Relationships between genera of the Cicadulini were strongly supported and leads placement to tribe Cicadulini from Athysanini. Along with this, genus Pseudosubhimalus Ghauri is revised, and P. trilobatus sp. nov. (Himachal Pradesh: Katrain) is added, described from Indian subcontinent and deposited to National Pusa Collection, IARI, New Delhi, with repository number RRS1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistently transmitted plant viruses encounter multiple membrane and tissue barriers in the process of completing their infection routes within their insect vectors. Some of these viruses have been reported to overcome the elaborate barriers of the central nervous system (CNS) to travel through the nervous tissues, but the specific mechanisms of this process remain unknown. Here, we report the axonal transport mechanism of rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV), a nucleorhabdovirus, in the CNS of the green rice leafhopper (Nephotettix cincticeps). The infection route of RYSV in the internal organs of its insect vector after ingestion of the virus was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. RYSV was first detected in the epithelial cells of midgut regions, from where it proceeded to the nervous system, and finally into the salivary glands. We then utilized immunofluorescence and electron microscopy to investigate the distribution of RYSV particles within the leafhopper CNS, demonstrating that non-enveloped viral particles distributed along the microtubule-based neurofilaments in the axon cytoplasm following the direct interaction of leafhopper α-tubulin with the RYSV M protein. Tubulin inhibitors inhibited the dissemination of RYSV to the CNS, then into the salivary glands in leafhoppers. We therefore describe a mechanism of plant virus transport through CNS axons as an alternative means of rapid viral dissemination in an insect vector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We constructed Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) infectious clones in the bacterial plasmids pUC18 and pIPKb002 and tested their ability to inoculate plants using Bio-Rad Helios Gene Gun biolistic inoculation method and Agrobacterium tumefaciens agroinoculation method, and we then compared them with the natural inoculation method via viruliferous P. alienus. Infected plants were generated using both infectious clones, whereas the agroinoculation method was able to produce strong systemic infection in all three tested cultivars of wheat and Triticum monococcum, comparable to plants inoculated by viruliferous P. alienus. Infection was confirmed by DAS-ELISA, and WDV titres were quantified using qPCR. The levels of remaining bacterial plasmid DNA were also confirmed to be zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The green leafhopper, Empoasca vitis, is a polyphagous pest of grapevine and tea plants. To date population density is controlled primarily by insecticides and there is a demand for more sustainable controls. To develop a vibrational mating disruption method, the natural occurrence of a 'disruptive signal' was investigated. Further, the efficacy of natural and artificial 'disruptive signals' was determined. Results: With behavioral trials we described male rivalry and recorded a species‐specific disruptive signal (DP). The DP, a single pulse overlapping the competitor male call, interfered with the rival's ability to locate the female. Laboratory playback disruption trials revealed that the pair formation process was prevented by artificial disturbance noises that included the following features: E. vitis DP, Scaphoideus titanus disturbance noise, and a pure tone (250 Hz). Among these, the pure tone was most efficient at preventing mating. Conclusion: Results support development of a vibrational mating disruption method as a control strategy for E. vitis. To simultaneously disrupt the mating of E. vitis and S. titanus, the possibility of applying the S. titanus disturbance noise combined with the pure tone is discussed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry Natural (i.e. intra and interspecific) and synthetic masking signals successfully interrupted the mating behavior of the leafhopper Empoasca vitis. The synthetic pure tone was the most effective mating disruptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new fossil genus and species, Cretacoelidia viraktamathi Wang, Dietrich & Zhang gen. et sp. nov., of the family Cicadellidae from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber is described and illustrated. The extinct fossil genus resembles the type-genus of subfamily Coelidiinae, Coelidia Germar, 1821, in having an obtusely angled head and crown elevated above the eyes, but differs in having the lateral margin of the crown divergent distally, its subapical part depressed and the anterior margin of the crown elevated and carinate. The new taxon is the only fossil definitely assignable to the extant leafhopper subfamily Coelidiinae and only the third modern leafhopper subfamily recorded from the Cretaceous. It provides evidence of the long-term presence of Coelidiinae in the Indomalayan region and insights into the evolution and paleobiogeography of the family Cicadellidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genomes of Atkinsoniella grahami and Atkinsoniella xanthonota were sequenced. The results showed that the mitogenomes of these two species are 15,621 and 15,895 bp in length, with A+T contents of 78.6% and 78.4%, respectively. Both mitogenomes contain 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). For all PCGs, a standard start ATN codon (ATT, ATG, or ATA) was found at the initiation site, except for ATP8, for which translation is initiated with a TTG codon. All PCGs terminate with a complete TAA or TAG stop codon, except for COX2, which terminates with an incomplete stop codon T. All tRNAs have the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS, which has a reduced dihydrouridine arm. Furthermore, these phylogenetic analyses were reconstructed based on 13 PCGs and two rRNA genes of 73 mitochondrial genome sequences, with both the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. The obtained mitogenome sequences in this study will promote research into the classification, population genetics, and evolution of Cicadellinae insects in the future.

X-disease, caused by the phytoplasma ' Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni', is currently threatening Pacific Northwest (USA) stone fruit (Prunus) production, particularly sweet cherry (P. avium). There is no cure, and infected fruit remain unmarketable throughout the tree's life. Management efforts focus on reducing transmission through infected tree removal and frequent chemical applications to control the leafhopper vectors. The increase in chemical inputs has broken down stone fruit integrated pest management techniques and is neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. To investigate sustainable vector management, we assessed the efficacy of two long-lasting cultural management techniques, kaolin clay (Surround WP) and reflective plastic geotextile (Extenday), to deter leafhoppers from trees and prevent population growth within orchards. These methods were tested against untreated control plots in Washington State commercial stone fruit blocks in 2021 and 2022. Colladonus montanus reductus (Van Duzee) was the most abundant leafhopper vector species captured in both years. In cherry blocks, Extenday consistently reduced C. m. reductus densities by 80–90%, while kaolin clay caused a 45–50% reduction in leafhoppers, but only when they were abundant (more than 10 leafhoppers per trap). Sticky cards placed at varying heights revealed that kaolin clay caused C. m. reductus to be proportionally more abundant near the ground cover than in the tree canopy regardless of overall population density. The combination of reducing C. m. reductus density and shifting their distribution into the ground cover demonstrates both plastic geotextiles and kaolin clay provide effective post-harvest strategies for X-disease vector management. [Display omitted] • Colladonus montanus reductus was the most abundant X-disease vector species. • C. m. reductus has three generations in Washington, two occur after cherry harvest. • Reflective ground cover provided effective leafhopper control both years. • Kaolin clay reduced leafhopper numbers in traps at tree canopy height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal mtgenome characterizations and reconstruct phylogenetic relationships of Hylicinae, the complete mtgenomes of four hylicine species, including Nacolus tuberculatus, Hylica paradoxa, Balala fujiana, and Kalasha nativa, were sequenced and comparatively analyzed for the first time. We also carried out the richest (11) subfamily sampling of Cicadellidae to date, and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of Membracoidea among 61 species based on three datasets using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses. All new sequenced mtgenomes are molecules ranging from 14,918 to 16,221 bp in length and are double stranded, circular in shape. The gene composition and arrangement of these mtgenomes are consistent with members of Membracoidea. Among 13 protein-coding genes, most show typical ATN start codons and TAR (TAA/TAG) or an incomplete stop codon T–, and several genes start by TTG/GTG. Results of the analysis for sliding window, nucleotide diversity, and nonsynonymous substitution/synonymous substitution indicate cox1 is a comparatively slower-evolving gene while atp8 is the fastest gene. In line with previous researches, phylogenetic results indicate that treehopper families are paraphyletic with respect to family Cicadellidae and also support the monophyly of all involved subfamilies including Hylicinae. Relationships among the four hylicine genera were recovered as (Hylica + (Nacolus + (Balala + Kalasha))).

Mitochondrial genomes are widely used for investigations into phylogeny, phylogeography, and population genetics. More than 70 mitogenomes have been sequenced for the diverse hemipteran superfamily Membracoidea, but only one partial and two complete mtgenomes mitochondrial genomes have been sequenced for the included subfamily Ledrinae. Here, the complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two additional Ledrinae species are newly sequenced and comparatively analyzed. Results show both mitogenomes are circular, double-stranded molecules, with lengths of 14,927 bp (Tituria sagittata) and 14,918 bp (Petalocephala chlorophana). The gene order of these two newly sequenced Ledrinae is highly conserved and typical of members of Membracoidea. Similar tandem repeats in the control region were discovered in Ledrinae. Among 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) of reported Ledrinae mitogenomes, analyses of the sliding window, nucleotide diversity, and nonsynonymous substitution (Ka)/synonymous substitution (Ks) indicate atp8 is a comparatively fast-evolving gene, while cox1 is the slowest. Phylogenetic relationships were also reconstructed for the superfamily Membracoidea based on expanded sampling and gene data from GenBank. This study shows that all subfamilies (sensu lato) are recovered as monophyletic. In agreement with previous studies, these results indicate that leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) are paraphyletic with respect to the two recognized families of treehoppers (Aetalionidae and Membracidae). Relationships within Ledrinae were recovered as (Ledra + (Petalocephala + Tituria)).

The Empoasca onukii (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) female lays its eggs inside the epidermis of the tea plant shoots. This has led to speculation that shoot harvesting could represent a method of egg removal. To verify the validity of this hypothesis, we sought to determine which part of the shoot was used for the oviposition and how the value of the harvested shoot affects the cost of the egg removal. In this study, four tea cultivars were chosen to examine the preferences for the site of oviposition. In addition, a mathematical model was used to describe the correlation between the economic value of the selected shoot and eggs laid within the shoot. Our study revealed that the pest preferred the 3rd and 4th leaf order intervals of the shoot as the oviposition sites, and the oviposition preferences was dependent on the leaf order interval class across all tea cultivars. In addition, a significant negative exponential relationship was found between the economic value of the selected shoot and the percentage of the eggs laid within the shoot, indicating that egg removal through shoot harvesting was limited. The findings of this study could be used to better understand the role of shoot harvesting in egg removal and would provide new insights into the understanding of the incidence of this pest.

Rice stripe mosaic virus (RSMV), a novel species of Cytorhabdovirus, is transmitted by the leafhopper Recilia dorsalis in a persistent-propagative manner. In this study, we firstly confirmed that N protein of RSMV is a component of viroplasm and virion in vector culture cells of R. dorsalis. Confocal microscopy revealed that RSMV initially accumulated in epithelial cells of the filter chamber of R. dorsalis, from where it proceeded to the visceral muscles surrounding the filter chamber. Subsequently, RSMV spread quickly throughout the suspensory ligament to the salivary glands. Meanwhile, RSMV spread from the filter chamber to midgut, hindgut, esophagus, hemolymph, and central nervous system. We further observed that RSMV particles displayed as non-enveloped form when propagating in cytoplasm of different tissues, and became enveloped when spread within insect body by electron microscopy. Additionally, we found that the leafhopper Nephotettix virescens was also able to acquire and transmit RSMV. These results clarified the infection characteristics of RSMV in its leafhopper vectors, which will help guide the formulation of RSMV prevention and control strategies.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the leafhopper Empoascanara sipra Dworakowska, 1980 was sequenced and annotated from this study. The circular molecule is 14,827 bp in length, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and one AT-rich region. The base composition of the genome is as follows: A (42.6%), T (33.9%), G (10.0%), and C (13.4%). 11 PCGs have ATN as the start codon, except for atp8 and nad5 genes have TTG. The conventional termination codons (TAA or TAG) occur in 11 PCGs, whereas cox2 and nad2 use incomplete codon (T––) as termination codon. Phylogenetic analysis using 13 PCGs showed that E. sipra was clustered with two Typhlocybinae species, which was consistent with the conventional classification.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the leafhopper Limassolla lingchuanensis was determined. It is 15,716 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a putative control region. ATN and TTG were initiation codons, and TAA, TAG, and T were termination codons. The phylogenetic relationships based on the neighbor-joining method were revealed using 13 PCGs with 10 leafhopper species of family Cicadellidae, which agree with the conventional taxonomy.

The complete mitogenome of Mitjaevia protuberanta (GenBank accession number MN627216) is 14,032 bp (AT: 77.43%) in length, including 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs. All protein-coding genes used ATN as initiation codon except ND5 that used TTG as initiation codon, and TAA, TAG, and T were termination codons. We constructed a phylogenetic tree from 14 species (Hemiptera) based on the nucleotide sequence of 13 mitochondrial protein-coding genes. The phylogenetic analysis results showed that mitochondrial genome of M. protuberanta had the same characteristics as other Cicadellidae species.

A new wheat viral disease was found in China. Bullet-shaped viral particles within the nucleus of the infected wheat leave cells, which possessed 180–210 nm length and 35–40 nm width, were observed under transmission electron microscopy. A putative wheat-infecting rhabdovirus vectored by the leafhopper Psammotettix alienus was identified and tentatively named wheat yellow striate virus (WYSV). The full-length nucleotide sequence of WYSV was determined using transcriptome sequencing and RACE analysis of both wheat samples and leafhoppers P. alienus. The negative-sense RNA genome of WYSV contains 14,486 nucleotides (nt) and seven open reading frames (ORFs) encode deduced proteins in the order N-P-P3-M-P6-G-L on the antisense strand. In addition, WYSV genome has a 76-nt 3′ leader RNA and a 258-nt 5′ trailer, and the ORFs are separated by conserved intergenic sequences. The entire genome sequence shares 58.1 and 57.7% nucleotide sequence identity with two strains of rice yellow stunt virus (RYSV-A and RYSV-B) genomes, respectively. The highest amino acid sequence identity was 63.8% between the L proteins of the WYSV and RYSV-B, but the lowest was 29.5% between the P6 proteins of these viruses. Phylogenetic analysis firmly established WYSV as a new member of the genus Nucleorhabdovirus. Collectively, this study provided evidence that WYSV is likely the first nucleorhabdovirus described infecting wheat via leafhopper P. alienus transmission.

The complete mitogenome of Evacanthus acuminatus was described in this study. The circular molecule is 14,793 bp in length (GenBank accession no. MK948205), and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and an A + T-rich region. The base composition values were A (40.0%), C (11.2%), G (10.0%), and T (38.8%), with an A + T bias (78.8%). ATT, ATG, ATA, TTG were initiation codons and TAA, TAG, T were termination codons. Phylogenetic tree based on concatenated amino acid sequences of 13 PCGs shows that E. acuminatu and Idiocerinae clade form sister groups, and all species of different subfamilies congregate with each other, which is consistent with the traditional taxonomy.

Copyright of Journal of Plant Protection & Pathology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT A second species of Angucephala DeLong & Freytag, 1975 is described and illustrated from Ecuador, A. freytagi sp. nov. (Napo Province). This species can be distinguished from the type species (A. mellana DeLong & Freytag, 1975) mainly by features of the male pygofer and styles. A redescription of the genus and illustrations of the type species are also provided.

ABSTRACT Paraulacizes munda (Fowler, 1899) has been considered a junior synonym of P. confusa (Signoret, 1855). These two species were described from Mexico. Here it is shown that P. munda can be distinguished from P. confusa by the color and size of the body. Hence, the former is revalidated from synonymy of the latter. Descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia of P. munda, which are necessary for an accurate identification of leafhopper species in general, are provided for the first time. Paraulacizes munda can be distinguished from the other 11 species currently included in Paraulacizes by the following combination of features: ground color of anterior dorsum yellow or pale yellow; dorsal processes of male pygofer strongly inflated apically; style with apex transversely truncate, not projected inward; atrial processes of aedeagus, in lateral view, not distinctly curved apically; female sternite VII with small median lobe on posterior margin and pair of dark brown marks posteromedially. This is the first detailed description of the first and second ovipositor valvulae of a Paraulacizes species. The female genitalia of Paraulacizes are compared with those of the related genera Aulacizes Amyot & Serville, 1843 and Proconosama Young, 1968.

A faunistic survey was conducted to identify the leafhoppers in the southwest of Iran (Khouzestan Province) in 2014. Among the collected materials, Aconurella nuristana Dlabola, 1957 is recorded for the first time for Iranian leafhoppers fauna. Diagnostic characters and geographical distribution of the newly recorded species is presented briefly.

O açaizeiro (Euterpe oleracea Martius) é uma palmeira nativa da várzea da região amazônica e pode ser indicada como a espécie de maior valor econômico do gênero. Dos seus frutos é extraída a polpa, largamente consumida, de variadas formas, pela população da região Norte do Brasil. Com a expansão da área plantada, muitos fatores podem comprometer a produção e limitar o cultivo, destacando-se a ocorrência de insetos-praga que causam prejuízos à produção. Este relato configura o primeiro registro de ocorrência da cigarrinha Aetalion reticulatum (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Aethalionidae) em plantas de E. oleracea. A ocorrência deste inseto associado ao açaizeiro, em Rio Branco, Acre, aumenta a lista de hospedeiros desta cigarrinha no Brasil e reforça a necessidade de estudos de dinâmica populacional, levantamento de inimigos naturais, níveis de dano e métodos de controle, a fim de antecipar possíveis surtos populacionais desta praga em plantios comerciais de açaí no Estado. Infestation of Aetalion reticulatum (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) in Plants of Euterpe oleracea Martius (Arecaceae) in Acre State, Brazil Abstract. The açai palm (Euterpe oleracea Martius) is a native palm tree from the Amazon region floodplains and may be indicated as the most economically profitable species of this genus. Its fruit pulp is extracted and widely consumed by the population of northern Brazil in several ways. With the expansion of the planted area many factors may affect the production and limit the cultivation, highlighting the occurrence of insect pests that cause losses in production. This report presents the first occurrence of the leafhopper Aetalion reticulatum (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Aethalionidae) in E. oleracea plants. The occurrence of this insect associated with açai palms in Rio Branco, Acre, increases the list of hosts for this leafhopper in Brazil and reinforces the need for studies of population dynamics, survey of natural enemies, levels of damage and control methods in order to anticipate population outbreaks of this pest in commercial plantations of açai palms in the State.

The leafhopper Kybos strobli (Wagn.) is reported from Russian territory for the first time. The species was found in the Republic of Karelia. It is the species north-easternmost known habitat as well as the first finding in Fennoscandia.

Background: The phylogenetic position and classification of Athysanini are poorly defined, as it includes a large group of polyphyletic genera that have historically been assigned to it mainly because they still exhibit the most typical deltocephaline genitalic and external body characters but lack the distinctive characteristics that other tribes possess. The bamboo-feeding leafhopper genus Abrus belong to the tribe Athysanini of subfamily Deltocephalinae, which currently comprises 19 valid described species, and are limited to the Oriental and Palaearctic regions in China. Although the taxonomy of Abrus are well updated, the references on comparative mitogenomic analyses of Abrus species are only known for a single species. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of Abrus daozhenensis Chen, Yang & Li, 2012 (16,391bp) and A. yunshanensis Chen, Yang & Li, 2012 (15,768bp) (Athysanini), and compared with published mitogenome sequence of A. expansivus Xing & Li, 2014 (15,904bp)., Results: These Abrus species shared highly conserved mitogenomes with similar gene order to that of the putative ancestral insect with 37 typical genes and a non-coding A + T-rich region. The nucleotide composition of these genomes is highly biased toward A + T nucleotides (76.2%, 76.3%, and 74.7%), AT-skews (0.091 to 0.095, and 0.095), negative GC-skews (- 0.138, - 0.161, and - 0.138), and codon usage. All 22 tRNA genes had typical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for trnS1 (AGN) which lacks the dihydrouridine arm, and distinctively trnG in the mitogenome of A. expansivus lacks the TψC arm. Phylogenetic analyses based on 13 PCGs, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes consistently recovered the monophyletic Opsiini, Penthimiini, Selenocephalini, Scaphoideini, and Athysanini (except Watanabella graminea, previously sequenced species as Chlorotettix nigromaculatus) based on limited available mitogenome sequence data of 37 species., Conclusion: At present, Abrus belongs to the tribe Athysanini based on both morphological and molecular datasets, which is strongly supported in present phylogenetic analyses in both BI and ML methods using the six concatenated datasets: amino acid sequences and nucleotides from different combinations of protein-coding genes (PCGs), ribosomal RNA (rRNAs), and transfer RNA (tRNAs). Phylogenetic trees reconstructed herein based on the BI and ML analyses consistently recovered monophylitic Athysanini, except Watanabella graminea (Athysanini) in Opsiini with high support values., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Two new genera of the leafhopper tribe Erythroneurini, Hamata gen. nov. and Levigata gen. nov., are established based on type species from Yunnan, China: Hamata coralliformis sp. nov. and Levigata arborea sp. nov., respectively. Two additional new species, Gladkara bifida sp. nov. from Yunnan and Thapaia tibetensis sp. nov. from Tibet, are described and illustrated and amended descriptions of their respective genera are provided. A new synonymy is suggested: Elbelus tripunctatus Mahmood, 1967 = Elbelus melianus Kuoh, 1992, syn. nov. Eleven species of nine erythroneurine genera are newly recorded from China: Arboridia (Arboridia) kakogawana (Matsumura, 1932), A. (A.) suputinkaensis (Vilbaste, 1968), Balanda kara Dworakowska, 1979, Dorycnia vietnamica Dworakowska, 1979, Gambialoa (Gambialoa) borealis Dworakowska, 1981, Gladkara albida Dworakowska, 1995, Seriana dentata Sohi & Mann, 1992, S. malaica Dworakowska, 1978, Tautoneura mukla Dworakowska, 1981, Yakuza sumatrana Dworakowska, 2002, and Ziczacella lyrifora (Dlabola, 1968). Additional faunistic data and illustrations are provided for the following species from China: Arboridia (Arboridia) agrillacea (Anufriev, 1969), A. (A.) lunula Song & Li, 2013, A. (A.) maculifrons (Vilbaste, 1968), A. (A.) suzukii (Matsumura, 1916), Arboridia (Arborifera) surstyli Cai & Xu, 2006, Gambialoa (Gambialoa) asiatica Dworakowska, 1979, Kaukania anser Dworakowska, 1972, Seriana indefinita Dworakowska, 1971, S. ochrata Dworakowska, 1971, Ziczacella dworakowskae (Anufriev, 1970), Z. heptapotamica (Kusnezov, 1928), and Z. steggerdai (Ross, 1965). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The recent description of a new vibrational mating disruption method to control the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus Ball opened questions about its possible application to other leafhopper pests. Since the prerequisite for the method's successful application is a deep knowledge of the species mating behavior and the exact role of associated signals, we conducted behavioral assays on the green leafhopper Empoasca vitis Göthe, a pest of grapevine and other crops in Europe and Asia. Laser vibrometer recordings of single and paired individuals (male and female) during a 24‐h period enabled us to detect and describe 2 male and 1 female signal. The pair formation starts when the female replies to a male call and a duet is established, then it continues through 2 different behavioral stages: Location and Courtship. The proper courtship begins only when the male locates the female. The latter is characterized by a significant change in temporal parameters that regards both the signals and the duet structure. Although the male calling activity and the female replying rate were the same during the 24 h, a lower number of matings was recorded during the night. We discuss the possible role of vision and of the species ecology as factors of reproductive success and mating strategy. Our conclusion is that the mechanical mating disruption technique seems feasible for future application to this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tea green leafhopper, Empoasca vitis Göthe, is one of the most serious pests in tea growing areas. This study investigated the roles played by olfaction and vision in host orientation behavior. The compound eye of E. vitis was found to be a photopic eye; few olfactory sensilla were found on the antennae, while abundant gustatory sensilla were recorded on the mouthparts. Three opsin genes (EV_LWop, EV_UVop, EV_Bop) were isolated and found to be mainly expressed in the compound eye compared with other parts of the body. Immunolocalization indicated that the opsins mainly located in the different regions of rhabdom. The transcription levels of EV_LWop, EV_Bop and EV_UVop were reduced by 77.3, 70.0 and 40.0%, respectively, by RNA interference induced by being fed a special RNA-rich diet for 6 days. The rate of tropism to host color was effectively impaired by 67.6 and 29.5% in the dsEV_LWop and dsEV_Bop treatment groups, but there was no significant change in the dsEV_UVop group. The determination of the cause of the tropism indicated that odors from the host over long distances were unable to attract E. vitis and were only detected when the insects were close to the host. The developed compound eye of E. vitis plays a leading role in host location, and the long-wavelength opsin significantly affects the tropism to host color; the lack of olfactory sensilla results in long-distance odors not being able to be detected until the insect is near to the host-plant. The understanding of these behavioral mechanisms, especially the importance of opsin genes is expected to be useful for pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of concerns over recent declines in overall biodiversity in suburban areas, homeowners are attempting to improve the ecological functioning of their landscapes by incorporating native plants. Native plants are important for supporting native herbivorous insects, but it is unknown whether the native plants that are commercially available, typically cultivated varieties (cultivars) of a single genotype, are equally effective as food sources as the local, wild-type plants. We compared the hemipteran communities feeding on cultivars and wild-propagated plants for four species of native perennials commonly used as ornamentals. Of 65 hemipteran species collected, 35 exhibited a preference for some plant species over others, indicating a high degree of host-plant specialization. Moreover, the insect community associated with cultivars was distinct from the insect community associated with wild-type plants for each plant species, with three to four insect species accounting for most of the observed difference. Total insect abundance and insect biomass differed between cultivars and wild-propagated plants, but the direction of the difference changed over time and was not consistent among plant species. Species richness and a diversity index (the Q statistic) did not differ between cultivars and wild-type plants. These data suggest that abundance and diversity of hemipteran insects does not depend on the source of the plant material per se, but rather on the particular characteristics of cultivars that distinguish them from the wild type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aster yellows phytoplasma (AY), only recently reported in South Africa and still limited in its distribution in the country, causes a serious disease of grapevine. A leafhopper, Mgenia fuscovaria (Stål)(Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), was shown to transmit AY to grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) locally. A second Mgenia species, identified as Mgenia angusta (Theron), has also been found in vineyards in South Africa but has not been shown to transmit AY. M. angusta is morphologically similar to M. fuscovaria, but does differ regarding the size of the male sex organ and in the number of teeth of the blades making up the ovipositor. In this study, we determined the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (cox1), commonly used in insect bar-coding, of a number of specimens of males, females and nymphs of both M. fuscovaria and M. angusta. No differences were observed between the cox1 sequences of the male, female and nymph specimens putatively assigned to any specific species, but some nucleotide sequence differences were observed between specimens of M. fuscovaria and M. angusta. These differences, however, were insufficient to allow the development of PCR systems specific to each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their nutritional value and function as soil nitrogen fixers, production of pulses has been increasing markedly in the United States, notably in the dryland areas of the Northern Plains and the Pacific Northwest United States (NP&PNW). There are several insect-transmitted viruses that are prevalent and periodically injurious to pulse crops in the NP&PNW and elsewhere in North America. Others are currently of minor concern, occurring over limited areas or sporadically. Others are serious constraints for pulses elsewhere in the world and are not currently known in North America, but have the potential to be introduced with significant economic consequences. Managing plant viruses and the diseases they cause requires effective diagnostics, knowledge of virus vectors, virus transmission biology and ecology. A comprehensive compendium to inform producers and researchers about viruses currently and potentially affecting pulses in North America is needed. Here we provide an overview of insect transmitted viruses and their biology, followed by descriptions of the structure, infection biology, host ranges, symptoms, interspecific interactions, and current management options including host plant resistance and vector control for 33 viruses affecting or potentially affecting pulses in the United States and Canada. These are organized based on their transmission biology into persistently transmitted (families Geminiviridae , Luteoviridae and Nanoviridae), semi-persistantly transmitted (Secoviridae), and nonpersistantly transmitted (Betaflexiviridae , Bromoviridae and Potyviridae) viruses. We conclude with an overview of the principles of managing insect-transmitted viruses and an outline of areas requiring further research to improve management of viruses in pulses currently and into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]