Journal of Pest Science (2015) 88, 87-95

Astrid Eben, Roland Mühlethaler, Jürgen Gross and Hannelore Hoch (2015)
First evidence of acoustic communication in the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri L. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)
Journal of Pest Science 88 (1), 87-95
Abstract: A number of species of the family Psyllidae, commonly called jumping plant lice, are economically important as vectors of pathogenic phytoplasmas in fruit crops. Pear psyllids of the species Cacopsylla pyri (L. 1758) (Psyllidae) are the most damaging pest of pear trees in Europe. These phloem feeding insects transmit pear decline, a disease caused by the phytopathogenic bacterium Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri. Knowledge of the signals used for intraspecific communication, especially during mating behavior, is essential to design ecological control strategies against this vector insect. Here, we report the first recordings of acoustic signals emitted by male and female C. pyri. We also observed the establishment of an acoustic duet between an interacting couple prior to mating. Furthermore, we found potentially sound producing stridulatory organs in male and female individuals of C. pyri. The acoustic signals recorded are described and presented. Possible stridulatory organs are depicted as scanning electron microscopy pictures. The implications of these findings for potential applications in pest control are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Astrid Eben, Jürgen Gross

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Cacopsylla pyri	Pear (Pyrus)	Germany