Journal of Pest Science (2019) 92, 1101-1109

Giacomo Santoiemma, Giovanni Tamburini, Francesco Sanna, Nicola Mori and Lorenzo Marini (2019)
Landscape composition predicts the distribution of Philaenus spumarius, vector of Xylella fastidiosa, in olive groves
Journal of Pest Science 92 (3), 1101-1109
Abstract: The meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae; Linnaeus, 1758), is considered the main vector in the ongoing Xylella fastidiosa outbreak in the olive groves of southern Italy. Identifying the factors driving the spatial distribution of P. spumarius is of primary importance to determine X. fastidiosa infection risk in healthy olive groves. Here, we investigated the local and landscape factors shaping the occurrence and abundance of P. spumarius by sampling 182 olive groves over 2 years in the Abruzzo region. We found the occurrence and abundance of the vector to be positively associated with the proportion of olive groves in the landscape and negatively with the cover of vineyards. Philaenus spumarius best responded to landscape processes at small spatial scale (125–250 m) confirming the available information regarding its dispersal ability. At the local scale, soil management and pesticide application did not affect the vector probably because both interventions were not timed according to the vector biology and ecology. Our findings suggest that the management of agricultural landscape mosaics can drive the spatial distribution of P. spumarius. In particular, the landscape composition of the close surrounding of the olive groves may potentially influence the emergence probability of local X. fastidiosa epidemics through its effects on the vector spatial distribution and activity.
(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): Nicola Mori, Lorenzo Marini

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Xylella fastidiosa	Olive (Olea europaea)	Italy
	Philaenus spumarius	Olive (Olea europaea)	Italy