Insects (2018) 9 (4 - 175)

Marina Morente, Daniele Cornara, María Plaza, José Manuel Durán, Carmen Capiscol, Raquel Trillo, Manuel Ruiz, Carmen Ruz, Susana Sanjuan, Jose Alberto Pereira, Aranzazu Moreno and Alberto Fereres (2018)
Distribution and relative abundance of insect vectors of Xylella fastidiosa in olive groves of the Iberian Peninsula
Insects 9 (4 - 175)
Abstract: The phytosanitary emergency caused by the spread of Xylella fastidiosa in the Mediterranean has raised demands for a better understanding of the ecology of its presumed and candidate insect vectors. Here, we present the results of a two-year survey carried out in olive groves across southern, eastern and Central Spain and northeastern Portugal. Several sampling methods were tested and compared to select the most appropriate to estimate population levels of potential vectors of X. fastidiosa. The spittlebugs Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) were the main species associated with olive groves. Both species were widely present on herbaceous ground vegetation within the olive groves; P. spumarius mainly associated with Asteraceae and N. campestris with Poaceae. Due to the patchy distribution of spittlebugs within the olive groves, sweep nets were the most effective and least time-consuming sampling method for the estimation of population size both in the ground cover and tree canopies. Trends in population density showed that spittlebugs can be abundant on ground vegetation but very rare on olive canopies. Spittlebugs disperse in late spring to non-cultivated hosts that act as natural reservoirs. In late fall, adults return to the olive groves for oviposition. However, olive trees may act as transient hosts for spittlebugs and high population densities of these insect vectors should be avoided in areas where X. fastidiosa is present.
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Database assignments for author(s): Alberto Fereres

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
transmission/dispersal of plant diseases

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Philaenus spumarius	Olive (Olea europaea)	Spain (continental)
	Neophilaenus campestris	Olive (Olea europaea)	Spain (continental)