Journal of Economic Entomology (1996) 89, 898-905

Abdulrahman S. Al-Dawood, Edward B. Radcliffe, Elaine A. Backus and Willard L. Koukkari (1996)
Probing behavior of potato leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) on alfalfa influenced by plant water deficit
Journal of Economic Entomology 89 (4), 898-905
Abstract: Probing behavior of adult potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), on alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., plants maintained at 3 water levels, was monitored using an AC electronic feeding monitor. Two waveform feeding types were predominant in occurrence and duration: I_a, multiple-cell laceration; and I_c, continuous ingestion without stylet movement. Number of probes per insect did not differ significantly among water treatments. Mean number of waveform events per insect, I_c waveform events per insect; waveform events per probe, I_a waveform events per probe, and I_c waveform events per probe, occurred significantly more often on high and moderate water than on low water. Probing duration per insect, I_a waveform duration per insect, and l_a waveform duration per event were not significantly different among water treatments. Duration of I_c waveforms per insect were significantly longer on low water than on high or moderate water, whereas duration of I_a tended to be longer on high and moderate water. Probing duration per probe was not significantly different among water treatments. Duration of I_a waveform per probe was significantly longer on high and moderate water than on low water, whereas duration of I_c was significantly longer on low water than on high and moderate. Probing duration per event and I_c waveform duration per event were significantly longer on low water than on high and moderate. Water deficit in alfalfa results in a shift of probing behavior in potato leafhopper from predominantly l_a to I_c waveforms, the latter being a behavior that is less injurious to the plant.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Elaine A. Backus

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.
	Empoasca fabae	Alfalfa/lucerne (Medicago sativa)