Dalva Luiz de Queiroz

Psyllid Host-Plants (Hemiptera: Psylloidea): Resolving a Semantic Problem

Abstract Evolutionary and biological patterns can be obscured by inadequate or ill-defined terminology. An example is the generally very specific relationship between the sap-feeding hemipteran group, psyllids, and their breeding plants, commonly called host-plants. The literature is clogged with references to so called ‘hosts’, which are often merely plants on which psyllids were found accidentally, and no immature development was detected. Recently the term host has also been applied by some authors to any plant on which immature or adults feed. Here we propose a terminology to clarify associated plant definitions, and we suggest restricting the use of the term host-plant to plants on which a psyllid species completes its immature to adult life cycle. For the other plant associations we suggest the terms overwintering or shelter plant (plants on which adult psyllids overwinter and on which they may feed), food plant (plants on which adult psyllids feed, but do not breed and do not spend an extended period of time) and casual plant (plants on which adult psyllids land but do not feed).

Integrated Pest Management of Eucalypt Psyllids (Insecta, Hemiptera, Psylloidea)

Eucalypts, which are native to Australia, grow rapidly and have multiple uses. Because of these properties, they are planted on all continents except for Antarctica. In Brazil, many eucalypt species find suitable weather and environmental conditions to develop and today they are commercially grown on a large scale. In 2010, plantations covered a surface of over 4.75 million hectares (ABRAF, 2011). In Australia, eucalypts host an abundant fauna of phytophagous insects, among which the jumping plant-lice (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) are particularly species rich.

Ctenarytaina bipartita sp. n. (Hemiptera, Psylloidea), a new eucalypt psyllid from Southeast Australia

Ctenarytaina bipartita sp.n., associated with Eucalyptus kitsoniana and E. viminalis, is described from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. It differs from other described Ctenarytaina species in the paramere which bears a small posterior lobe. Taxonomically relevant morphological details are illustrated and the species is diagnosed from other eucalypt inhabiting congeners. Information on the biology is also given. C. bipartita has the potential to become an exported pest species to countries with significant eucalypt plantations.

Feeding and oviposition preferences of Ctenarytaina spatulata Taylor (Hemiptera, Psyllidae) for Eucalyptus spp. and other Myrtaceae in Brazil

Feeding and oviposition preferences of Ctenarytaina spatulata Taylor (Hemiptera, Psyllidae) for Eucalyptus spp. and other Myrtaceae in Brazil. The Australian psyllid, Ctenarytaina spatulata Taylor (Hemiptera, Psyllidae), was first detected in Brazil in 1994, where it was found on drought-affected shoots of Eucalyptus grandis in a plantation located in the northern part of Parana State. The oviposition and feeding preferences of this psyllid were examined on 19 Eucalyptus species, one Eucalyptus hybrid (Cambiju), three Corymbia species and four native Myrtaceae species (Hexaclames edulis, Marlieria edulis, Plinia trunciflora, and Psydium sp.) under greenhouse conditions. The largest populations of C. spatulata were found on E. robusta and E. pellita, while sizeable infestations were also found on E. urophylla, E. grandis, and the Cambiju hybrid. The plants with the greatest symptoms of damage were E. grandis and E. resinifera. Eucalyptus cinerea, E. benthamii, E. pilularis, and E. dunnii were not infested and E. cloeziana was minimally infested. Among the Corymbia species, the number of eggs of C. spatulata was very low on C. citriodora and C. torelliana. No eggs and nymphs of C. spatulata were found on native Brazilian Myrtaceae. The number of eggs on plants was highly correlated with the subsequent levels of nymphs, suggesting that egg counts can be used as a viable monitoring tool to assist with the integrated management of this pest.

The occurrence and abundance of two alien eucalypt psyllids in apple orchards

BACKGROUND The arrival of alien insects is frequently associated with the introduction of alien plants. Two exotic Psylloidea native to Australia [Ctenarytaina eucalypti (Maskell, 1890) and Ctenarytaina spatulata Taylor, 1997] were recorded during a two-year survey in five apple orchards located in Asturias, on the northern coast of Spain. Both species develop on Eucalyptus, but our results suggest that the adults feed also on apple. RESULTS The captures of adult Ctenarytaina, particularly C. spatulata (2191 individuals vs 100 of C. eucalypti) were higher than those of the psyllids that develop on apple. Both species occurred in all sites, including those most distant from the eucalypt plantations. Their abundance peaks matched with two crucial periods in the apple tree cycle: sprouting and leaf drop. The hypothesis that the adult eucalypt psyllids feed on apple is supported by the presence of a phytoplasma, the causal agent of the apple proliferation disease, in one specimen of each species. This phytoplasma can be only acquired after feeding on an infected apple tree. This is the first report of continuous captures of these psyllids in apple orchards. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that adults of the two Ctenarytaina species feed in apple orchards in Asturias.

Revision of the neotropical jumping plant-louse genus Mastigimas (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) attacking Cedrela and Toona species (Meliaceae).

The small Neotropical genus Mastigimas with five described species is revised. Three new species are added: Mastigimas colombianus sp. n. from Colombia on Cedrela montana, M. drepanodis sp. n. from Brazil (Paraná) on C. fissilis and M. reseri sp. n. from Jamaica collected in light traps. Another two species are recorded from Brazil and Colombia, respectively, which are not formally described due to insufficient material. The new species are described, and illustrations and identification keys are provided for all species. The last instar immatures are described for five species. The phylogeny within Mastigimas is analysed, and the biogeographic and host plant relationships are discussed.

Taxonomy of Calophya (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) Species Associated with Schinus terebinthifolia (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardaceae), native to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, is one of the most invasive weeds in Florida. In its native range, at least 4 psyllid species of the genus Calophya (Hemiptera: Calophyidae) are associated with it. All 4 species are monophagous and constitute a likely monophyletic group that induce pit galls, usually on the upper leaf surface. Here we revise the taxonomy of these species, 2 of which are described as new, viz. C. lutea sp. nov. and C. praestigiator sp. nov. Morphological differences between the 4 species are detailed and relevant structures are figured. Keys for adults and the fifth instars are provided for the identification of the 8 species known to induce pit galls on Schinus species.

ABSORÇÃO E TRANSLOCAÇÃO DE SILÍCIO EM MUDAS DE Eucalyptus camaldulensis

The search for high productivity of Eucalyptus plants and seedlings with good nutritional and genetic quality, that are more resistant to the insect-pest attack are being more and more studied. On this context, this study was realized to understand the absorption and the translocation of silicon in Eucalyptus camaldulensis seedlings. The experiment was carried through in a nursery belonging to ‘Votorantim Siderurgia’ company, in Joao Pinheiro –MG state, where the application in substrate(calcium silicate) of the micronutrient was evaluated as well as its application on plant leaves (potassium silicate), at three different doses. The experimental design was entirely randomized, with eight treatments, 20 replicates, totalizing 160 plants. The evaluation of the experiment was carried through on the basis of the values of silicon present on the analysis of the dry matter of roots and aerial parts of plants (mg plant -1 ) and in substrate (%). Three evaluations had been carried through at 30, 60 and 90 days after application of the doses of silicon in leaves and roots and four evaluations for the substrate samples, being the first evaluation at the beginning of the experiment (before the silicon fertilization) and the others at 30, 60 and 90 days after the eucalyptus sowing. Considering the leaf analyses, greater silicon content was observed on the treatment with application of potassium silicate (10 ml/plant) T8, that was on average 3 times more when compared to treatments without silicon (standard fertilization + 110 grams of CaO) - T1 and without application of silicon (standard fertilization + 1.71 grams of KCl) -– T2. There were no differences among treatments in relation to silicon content in the E. camaldulensis roots. In the substrate samples, a significant increase in the micronutrient content was observed at 30, 60 and 90 days, due to the increasing doses of silicate, in the two forms of application, especially on T8. Thus, it was possible to conclude that E. camaldulensis is able to absorb and to translocate the micronutrient.

The jumping plant-lice of the Neotropical genus Tainarys (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) associated with Anacardiaceae

The Neotropical psyllid genus Tainarys Brèthes, 1920 is revised to include 14 extant and one fossil species from Dominican amber. Eight species are described as new, viz. Tainarys aroeira sp. nov., T. atra sp. nov., T. hapla sp. nov., T. myracrodrui sp. nov., T. nigricornis sp. nov., T. didyma sp. nov. and T. orientalis sp. nov. from Brazil, the last two also from Uruguay, as well as T. lozadai sp. nov. from Peru. The fifth instar immatures are described for nine species. †Vicinilura Klimaszewski, 1996, erected for the fossil †V. reposta Klimaszewski, 1996 and previously synonymised with Leurolophus Tuthill, 1942, is synonymised here (syn. nov.) with Tainarys and †V. reposta is transferred to become †Tainarys reposta (Klimaszewski), comb. nov. The descriptions are supplemented by illustrations and keys for the identification of adults and immatures. Phylogenetic relationships between species are investigated with a cladistic analysis using 22 adult and six immature morphological characters. The analysis resulted in a single most parsimonious, fully resolved tree. The fossil species is nested within the genus rather than being the sister taxon of the remainder of species. The extant species are restricted to the subtropical and temperate parts of South America. Three pairs of sister clades display an east‒west South American and one a midwest‒southern Brazilian geographical vicariance. Host plants are confirmed for nine and likely for another four species. They are Astronium, Haplorhus, Myracrodruon, Schinopsis and Schinus (Anacardiaceae). All Tainarys species appear to be oligophagous inducing irregular leaf curls on their hosts.

Figures 140 – 151 In The Jumping Plant-Lice Of The Neotropical Genus Tainarys (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) Associated With Anacardiaceae

FIGURES 140 – 151. Base of female subgenital plate, in lateral view, of Tainarys species: 140, T. aroeira sp. nov.; 141, T. inopinata (Burckhardt); 142, T. myracrodrui sp. nov.; 143, T. atra sp. nov.; 144, T. hapla sp. nov.; 145, T. orientalis sp. nov.; 146, T. lozadai sp. nov.; 147, T. venata Burckhardt & Basset; 148, T. sordida Burckhardt; 149, T. schini Brethes; 150, T. didyma sp. nov.; 151, T. nigricornis sp. nov.