A series of field experiments was conducted in cranberry bogs in 2006e2010 to determine adult attraction of the two most economically important leafhopper pests of cultivated Vaccinium spp. in the northeast USA, the blunt-nosed leafhopper, Limotettix vaccinii (Van Duzee), and the sharp-nosed leafhopper, Scaphytopius magdalensis (Provancher), to colored (yellow, green, red, blue, white, and clea...

Title of dissertation: SYMBIONTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALIVARY GLANDS OF THE POTATO LEAFHOPPER, EMPOASCA FABAE, AND THEIR FUNCTION WHEN FEEDING ON LEGUMINOUS HOSTS Bridget Diane DeLay, Doctor of Philosophy, 2013 Dissertation directed by: Professor William O. Lamp Department of Entomology Many species of phloem feeding insects are host to symbiotic bacteria, which provide their hosts with nutrien...

Plant tolerance to herbivory is a key approach for managing pests. In alfalfa, Medicago sativa, the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae, is a major pest as a result of the cascade of plant responses to piercing-sucking injury. To identify tolerance to its injury based on alfalfa physiology, experiments were conducted in the field and greenhouse. In our comparison of the response of field-grown al...

InWisconsin, vegetablecropsare threatenedannuallyby theasteryellowsphytoplasma (AYp), which is obligately transmitted by the aster leafhopper. Using a multiyear, multilocation data set, seasonal patterns of leafhopper abundance and infectivity weremodeled. A seasonal aster yellows index (AYI) was deduced from the model abundance and infectivity predictions to represent the expected seasonal ris...

Although potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is highly polyphagous, classic host studies do not recognize grapevines (Vitis spp.), as suitable hosts. Recently, injury has been reported and reproduction documented within grape vineyards, suggesting a host expansion for the leafhopper. To document this apparent expansion in host use, we determined whether grape p...

In Wisconsin, vegetable crops are threatened annually by the aster yellows phytoplasma (AYp), which is obligately transmitted by the aster leafhopper. Using a multiyear, multilocation data set, seasonal patterns of leafhopper abundance and infectivity were modeled. A seasonal aster yellows index (AYI) was deduced from the model abundance and infectivity predictions to represent the expected sea...

To determine how irrigation influences variegated grape leafhopper biology and pest status, field studies were conducted in an experimental vineyard at the Kearney Agricultural Center. Results showed that increases in the amount of applied water were correlated to increases in leafhopper nymph density and size. Similarly, adult leafhoppers dispersed in greater numbers and had a higher reproduct...

The potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is an emerging pest of potato and insecticide applications to control this insect have increased in recent years. Based on field observations of leafhopper-crop dynamics, however, currently recommended action thresholds seem to be overly conservative. As a result, we initiated two experiments designed to quantify the impa...

This article summarizes the knowledge to date on biology of the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), including its distribution, development, migration, agricultural host plants, and mechanics of injury to host plants. Damage to alfalfa, potatoes, soybeans, and snap beans, and treatment guidelines, are summarized. Particular attention is given to integrated pest management options in alf...