Preferred oviposition sites of the female of Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on Citrus reticulate cv. Shatangju
Author of the article:LI Hao;XIE Peng;LIANG Guan-Sheng;HAN Qun-Xin
Author's Workplace:Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China;Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China;Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China;Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
Key Words:Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, Citrus reticulate cv. Shatangju, oviposition
Abstract:
[Objectives] To investigate the
oviposition process and the preferred oviposition sites of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama female adults on Citrus reticulate cv. Shatangju bud. [Methods] The oviposition process of female D. citri was observed and recorded using an apparatus that combined
a mobile phone with a macrolens, and preferred oviposition sites on Citrus reticulate cv. Shatangju buds and new
leaves were studied by field investigation and laboratory experiments. [Results] Females preparing
for oviposition remained in one place and quivered their antennae. After a
while, females either crawled to a suitable site to lay eggs or continued the
previous behavior at another site until they found a suitable oviposition site.
When females began to lay, their antennae were motionless and their abdomen
bent toward the ventral side of body, causing the gap between the epiproct and
subgenital plates to gradually open and the ovipositor to be inserted into the
oviposition site. After oviposition, females rapidly withdrew their ovipositor;
the gap between the epiproct and subgenital plates closed slowly during this
process. Females tended to lay eggs in unexpanded and partially-expanded citrus
buds in the field. In the laboratory, females also tended to lay eggs in
unexpanded and partially-expanded buds of Citrus reticulate cv.
Shatangju that were <
10.00 mm in length), and did not choose to lay eggs on new
leaves if buds were also available. If only buds or leaves were available,
females laid eggs on either new leaves or buds but the amount of eggs laid on
new leaves was significantly less than that laid on buds. [Conclusion] D. citri females prefer to lay eggs on tender buds of Citrus
reticulate cv. Shatangju that are from 0-10 mm long.