Evaluation of Xylem-feeding Insects (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) in Texas Vineyards: Distribution along State-wide Environmental Gradients

• Author(s): Abedi, A; Mitchell, F; Morano, L; Yoon, JM;
• Abstract: The goal of this project was to analyze a large collection of insect trap data accumulated by the Texas Pierce's Disease Research and Education Program. The traps were set in grape, Vitis, vineyards across Texas to monitor the abundance and distribution of xylem fluid-feeding insects that may vector Pierce's disease. This study evaluated the three most abundant xylem fluid-feeding insects in Texas vineyards: the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar); a smaller green sharpshooter, Graphocephala versuta (Say); and the sunflower spittlebug, Clastoptera xanthocephala Germar. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was used to analyze insect abundance against environmental gradients of ecoregion, elevation, annual precipitation, and cold hardiness from 2003-2007 in each of 40 vineyards. Canonical Correspondence Analysis showed that distribution of species along environmental gradients differed significantly (p = 0.001) and the environmental gradients explained almost 67% of the variability in insect distribution across the state. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis plot also suggested niche differences among these insect species.
• Publication Date: Dec 2010
• Journal: Southwestern Entomologist