Leptodictya tabida (Hemiptera : Tingidae): A potential threat to sugarcane production in Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

• Author(s): Bernal, Julio; Jones, Walker; Reagan, T.; S?tamou, Mamoudou; Showler, A.;
• Abstract: Areawide surveys and replicated cultivar trials were conducted in 2001 and 2002 in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) fields in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas to assess the distribution and incidence of the sugarcane tingid Leptodictya tabida (Herrich-Schaeffer). L. tabida was found in all fields surveyed during both years, infesting 60 and 68% of the plants, respectively. The average percentage of leaves infested was 11% in 2001 and 15% in 2002. In 2001, CP70-1133 was the most infested, CP72-1210 was the least infested, and intermediate infestation levels were evident in CP70-321andTCP87-3388. In 2002, however, TCP87-3388 and CP70-321 were more heavily infested, and CP71-1240 and CP71-1405 were the least infested. Mean densities of L. tabida recovered per plant varied between 1.2 bugs on CP72-1210 and 5.1 on CP70-1133 in 2001, and in 2002, from zero bugs on CP71-1240 and CP71-1405 to 5.3 on CP72-1210. In the cultivar trials, cultivar differences also were evident in both plant and leaf infestation levels, and the proportion of immatures to total L. tabida populations; HoCP91-555 had the lowest L. tabida infestations and NCo-310 had the greatest levels in both years. Although 5,000 L. tabida from the field were collected and kept in the laboratory, no parasitoids were found. The distribution of the infestations during the surveys and in the field trial evaluations suggested that L. tabida populations have been spreading in sugarcane across the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Potential varietal resistance mechanisms are discussed.
• Publication Date: Jun 2005
• Journal: Journal Of Economic Entomology