Diagnostic Protocol Glassy-winged sharpshooter Homalodisca coagulata (Sa y) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Information prepared by Murray J. Fletcher NSW Agriculture, Orange Agricultural Institute, Forest Road, Orange NSW 2800 2002 The scientific and technical content of this document is current to the date published and all efforts were made to obtain relevant and published information on the pest. New information will be included as it becomes available, or when the document is reviewed. The material contained in this publication is produced for general information only. It is not intended as professional advice on any particular matter. No person should act or fail to act on the basis of any material contained in this publication without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice. Plant Health Australia and all persons acting for Plant Health Australia in preparing this publication, expressly disclaim all and any liability to any persons in respect of anything done by any such person in reliance, whether in whole or in part, on this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Plant Health Australia. Want more info? If you would like more information, or to download a copy of the Industry Biosecurity Plan, visit www.planthealthaustralia.com.au, email [email protected] or phone (02) 6215 7700. PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA | Viticulture Industry Biosecurity Plan 2009 Diagnostic images of GWSS See Figure 1 to Figure 3 Diagnostic images of Australian leafhoppers with which GWSS might be confused See Figure 4 to Figure 13 Organisms that occur in Australia with which GWSS might be confused The Australian Auchenorrhyncha can be differentiated using web keys provided by NSW Agriculture (Fletcher and Larivière 2001 + updates). In order to facilitate rapid and reliable diagnosis of GWSS, this species has also been incorporated into the keys. The characters used by the keys, which are fully illustrated with colour photographs, are sufficient to differentiate GWSS from all Australian leafhoppers. The following species (Table 1) share some features with GWSS, including larger size, brown colouration and large head with prominent eyes. Table 1. Australian Auchenorrhyncha species that share characteristics with GWSS Cicadellidae: Ledrinae: Thymbrini (Figure 4). Species of this tribe sometimes have an expanded head with prominent eyes although the face is not swollen as in GWSS. Also, the tegmina are opaque and cover the sides of the abdomen laterally. Cicadellidae: Ledrinae: Ledrini (Figure 5). The ledrines have the head expanded, sometimes quite markedly, but the face is always flattened or even concave to enable the leafhoppers to fit against the stems on which they feed. Cicadellidae: Ledrinae: Stenocotini (Figure 6 and Figure 7). Stenocotini often have the tegmina glassy transparent between the veins although, in those species, the anterior expansion of the head is due to an expanded pronotum rather than an expanded head (see Figure 6). In Ledracotis gunnensis Evans (Figure 7), it is the head that is expanded and this species can also have the face medially bulging, although not swollen. L. gunnensis can easily be differentiated from GWSS by having tegmina which are opaque and cover the sides of the abdomen laterally. Cicadellidae: Euacanthellinae: Euacanthellini. (Figure 8). Euacanthella palustris Evans is normally brachypterous but occasionally occurs in a macropterous form which has certain similarities to GWSS. However, the tegmina are opaque and cover the sides of the abdomen laterally. Cicadellidae: Tartessinae (Figure 9). Some Tartessinae are brown and large but do not have the head expanded and swollen like GWSS. Cercopoidea (Figure 10 and Figure 11). Spittlebugs and their relatives are xylem feeders and therefore have the frons expanded to enclose the muscles of the feeding pump. However, the general structure of spittlebugs is quite different from GWSS as illustrated in the figures. The head is not triangularly expanded, the tegmina are coloured, often quite brightly, and cover the abdomen laterally and the pronotum is often convex giving the insects a humped appearance quite different to the generally flattened and elongate appearance of GWSS. The Australian Cicadellinae all belong to the Tribe Cicadellini (Figure 12 and Figure 13) and differ from GWSS in lacking the broadly triangular vertex and in coloration. Species of Ishidaella Matsumura (Figure 13) have blue- black tegmina and yellow bodies with black markings while Australian species in other genera (e.g. Figure 12) are whitish or pale yellow, usually with dark markings. Diagnostic protocol: Glassy-winged sharpshooter | PAGE 2 PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA | Viticulture Industry Biosecurity Plan 2009 Comparative images of symptoms/damage/trauma caused by target organism Not applicable. Sampling technique Number of specimens to be collected: o At least two specimens of the largest specimens available. The aim is to obtain an adult male. Adult females are identifiable as belonging to Tribe Proconiini but males are needed to confirm species identification Preferred stage to be collected: o Adults, identifiable by the presence of wings. How to collect: o Hand collecting into glass vials or vacuum collecting either with vacuum sampler or pooter. Adults and nymphs are normally found on the trunk and stems of the host plant. Eggs are laid into underside of leaf in a ovoid or quadrate group. How to collect plant sample if required: o Leaves with suspect egg masses should be picked and refrigerated (not frozen). Transfer to diagnostic centre to be carried out as soon as possible for examination. How to preserve plant sample: o Leaves with suspect egg masses can be stored for a few days between moist newspaper and kept refrigerated (not frozen). How to preserve GWSS: o Adults and nymphs can be placed in 70% ethanol and stored indefinitely. Adults can also be stored dried but may become brittle and may be damaged in transit. How to transport GWSS: o Vial of ethanol should be sealed to avoid leakage and packed with cushioning material in a strong box. Dried specimens can be packed in tissue in a vial, which is then packed with cushioning material in a strong box. How to transport plant sample: o Leaves with egg masses should be mailed as a flat package between sheets of moist newspaper. Mail earlier in the week to avoid weekend delays. Provide diagnostic keys, in electronic format, to GWSS GWSS has been incorporated into electronic keys published on the NSW Agriculture website (Fletcher and Larivière 2001 + updates). This key distinguishes GWSS from all native Australian Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers, planthoppers, spittlebugs and cicadas). Confirmation of GWSS identification requires an examination of the structures of the male genitalia. Figure 3 provides line drawings of the diagnostic parts, particularly the aedeagus, taken from Young Diagnostic protocol: Glassy-winged sharpshooter | PAGE 3 PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA | Viticulture Industry Biosecurity Plan 2009 (1958). A technique for preparing the abdomen for genitalia examination is available at: www.agric.nsw.gov.au/Hort/ascu/eafhop/methods.htm Information on GWSS Species Homalodisca coagulata (Say 1832) Synonyms Tettigonia coagulata Say 1832 Homalodisca coagulata (Say), Stål 1869. Common names Glassy winged sharpshooter GWSS Known hosts Reference: Californian Department of Food and Agriculture - Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services website, pi.cdfa.ca.gov/pqm/manual/454.htm All taxa listed are regarded as oviposition hosts for GWSS, except for those marked with an asterisk*. The list includes ferns, gymnosperms, dicots and monocots Agavaceae: Cordyline, Phormium, Yucca* Aizoaceae: Aptenia Amaranthaceae: Amaranthus Amaryllidaceae: Agapanthus, Tulbaghia Anacardiaceae: Harpephyllum, Mangifera, Pistachia, Rhus, Schinus Annonaceae: Annona Apocynaceae: Mandevilla, Nerium, Trachelospermum, Vinca Aquifoliaceae: Ilex Araceae: Philodendron, Zantedeschia Araliaceae: Fatshedera, Hedera, Schefflera, Tupidanthus Arecaceae: Archontophoenix, Arecastrum, Cocos, Howea, Phoenix, Washingtonia Asclepiadaceae: Asclepias Asteraceae: Ambrosia*, Baccharis, Chrysanthemum, Erigeron, Eupatorium*, Euryops, Gazania, Helianthus, Lactuca*, Osteospermum,, Rudbeckia*, Solidago*, Sonchus*, Xanthium* Berberidaceae: Berberis, Nandina Bignoniaceae: Bignonia, Campsis, Catalpa, Chitalpa, Clytostoma, Jacaranda, Pandorea, Tabebuia, Tecomaria* Bombacaceae: Chorisia Diagnostic protocol: Glassy-winged sharpshooter | PAGE 4 PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA | Viticulture Industry Biosecurity Plan 2009 Bromeliaceae: Ananas Buxaceae: Buxus, Pachysandra Cactaceae: Opuntia Caesalpiniaceae: Cassia Cannaceae: Canna Caprifoliaceae: Abelia, Lonicera, Sambucus, Viburnum Caricaceae: Carica Caryophyllaceae: Dianthus Celastraceae: Euonymus, Maytenus Chenopodiaceae: Chenopodium Cistaceae: Cistus Commelinaceae: Tradescantia Cornaceae: Cornus Corylaceae: Alnus, Betula Crassulaceae: Crassula Cupressaceae: Thuja* Cycadaceae: Cycas Ebenaceae: Diospyros Elaeagnaceae: Elaeagnus* Elaeocarpaceae: Elaeocarpus Ericaceae: Arbutus, Arctostaphylos, Rhododendron Escalloniaceae: Escallonia Euphorbiaceae: Aleurites*, Sapium Fabaceae: Acacia, Albizzia, Bauhinia, Calliandra, Castanospermum, Ceratonia, Cercis, Erythrina, Hardenbergia, Robinia, Tipuana, Vigna*, Wisteria Fagaceae: Castanopsis, Quercus Flacourtiaceae: Xylosma Geraniaceae: Pelargonium Gesneriaceae: Aeschynanthus Gingkoaceae: Gingko Hamamelidaceae: Liquidambar, Loropetalum Hypericaceae: Hypericum Iridaceae: