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Sampling and interpretation of psyllid nymph counts in potatoes
Article first published online: 13 MAR 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01235.x
© 2012 The Authors. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata © 2012 The Netherlands Entomological Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Martini, X., Seibert, S., Prager, S. M. and Nansen, C. (2012), Sampling and interpretation of psyllid nymph counts in potatoes. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 143: 103–110. doi: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2012.01235.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 10 APR 2012
- Article first published online: 13 MAR 2012
- Accepted: 4 January 2012
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- direct sampling;
- row crops;
- IPM;
- Bactericera cockerelli;
- Hemiptera;
- Triozidae;
- Solanum tuberosum;
- leaf washing
Abstract
Development of effective management practices for insect pests relies heavily on sampling methods to accurately detect and quantify emerging populations. Herein we describe a novel method to extract and count nymphs of potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), from leaves in commercial fields of potato, Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanaceae). The proposed sampling method (referred to as the leaf washing method, LWM) consists of: (1) immersing samples of infested leaves in cold water to remove dust and sand; (2) immersing leaves in >85 °C water for 5 s; (3) extracting psyllid nymphs from heated water by passing it through a sampling unit composed of a funnel with a fine mesh-organza fabric inside and attached to a vacuum pump; and (4) removing organza fabric and count psyllid nymphs under a stereoscope. With five sampling units operating simultaneously, one person is able to process and count immatures from about 400 leaf samples in two normal work days. As examples of applications, the LWM was used to characterize: (1) the vertical distribution of potato psyllid nymphs in the potato canopy; and (2) the spatio-temporal distribution of potato psyllid nymphs in three potato varieties. Using LWM, we showed that psyllid nymphs were most predominant in the middle portion of the canopy and that spatio-temporal distributions of nymphs varied among potato varieties.