Biology and population statistics of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, under two rearing conditions, on Murraya paniculata L.

Abstract

The Asian citrus psylid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is a new pest in Ecuador detected in 2013. Its importance lies in the fact that it is a vector of the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter which causes huanglongbing, a devastating disease in citrus. During October 2016 - March 2017 its biological cycle, survival, fertility and population statistics (R_o: net reproductive rate, Tg: generational time, and r_m: intrinsic rate of population development) were studied under laboratory conditions. On its host, Murraya paniculata, two treatments were compared: T1, bare root plants in water, and T2, plants on soil as a substrate. The Wilcoxon test was used for comparisons. The biological cycle showed differences (P≤0.05) between treatments, with an amplitude of 16.0 to 16.7 days. The rest of the variables showed no differences (P>0.05) between both treatments. The adult longevity was 25.0 and 25.7 days for females and 13.3 and 12.8 days, for males on T1 and T2, respectively. The survival curve was type I in both cases. Fertility was 780 eggs for T1 and 816.3 for T2. The R_o resulted in 3.9 times for individuals raised on T1 and 4.1 for those raised on T2. The Tg was approximately 26-27 days. Likewise, the r_m was 0.05 for both treatments. The results show the short biological cycle of the insect and its biotic potential on both rearing conditions, which suggests that as a methodological alternative, laboratory biology studies of these insects can be performed on bare rooted plants on water.