The oviposition pattern of Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): why Argentinian populations differ from Mexican populations?

Abstract

In the Americas, the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong) (Cicadellidae), causes great damage to corn crops (Zea mays L.) because it efficiently transmits three important pathogens that adversely affect the crop: Corn stunt spiroplasma , Maize bushy stunt phytoplasma and Maize rayado fino virus. D. maidis is a specialist herbivore feeding only on plants of the genus Zea (maize and teosintes). The eggs of D. maidis are imbedded in the corn tissues, mostly along the midrib; even though the last statement do not coincide with observations carried out with Argentinean populations where, although laying eggs in the midrib, females also deposit eggs in the blade of the leaves. The aim of this contribution is to characterize the oviposition sites of a local population of D. maidis in young corn plants, in order to verify the hypothesis that the Argentinean vectors display a different oviposition strategy.