Cicadomorpha community (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) in different agroecosystems in the north of Portugal

Abstract

Abstract The infraorder Cicadomorpha is a diverse group comprising several species considered important pests of economic crops and species that may act as vectors of plant pathogens. In Europe, the gram‐negative bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most important and severe insect‐borne plant pathogens associated with the infraorder Cicadomorpha. Therefore, the knowledge of the abundance and diversity of native Cicadomorpha insect vectors related to the different agroecosystems is essential to design and implementing specific measures to control insect‐borne plant pathogens. In this work, in two consecutive years (2018 and 2019), five almond orchards, five vineyards, five olive orchards, and five scrublands distributed in the North of Portugal were sampled in three different periods (early summer, summer and autumn) to investigate species composition, richness, and diversity of the Cicadomorpha community. Also, in 2019, five lemon orchards were sampled. A total of 6056 individuals were collected (2322 in 2018 and 3734 in 2019), belonging to 71 species of three families. Observing several considered pests or vectors of vicious pathogens within these species was possible. The confirmed vectors of X. fastidiosa (Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1758) and Neophilaenus campestris (Fallen, 1805)) were captured in all agroecosystems and, in general, with more abundance in autumn. The highest abundance, richness, and diversity of Cicadomorpha were observed in vineyards. However, these parameters (abundance, richness and diversity) significantly differed between the agroecosystem and sampling period. Further research on how the composition of the vegetation cover shapes the Cicadomorpha community is essential to implement strategies to reduce the spread of insect‐borne pathogens if they are introduced into agroecosystems.