North Central IPM Center

Sugarcane Planthopper

Perkinsiella saccharicida (Kirkaldy, 1903) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

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The sugarcane planthopper is an adventive species, first reported in the western hemisphere in Ecuador in 1966, and in the continental US in 1982. The species has since become broadly distributed in the sugar-growing regions of North, Central, and South America. The sugarcane planthopper had previously become established in Hawaii where it substantially impacted Hawaiian sugar production and was ultimately brought under control through the introduction of natural enemies. The sugarcane planthopper vectors sugarcane Fiji disease, but this disease has not been reported in the western Hemisphere.

The genus Perkinsiella consists of 35 species, mostly in the Indomalayan ecozone. Eight species in the genus are known to occur on sugarcane, but only one of these, Perkinsiella saccharicida, is widespread.

Distribution

Perkinsiella saccharicida appears to be native to Australia and probably the Indomalayan region, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippine Islands, Papua New Guinea, India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and southern China. It is adventive in southern Africa, Madagascar, and numerous islands. It was recorded in Hawaii in 1900, and first recorded in the Americas in Ecuador in 1966 (evidently from Hawaii), Peru in 1967, and Florida in 1982. It has since been recorded in Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia, and Cuba, but is undoubtedly present throughout the sugar growing regions of North, Central and South America.

Description

Delphacid planthoppers can be recognized by the presence of a large, flattened spur on the apex of the hind tibiae. Adult Perkinsiella saccharicida are about 4.5–6.0 mm in length (large for a delphacid, which are mostly less than 4 mm). Their antennae are flattened, their face distinctly bicolored, and their wings with diffuse smoky markings, becoming stronger apically. The male terminalia have rather flattened parameres and bear a pair of projections just in front of the parameres.

Biology

Females deposit, elongate-cylindrical, slightly curved eggs (1.0 × 0.35mm) in small groups of 2–12 (average 4.5) on either side of the leaf, mainly along the midrib, sheaths, and stock internodes beneath the leaf surface, with the apex of the egg protruding. The eggs are covered by a white waxy material, which turns dark a few days later. Females can lay up to 300 eggs over an approximately 30 day adult lifespan. Eggs incubate 2–5 weeks before hatching. There are 5 immature instars, lasting approximately 32 days at 25°C average temperatures. There are multiple generations per year. Populations were reported highest in October and November in Louisiana, and during the ‘summer months’ in Florida, but the species may be found throughout the year. Adults are usually fully winged (macropterous), but adults with short, non-functional wings can be common. Flying adults are very mobile and may be attracted to lights in large numbers.

 

Damage

Adult feeding activities cause damage to the plant, with subsequent reddening and desiccation of the leaves. Damage may also be caused by growth of sooty mold on honeydew excreted by the planthoppers and from ovipositional punctures. Perkinsiella saccharicida is a vector of Sugarcane Fiji disease virus Fijivirus (Fiji disease, Fiji leaf gall) (Reoviridae) (FDV), but this disease has not been reported in the Americas. This disease has been reported distribution Australia, Fiji, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, New Hebrides, Philippines, Samoa, Thailand. Sugarcane infected with Fiji disease shows leaf distortion and galls, stunting and death of meristematic tissue, resulting in severe yield reductions. Fiji disease is managed by host plant resistance and vector management.

 

Natural enemies

Natural enemies have been effective in controlling Perkinsiella saccharicida. The control of this species in Hawaii mark one of the early biocontrol success stories. Specialist natural enemies for delphacids particularly include Mymaridae, Dryinidae (Hymenoptera), Pipunculidae (Diptera), and Strepsiptera; however, the egg predator Tytthus mundulus (Breddin) (Miridae) is credited with being highly effective at reducing Perkinsiella populations in many places where it has been problematic, including Hawaii. In 1983, Tytthus mundulus was introduced into Florida to keep populations of Perkinsiella saccharicida at the lowest possible level. Other natural enemies reported from Florida include other Tytthus species and egg parasites in the genus Anagrus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). Other parasitoids reported for Perkinsiella saccharicida are Aprostocetus beatus (Perkins) and A. formosanus (Timberlake) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and the dryinids Acrodontochelys vitiensis (Perkins), Gonatopus krombeini Olmi, and Pseudogonatopus hospes Perkins.

The entomophagus fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin has been observed controlling adults.

Survey Perkinsiella saccharicida can most often be found on leaves and stalks, especially in the whorl or growing region, by inspection.

For more information on the sugarcane planthopper, visit our web site at ncipmc.org/action/alerts/perkinsiella.php

For information about the Pest Alert program, please contact Laura Iles, co-director of the North Central IPM Center, at ljesse@iastate.edu.

 

Credits

Author: Charles Bartlett (University of Delaware, Dept. Entomology)

Photos: Kimberley Shropshire (University of Delaware; specimen photos); Robert Magarey (BSES Limited, Indooroopilly Queensland, Australia; nymph, live adult, Fiji gall)

Funding: This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program (2014-70006-22486) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.