The differentiation of workers into supplementary reproductives (ergatoids) is an important component of reproductive plasticity in termites, but the behavioral and physiological changes accompanying this transition remain incompletely understood. We used Reticulitermes chinensis (Snyder) to examine allogrooming, locomotor behavior, egg production, enzyme activity, and gene expression during the worker-to-ergatoid transition. The first ergatoids appeared within 2 days after orphaning, and female ergatoids outnumbered male ergatoids. Ergatoids that survived to the end of the observation period differentiated earlier than those that did not. Compared with workers, ergatoids received more grooming, gave less grooming, and showed lower locomotor velocity, shorter distance traveled, and reduced moving time. Total egg number was positively associated with the body mass of the largest female ergatoid and with the number of surviving workers, but not with the number of female ergatoid reproductives. Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities were higher in ergatoids than in workers. Based on biological replicate means, gene-expression analyses showed higher CAT expression in both ergatoid sexes, higher SOD expression in female ergatoids, and a female-biased ACP expression pattern. These results describe behavioral and physiological changes associated with reproductive transition in laboratory groups of R. chinensis.
Anthonomus eugenii Cano, the pepper weevil, is a devastating pest of peppers (Capsicum spp.). A. eugenii is a pest in both field and greenhouse pepper production across North America, with field production generally impacted in Central America, Mexico, the southern United States, and Hawaii, and greenhouse production being impacted in the northern United States and Canada. The life cycle of A. eugenii primarily occurs inside a pepper fruit, protecting these stages from contact-based insecticidal sprays. Only the adult stage is susceptible to chemical management strategies. However, these strategies are expensive to growers and have negative impacts on agroecosystems, presenting a critical need for new management strategies such as initial oviposition deterrence. Female A. eugenii produce an oviposition-deterrent pheromone (ODP) after egg-laying, indicating to other females the pepper has been occupied. This study evaluated the initial oviposition deterrence of kaolin clay in combination with dye and a previously characterized A. eugenii ODP. Results indicated that peppers treated with kaolin clay alone deterred oviposition, but a concentration of 10% ODP + kaolin clay further reduced oviposition events. When peppers were treated with red-dyed kaolin clay, the rate of oviposition was also decreased as compared to kaolin clay alone. Further investigations of dyed and ODP-infused kaolin clay should be conducted under greenhouse and field conditions to evaluate their effectiveness against initial oviposition in traditional agricultural settings.
Machine learning is transforming chemical ecology by accelerating the discovery and deployment of semiochemical-based tools for precision pest management. These advances are particularly important in the face of climate change, pesticide resistance, and the growing need for sustainable agricultural intensification. This review synthesizes how machine learning can be applied across the semiochemical discovery and implementation pipeline, from chemical signal detection to field deployment and decision support for integrated pest management. We review major machine learning approaches and demonstrate how they extract biologically relevant information from high-dimensional chemical, electrophysiological, behavioral, sensor, and field datasets. These methods accelerate semiochemical discovery, prioritize candidate compounds, optimize formulations and deployment strategies, and support adaptive pest management under dynamic environmental conditions. We further examine the integration of sensor-based technologies, explainable machine learning, and optimization algorithms to improve pest detection, monitoring, and intervention. Current challenges include data scarcity, heterogeneous datasets, the lack of benchmark resources, limited field validation, and the underrepresentation of tropical agroecosystems and smallholder farming systems. We propose practical recommendations for developing reusable datasets that integrate volatile profiles, electrophysiology, insect behavior, and management outcomes to improve model robustness and reproducibility. Central to this review is a 4-stage framework comprising detection, design, deployment, and decision support that connects machine learning with chemical ecology and provides a practical roadmap for translating computational advances into targeted, efficient, and sustainable pest management.
Camera-based monitoring of arthropods is an emerging tool for studying activity, abundance, and behavior. However, many current approaches rely on custom-built camera systems and complex analytical workflows, which limit accessibility and broader adoption. In addition, most arthropod camera-monitoring systems image subjects against uniform backgrounds, conditions that may alter natural activity patterns and reduce ecological realism. Here, we present a camera-monitoring workflow designed to increase accessibility by using commercially available game cameras coupled with a streamlined image-processing pipeline. We evaluated the performance of this approach by imaging arthropods against a complex, heterogeneous background to assess its effectiveness under conditions more representative of field environments. Our object-detection model performed reliably across evaluation metrics and accurately identified arthropods captured in the images despite background complexity. These results demonstrate that low-cost, widely available camera systems can be integrated with simplified analytical workflows to enable effective arthropod monitoring without specialized hardware. This approach provides a scalable and accessible method for studying arthropods in more natural contexts and may facilitate broader adoption of camera-based monitoring in ecological research and biodiversity assessments.
Xyleborus affinis Eichthoff is a neotropical ambrosia beetle that, in certain regions such as the United States and Mexico, has been associated with exotic phytopathogenic fungi causing extensive tree mortality. Although studies relating its olfactory response to volatile compounds and trapping systems have been published, factors such as the insect's physiological condition, which can affect its recognition or response to odors, have not been studied. Here, we evaluated the electroantennographic (EAG) response of wild and laboratory reared X. affinis females to 70% ethanol, a compound known to attract these insects. The experimental design was developed to consider and compare the following conditions: (i) females collected inside and outside host-galleries, (ii) sexual maturity (with mature and immature ovaries), (iii) age (0, 1, 3, and 5 d after emergence), and (iv) mating status (virgins and mated). Our results indicate that most of the wild females located outside the galleries were sexually mature but exhibited significantly lower EAG response than those inside the galleries. Regarding mating status, mated females exhibited significantly stronger antennal responses compared to virgins, whereas age did not affect antennal sensitivity. Finally, we provide images of the hitherto undescribed reproductive system of X. affinis females, a key element that enabled this investigation. The information generated offers a useful foundation for future studies aimed at understanding the physiological mechanisms and other critical factors related to sensory perception and reproductive condition. For example, factors that may influence the behavior and attraction of X. affinis females to host semiochemicals.
The Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) is a significant economic insect used for silk production. A novel body shape mutant, stony^sunken (st^sk), that exhibits a sunken intersegmental membrane was isolated from the wild type of st^sk (WT-n08). Investigation indicated that the mutation had no significant effect on its growth and development. To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying this body shape mutant, genetic analysis, positional cloning, and the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system were performed. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the mutant trait in st^sk is controlled by an autosomal recessive gene and follows Mendelian inheritance. Positional cloning showed that a putative cuticular protein gene, BmorCPR2 on chromosome 8, was the candidate gene. Sequencing analysis revealed partial deletion of BmorCPR2 exon 2 and intron 2 sequences occurred and subsequently resulted in the premature termination of gene expression. Knock-out of BmorCPR2 using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system led to the sunken intersegmental membrane phenotype. These findings highlight the essential role of BmorCPR2 in silkworm cuticular formation, providing a foundation for further research on cuticular protein function.
Respiratory metabolism is one of the key ecological traits of organisms. As such, it is studied by ecologists from a wide range of disciplines, from macroecological studies to evolutionary biology, with the global changes context making the need for its understanding more pressing. Unfortunately, properly measuring respiration is a time- and cost-intensive endeavor, and gathering large datasets can be prohibitive due to the difficulty of measuring it. Here, we describe a fluorescence-based high-throughput closed-system respirometry technique for terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, able to measure respiration for up to 240 channels in parallel in vials of 2 or 4 ml. We used a setup originally designed to continuously measure oxygen in laboratory cell cultures in liquid medium to measure arthropod respiration. Through a series of experiments, we demonstrate the reliability of the system to measure respiration of arthropods. Even very small arthropods were able to be measured, although Drosophila had to be measured in groups of 2 to 4. Further, the system's modularity makes it particularly fit for assessing full thermal performance curves of respiratory metabolism in a small amount of time. We provide helpful guidelines and R scripts to make use of this system to create thermal performance curves of insect metabolism.
Chemical communication in eusocial insects is crucial for colony survival and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions, contributing significantly to their evolutionary success. Pheromones, produced mainly by exocrine glands, serve as the primary means of communication among colony members. They coordinate complex social behaviors, including foraging, queen recognition, brood care, alarm signaling, and colony defense. Proper pheromone function is therefore essential for maintaining colony cohesion and efficiency. However, pathogens, particularly viruses, can influence pheromone-mediated communication through 2 main mechanisms: by altering pheromone production or by impairing pheromone perception. The impacts of viruses on exocrine glands and pheromone production have been well documented in several nonsocial insect species. Although evidence is growing for the effects of viruses on pheromone-mediated behaviors in eusocial insects, the underlying mechanisms linking viruses and pheromone signaling remain poorly understood. Here, we review current knowledge on how viral infections influence chemical communication in 2 ecologically important, eusocial insects: the honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758), a nectar and pollen feeder, valued for its pollination services and honey production, and the fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972), an omnivore and notorious invasive pest. We further explore the ecological implications of virus-eusocial insect interactions and discuss their consequences for pollinator and pest management. Additionally, we identify knowledge gaps and highlight future research directions that could enhance our understanding of virus-pheromone dependencies. By examining these complex interactions through a chemical ecology perspective, we aim to advance the understanding of viral ecology and contribute to the development of management strategies that improve honey bee health and enable sustainable fire ant control.
This study examined how herbivory-induced metabolic reprogramming in soybean alters foliar metabolic profiles in cultivars contrasting in resistance to the phloem-feeding insect Bemisia tabaci MEAM1, providing insights into plant responses associated with insect herbivory. Foliar metabolite profiles were compared between 2 contrasting genotypes, AS3810 (resistant) and BÔNUS (susceptible), under infested and non-infested conditions across 4 sampling scenarios integrating phenological stage and response time. Metabolic responses were characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with univariate (3-way ANOVA) and multivariate analyses (principal component analysis, PCA). Significant main and interaction effects were detected for multiple metabolites, indicating that metabolic responses are strongly dependent on genotype and developmental context. Key compounds associated with treatment effects included salicylic acid, 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA), threonic acid, 2-oxoglutaric acid, glyoxylic acid, malic acid, spermidine, maltotriose, and galactonic acid, with several metabolites showing significant 3-way interactions. The resistant genotype AS3810 exhibited broader and more coordinated metabolic adjustments, particularly in pathways associated with redox balance, carbon allocation, and stress signaling, especially under reproductive-stage conditions. In contrast, BÔNUS showed lower metabolic responsiveness and reduced pathway integration. Multivariate analysis revealed metabolic differentiation among treatments, with defense- and stress-related metabolites contributing strongly to sample differentiation. These findings indicate that herbivory-induced metabolic configurations define distinct biochemical landscapes in host tissues and highlight genotype-dependent metabolic responses associated with herbivory. Identified metabolites represent candidate biochemical indicators of plant responses to B. tabaci MEAM1 infestation and may contribute to future studies of plant resistance mechanisms and resistance-based pest management strategies.
Based on the morphological characters of the worker caste, a taxonomic study of the ant genus Polyrhachis Smith 1857 from China was conducted. Two new species, Polyrhachis (Myrma) aureodorsalis, sp. nov. and Polyrhachis (Myrmhopla) mangensis, sp. nov. are described from Fujian and Yunnan Provinces, respectively. Detailed descriptions and high-resolution images for the new species are provided. Identification keys to the known Chinese species of the subgenera Myrma Billberg 1820 and Myrmhopla Forel 1915 are presented based on the worker caste. The ecological significance and potential morphological adaptations of the new species are briefly discussed.
Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum (hereafter Portiera) is the primary endosymbiont of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), residing in specialized bacteriocytes that also co-localize diverse secondary endosymbionts. This study aimed to carry out in-depth genomic analysis of different strains of Portiera and secondary endosymbionts namely Arsenophonus, Cardinium, Hamiltonella, Rickettsia, and Wolbachia obtained from different whitefly species (data obtained from NCBI). Interestingly, hierarchical clustering of the amino acid identity data resulted in a dendrogram that resolved the different strains of Portiera into 3 separate genetic clusters. Pan-genome analysis of endosymbionts indicates that even closely related strains of a species, when isolated from different hosts, show unique genomic compositions due to their capability to adapt to a specific environment. COG/KEGG analysis revealed that amino acid metabolism is second most represented functional category of Portiera genomes whereas it is almost negligible in genomic repertoire of secondary endosymbionts except in Hamiltonella. Biosynthetic pathway analysis shows that threonine is the only essential amino acid for which complete set of genes is present in all strains of Portiera followed by leucine and tryptophan which is synthesized by all except 1 (China) and 2 strains (AD-CAI and SiSi), respectively. However, both amino acid lysine and arginine could be synthesized by only 4 strains namely AD-CAI, AF-CAI, PeMo, and TV. Further, the study established that secondary endosymbionts are capable of enriching the host's diet with protective organic compounds, B vitamins, and cofactors which is in contrast to the role of Portiera. Results of pathway-specific metabolic modelling were highly congruent with KEGG pathway predictions, depicting a positive correlation between the genotype and phenotype of endosymbionts.
Understanding and predicting pest outbreaks is central to sustainable crop management, yet field evidence linking belowground abiotic conditions to aboveground herbivore dynamics remains limited, particularly regarding the temporal scales relevant to plant physiological responses. Using an Internet of Things sensor network in a soybean field in Taiwan, we combined high-temporal-resolution soil monitoring with field surveys of soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) to evaluate how soil moisture and soil electrical conductivity (EC) were associated with weekly sampled soybean aphid abundance across multiple temporal aggregation windows, from same-day values to 7-d rolling averages, over 2 growing seasons. Because this single-site field study was observational, we interpret the results as conditional field associations and do not treat them as direct causal evidence. After detrending for seasonal progression and plant ontogeny, soil moisture showed more consistent, although generally weak, associations with soybean aphid abundance than soil EC. Short-term moisture metrics (daily to 3-d means) were most consistently positively associated with soybean aphid abundance, whereas associations at longer integration periods (5 to 7 d) were weaker and more season dependent. Predictive analyses showed higher cross-validated performance for moisture-based models than for EC-only models, whereas adding EC provided little improvement beyond moisture alone. These results suggest that the temporal window used to summarize soil water availability can affect inference about soybean aphid-soil associations and that high-frequency soil sensing may add soil context to phenology- and weather-based soybean aphid monitoring.
The understanding of phenotypic variability across a geographic space constitutes a central issue in present evolutionary biology. As a rule of thumb, body size and trait variation mirror the adaptation to the environment within a species range as a result of adaptation to local environments, or to neutral drift, or both. This study examines phenotypic variability, static allometry, and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) along environmental gradients in 3 South American grasshoppers with distinct ecological requirements: the terrestrial Dichroplus elongatus (Giglio-Tos) (winged) and Dichroplus vittatus (Bruner) (wing dimorphic), and the semiaquatic Cornops aquaticum (Bruner). Dichroplus elongatus follows Bergmann's rule and a converse Allenian pattern, likely driven by developmental rates and biomechanical compensation in cooler environments. In D. vittatus, body size and scaled appendages (following Allen's rule) are strongly influenced by precipitation and thermal range, showing sex-specific responses where females prioritize fecundity. Cornops aquaticum, which displays a converse Bergmann pattern, does not show any evidence for Allen's rule or its converse, suggesting semiaquatic habitat shifts toward hydrodynamic constraints. SSD was female-biased in all species. However, static allometric patterns critically moulded the phenotype, adapting proportional investment in locomotor versus reproductive structures in a habitat-specific manner. Thoracic dimensions in D. vittatus followed the converse of Rensch's rule due to high female sensitivity to environmental conditions, whereas the more stable semiaquatic habitat of C. aquaticum reduced sex-specific climatic responses. These results underscore that orthopteran phenotype evolution is a complex interaction between habitat use (terrestrial vs semi-aquatic), life history strategies, dispersal modes, and sex-specific selective pressures.
Antibiotics have been widely used in North American beekeeping for the last 70 yr, contributing to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). European foulbrood (EFB) is a stress-associated, reportedly self-limiting, bacterial disease of honey bee larvae, caused by Melissococcus plutonius (ex-White 1912) Bailey and Collins 1983 (Lactobacillales: Enterococcaceae). Although oxytetracycline (OTC) is the only antibiotic approved for EFB, its continued use in North America requires evidence to justify it, given concerns about AMR despite no confirmed resistance in M. plutonius. Moreover, if AMR emerges in M. plutonius, the efficacy of alternative antimicrobials for treatment of EFB should be determined, such as tylosin (TYL) and lincomycin (LMC), which are approved in North America for managing American foulbrood. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of OTC, TYL, and LMC in treating colonies affected by a natural outbreak of EFB during spring 2024 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Forty-eight infected colonies were split into 4 groups of 12: 1 sham-treated and 3 treated with either OTC, TYL, or LMC per label instruction. Colony strength and EFB symptoms were monitored over 1 mo, and M. plutonius bacterial load was quantified via Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) pretreatment, 1- and 4-wk posttreatment. We found that all antimicrobial-treated colonies had significant improvement in colony strength relative to pretreatment. Adult bees from antimicrobial-treated groups also had a significant reduction in bacterial load 1-mo posttreatment. However, we also observed a spontaneous recovery in sham-treated colonies. Our findings support the clinical efficacy of OTC and highlight the potential of TYL and LMC as effective alternatives for managing EFB.
Tuta absoluta is a major invasive pest of Solanaceous crops, largely managed through chemical interventions. Despite its economic importance, the genomic landscape of its detoxification machinery remains poorly understood. We performed a genome-wide identification of 23 GST genes (TabsGSTs) in T. absoluta, characterized by amino acid lengths of 147-289 aa and a predominantly 1- or 5-exon genomic architecture (∼65%). The identification of four tandemly arranged gene clusters highlights potential evolutionary hotspots for insecticide resistance. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these genes into seven subfamilies, with the lineage-specific expansion of the Epsilon class indicating its key role in xenobiotic metabolism. Transcriptional profiling revealed divergent responses to insecticides: chlorantraniliprole exposure (LC50) largely failed to induce TabsGST expression, whereas spinetoram LC50 treatment triggered significant upregulation of TabsGSTe6 and TabsGSTu1. This study elucidates the molecular characteristics and expression dynamics of the GST family in T. absoluta, offering vital molecular targets for resistance monitoring and the design of targeted control measures.
The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier), is one of the most destructive palm pests worldwide. Despite its tropical origin, this species tolerates moderately low temperatures and has an expansion potential that may be enhanced by global warming. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying cold stress remain poorly understood. This study provides a transcriptomic analysis of its larval response to cold stress. Using RNA-Seq on larvae exposed for 7 d to a sublethal low (5 °C) or control (23 °C) temperature, we identified 701 differentially expressed unigenes (580 protein-coding genes, 81 long noncoding RNAs [lncRNAs], and 40 with transposable elements [TEs]), of which 448 were upregulated and 253 downregulated under cold exposure. Functional enrichment revealed strong repression of cell cycle, along with the induction of stress-responsive pathways, including small heat shock proteins, detoxification enzymes (CYPs, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase), immune effectors (antimicrobial peptides, lectins, peptidoglycan-recognition proteins), and genes involved in cuticle remodeling. A subset of differentially expressed lncRNAs and TE-linked genes was associated with immune and chaperone responses, suggesting multilayered transcriptional regulation. These results indicate that R. ferrugineus larvae respond to low temperature by downregulating non-essential, energy-intensive programs while activating molecular chaperones, detoxification and immune defenses, and reinforcing structural barriers. This pattern, probably underestimated by the stronger starvation stress of controls, is consistent with an integrated strategy involving metabolic depression and enhanced cryoprotection. Our results represent a fundamental step that will guide data-driven studies to determine whether the cold-response mechanisms identified here are fully deployed in R. ferrugineus, as well as for future research on novel pest control strategies.
Insect reproduction depends critically on vitellogenesis, during which vitellogenin (Vg) is synthesized in the female fat body and incorporated into developing oocytes as an essential nutrient source. In this study, the promoter region of the vitellogenin gene (CmVg) of the rice leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) was predicted and cloned. A core active region was delineated within the CmVg promoter, and bioinformatic analysis revealed several predicted cis‑regulatory elements (CREs) for Broad‑Complex (BrC) transcription factors in the core region. Among four BrC protein candidates in the genome of C. medinalis, Cmed074000.1 significantly enhanced the transcriptional activity of CmVg. Disruption of the CRE of Cmed074000.1 strongly reduced the expression level of the reporter. Moreover, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Cmed074000.1 in adult females significantly down‑regulated CmVg transcriptional levels and severely impaired egg production by 62.24%. This work provides the first evidence of a transcriptional pathway controlling CmVg expression in this pest, C. medinalis, offering novel insights into its reproductive biology and highlighting a potential target for future pest‑management strategies.
The distribution and economic impact of the invasive gall wasp Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a major pest of eucalyptus, are global. Quadrastichus mendeli Kim & La Salle, 2008 and Selitrichodes neseri Kelly & La Salle, 2012 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) are effective biological control agents of this pest, but their use depends on optimizing laboratory rearing protocols. This study assessed the longevity and survival of Q. mendeli females fed different diets and maintained at temperatures from 18 to 30 °C, and of Q. mendeli females and S. neseri males and females fed different diets at 24 °C. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized factorial design. Longevity data were analyzed using generalized linear models, and survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Longevity and survival varied according to diet and temperature for Q. mendeli females and according to diet at 24 °C for S. neseri males and females. Quadrastichus mendeli females reaching a maximum longevity of 104.7 d with honey diets at moderate temperature. At 24 °C, S. neseri females and males reached maximum longevities of 23.25 d, and 17.00 d, respectively, with honey diets. Longevity declining under starvation or the pollen-only diet. Female longevity exceeded that of males, and Q. mendeli lived longer than S. neseri. Parasitoid longevity and survival were highest with honey diets at moderate temperatures, providing practical conditions for laboratory maintenance, mass rearing, and release of these parasitoids in biological control programs against L. invasa.
Aphid resistance to insecticides necessitates management strategies that improve efficacy while minimizing chemical input, including combinations of active ingredients with distinct modes of action. This study evaluated the individual and combined toxicity of pymetrozine, pirimicarb, and imidacloprid against third-instar nymphs and adults of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Using a 48-h leaf-dip bioassay, insecticides were tested individually and in 1:1 binary combinations, and interactions were quantified using the combination index (CI). Sublethal effects of the most effective mixture were further assessed at the LC30 level (16.424 mg l(-1)) using age-stage, 2-sex life table analysis and biochemical assays. Among the tested combinations, the imidacloprid-pirimicarb mixture produced the strongest combined effect (CI < 0.5) in both developmental stages, whereas the other mixtures showed antagonistic interactions (CI > 1). This mixture resulted in LC50 values of 39.269 mg l(-1) for nymphs and 122.553 mg l(-1) for adults, corresponding to substantial reductions in effective concentration and active ingredient requirements compared with single-insecticide treatments. Sublethal exposure significantly (P < 0.05) reduced demographic parameters, including the intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R-0), fecundity, and longevity. Biochemical assays also revealed developmental stage-dependent alterations in acetylcholinesterase, esterase, and total protein levels following exposure to the mixture. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the imidacloprid-pirimicarb combination enhances toxicity against M. persicae under laboratory conditions and may contribute to reduced insecticide input, although additional studies are required to clarify the nature of the interaction and evaluate its applicability under field conditions.
Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. 1987 is a vector-transmitted plant pathogen of economic importance that is widespread throughout coffee plantations in Costa Rica. Previous studies have shown the existence of a broad diversity of leafhoppers present in different coffee producing regions in Costa Rica. The presence of leafhoppers in coffee plantations with the presence of X. fastidiosa poses their role as potential vectors. To our knowledge, the vector status of leafhoppers present in coffee plantations in Costa Rica has remained unsettled. This work confirmed 8 species of leafhoppers as vectors of X. fastidiosa related to coffee in Costa Rica. Insects were collected in field in the northern part of the Costa Rican Central Valley, and leafhoppers were identified, classified, and grouped for further analysis. All the confirmed vector species belong to the subfamily Cicadellinae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha), known as sharpshooters. The ability of these specimens to survive on coffee plants for a 72-h period was assessed. In planta transmission assays were performed on X. fastidiosa-free coffee plants under greenhouse conditions. X. fastidiosa was detected in plants after one and a half years, confirming the vector status of leafhoppers. Positive plants remained asymptomatic throughout the experiment. The implication of these species as vectors strengthens surveillance actions in local and international contexts.
