Amplicephalus

Natural populations of A. funzaensis are associated with Cenchrus clandestinus in the Bogotá plateau region of Colombia.

Colombia (Cundinamarca, Bogotá plateau region).

Phloem-feeding herbivore; A. funzaensis feeds on Cenchrus clandestinus and has been observed feeding on Fragaria x ananassa and Phaseolus vulgaris under experimental conditions.

• Cenchrus clandestinus - natural host plant
• Phaseolus vulgaris - experimental host plant (transmission assays)
• Fragaria x ananassa - experimental host plant

A. funzaensis has been demonstrated to transmit phytoplasmas of groups 16SrI and 16SrVII to bean plants. In one study, 38% of field-collected individuals carried phytoplasmas, indicating high natural infection rates in populations. However, transmission to strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) was not achieved under semi-controlled conditions despite this high infection rate.

Potential insect vector of phytoplasmas, plant pathogenic bacteria that cause disease in urban trees and agricultural crops. A. funzaensis is the first documented vector for phytoplasma group 16SrVII worldwide and for group 16SrI in South America.

Agricultural significance as a potential vector of phytoplasma diseases affecting crops including potato, strawberry, and bean in Colombia.

• Exitianus atratusBoth are leafhopper species documented as vectors for phytoplasmas of groups 16SrI and 16SrVII in Colombia; they were tested in parallel transmission assays.

• leafhopper
• phytoplasma vector
• agricultural pest
• Colombia
• Cicadellidae
• Deltocephalinae

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Can Amplicephalus funzaensis Linnavuori 1968 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) transmit phytoplasmas to strawberry?
• Leafhoppers Exitianus atratus and Amplicephalus funzaensis transmit phytoplasmas of groups 16SrI and 16Sr VII in Colombia