Sogatella kolophon

(Kirkaldy, 1907)

Sogatella kolophon is a delphacid planthopper with a broad pantropical and subtropical distribution spanning Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, and Southern Asia. It is a documented of at least two significant plant viruses: Digitaria virus (a ) and pangola stunt virus (a fijivirus), both affecting pasture grasses in the Digitaria and related grasses. The species has three recognized : S. k. atlantica, S. k. kolophon, and S. k. meridiana. stages have been described, though detailed biological information remains limited in accessible literature.

Sogatella kolophon P1560199a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Sogatella kolophon P1560198a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sogatella kolophon: /soʊɡəˈtɛlə ˈkɒləˌfɒn/

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Identification

Sogatella kolophon can be distinguished from the similar Sogatella longifurcifera by competence: S. longifurcifera failed to transmit pangola stunt virus under experimental conditions where S. kolophon successfully transmitted. As a delphacid planthopper, it possesses the -diagnostic enlarged hind tibia with a mobile spur, though specific morphological characters separating it from other Sogatella are not detailed in available sources. The three (atlantica, kolophon, meridiana) may exhibit geographic or morphological differentiation, though distinguishing features are not specified in accessible literature.

Images

Distribution

Africa; Australia; Caribbean; Central America; North America; Oceania; South America; Southern Asia. Specific locality records include: Pico (Galápagos Islands), Alabama (USA), Andhra Pradesh (India), and Anhui (China).

Host Associations

Digitaria decumbens - plant for pangola stunt viruspangola grass; infected plants show stunting, leaf notching, seed deformity, and excess tillering
Digitaria ciliaris - plant for pangola stunt virussummer grass; virus overwinters in seedlings in frost-free coastal areas
Digitaria sanguinalis - experimental for Digitaria virus
Urochloa panicoides - plant for pangola stunt virus
Urochloa mosambicensis - experimental for Digitaria virus
Avena sativa - experimental for Digitaria virusoats
Hordeum vulgare - experimental for Digitaria virusbarley
Lolium multiflorum - experimental for Digitaria virus
Eleusine coracana - experimental for Digitaria virusfinger millet
Eleusine indica - experimental for Digitaria virusgoosegrass
Brachiaria miliiformis - experimental for Digitaria virus
Dinebra retroflexa - experimental for Digitaria virus
Rhynchelytrum repens - experimental for Digitaria virus
Digitaria striate virus - vectored ; bullet-shaped particles 280 nm × 55 nm; transmission rate ~10% after 24h acquisition; 5–8 day period before first transmission, 8–11 day latent period for
Pangola stunt virus - vectored fijivirus; 40–70% transmission rate after 15–21 day incubation; persistent transmission for up to 30 days until death; 10-segment dsRNA

Life Cycle

stages (nymphs) have been described. Virus transmission persists through the from nymph to , indicating capability. Serial passage of pangola stunt virus through multiple of insects has been demonstrated experimentally.

Behavior

Transmits plant viruses in a persistent manner: individuals remain infective for extended periods after acquisition. For pangola stunt virus, requires minimum 30-minute acquisition access period for efficient transmission; 24-hour inoculation access period sufficient for transmission; can transmit for at least 6 days after acquisition and continues for up to 30 days until death. For Digitaria virus, 24-hour acquisition feed results in ~10% transmission rate; 5–8 days between acquisition and first transmission. Virus particles have been observed in brain and salivary glands of transmitting individuals, and in for pangola stunt virus.

Ecological Role

for at least two plant viruses affecting pasture and cereal grasses. Infected pangola grass plants develop debilitated root systems and compete poorly with healthy plants, suggesting potential impact on plant composition in affected areas. Virus overwinters in planthopper and in Digitaria ciliaris seedlings in frost-free coastal regions.

Human Relevance

Agricultural pest as of viral affecting pasture grasses, particularly pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) used for grazing. Pangola stunt virus causes yield-reducing including stunting, leaf notching, seed deformity, and excess tillering. Digitaria virus causes striate symptoms in Digitaria . Both viruses impact forage quality and productivity.

Similar Taxa

Sogatella longifurciferaFailed to transmit pangola stunt virus under identical experimental conditions where S. kolophon transmitted successfully, demonstrating clear differentiation in competence despite likely morphological similarity.

More Details

Subspecies

Three recognized: Sogatella kolophon atlantica Fennah, 1963; Sogatella kolophon kolophon; and Sogatella kolophon meridiana (Beamer, 1952). Geographic ranges and diagnostic characters for subspecies not detailed in accessible sources.

Virus particle morphology

Digitaria virus: bullet-shaped particles 280 nm × 55 nm with cross-striations at 4.2 nm spacing; found in companion and phloem parenchyma cells, not in . Pangola stunt virus: particles in regular arrays and random aggregates in cells of transmitting insects, with associated viroplasm and tubular structures.