Leuronota

Crawford, 1914

Species Guides

3

Leuronota is a of psyllids (Hemiptera: Triozidae) established by Crawford in 1914. The genus includes at least two described : Leuronota fagarae, an in Florida that feeds on wild lime (Zanthoxylum fagara) and is closely related to the economically important Diaphorina citri; and L. calycophylli, described from Peru as a pest on the timber tree Calycophyllum spruceanum (Rubiaceae). Members of this genus exhibit unusual associations, including the rare occurrence of rubiaceous hosts in psylloids.

Leuronota maculata by (c) Justin Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Williams. Used under a CC-BY license.Leuronota maculata by (c) Victor Engel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Victor Engel. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Leuronota: //lɛʊroʊˈnoʊtə//

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Images

Habitat

Experimental timber plantations (L. calycophylli in Peru); transition zones between non-cultivated areas and cultivated citrus in Florida (L. fagarae)

Distribution

Native to South America (Paraguay for L. fagarae; Peru for L. calycophylli); in Florida, USA (L. fagarae first reported 2001)

Diet

Phloem sap-feeding on plants

Host Associations

  • Zanthoxylum fagara - primary plant for feeding and (L. fagarae)wild lime, a citrus relative in Rutaceae
  • Zanthoxylum clava-herculis - plant (L. fagarae)
  • Citrus spp. - suitability demonstrated (L. fagarae)
  • Calycophyllum spruceanum - plant (L. calycophylli)timber in Rubiaceae; unusual for psylloids
  • Wolbachia endosymbiont (strain wLfag-FL) - intracellular bacterial endosymbiontsupergroup B; 1,359 identified with metabolic and secretion system functions

Life Cycle

Nymphs develop within rolled leaf edges on plant, which provide physical protection

Behavior

Produces rolled leaf edges as feeding damage phenotype; feed and reproduce on plants

Human Relevance

Research interest due to close phylogenetic relationship with Diaphorina citri, the of Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating citrus ; potential to inform pest control strategies and therapeutic molecule discovery

Similar Taxa

  • Diaphorina citriClose phylogenetic relationship; both are psyllids in Triozidae with similar and , but D. citri is the established of HLB while L. fagarae feeds on related Rutaceae
  • Other Leuronota congenersL. calycophylli differs from other Leuronota in absence of genal processes and distinctive genitalia structure; L. fagarae can be distinguished by association with Zanthoxylum and presence in Florida

Sources and further reading