First evidence of acoustic communication in the pear psyllid Cacopsylla pyri L. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

A number of species of the family Psyllidae, commonly called jumping plant lice, are economically important as vectors of pathogenic phytoplasmas in fruit crops. Pear psyllids of the species Cacopsylla pyri (L. 1758) (Psyllidae) are the most damaging pest of pear trees in Europe. These phloem feeding insects transmit pear decline, a disease caused by the phytopathogenic bacterium Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri. Knowledge of the signals used for intraspecific communication, especially during mating behavior, is essential to design ecological control strategies against this vector insect. Here, we report the first recordings of acoustic signals emitted by male and female C. pyri. We also observed the establishment of an acoustic duet between an interacting couple prior to mating. Furthermore, we found potentially sound producing stridulatory organs in male and female individuals of C. pyri. The acoustic signals recorded are described and presented. Possible stridulatory organs are depicted as scanning electron microscopy pictures. The implications of these findings for potential applications in pest control are discussed.