Entomology
Extension and Research Program at The West Virginia University
Experiment Farm in Kearneysville
Reproductive Potential & Development of Rose Leafhopper at Constant Temperatures on Apple
Rose leafhopper has been a common leafhopper in
apple orchards in eastern West Virginia since the mid-1980s.
Direct injury to foliage and indirect injury to fruit is
identical to that caused by the most important apple leafhopper,
the white apple leafhopper. The objective of this study was to
determine rates of development at constant temperatures so that
models might subsequently be developed to predict optimal timing
of control methods against rose leafhopper. Reproductive
potential and developmental rates were determined by rearing rose
leafhopper on caged apple seedlings and on individual apple
leaves in vials in a constant-temperature study at 55, 63, 73,
and 86 F. Development from egg hatch to adult was faster at
progressively higher temperatures, ranging from an average of 47
days at 55 F to 17 days at 73 F. There was no egg hatch at 86 F.
Development was 2-3 days faster for males than for females at
each temperature. Regression equations yielded an estimate of 45
F as the temperature threshold for development. The largest
number of progeny (average of 33 per female) were produced at the
lowest temperature, and survival decreased with increasing
temperature. Rose leafhopper was found to have five nymphal
instars, and body length increased almost 4-fold (0.8-3.1 mm)
from 1st instar to adult.
M. L. Day, H. W. Hogmire and M. W. Brown (September 1996)
