Download Diagnostic Methods for Sugarcane Leafhopper Pyrilla

Diagnostic Methods
for
Sugarcane Leafhopper
Pyrilla perpusilla
This Diagnostic Protocol can be constantly updated and is only correct at time of printing
(Thursday 8th of June 2017 at 03:04:41 PM).
The website http://www.padil.gov.au/pbt should be consulted to ensure you have the most
current version before relying on the information contained.
Introduction
Sugarcane is subjected to attack by a number of insect pests, resulting in loss of yield, poor juice
quality and low sugar recovery.
Sugarcane leaf hopper Pyrilla perpusilla Wlk. is the most destructive sap-sucking pest of
sugarcane but it has also been recorded as a pest of other crops such as wheat, maize and millet.
This pest occurs in epidemics in sub-tropical areas every 5 - 6 years.
Pyrilla perpusilla sucks phloem sap from leaves and excretes honeydew onto foliage, leading to
fungal diseases. This direct and indirect damage affects sugar yield and quality.
Biology
Stages of Development
Eggs are laid in masses, during the day, usually on the ventral surface of leaves near the midrib.
They are deposited in four to five rows and covered by a pale waxy material. During the winter,
eggs are laid on the inside of the base of the leaf sheath, giving some protection from adverse
climatic conditions. The female usually uses a lower, shady, concealed site for oviposition. Eggs
are laid in clusters of 30 - 40 on the underside of the leaf blade and sheaths, and are covered with
white fibrils of wax. A female may deposit 600 - 800 eggs in her lifetime (Patel et al. 1993,
Khanzada, 1992, Kumarasinghe & Wratten 1996).
Freshly laid eggs are oval in shape, pale whitish to bluish green and darken to brown prior to
hatching. The average length and breadth of eggs has been found to be 1.059 ± 0.0788 and 0.517
± 0.0425 mm and the average incubation period 7.50 ± 0.849 days (Patel et al. 1993).
In contrast, Ganehiarachchi and Fernando (2006) quote the egg dimensions to be 0.8 - 1.3 mm in
length with a mean of 1.04 ± 0.148 mm.
Nymphs have been observed to pass through five nymphal instars. The first instar nymph is
greenish-white with dark red eyes and two joint antennae on the head. The thorax is whitish with
a thin transverse pale brown band on the posterior end. The last segment of the abdomen is green
with whitish threads. It has 2 anal filaments.
The length and breadth of first instar nymphs averages 1.431 ± 0.0836 mm and 0.694 ± 0.0729
mm. Duration of the first instar nymph varied from 5 to 7 days (Patel et al. 1993).
The second instar nymph is slightly larger than the first instar and pale white to brown in colour.
The eyes are watery translucent with a black spot toward the posterior end of each eye. There are
dark brown strips along the lateral margin. Anal threads are basally white and fawn dorsally. The
average length and breadth of second instar nymphs is 2.166 ± 0.2217 and 0.949 ± 0.1295 mm.
The average duration of the second instar nymph is 5.08 ± 0.277 days (Patel et al. 1993).
The third instar nymph is pale brown with grey-green eyes. The thoracic region is buff-white
with one dark brown dorsal patch on either side of the posterior end. The abdominal segments
are pale blue dorsally and pale yellow ventrally with grey anal tufts. The third instar nymph is
2.725 ± 0.1973 mm length and 1.259 ± 0.058 mm breadth. Average duration of the third instar
nymph is 5.44 ± 0.583 days (Patel et al. 1993).
The fourth instar nymph is dark brown, with prominent wing pads and watery green eyes. The
abdominal segments have a dark brown band on the dorsal surface and pale green ventral
surface. They measured 3.385 ± 0.2103 mm length and 1.608 mm breadth. Average duration of
the fourth instar nymph is 6.44 ± 1.121 days.
The fifth instar nymph is pale to dark brown with watery green eyes. They are much more active
than previous instars. Abdominal segments have a dark brown transverse band on the dorsal
surface and pale white ventral surface. Anal tufts are buff coloured. The nymphs measured 4.971
± 0.435 mm length and 2.328 ± 0.273 mm breadth. Average duration of the fifth instar nymph is
9.88 ± 1.129 days.
Under laboratory conditions, total nymphal period varied from 30 - 36 days, averaging 32.44 ±
1.960 days (Patel et al. 1993).
Adults were white immediately after moulting but gradually turned straw coloured, with pale
green eyes, snout-like head with black spot positioned posteriorly. The apical area and the outer
cleval wing margins have minute black spots.
Average measurements for female and male adults were 10.051 ± 0.495 mm and 8.768 ± 0.253
mm length and 3.599 ± 0.338 mm and 2.213 ± 0.169 mm breadth respectively.
The average longevity of females was 31.36 ± 3.695 days and for males was 20.81 ± 2.75 days
(Patel et al. 1993).
In contrast, Ganehiarachchi and Fernando (2006) report that the sexes differ in size; the female
has an average length of 1.7 ± 0.2 mm, the male is slightly smaller with an average length of 1.5
± 0.3 mm. The female also has characteristic circular pads at the tip of the abdomen.
Both the adults and nymphs are very active, jumping from leaf to leaf on slight disturbance. Both
life stages suck sap from the leaves of sugarcane but most of the damage is caused in the
nymphal stage.
Newly emerged adult females are ready to mate 2 days after emergence from the 5th nymphal
instar.
Females carry an egg cluster for about 60 - 90 minutes at the tip of their abdomen before
depositing it on a leaf. Females oviposit mainly during the day.
Figure 1. Sugarcane leafhopper, Pyrilla perpusilla - adult. Photo: Natasha Wright, Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org.
Figure 2. Sugarcane leafhopper, Pyrilla perpusilla - adult. Photo: Natasha Wright, Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org.
Host Range
The original host of P. perpusilla is unknown and it has been recorded feeding and/or
reproducing on a wide range of plants. In India, Nepal and Pakistan P. perpusilla has been
recorded feeding on the following:
Graminae: Andropogon sorghum, Avena sativa, Bambusa arundinacea, Cynodon dactylons,
Eragrostis cynosurus, Hordeum vulgare, Oryza sativa, Panicum colonum, Panicum maximum,
Pennisetum americanum, Pennisetum typhoideum, Pennisetum perpureum, Saccharum
spontaneum, Scleorostachia fusca, Sorghum bicolour, Sorghum halepense, Sorghum vulgare,
Triticum sativum, Zea mays,
Leguminosae: Cicer arietinum, Melilotus alba, Melilotus parviflora, Pisum sativum, Trifolium
alexandrium,
Moraceae; Ficus infectoria, Ficus religiosa (Kumarasinghe & Wratten 1996, Butani 1964,
Ganehiarachchi and Fernando 2006).
Pyrilla has also been reported on Abelmoschus esculentus, Acacia indica, Amaranthus viridis,
Avena fatua, Bambusa arundinacea, Brassica oleracea cauliflora, Chenopodium album,
Citrullus vulgaris, Convolvulus arvensis, Cucurbita pepo, Dalbergia sissoo, Digeria arvensis,
Luffa aegyptica, Melia indica, Mangifera indica, Momordica charantia, Rafphanus sativus,
(Khanzada, 1992, Butani 1964, Ganehiarachchi and Fernando 2006).
Distribution
Afganistan, Bangladesh, Borneo, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Java, Nepal, Laos,
Pakistan, South China, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam.
Transmission
Nymphs are reported to migrate to other host crops (eg. wheat) after sugarcane harvest, where
they assume adult form a couple of months later. The adults them migrate back to sugarcane
(Khanzada, 1992).
Survival
Active stages of the life cycle favour the underside of leaf blades, particularly near the mid-rib,
as resting and feeding sites (Khanzada, 1992). Adults are relatively inactive during the early
morning, evening and night, typically remaining on the under surface of leaves. Between around
10.00 am and 3.00 pm, they become more active and can be found on both upper and lower leaf
surfaces and jumping between plants.
There is a range of parasitoids, predators and pathogens of Pyrilla perpusilla listed by
Kumarasinghe & Wratten (1996).
Effect
Potential yield can be lost due to poor growth of seed sets and difficulties in milling cane from
affected plants. Nymphs and adults suck sap from the sugarcane leaves, which weakens the plant
and reduces the sucrose contents by up to 50%.
Risk Analysis
Pest Risk Analysis
(Source: Industry Threat Tables -Sugar; Plant Health Australia)
http://svc218.wic010v.serverweb.com/project_documents/TST/viewTST.asp?page=4&ID=48&filter=1&records=10&sort=1
&order=1
Entry Potential:
MEDIUM - HIGH Plant Health Australia assessment
Establishment Potential:
HIGH Plant Health Australia assessment
Spread potential:
HIGH Plant Health Australia assessment
Economic Impact:
HIGH Plant Health Australia assessment
Taxonomy
Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Hemiptera: Homoptera
Family Lophopidae: Fulgoridae
Genus Pyrilla
Species perpusilla (Walker, 1851)
Name and Synonyms
Fulgora pallida Donovan (1800)
Pseudophora pallida Westwood (1838)
Zamilla perpusilla Walker (1851)
Zamilia perpusilla Distant, 1906
Dictyoptera pallida Stebbing (1903)
Pyrops perpusilla Walker, 1851
Common names:
Sugarcane planthopper
Indian sugarcane Pyrilla
planthopper of sugercane
Identification Keys
Wilson, S.W. (2005) Keys to the families of Fulgoromorpha with emphasis on planthoppers of
potential economic importance in the southeastern United States (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
Florida Entomologist 88(4): 464 - 481.
Detection
Symptom Description
Pyrilla nymphs and adults generally feed on the ventral surface of sugarcane leaves, along the
midrib. In severe outbreaks, they will be seen on every part of the leaf. The feeding spots become
yellow-white and the coalescence of spots gives the leaves a yellow colour. The leaves gradually
become pale and wilted from the continuous drainage of sap by P. perpusilla. Plant growth is
also adversely affected.
Both the adults and nymphs are very active, jumping from leaf to leaf on slight disturbance. Both
life stages suck sap from the leaves of sugarcane but most of the damage is caused in the
nymphal stage.
Although eggs are laid on both lower (abaxial) and upper (adaxial) leaf surfaces, the lower
surface is preferred, and luxuriant plants preferred to scaggy ones - probably due to better
protection from direct sunlight and parasitism when laid on the lower leaf surface. The brilliant
white waxy covering makes the egg cluster conspicuous to predators but the advantage of having
a white waxy covering is probably due to the fact that it reflects harmful solar radiation away
from the eggs which have a thin, delicate chorion.
The honeydew excreted by P. perpusilla attracts ants and wasps and is a very suitable
medium for Capnodium sp. fungus to develop. Fungal growth covers the leaves with black,
sooty mould, with adversely affects photosynthetic activity in the plant.
In wheat crops, P.perpusilla will attack the plants when the grain development is at the milky
stage. Insects congregate on the ears, resulting in shrivelled grain (Butani 1964, Ganehiarachchi
and Fernando 2006).
Sites of Infection/Infestation
Foliage - adults and nymphs suck sap from the lower leaf surface.
Factors Influencing Occurrence
Easterly winds and high humidity, intermittent drought conditions during monsoon (July September) in the sub-tropics favours rapid build up of Pyrilla. Heavy rainfall, followed by 75 80% humidity, high temperature (26 - 30oC) also favour pest build-up.
A dense crop, high nitrogen levels and water-logged conditions, varieties with broad leaves also
favour Pyrilla build-up.
Identification
Morphological Methods
Adult Pyrilla perpusilla is a pale tawny-yellow soft bodied insect with the head prominently
drawn forward, forming the snout. Wingspan varies from 16 - 18 mm for males and 19 - 21 mm
for females. Females bear bundles of cretaceous threads - the anal pads on the terminal segment.
The forewings are semi-opaque, yellow-brown and sparsely covered with minute black spots.
The cephalic process is about 2/5th of the body length and its dorsal margin is generally parallel
with the body. The dorso-lateral margin of the ninth segment is provided with a dome shaped
elevation in the centre, whereas the tenth tergum bears an anal tube which is slightly concave and
broadly truncated at the apex (Mathur, L.M.L. 1988).
Additional reference:
Lakshminarayana, N., Rao, V.R.S., Rajsekhar, G.P. (2003). New records of planthoppers
belonging to Cixiidae and Lophopidae (Fulgoroidea: Homoptera) from rice ecosystems of
Andhra Pradesh. Journal of Applied Zoological Researches. No other publication details
available. Includes male genitalia descriptions and diagnosis for theses species.
Potentially misidentified species
Pyrilla aberrans (Kirby) - occurs in Ceylon and south India.
Further Information
Contacts
If you have further information about this pest and would like to post in on this site, or would
like to amend or correct any information currently displayed, please contact:
Gary Kong
Principal Plant Pathologist
Plant Science, Delivery
PO Box 102 Toowoomba
Qld 4350
Ph: 61+7 4688 1319
mob: 61+ 428103521
Email: [email protected]
References
Anon. Strategy for the management of outbreaks of Pyrilla perpusilla Walker in sugarcane.
http://www.iisr.nic.in/pyrilla.pdf
Brar, R.S., Bains, S.S. (1981). Dispersion of eggs of Pyrilla perpusilla Walker during different
seasons. Indian Journal of Ecology, 7(1): 161 - 163.
Butani, D.K. (1964) Sugarcane Leaf Hopper Pyrilla perpusilla Walker - A Review. Indian
Sugacane Journal, 9(1): 60 - 75.
Distribution map: UK, CAB International, Nosworthy Way, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10
8DE, UK. www.cabi.org/datapage.asp?iDocID=778
Ganehiarachchi, G.A.S.M., Fernando, I.V.S. (2008). Partial age specific life tables of sugarcane
planthopper, Pyrilla perpusilla Walker (Homoptera: Lophopidae) in the wet zone of Sri Lanka.
Journal of Entomological Research, 32(2):
Gupta, M., Ahmad, I. (1983). Morphology of the Indian sugarcane leafhopper, Pyrilla perpusilla
Walker. Folia Morphol. (Praha). 31(4): 325 - 330.
Ganehiarachchi, G.A.S.M., Fernando, I.V.S. (2006). Biology of Pyrilla perpusilla Walker
(Homoptera: Lophopidae), A pest of sugarcane in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. Journal of
Entomology, 3(1): 26 - 33. http://www.scialert.net/pdfs/je/2006/26-33.pdf
Jena, B.C., Nayak, N. (1994). Integrated management of Pyrilla in sugarcane. Indian Sugar,
44(7): 525 - 527.
Khanzada, A.G. (1992) A Comprehensive Review of Research Work on Sugarcane Leaf Hopper,
Pyrilla perpusilla Wlk. Journal of Agricultural Research, 30(2):271 - 282.
Kumarasinghe, N.C., Wratten, S.D. (1996) The sugarcane liphopid planthopper Pyrilla
perpusilla (Homoptera: Lophopidae): a review of its biology, pest status and control. Bulletin of
Entomological Research, 86: 485 - 498.
Lakshminarayana, N., Rao, V.R.S., Rajsekhar, G.P. (2003). New records of planthoppers
belonging to Cixiidae and Lophopidae (Fulgoroidea: Homoptera) from rice ecosystems of
Andhra Pradesh. Journal of Applied Zoological Researches. No other publication details
available.
Mathur, L.M.L. (1988) Symptomatology of pest infestation in Indian maize and its control. II Pyrilla. Pesticides, April 1988: 31 - 32.
Patel, D.R., Patel, M.B., Patel, C.B. (1993) Biology of sugarcane leaf hopper, Pyrilla perpusilla
Wlk. (Lophopidae: Homoptera). Cooperative Sugar, November-December 1993, 25(3-4):123 126.
Rajendran, B. (1999). Management of insect pests of sugarcane through cultural practices. Indian
Sugar, 49(4): 271 - 276.
Sander, K., Mirza, M.B. (1956). The early embryology of Pyrilla perpusilla Walker
(Homoptera), including some observations on the later development. Aligarh Muslim University
Publications. Zoological Series on Indian Insect Types. 4.
Soulier-Perkins, A. (1998). The Lophopidae (Hemiptera:Fulgoromorpha): Description of three
new genera and key to the genera of the family. European Journal of Entomology, 95:599-618.
http://www.eje.cz/pdfarticles/434/eje_095_4_599_Soulier.pdf
Ullah, M., Mahmood, K. (2007). Population dynamics of sugarcane plant hopper Pyrilla
perpusilla Walker (Lophopidae: Homoptera) and its natural enemies at district Mandi Baha-uddin (Punjab). Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 39(3): 153 - 178.
Wilson, S.W. (2005) Keys to the families of Fulgoromorpha with emphasis on planthoppers of
potential economic importance in the southeastern United States (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha).
Florida Entomologist 88(4): 464 - 481.
Plant Health Australia - Threat Summary Tables
http://svc218.wic010v.serverweb.com/project_documents/TST/viewTST.asp?page=4&ID=48&filter=1&records=10&sort=1
&order=1