Biology of Cicadulina species (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and transmission of maize streak virus

The survivorship, fecundity and development time (egg to adult) of Cicadulina storeyi China, C. arachidis China and C. ghaurii Dabrowski were studied at three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30 degrees C). Additional tests were conducted to describe maize streak virus (MSV) transmission by C. arachidis and C. ghanurii and to compare virus transmission efficiency of these two species with that of C. storeyi and C. mbila (Naude). Mean development periods of C. storeyi, C. arachidis and C. ghaurii decreased significantly as temperature increased and ranged between 52-60, 29-31 and 22-24 days, at 20, 25 and 30 degrees C, respectively. With the exception of C. ghaurii, longevity of all species increased as temperatures decreased. Cicadulina arachidis laid the same mean number of eggs per female at 25 and 30 degrees C (64.8), while C. storeyi and C. ghaurii laid more eggs at 30 degrees C (93.7 and 84.9, respectively) than at lower temperatures. The maximum capacity for increase per week (r(c)) for C. storeyi and C. ghaurii was observed at 25 degrees C (1.47 and 1.70, respectively), whereas for C. arachidis it was at 30 degrees C (1.46). Cicadulina ghaurii and C. arachidis acquired MSV after a minimum acquisition access period (AAP) of 15 min and 1 hr, respectively. Both species transmitted MSV af ter a minimum inoculation access period (IAP) of 1 hr. Transmission efficiency for C. arachidis and C. ghaurii was closely associated with log AAP time and log IAP time. Cicadulina ghaurii was as efficient in MSV transmission as C. mbila and C. storeyi. Virus transmission for these species ranged between 40 and 45 %. Cicadulina arachidis, transmitted MSV inefficiently compared with the other species, with a maximum transmission of 15 %.