Scaphoideus Luteolus (White-Banded Elm Leafhopper)

Scaphoideus luteolus is identified phloem sap-feeding bug species of the Cicadellidae family.  The white banded elm leafhopper, Scaphoideus luteolus, is responsible for spreading a mycoplasma-like organism that causes elm yellows, also known as elm phloem necrosis. Slipper elm, winged elm, and Buisman elm are among the kinds of American elm that are affected by the disease. Elms are renowned for their distinctive shade qualities and play a significant role in the American environment. Elm yellows may affect the majority of natural elms, and the only cultivars that are immune to it are the Siberian and Scotch elms. Elm trees that are large, robust, and well-landscaped may easily fetch thousands of dollars.

Characteristics and Classification  

Family: Cicadellidae Subfamily: Deltocephalinae Habitats: Herbaceous woodland habitats Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light

Host Plants

Only the eastern United States hosts S. luteolus. Ulmus species (U. americana, U. alata, U. bergmanianna, U. szechuanica, and U. rubra) are the primary host plants for S. luteolus, although individuals have also been found on Vitis species, Salix species, and Populus species.

Appearance

Adults often range in hue from dark golden yellow to orange. A faint brown marginal line runs along the pale to yellowish tip of the crown. Between the eyes, often atop a thin, pale base of the crown, there is a wide orange-shaped mark (before the pronotum). The eyes have a pale longitudinal line running between them and are crimson in color (sometimes brilliant red). The face and the remainder of this species’ underside are also golden yellow to pale orange, but the abdominal segments have a small white border around their posterior edges. The wings’ tips have a narrow black border and range in color from golden yellow to orange with some sporadic white specks. Brownish-yellow wing venation may be seen. Male genital plates and valves range in color from golden yellow to orange. The female pregenital sternite is golden to orange in color with some dark brown shading. It has two ventrally curled regions on either side of a thin medial notch on the posterior side. Adult males measure 4.7–5.3 mm in length, compared to 5.2–5.7 mm for females.

Life Cycle

There are three developmental phases in S. luteolus (egg, nymph, adult). It spends the winter in the egg stage, goes through the nymphal stage in 36–42 days, and spends the summer as an adult. After receiving the infection, both nymphs and adults may spread CPu and are infectious for the remainder of their lives.

Diseases of Scaphoideus luteolus

This species can spread the phytoplasma that causes elm yellows and feeds on the elm leaf veins. Elm yellows symptoms start in mid- to late-summer with premature leaf loss, chlorosis, and drooping of turgid leaf petioles. However, rarely, yellowing can start on a few solitary branches and expand over a few years to cover the entire crown. Typically, symptoms occur suddenly within a few weeks and are evident across the crown. In certain cases, trees quickly wilt and die without showing any signs. Lower branches’ inner bark (phloem), which is typically white, becomes yellow within them, develops tan flecks, and finally dies.

Management Strategies

There are no permanent cure exits to treat elm yellows that is caused by Scaphoideus luteolus. Elm yellows does not spread to new locations as fast as Dutch elm disease, which is excellent news. To eliminate Scaphoideus luteolus from the region, it is recommended that sick trees be removed. If trees exhibit infection-related symptoms, aggressive management is required. Since surrounding trees can already be infested, time is of the importance. The first step is to remove and destroy the diseased tree, then dig a trench around it and the following two rows of trees to isolate the illness. Insecticide application to trees will also decrease the risk of leafhopper transmission. It has been demonstrated that elm yellows may be stopped in its tracks by injecting trees with tetracycline antibiotics.