Auchenorrhyncha associated with olive trees in Greece: species and population trends

Lately, much talk has become the European scientific community on the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. This due to the confirmed infections of the bacterium in olive, reported in 2013 in Italy, in the province of Lecce Region Apulia, particularly. This bacterium causes the "Olive quick decline syndrome". Xylella fastidiosa has considerable genotypic and phenotypic diversity of four so far accepted subspecies: -fastidiosa, -pauca, -multiplex and -sandyi. The genotype of X. fastidiosa in Apulia is attributed to the subspecies X. fastidiosa pauca.

Xylella fastidiosa is transmitted by leafhoppers, sharpshooters and planthoppers, belonging to the families Cicadellidae, Aphrophoridae and Cercopidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). However, species of Cicadidae and Tibicinidae families (Cicadas) can be defined as potential vectors of the bacterium.

This study aims to record the Auchenorrhyncha, already mentioned as potential vectors of X. fastidiosa, in Greece, as well as the study of species and their seasonal fluctuation of Auchenorrhycha in olive yards.

For this reason, a survey was conducted on already collected entomological material, in order to record Auchenorrhyncha mentioned by EFSA as the the main, or the main potential vectors of X. fastidiosa in Europe. Also, samplings were conducted from various regions of Greece with intense olive-growing activity, such as Attica, Chania and Fthiotida. Those samplings were performed with Malaise traps, entomological net and aspirator. The samples collected were kept in 70% ethyl alcohol and sent to the Agricultural Zoology and Entomology Laboratory of AUA for classification. Results showed that all of the 10 insects listed as the main, or main potential vectors of X. fastidiosa in Europe, have been reported in Greece. Detailed reference to the presence and the population fluctuation of the species in olive yards will be presented.