Insights into the Diversity and Population Structure of Predominant Typhlocybinae Species Existing in Vineyards in Greece

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Leafhoppers are tiny insects that are found in large populations in many different crops. They feed on the leaves and can transmit pathogens at the same time, damaging the plants and reducing final production. Several species are found in vineyards, but their identification is difficult, and the application of appropriate management methods is affected. This study investigates the occurrence and composition of Typlocybinae species in the Greek vineyards. The combination of molecular and morphological analysis identified the species Arboridia adanae, Asymmetrasca decedens, Hebata decipiens, Hebata vitis, Jacobiasca lybica and Zygina rhamni. At the same time, the results of the DNA analysis based on the mitochondrial region revealed many haplotypes within the six different collected species. ABSTRACT: Insects of the subfamily Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) are pests of economically important agricultural and horticultural crops. They damage the plants directly or indirectly by transmitting plant pathogens, resulting in significant yield loss. Several leafhoppers of this subfamily use vines as hosts. Accurate and rapid identification is the key to their successful management. The aim of this study is to determine the Typhlocybinae species that exist in vineyards all over Greece and investigate the relationship between them. For this purpose, yellow sticky traps were placed, morphological and molecular data were collected, and phylogenetic models were analyzed. The mitochondrial marker Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I (mtCOI) was applied for the DNA and phylogenetic analysis. The combination of morphological and molecular data resulted in identifying the existence of six different species all over Greece: Arboridia adanae, Asymmetrasca decedens, Hebata decipiens, Hebata vitis, Jacobiasca lybica and Zygina rhamni. Forty-eight different haplotypes were found to exist in the different regions of the country.