A survey of potential vectors of the plant pathogenic bacterium xylella fastidiosa in the basilicata region, italy

The plain along the Ionian coast and the Matera hills are close to the border of the Apulia region, where, since 2013, the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa has been causing the death of olive trees. During 2016-2018 a study was conducted on the potential insect vectors of X. fastidiosa in eight olive groves, located in three areas of the province of Matera (Basilicata, Italy), characterized by different agricultural landscapes. We captured three spittlebug species, Philaenus spumarius (L.), Neophilaenus campestris (Fallen) and Lepyronia coleoptrata (L.), in addition to the cicadellid Cicadella viridis (L.). Among them, P. spumarius was by far the most prevalent species in 2016, while in 2017 and 2018 catch rates were modest for all the candidate vector species. The population trend of the four insect species in the June-October period was reported about the three study areas in the years considered.