Transmission of the Pineapple Disease Organism of Sugarcane by Nitidulid Beetles in Hawaii12

Abstract
Urophorus humeralis (F.), Carpophilus hemipterus (L.), and Haptoncus ocularis (Fairmaire) were proven to be important vectors of pineapple disease of sugarcane, Ceratocystis paradoxa (Dade) Moreau in Hawaii. Viable spores were carried on the body surface but not in the feces of U. humeralis. Once it acquired the pathogen, individuals of U. humeralis could make a maximum of 13 transmissions (2-min inoculation period) and remain infective up to 12 days. Nitidulids were attracted to diseased cane, which also proved to be a better food source for both adult and young U. humeralis than healthy sugarcane stalks.

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