Some aspects of the internal anatomy of the leafhopper Agillia constricta (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

Morphology of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) with evidence of a spermatostyle in the sperm conjugation

Changes in harvesting methods in the early 1990s led to Mahanarva fimbriolata becoming the most prevalent pest in sugarcane plantations. Encouraged by the scarcity of research on the reproductive system and spermatology of Auchenorrhyncha, we provide a detailed description of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of this cercopid. This will not only aid in taxonomic purposes but also help in understanding the reproductive biology of the species. The male reproductive system, spermatozoa, and sperm bundles of M. fimbriolata were investigated using light microscopy. Our results reveal a reproductive system consisting of a pair of testes, each with 36 follicles, two vasa deferentia, two well-developed seminal vesicles, a single pair of accessory glands, and an ejaculatory duct. Here, we also describe and explore the particularities of the formation of secondary sperm bundles, where cells interestingly bind only to the apical region of the spermatostyle. We also propose some possible benefits of this unusual organization for the reproductive success of the species.

The Anatomy and Ultrastructure of the Digestive Tract and Salivary Glands of Hishimonus lamellatus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

In recent years, we found that Hishimonus lamellatus Cai et Kuoh is a potential vector of jujube witches'-broom phytoplasma. However, little is known about the anatomy and histology of this leafhopper. Here, we examined histology and ultrastructure of the digestive system of H. lamellatus, both by dissecting and by semi- and ultrathin sectioning techniques. We found that the H. lamellatus digestive tract consists of an esophagus, a filter chamber, a conical midgut and midgut loop, Malpighian tubules, an ileum, and a rectum. Furthermore, both the basal region of the filter chamber epithelium and the apical surface of the midgut epithelium have developed microvilli. We also identify the perimicrovillar membrane, which ensheaths the microvilli of midgut loop enterocyte, and the flame-like luminal membrane, which covers the microvilli of the conical midgut epithelium. In addition, H. lamellatus has the principal and accessory salivary glands. Our observations also showed that the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and secretory granules were all highly abundant in the secretory cells of the principal salivary glands, while the accessory glands consist of only one ovate or elbow-like acinus. We also briefly contrast the structure of the gut of H. lamellatus with those of other leafhopper species. These results intend to offer help for the future study on the histological and subcellular levels of phytopathogen-leafhopper relationships, including transmission barriers and the binding sites of pathogens and other microorganisms within their leafhopper vectors.

Influence of prgH on the Persistence of Ingested Salmonella enterica in the Leafhopper Macrosteles quadrilineatus

Phytophagous insects can encounter Salmonella enterica on contaminated plant surfaces and transmit externally adhered and internalized bacteria on and among leaves. Excretion of ingested S. enterica by the leafhopper Macrosteles quadrilineatus has been previously reported; however, the sites of persistence of ingested bacteria remain undetermined. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence and persistence of S. enterica in various organs of M. quadrilineatus fed an inoculated diet for 12 h and then moved to two consecutive noninoculated diets for a total of 48 h. Ingested S. enterica was predominantly observed in the filter chamber, midgut, and Malpighian tubules of M. quadrilineatus dissected immediately after acquisition and at 24- and 48-h post-acquisition access periods (post-AAPs). Additionally, we examined the potential roles of the Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) and SPI-2 type III secretion systems (T3SSs) in the persistence and excretion of ingested S. enterica. In competition assays, a prgH mutant lacking a functional SPI-1 T3SS was recovered at significantly lower levels than the WT in insect homogenates at 24 h post-AAP, and complementation with prgH restored S. enterica persistence in M. quadrilineatus. Moreover, expression of prgH inside M. quadrilineatus was observed up to 48 post-AAP. No differences were observed between the WT and an ssaK mutant lacking a functional SPI-2 T3SS in insect homogenates or between the WT and either mutant in insect excretions. This study provides novel insight into the presence and persistence of S. enterica inside M. quadrilineatus and demonstrates that the SPI-1 T3SS influences the persistence of the pathogen in the gut of a potential vector.

Novel Rickettsiella bacterium in the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Bacteria in the genus Rickettsiella (Coxiellaceae), which are mainly known as arthropod pathogens, are emerging as excellent models to study transitions between mutualism and pathogenicity. The current report characterizes a novel Rickettsiella found in the leafhopper Orosius albicinctus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a major vector of phytoplasma diseases in Europe and Asia. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and pyrosequencing were used to survey the main symbionts of O. albicinctus, revealing the obligate symbionts Sulcia and Nasuia, and the facultative symbionts Arsenophonus and Wolbachia, in addition to Rickettsiella. The leafhopper Rickettsiella is allied with bacteria found in ticks. Screening O. albicinctus from the field showed that Rickettsiella is highly prevalent, with over 60% of individuals infected. A stable Rickettsiella infection was maintained in a leafhopper laboratory colony for at least 10 generations, and fluorescence microscopy localized bacteria to accessory glands of the female reproductive tract, suggesting that the bacterium is vertically transmitted. Future studies will be needed to examine how Rickettsiella affects host fitess and its ability to vector phytopathogens.

Electron microscopy of a plant-pathogenic virus in the nervous system of its insect vector

The central nervous system of wound tumor virus (WTV)-infected Agallia constricta was studied by electron microscopy to obtain information concerning the virus distribution in the nervous system. Wound tumor virions were mostly found in the cytoplasm of the ganglion cells and less frequently in the glial cells. WTV was occasionally observed in the perineurium cells, nerve axons, tracheoblasts, and lateral nerves. In the ganglion cells, virions appeared as individual isolated particles (V(1)), in tubular formation (V(2)), and occasionally in aggregates (V(3)). In the glial cells, the virions were mostly seen in the V(3) formation, and very seldom in the V(1) and V(2) formations. In the perineurium cells and tracheoblasts, only small V(3) formations were observed. The isolated virions were usually surrounded with polyribosomes, and often appeared around the foci of the viroplasm. Sometimes degenerating ganglion cells infected with the WTV were encountered. These damaged cells strongly indicated that WTV exerted a cytopathogenic effect on the nerve cells.