Flight ability of Asiatic citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Homoptera; Psyllidae), measured by a flight mill

Abstract

The flight ability of Asiatic Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Homoptera; Psyllidae), was measured using a flight mill. The flight duration was similar at all ages of the species regardless of sex. However, 4-day-old individuals exceeded that of 1-day-old individuals in flight distance. At the same age, the flight ability of females was almost equal to that of males. The longest continuous flight duration was 47 min for females and 49 min for males. The longest continuous flight distance was calculated as being 978 m for females and 1241 m for males. We speculate that the flight ability of this species is not so high and their dispersion consists of repeated short distance flights.