Orientus ishidae, un nouveau vecteur de la flavescence dorée au Tessin = Orientus ishidae, a new vector of flavescence dorée in Ticino = Orientus ishidae, un nuovo vettore della flavescenza dorata in Ticino

Orientus ishidae, a new vector of flavescence dorée in Ticino This study was carried out in Ticino during the 2013–2015 time period. Its objective was to establish the presence of alternative insect vectors and plant hosts for grapevine flavescence dorée (FD).The results show that while the mosaic leafhopper Orientus ishidae constitutes a second vector of FD, it does not help spread the disease in an epidemic way as Scaphoideus titanus, the main vector, does. O. ishidae is present in all studied vineyards, but with varying population densities.Corylus avellana and Salix sp.are its preferred plant hosts and FD-positive individuals were found among them.Moreover, four other FD-positive leafhoppers were identified, but, contrary to O. ishidae, their ability to transfer the disease to grapevines has still to be demonstrated. The FD ecology appears to be a much more opened system than previously thought, where the landscape surrounding the vineyards plays an important role by determining which alternative plant hosts are present, it also determines their associated insect vectors.The present control strategy, based on the eradication of FD, is challenged and must be reassessed.