Electropenetrography, a tool to investigate the feeding behaviourof sucking insects: development of this technique to Scaphoideus titanus

Abstract: The leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus is the vector of the Flavescence dorée andtransmits the phytoplasma causing the disease while feeding. To better understand thetransmission process, we developed for this leafhopper the electropenetrograpy technique whichallows studying the feeding behaviour. We used the direct current method (DC system) to studythe fundamental processes of the S. titanus feeding behaviour. We present the first results of thecharacterization of the electrical patterns obtained with this insect.