[The Leafhopper Neoaliturus haematoceps (Mulsant & Rey) is a vector of Spiroplasma citri in the Mediterranean].

Among the many leafhoppers which we have collected and identified in Morocco, Turkey, Syria and France (Corsica), only the species Neoaliturus haematoceps was found to be infected with Spiroplasma citri. In Syria, this leafhopper was encountered on ornamental stock plants (Matthiola incana L.) in the Oronte valley, and on Salsola kali L., a wild Chenopodiacae of the semi-arid regions of the coastal area. In Corsica, we found it on wild stock plants (Matthiola sinuata R.Br.) of the oriental coast and on bush plants. A breeding of this leafhopper was initiated, and we demonstrated that it was able to acquire S. citri from infected periwinkles, multiply the organisms in its body and transmit them to healthy plants. This leafhopper can also be infected after injection of S. citri. The leafhoppers thus inoculated can transmit the spiroplasma very efficiently to healthy plants. This is the first report of the transmission of S. citri by Neoaliturus haematoceps both after acquisition on a diseased plant and after injection.