More chorus cicadas emerge from kiwifruit orchard blocks than from adjacent native forest

Abstract

Chorus cicada, Amphipsalta zelandica (Boisduval) (Homoptera; Cicadidae), is a widespread endemic forest species that has colonised kiwifruit orchards. They can occur at such high densities that orchard workers may refuse to work in orchard blocks because of the loud song and frequent contact with flying cicadas escaping from disturbance. In addition, sooty mould on fruit is partly attributed to feeding by cicadas and leads to productivity losses, as does the breaking of fruiting canes where egg-nests occur. Kiwifruit orchard blocks adjacent to native forest may be at risk of regular invasion by A. zelandica and this has important consequences for the success of any management strategies. The aim of our study was to compare emergence densities in native forest and kiwifruit, in order to estimate that risk.