Occurrence of Philaenus spumarius in Xylella fastidiosa Demarcated Zones of Northern Portugal

The introduction of non-native species like Xylella fastidiosa to new environments can lead to potentially catastrophic ecological and economic repercussions. This work comprehended the prospection phase (insect sampling and submission of samples to the laboratory) from X. fastidiosa demarcated zones of Área Metropolitana do Porto; Sabrosa; Alijó; Baião; Mirandela; Mirandela II; and Bougado and the research phase (collecting and organizing data and statistical treatment). The results of this study showed the presence of the bacterium in some tested spittlebugs species captured in DZ of Área Metropolitana do Porto, which highlights the role of the vector in mediating the disease’s propagation. Most insects were found in public gardens and in nurseries/gardens where there is a diverse array of food sources, shelter, mating locations, and suitable substrates for egg laying that serve as ideal conditions for the population of Philaenus spumarius. We observed that most insects were found in the first trimester (36.5%), followed by the third trimester (23.2%). Finally, it was shown that, in our study, the most frequent host plants where insects were found included Lavandula dentata, Ulex minor, Ulex europaeus, Quercus suber, Plantago lanceolata. Our findings imply a robust connection between plant communities, ecological conditions, and insect populations with the occurrence of Xylella fastidiosa, particularly within the examined climatic context.