Insect-trapping Hairs on Potato Plants

Abstract

The ability of glandular hairs on the foliage of the wild potato species Solanum polyadenium and S. berthaultii to trap mite and insect pests is illustrated by scanning electron micrographs. Both potato species have hairs with four-lobed heads which release a sticky substance when ruptured. On S. polyadenium these hairs trapped aphids, Colorado beetle larvae and a leafhopper Javasella pellucida. S. berthaultii also has hairs with a sticky droplet at their tips; these hairs trapped such small pests as spider mites, thrips and larval mealybugs. Adult whitefly were not trapped because a powdery wax from the whiteflies coated the hairs. It is suggested that these glandular hairs could help protect potato crops by trapping many foliage pests, including disease vectors.