Water Tensions in Plants—an Entomological Approach1

Abstract

The feeding of sharpshooters, Hordnia circellata (Baker) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), ingesting the xylem sap of various plants, is considered in relation to sap tensions that may exist in the xylem vessels and to the suction that the insects may be able to create. The feeding (excretion) rate of the insects appears not to be affected appreciably by hydrostatic tensions existing or imposed on the sap ingested by the insects.