Fall migratory flight initiation of the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae): observations in the lower atmosphere using remote piloted vehicles

The development and use of a remote piloted vehicle (RPV) to sample the lower atmosphere for potato leafhopper has shown a correlation between declining barometric pressure associated with the approach of a weather front and the presence of diapausing leafhoppers 30 m above an alfalfa field initiating their fall migration to the southern states. Population decline of leafhoppers in the source field was also correlated with the passage of weather fronts. The RPV utilized in this research had a 2.4 m wingspan and was outfitted with a fine mesh 41 cm2 insect net. This RPV sampled 167 m3/min with flight durations of 30 min