Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Transmission experiments proved that O. atkinsoni is a vector of Phormium Yellow-leaf (PYL) phytoplasma. "The high level of infectivity of O. atkinsoni can be attributed to their 2 year life cycle, during which they probably acquire the phytoplasma as nymphs while living amongst the decayed leaf bases and roots of the rhizome, and to the fact that they feed almost exclusively on New Zealand flax".

The passionvine hopper, Scolypopa australis, failed to transmit the disease. S. australis feeds only on the leaves of the flax, where the PYL occurs at a much lower concentration than in the rhizome.