Effect of host plant on the fitness of the spittlebug Notozulia entreriana (Berg) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae): Alternative method for rearing

FOIERI, A.; VIRLA, E.G.; MACIÁ, A.; DE REMES LENICOV, ANA MARIA MARINO

ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020 p. 1 - 8

0013-8703

Among the 11 genera of neotropical spittlebugs attacking graminaceous plants,N. entreriana (Berg) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), is one of the most important pests of grasses in several countries of South America. In this work we evaluate the influence of three economically relevant species of host plants on life cycle traits of N. entreriana through experimental assays. We tested for differences in fitness responses (survival and fecundity) of insects across forage species which represent frequent hosts for wild populations of spittlebugs. Comparison of life cycles on three host plants showed that only 2.5% of nymphs completed their development on Zea mays, 22.5% on Chloris gayana and 95% on Brachiaria decumbens. All the above suggests that C. gayana and B. decumbens are able to sustain complete development, behaving like natural hosts; the latter species is superior for artificial colonies because a shorter developmental period, higher survivorship in nymphs, and longer lifespam of adults were observed. Z. mays did not allow proper development, promoting high mortality instead. We also developed a new approach for small-scale breeding of N. entreriana, which will permit other biological and behavioral studies about this important pest species.