Scholarlink

<p>Nymphs and adults of the spittlebug, <i>Poophilus costalis</i> Walker (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) are highly polyphagous and feed on xylem. Moreover, the host-plant association and preference of <i>P. costalis</i> is imperative. Therefore, this study aimed to record its nymphal abundance among the various plants, food plant preference<i>,</i> foam size, nymphal stage present in the foam, and temperature variation between the environment and within the foam. Results Observations revealed that spittlebugs preferred to construct their nests in 33 plant species belong to 14 families. Spittlebug constructed its nests in <i>Peristrophe bicalyculata</i> (Retz.) Nees. (Acanthaceae) (12.16%), followed by <i>Cenchrus setigerus</i> Vahl (Poaceae) (11.35%) and <i>Tephrosia purpurea</i> (L.) Pers. (Fabaceae) (10.86%). The recorded foams in <i>T. purpurea</i> is ranged from 1 to 13 foams. One or more individuals of different nymphal instars were recorded in foams. Most of the spittlebugs preferred to construct their nests either in nodes (45.45%) or internodes (48.48%) regions. Length, breadth and area of <i>P. costalis</i> foam also varied among plants. Temperature variation between immediate surrounding and foam reveals that spittlebugs maintained lower temperature (26.3 ± 0.17&#xa0;°C) when compared to environmental temperature (31.4 ± 0.19&#xa0;°C). This study showed that <i>P. costalis</i> prefers specific plants and parts for foam construction and to establish its population. Therefore, it is preferable to not cultivate these plants in the same field, which reduces the abundance of this pest where the foam covers surface area of host plants and maybe reduce the photosynthetic areas as well as plant growth.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Preferential host plants and nesting sites for foam building by the spittlebug, Poophilus costalis Walker (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年2月11日

查看全文
  • Kitherian Sahayaraj,
  • A. Antony Gracy Princess,
  • Wafa Abdullah Hamad Alkherb,
  • Mohammed Ali Alshehri,
  • Lamya Ahmed Alkeridis,
  • Loko Yêyinou Laura Estelle,
  • M. Srinivasan,
  • Shanmugavel Sundar,
  • Ganeshan Petchidurai,
  • Samy Sayed

摘要

Nymphs and adults of the spittlebug, Poophilus costalis Walker (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) are highly polyphagous and feed on xylem. Moreover, the host-plant association and preference of P. costalis is imperative. Therefore, this study aimed to record its nymphal abundance among the various plants, food plant preference, foam size, nymphal stage present in the foam, and temperature variation between the environment and within the foam. Results Observations revealed that spittlebugs preferred to construct their nests in 33 plant species belong to 14 families. Spittlebug constructed its nests in Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees. (Acanthaceae) (12.16%), followed by Cenchrus setigerus Vahl (Poaceae) (11.35%) and Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. (Fabaceae) (10.86%). The recorded foams in T. purpurea is ranged from 1 to 13 foams. One or more individuals of different nymphal instars were recorded in foams. Most of the spittlebugs preferred to construct their nests either in nodes (45.45%) or internodes (48.48%) regions. Length, breadth and area of P. costalis foam also varied among plants. Temperature variation between immediate surrounding and foam reveals that spittlebugs maintained lower temperature (26.3 ± 0.17 °C) when compared to environmental temperature (31.4 ± 0.19 °C). This study showed that P. costalis prefers specific plants and parts for foam construction and to establish its population. Therefore, it is preferable to not cultivate these plants in the same field, which reduces the abundance of this pest where the foam covers surface area of host plants and maybe reduce the photosynthetic areas as well as plant growth.