Untersuchungen an Zyginidia scutellaris (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838) zur Nutzung der Wirtspflanzen für die Ernährung und Eiablage: (Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae)

Abstract

Studies on host plant use for feeding and oviposition in Zyginidia scutellaris (Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae). – Leafhoppers directly depend on their host plants and use them for many different purposes. In this paper, the use of host plants for feeding and oviposition is shown for Zyginidia scutellaris. As a mesophyll feeder, Z. scutellaris produces typical white spots on the leaves of its host plants. In our field studies on maize plants we could show that the distribution of these white spots changed in the course of the growing season. There was a trend that the central parts of the plants and the lower parts of the leaves are preferred. Choice tests were made to reveal preferences for different host plants. Dactylis glomerata L. was the most frequently used plant in both sexes followed by Hordeum distichon L. preferred by females and Triticum aestivum L. preferred by males. Poa annua L. was used in low frequencies in both sexes. For oviposition on seedlings of Triticum aestivum L., the females in most cases preferred the parts at the basis of the leaf blades.