Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil (1999) 28, 413-420

José M. Waquil, Paulo A. Viana, Ivan Cruz and Jamilton P. Santos (1999)
Aspectos da Biologia da Cigarrinha-do-Milho, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
[Biological aspects of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)]
Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil 28 (3), 413-420
Abstract: On maize, the leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) is the vector of three maize pathogens: the corn stunt spiroplasma (Spiroplasma kunkelii), the maize bushy stunt phytoplasma and the maize raiado fino virus. Yield losses caused by these diseases range from nine to 90% depending on the cultivar susceptibility and the pathogen involved. The objective of this research was to study the corn leafhopper life cycle under controlled conditions, using insects end host cultivars adapted to the Brazilian conditions. Seedlings of maize and sorghum cultivated in plastic pots and covered with plastic cages, were infested with 10 adults per plant. Two independent experiments were conducted by using 10 seedlings/treatment. In the first one, the egg incubation period was recorde at constant temperatures of 17, 20, 23, 26, 29 and 32°C ± 1°C and using a light cycle of 12:12 h. In the second experiment the developmental period of nymphs was studied under the same light cycle and constant temperature of 26,5 ± 2°C. The shortest incubation period was recorded at the temperatures of 26 and 29° , in which 70% hatching took place in nine days. At 26,5°C the nymphs went through four (76% population) or five (18% population) instars and reached the adult stage in 15.7 days (around 3,14 days per instar). Mean adult longevity was 51,4 days and the life cycle, from egg to adult was 26.3 days in average. Therefore, in order to keep the insect colony or to conduct experiments with this insect, it is important to consider the maximum and minimum temperature limits.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Portuguese)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Ivan Cruz

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dalbulus maidis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)
	Dalbulus maidis	Sorghum (crop)