The biology of nine grass-feeding spittlebug species from Colombia was studied. To differentiate among the developmental stages, these were characterized morphologically; to quantify the duration of life stages, eggs, nymphs and adults were observed under controlled conditions; and to begin to describe the reproductive biology, oviposition site preferences were determined. Eggs of all species passed through four developmental stages distinguished by external characteristics and accompanied by an increase in size from one stage to the next. Nymphs had five instars, each accompanied by an increase in head capsule width, body, stylet and wing pad length; head capsule width was the most diagnostic because of little overlap among instars. Stylet length decreased from the fifth instar to the adult. There was sexual dimorphism expressed as the smaller size of male adults and late fifth instars, and a trend toward brighter coloration. Life cycle varied by 30 days (45.3-75.5). For eggs, nymphs and adults, the range of variation in duration was 14.1-18.0, 26.1-48.4 and 6.2-21.4 days, respectively. Seven of the nine species oviposited primarily in the soil, while Prosapia simulans preferred the stem surface and Zulia pubescens both stem and soil. Litter was the least preferred substrate receiving 0.0-8.2% of eggs with the exception of 22.7% in the case of Mahanarva trifissa. This biological variation is relevant to effective pest management. These results both strengthen certain trends and broaden known variation in this diverse and damaging pest complex of Neotropical forage grass and sugar cane.
Species 1: Homoptera Cercopidae Zulia pubescens (spittlebug, froghopper)
Species 2: Homoptera Cercopidae Aeneolamia varia (spittlebug, froghopper)
Species 3: Homoptera Cercopidae Prosapia simulans (spittlebug, froghopper)
Keywords: forage grass, pasture
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