Eur. J. Entomol. 100 (4): 493-499, 2003 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2003.075

Aggregation and survival of Neophilaenus albipennis (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) spittlebug nymphs

Robert BIEDERMANN
Landscape Ecology Group, Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany; e-mail: robert.biedermann@uni-oldenburg.de

The nymphs of spittlebugs (Hemiptera, Cercopidae) are xylem-feeders and live on herbs, grasses or woody plants within their self-produced spittle masses. Nymphs of the spittlebug Neophilaenus albipennis live aggregated in these spittle masses on their host plant Brachypodium pinnatum, a common grass in dry grassland. The objective of this study was to estimate nymphal mortality rates and to examine what role aggregation and vegetation structure play in the mortality of the nymphs. The aggregation and mortality were measured using two different methods, direct monitoring and caging of nymphs. The nymphs passively aggregated with up to 4 nymphs per spittle and aggregation decreased with instar. The aggregation of the nymphs resulted in a reduced mortality in all instars. Although it has already been argued that aggregation may be an advantage, this study is the first direct evidence (i.e. direct measurement of single individuals) for the benefit of aggregation to individual spittlebug nymphs. Despite a clumped distribution of N. albipennis nymphs in tall vegetation, nymphal mortality was not correlated with vegetation height.

Keywords: Aggregation, Neophilaenus albipennis, nymphs, spittlebug, survival, vegetation structure

Received: October 18, 2002; Revised: May 19, 2003; Accepted: May 29, 2003; Published: November 20, 2003  Show citation

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BIEDERMANN, R. (2003). Aggregation and survival of Neophilaenus albipennis (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) spittlebug nymphs. EJE, 100(4), 493-499. doi: 10.14411/eje.2003.075
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