Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
31
32
31
Glasshouse leafhopper (
Hauptidia maroccana
).
32
Adult of
Ribautiana ulmi
alongside cast skin of final-instar
nymph.
Hauptidia maroccana
(Melichar) (
31
)
syn.
Erythroneura pallidifrons
(Edwards);
E. tolosana
(Ribaut)
Glasshouse leafhopper
A polyphagous, tropical or subtropical species. Well
established in the warmer parts of Europe. In northern
Europe, infestations occur mainly on greenhouse plants,
including
Calceolaria
,
Chrysanthemum
, diviner's sage
(
Salvia divinorum
),
Fuchsia
,
Gloxinia
, heliotrope
(
Heliotropium
),
Pelargonium
, primrose (
Primula
vulgaris
), sweet-scented verbena (
Aloysia citriodora
)
and tobacco plant (
Nicotiana
); in favourable areas, also
found on outdoor plants such as chickweed (
Stellaria
)
and foxglove (
Digitalis purpurea
).
DAMAGE
Growth of heavily infested plants is checked and
seedlings killed, but on most hosts damage is limited to
specking, silvering or a blanched mottling of the
foliage. Leaves are also contaminated by cast nymphal
skins.
Ribautiana ulmi
(Linnaeus) (
32
)
A generally common species, associated mainly with
elm (
Ulmus
) and causing extensive discoloration of the
expanded leaves; attacks also occur on other trees,
including hazel (
Corylus
), hornbeam (
Carpinus
betulus
), oak (
Quercus
), whitebeam (
Sorbus aria
) and
willow (
Salix
). Adults are present from May to
November. They breed on the underside of the leaves,
and often occur in considerable numbers. Individuals
are 3.6-4.4 mm long; the elytra are yellow, with greyish
markings on the apical third; the head and pronotum
are yellowish, the former with a pair of distinctive back
spots and the latter usually with a single spot on the
front margin. The active nymphs are yellowish to
whitish.
DESCRIPTION
Adult:
3.1-3.7 mm long; mainly pale yellow, with
greyish or brownish markings, the latter forming a
pair of distinctive, chevron-like marks on the elytra.
Nymph:
whitish.
LIFE HISTORY
Breeding is continuous throughout the year, all stages
occurring on the underside of host plants. Eggs are
deposited singly in the leaf veins and hatch in about a
week at normal greenhouse temperatures. Nymphs feed
for about a month, passing through five instars before
reaching the adult stage. Adults survive for up to
3 months, each female depositing up to 50 eggs. The
duration of the various stages is extended in cool
conditions; development is greatly protracted during the
winter, when the eggs often take a month or more to
hatch and nymphal development lasts for two or more
months.
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