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Homoptera: Cercopidae) in Nsukka, South East, Nigeria

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Homoptera: Cercopidae) in Nsukka, South East, Nigeria Animal Research International (2010) 7(3): 1242 – 1252 1242 ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF SPITTLEBUGS (HOMOPTERA: CERCOPIDAE) IN NSUKKA, SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA EJERE, Vincent Chikwendu and OKPARA, Helen Tochi Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Corresponding Author: Ejere, V. C. Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 8067077741 ABSTRACT Species type and pattern of distribution of spittlebugs was studied from 6th March to 15th December 2009 within the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus. Three spittlebug species namely, Deois flavopicta, Aphrophora saratogensis and Philaenus spumarius were identified within the University campus. Whereas A. saratogensis was most abundant in September, D. flavopicta occurred most in October while P. spumarius was most abundant in November. The population of nymphs was found to increase with increasing rainfall and declined as the dry season began. A total of thirty-two (32) host plant species consisting of grasses, herbs, shrubs and trees were identified as habitats for the three spittlebug species. Whereas D. flavopicta and A. saratogensis inhabited only grasses and herbs, P. spumarius inhabited a mixture of trees and shrubs. Although no obvious effect of the activities of D. flavopicta and A. saratogensis was noticed on host plants, there was flaking, deflowering and fruiting, as well as drying up effects on Ricinus communis during heavy invasion by larvae of P. spumarius. Keywords: Ecology, Spittlebugs, Spittle mass, Abundance, Adult, Nymphs INTRODUCTION distribution spans from North Lapland to Mediterranean in Europe (Berry, 1983; Halkka The order, Homoptera, includes nine main and Halkka, 1990; Yurtsever, 1999), North families out of which the Spittlebugs belong to Africa and Afghanistan (Dlabola, 1974), Japan the family, Cercopidae (Ross, 1965). They are (Haper, 1974), Iran (Yaghmaee, 2008), South xylem sap sucking insects comprising about America (Hoffman, 1983) and different parts of 2,380 species in the World (Hodkinson and America from Louisiana region as far as Casson, 1991). The nymphs produce froth Minnesota towards East of America (Weaver masses in which they live and which protect and King, 1954; Ohio Pest Management, 2008). them from natural enemies and desiccation due In many parts of the world, spittlebugs to high temperatures (Marshall, 1966; have been identified as serious pests of Whittaker, 1970; Kuenzi and Coppel, 1985). pastures and economic plants (Dietz et al., They are geographically distributed in the 2008). They are considered the most damaging Meadows of temperate and tropical zones while pests attacking pastures in tropical America relatively few species have been reported in the because of their broad distribution and capacity Holarctic region (Nilakhe, 1985, Dietz et al., of outbreak (Valerio, 1988). Like cicadas and 2008). one subfamily of leafhoppers, they feed on plant The Meadow Spittlebug, Philaenus xylem sap (Horsfield, 1978; Pires et al., 2000). spumarius appears to be one of the most This complex native insects attack wild and common insect species in the world. It has been cultivated grasses from Southern United States reported from either Palearctic or neoarctic to Northern Argentina. They are major pests of regions (Drosopolous and Asche, 1991). Its sugarcane and occasionally turf grass and rice in ISSN: 159 – 3115 ARI 2010 7(3): 1242 – 1252 www.zoo-unn.org Ejere and Okpara 1243 Brazil (Nilakhe, 1985). In the United States of The meteorological data for the study America whereas Philaenus leucophthalmus area from January 01 to December 31, 2009 causes stunting in clovers; Aphrophora parallela was obtained from the Department of Soil and A. saratogensis are pests of pine (Dietz et Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The al., 2008). Similarly, whereas Machaerota weather data obtained were for the amount of planitiae attacks cotton in India, Clovia punctata rainfall, temperature and relative humidity and Poophilus costalis have been reported to (Table 1). The area has two distinct seasons in cause typical leaf yellowing of rice in both India the year on the basis of the total monthly and Taiwan (Nayar et al., 1992). Furthermore, proportion (percentage) of the total annual the spittlebugs, Locris rubers and Prophilus rainfall. The rainy season began in April and constalis have been reported as endemic pests ended in October of the same year. These of sorghum, maize, pearl millet, rice, sugarcane months had on average about 8 – 21% of the and grasses in Northern Nigeria and some other total annual rainfall in the year per month. The countries of West and Central Africa (Ajayi and rest of the months in the year, namely January, Oboite, 2000). February, March, November and December, However, despite the reported existence were classified as dry season months because and devastating effects of the activities of on the average each of the months had less spittlebugs in some parts of the world including than 6% of the annual rainfall. This was a clear Northern Nigeria, little or nothing is known departure from earlier reports which showed about them in Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria. that these months had less than 1% of the Therefore the present research effort was aimed annual rainfall (Inyang, 1978; Ejere and Onyia, at; 2003), hence the choice of the actual period of (a) identification of the different spittlebug data collection to cover the period of observed species inhabiting the University of Nigeria, moisture within the study area. However, the Nsukka Campus; observed minimal fluctuation in monthly rainfall (b) documentation of the habitats and is typical of most tropical environments (Sexton distribution pattern of the different species et al., 1971; Sherbrooke, 1975; Vitt, 1982; Vial within their chosen habitats. and Stewart, 1985). MATERIALS AND METHODS Field and Laboratory Methods: Daily observation and collection of spittlebug species Study Area and Meteorological Data: This was done from 6th March to 15th December, study was conducted within the delimited 2009. Collections were made between 6.30 am boundaries of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and 12 Noon and from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm Campus situated at the point of intersection of (local time) each day in designated areas of the longitude 7°25IE and latitude 6°51IN. The University campus due to the obvious campus is located on a broad dry valley appearance of spittle mass balls, dripping of surrounded by grass covered residual hills. The water from trees and the hopping of the adults extension of these dry valleys on the Nsukka on low grasses and trees while feeding. Samples plateau stands at a maximum elevation of 443m were collected manually, anaesthetized with and a minimum elevation of 207m above sea chloroform in insect bottles and taken to the level (Ofomata, 1978). The natural vegetation is laboratory for analysis. The spittlebug species dominated by a hilly savannah and an arable were identified using the keys developed by land dispersed with grass-pastures and this is Ross (1965) and BugGuide.Net (2009). located on 871 hectares of land in Nsukka town Morphometric measurements of the larval with a pleasant and healthy climate. and adult stages of the spittlebug species Additionally, 209 hectares of arable land are identified were made using a dissecting available for experimental agricultural farm, with microscope fitted with an ocular micrometer. evergreen and deciduous trees dispersed Measurements taken were body length, head (Igbozurike, 1978). length and width, length of legs, wing buds, Animal Research International (2010) 7(3): 1242 – 1252 Aspects of the ecology of spittlebugs in Nsukka, South East, Nigeria 1244 Table 1: Monthly percentage of annual rainfall, mean monthly temperature and relative humidity at University of Nigeria, Nsukka from January – December 2009 Months Rainfall (mm) Temperature Mean Relative Total monthly Percentage (%) of (oC) Humidity (%) rainfall annual total Jan 53.59 2.9 26.65 71.3 Feb 2.19 0.12 24.9 67.4 Mar. 0.00 0.00 28.45 72.8 Apr. 180.6 9.78 26.65 76.2 May 283.69 15.36 26.31 74.2 Jun. 152.37 8.25 24.95 74.7 Jul. 248.17 13.44 24.9 74.8 Aug. 260.33 14.09 24.14 75 Sept. 175.76 9.52 24.2 74.7 Oct. 387.10 20.96 24.3 74.9 Nov. 103.18 5.59 24.55 63.8 Dec. 0.00 0.00 25.8 65.4 Total 1846.98 100 Table 2: Morphometric measurements (mm) of the various spittlebug stages Stage/species Body Head Head Wing Leg Mouth length(BL) length(HL) width(HW) length(WL) length(LL) part(MP) 1ST Instar D. flavopicta - - - - - - A. saratogensis 1.0 0.5 - - 1.0 0.7 P. spumarius 1.5 0.7 1.0 - 1.2 1.1 2nd Instar D. flavopicta - - - - - - A. saratogensis 2.0 0.7 1.2 - - 1.2 P. spumarius 4.5 1.6 2.4 1.3 - 2.1 3RD Instar D. flavopicta - - - - - - A. saratogensis 4.0 2.0 - 2.4 - 1.1 P. spumarius 8.0 1.7 - 3.0 - 1.6 4TH Instar D. flavopicta 9.8 1.3 2.3 3.6 3.1 1.8 A. saratogensis 9.0 1.2 2.4 3.4 - 2.5 P. spumarius 10.0 2.0 3.0 3.3 - 3.0 5TH Instar D. flavopicta - - - - - - A. saratogensis - - - - - - P. spumarius 13.0 3.0 3.5 5.0 4.5 3.8 Adult Stage D. flavopicta 13.0 2.0 3.0 9.0 8.0 1.8 A. saratogensis 13.0 1.2 3.0 11.8 1.5 4.1 P. spumarius 17.0 4.0 5.0 13 11.0 5.0 Animal Research International (2010) 7(3): 1242 – 1252 Ejere and Okpara 1245 antennae and mouth parts. All the Adult Aphrophora saratogensis is stout, measurements were converted into millimeters elongated and wedge-shaped.
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