Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)

With the exception of a handful of economically important species, the biology of cixiid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) is poorly known. The host plants and life history of Cixius meridionalis Beirne were investigated in a wetland in Soldotna, Alaska. Specimens were collected over t...

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Main Author: M. L. Bowser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/769021
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author M. L. Bowser
author_facet M. L. Bowser
author_sort M. L. Bowser
collection DOAJ
description With the exception of a handful of economically important species, the biology of cixiid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) is poorly known. The host plants and life history of Cixius meridionalis Beirne were investigated in a wetland in Soldotna, Alaska. Specimens were collected over the course of the growing season by hand, aspirator, Berlese funnel, and sweep net. A handful of live nymphs were placed in a terrarium containing potential host plants for direct observation of feeding. C. meridionalis was found to feed on roots of Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb, Empetrum nigrum L., Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. At least within the study area, C. meridionalis appears to require multiple years to reach adulthood, with overwintering in nymphal instars. C. meridionalis was occasionally tended by Myrmica alaskensis Wheeler.
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spelling doaj-art-8f1039371e9c4301bbaefadee4ab7d952025-02-03T01:31:14ZengWileyPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382014-01-01201410.1155/2014/769021769021Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)M. L. Bowser0U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 2139, Soldotna, AK 99669, USAWith the exception of a handful of economically important species, the biology of cixiid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea: Cixiidae) is poorly known. The host plants and life history of Cixius meridionalis Beirne were investigated in a wetland in Soldotna, Alaska. Specimens were collected over the course of the growing season by hand, aspirator, Berlese funnel, and sweep net. A handful of live nymphs were placed in a terrarium containing potential host plants for direct observation of feeding. C. meridionalis was found to feed on roots of Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb, Empetrum nigrum L., Chamaedaphne calyculata (L.) Moench, and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. At least within the study area, C. meridionalis appears to require multiple years to reach adulthood, with overwintering in nymphal instars. C. meridionalis was occasionally tended by Myrmica alaskensis Wheeler.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/769021
spellingShingle M. L. Bowser
Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
title Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)
title_full Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)
title_fullStr Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)
title_full_unstemmed Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)
title_short Notes on the Biology of the Cixiid Planthopper Cixius meridionalis (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea)
title_sort notes on the biology of the cixiid planthopper cixius meridionalis hemiptera fulgoroidea
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/769021
work_keys_str_mv AT mlbowser notesonthebiologyofthecixiidplanthoppercixiusmeridionalishemipterafulgoroidea