Studies on the immature stages of the planthopper Lepidelphax pistiae (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), a potential biocontrol agent for the aquatic weed Pistia stratiotes (Araceae) from Argentina

Abstract

Descriptions of the immature stages of the planthopper Lepidelphax pistiae Remes Lenicov (Fulgoromorpha), a specialist herbivore of Pistia stratiotes L. (Alismatales) from Argentina, are provided for the first time. P. stratiotes, or water lettuce, is an important weed in fresh water bodies of the tropics and subtropics. Newly emerged nymphs from eggs collected in the field were reared in rearing chambers. Fifth nymphal instars may be easily recognised by the whitish colour with a distinctive blackish antennal flagellum and ungues, and the relatively long frons and rostrum. Information is provided on nymphal behaviour and the main features of the fifth nymph instar that distinguish it from the two other delphacids that live and feed on plants from central and northern Argentine wetlands.

New morphological and biological contributions to adults and immature forms of Pissonotus paraguayensis (Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae) in wetlands of Argentina

“…Immature stages of P. paraguayensis can be distinguished from other three species of delphacids that inhabit and feed on aquatic macrophytes in Argentina, Megamelus scutellaris Berg ( Sosa et al 2005 ), M. bellicus Remes Lenicov and Sosa ( Mariani et al 2007 ) and Lepidelphax pistiae Remes Lenicov ( Marino de Remes Lenicov et al 2017 ), by a combination of morphological and colouration features. These main features are the yellowish colouration without defined stripes on frontoclypeal area, distinctive blackish marks on the upper front of the head, basal antennal segments, thorax, legs and abdomen; also the slender spur has eight subequal marginal fine black tipped teeth.…”

“…Particularly in Argentina, eight species of Delphacidae have been the subjects of research, specifically investigating their level of association with macrophytes ( Sosa et al 2004 , 2007 ; Mariani et al 2013 ; Remes Lenicov and Cabrera Walsh 2013). Among these species, information regarding their life cycles has been gathered for three of them ( Sosa et al 2005 ; Mariani et al 2007 ; Marino de Remes Lenicov et al 2017 ).…”

Morphological reassessment of the movable calcar of delphacid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae)

“…Also, modifications of calcar were reported in Delphacini taxa associated with water plants ( e.g ., waterlily), e.g . Megamelus davisi Van Duzee, 1897 with an exceptionally large, thin and leaflike calcar with about 20 small teeth, but allowing to place it to Type 7 113 – 116 . The shape of the calcar probably facilitates jumping from the water surface (personal communication, Ch.…”

Host range of Lepidelphax pistiae (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and its potential impact on Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae)

“…Lepidelphax pistiae was described from the Paraná/Uruguay basin in Argentina and is the only species within the Lepidelphax genus (de Remes Lenicov & Walsh, 2013). It has been observed feeding and reproducing only on P. stratiotes both in the field and the laboratory (Cabrera Walsh, Maestro, Sosa, & Tipping, 2014;de Remes Lenicov & Walsh, 2013;de Remes Lenicov, Defea, Rusconi, & Cabrera Walsh, 2017). Lepidelphax pistiae by itself can significantly impact growth of P. stratiotes, reducing final biomass by approximately one third and resulting in ∼20% fewer rosettes compared to controls (Cabrera .…”