Greenhouse Studies of Host Plant Suitability to Graminella nigrifrons, a Vector of Corn Stunt Virus12

Abstract

The suitability of 34 plant selections, representing 28 species, for feeding, survival, oviposition or nymphet development of the black-faced leafhopper, Graminella nigrifrons (Forbes), was tested in the greenhouse. Of the test leafhoppers, 20% or more survived 10 days on 14 of 30 test plants. Percent survival of females was significantly higher than that of males. Twelve of 30 test plants had 20 or more eggs laid in them within a 10-day period. Millet, oats, rice, and sorghum with 67, 56, 54, and 51 eggs, respectively, were the preferred hosts for oviposition. Incubation of eggs varied from 13 to 19 days on 12 test plants, being shortest on barley, oats, and rye and longest on common Bermuda grass. Development of nymphs to adulthood required from 17 to 18 clays on 9 plant species. Nymphs were observed on 29 of 33 test plants. However development to adulthood occurred on only 15 of these. Barley and rye appeared to be good hosts for colony development, while millet, oats, tall fescue, orchard grass, wheat, and perennial ryegrass were considered fair to poor host plants.