Overwintering of the Leafhopper Graminella nigrifrons (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in Northern Ohio

Abstract

Graminella nigrifrons was collected from the field in the fall of 1981 and placed in field cages containing fescue sod. Sixteen newly emerged G. nigrifrons were collected with a vacuum sampler the following spring. In the winter of 1982-1983, G. nigrifrons overwintered poorly on orchardgrass, better on ryegrass, and best on fescue. This data suggests thatG. nigrifrons overwintered as eggs. Stadia of development for G. nigrifrons were one week longer on fescue than on ryegrass. Compared to naturally infested caged areas, those into which an additional 2,636 field-collected leafhoppers were released resulted in a 2.3-fold increase in leafhopper survival. The vacuum sampler collected more leafhoppers than did small (130 cm2), yellow, adhesive-coated cards. Yellow cards captured more males than females, whereas the vacuum sampler collected more females than males inside the cages. The increased numbers of G. nigrifrons in the caged area after the fall release, and the 1:1 sex ratio found on sod areas outside cages are evidence that G. nigrifrons overwinters in northern Ohio. Fescue and ryegrass may serve as important overwintering hosts.