Alternative methods for rearing grass-feeding spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Abstract

Two methodologies for rearing grass-feeding spittlebugs are described and were evaluated with Aeneolamia varia (Fabricius) on Brachiaria ruziziensis Germ. & Evrard. To promote biological studies, a new small-scale rearing unit was developed to maintain spittlebug life stages in the greenhouse year round. This unit features a plant tray established with roots as feeding sites for nymphal development alongside an adult emergence cage with plants and oviposition substrate for egg collection. For large-scale production, an improved mass-rearing colony was designed to reduce inputs and streamline production. The major feature was a covered box with root and microclimate conditions adequate for nymphal development. Efficiency of adult production from eggs was 45.1%, yield 1002 adults/m2 per generation, nymphal development time 36.1 d, and adult emergence 70.5% in a 1-wk period. This mass-rearing method is a more effective tool for reliable and high-level production of spittlebugs for massive screening required for the evaluation of control tactics such as fungal entomopathogens and host plant resistance. The possibilities for further improving these designs and tailoring them to other spittlebug species are discussed.