Research Reports: Homoptera Associated with Sugarcane Fields in Texas

Abstract

Sugarcane fields samples during 1989 and 1990 yielded 36 homopteran species, including 9 aphid, 16 cicadellid and 7 delphacid species. Species were also collected from the families Cicadidae, Cixiidae, Membracidae and Psyllidae. Although sampling techniques were different, our study documented 6 aphid, 13 cicadellid, and 5 delphacid species different from those collected in a Florida sugarcane study (Hall 1988). The potential pest species Sipha flava (Forbes) (Aphididae), Saccharosydne saccharivora (Westwood) (Delphacidae) and Perkinsiella saccharicida Kirkaldy (Delphacidae) were collected during both years. Several potential sugarcane disease-producing virus vectors were collected, including aphids, cicadellids, and delphacids. Surprisingly, no cercopids have been documented nor were any collected, although members of the genera Aeneolamia and Prosapia are serious pests of sugarcane in the neotropics.