A new species of the spittlebug genus Clastoptera Germar (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Clastopteridae) on Florida oaks

Abstract

Over the past decade, a previously unrecorded spittlebug of the genus Clastoptera Germar (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Clastopteridae) has been observed in abundance on oaks (Quercus L. spp., Fagaceae) in several Florida counties. We describe this spittlebug as a new species, Clastoptera querci Thompson, Halbert and Rothschild, new species, provide information on its life history, host plants and distribution, and place it in the context of other members of the genus. Clastoptera spp. can transmit Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al., a bacterial pathogen that causes bacterial leaf scorch associated with oak decline. Thus C. querci should be monitored as a possible vector of X. fastidiosa in oaks.