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Leafhoppers of the subfamily Idiocerinae are predominantly found on trees and shrubs. They are characterized by a broad rounded head, extending little between the eyes, and a general 'wedge' shape. According to Viraktamath (1989), 14 idiocerine species, in three genera (Amritodus, Busoniomimus and Idioscopus), breed on mango trees and of these only six are of economic importance. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive taxonomic treatment available to separate all the mango-associated species.
I. clypealis has the head, pronotum and scutellum yellowish, with two black spots on the anterior margin of the vertex in the female, but these spots are absent in the male. The frons is immaculate;there are two black spots on the fronto-clypeus mesad and basad of the ocelli;the clypellus is completely black. The scutellum is yellowish with a a triangular black spot near each basal angle. The forewings are pale ochraceous. Male genitalia are with an aedeagus with two pairs of long appendages. Males are between 3.7 and 4.2 mm in length;females are 3.8-4.2 mm.

Recoginition

Detailed examination of the flower panicles is needed to determine the population size for damage assessment and control studies. Verghese et al. (1985) developed a sequential sampling plan for classifying infestation of I. clypealis into light, moderate and severe on the basis of sample counts. Negative binomial distributions for nymphs and adults were fitted. Operating characteristic values, giving the probability of reaching a correct decision for a range of population means for both adults and nymphs, together with average sample number values, were used to predict the average number of trees to be sampled under different sequential plans. In the case of the closely related I. niveosparsus, studies by Tandon et al. (1989) on the spatial distribution of nymphs on mango trees in Karnataka, India, to determine a sampling plan for the pest showed that nymphs were aggregated on the mango panicles. Their distribution was best explained by Iwao's patchiness regression which showed that mean colony size was fixed and that colonies followed a negative binomial series. The optimum sample size recommended was 59 panicles per tree for damage assessment and control studies, and 98 panicles per tree for ecological studies when greater precision was required. Tandon et al. (1989) found no significant differences in the distribution of nymphs between the north, south, east or west portions of the tree or between the upper and lower canopies, indicating that sampling can be conducted from any point on the tree.

Related invasive species

  • Idioscopus clypealis

Related Farm Practice

  • Feeding
  • Damage
  • Progeny
  • Production
  • Effects
  • Economic valuation
  • Fluctuations
Has Cabi datasheet ID
28470
Symptons

Nymphs and adults of Idioscopus species suck phloem sap from the inflorescences and leaves. The affected florets turn brown and dry up, and fruit setting is affected. Other effects of feeding are caused by honeydew on which sooty mould develops, affecting photosynthesis. Some damage may also occur through egg laying into the leaves and flower stems.

Hosts

According to Sohi and Sohi (1990) there are no plants other than mangoes on which I. clypealis will breed;however Viraktamath (1989) and Gnaneswaran et al. (2007) list a range of trees on which adults have been found.

Oss tagged
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