Spittlebug population fluctuation in giant missionary grass

Abstract

The spittlebug infesting grasses reduces the productivity and the quality of pasture. The population fluctuation of these insects was studied in giant missionary grass (Axonopus catharinensis Valls) in Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, from October 2008 to September 2011. The spittlebugs samples were collected twice a month using an entomological net. Deois flavopicta (Stal) and Deois schach (F.) (both Hemiptera, Cercopidae) predominated in the pasture infesting from late spring to late autumn. The average monthly minimum temperature is directly related with spittlebugs population fluctuation (r = 0.63) while the total monthly rainfall that occurs in Western Santa Catarina has insignificant correlation.