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First Report of Metadelphax propinqua (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) Feeding on Bermudagrass in Brazil

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Abstract

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Poaceae) is one of the most important pasture grasses used in milk production systems in southern Brazil, with an increasing expansion of cultivated areas in recent years. Here, we report the first occurrence of the planthopper Metadelphax propinqua (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) feeding on bermudagrass in Brazil. Population outbreaks of this species were observed in January/February 2023 in a commercial hay production farm in the municipality of Chapecó, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. Metadelphax propinqua was found in association with three cultivars of C. dactylon (Tifton 85, Jiggs, and Vaquero). The infested plants showed leaf chlorosis and a reduced plant growth rate due to sap sucking and toxin injection as well as honeydew deposition on the leaves, which led to the development of sooty mold. In addition, this delphacid species has been reported as a vector of important pathogens to bermudagrass species and other row crops. Thus, M. propinqua is a potential pest of bermudagrass in Brazil and should be monitored to assess its establishment and behavior in Brazilian pasturelands.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Giuratti family (Chapecó, SC) for allowing to conduct the study in their pasturelands.

Funding

This study was supported by the Brazilian National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq, grant 310385/2022–9).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Family Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina (CEPAF/EPAGRI), Chapecó, SC, Brazil

    Leandro do Prado Ribeiro & Daian Marcos Savaris

  2. Itaipu Regional Cooperative (CooperItaipu), Pinhalzinho, SC, Brazil

    Marcelo Salvatori

  3. Dept of Agronomy, Santa Catarina State Univ (CAV/UDESC), Lages, SC, Brazil

    Eduardo Silva Gorayeb & Fábio Nascimento da Silva

  4. Dept of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, Univ of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

    Charles R. Bartlett

Authors
  1. Leandro do Prado Ribeiro
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  2. Daian Marcos Savaris
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  3. Marcelo Salvatori
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  4. Eduardo Silva Gorayeb
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  5. Fábio Nascimento da Silva
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  6. Charles R. Bartlett
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Contributions

L. do P. R. and C. B. conceived the study, L. do P. R., D. M. S. and M. S. conducted the field collections and initial morphological assessments, E. G. and F. N. da S. conducted the molecular analysis, C. B. conducted morphological analysis of collected specimens, L. do P. R. and F. N. da S. wrote the draft manuscript, and all authors contributed to writing and reviewing the paper. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leandro do Prado Ribeiro.

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Edited by Denise Návia

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do Prado Ribeiro, L., Savaris, D.M., Salvatori, M. et al. First Report of Metadelphax propinqua (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) Feeding on Bermudagrass in Brazil. Neotrop Entomol 53, 455–459 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-023-01116-3

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