OCCURRENCE AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF LEAFHOPPERS (CICADELLIDAE) ACROSS SELECTED LOCALITIES OF THARPARKAR, SINDH

Abstract

Studies on leafhoppers of Tharparkar located in southeastern Sindh, Pakistan, was conducted during 2023-2024.Leafhoppers are very small but active jumping phytophagous insects, known for their significant impact on agriculture due to their sap-sucking behavior and potential as vectors of plant pathogens. This study aims to document the diversity and distribution of leafhoppers in various localities of Tharparkar. Keeping in viewextreme temperature variations, and water scarcity, provided a unique flora of Tharparkar.  Field surveys conducted across various habitats, including agricultural fields, desert vegetation, and rangelands. The study documented 19 species belonging to 12 genera, 9 tribes, and 3 subfamilies (Deltocephalinae, Megophthalminae, Cicadellinae). Significant taxa included: Aconurellaprolixa (Lethierry, 1885), Exitianusindicus (Distant, 1908), Exitianusnanus (Distant, 1908), Maiestaspruthii (Metcalf, 1967), Maiestastareni (Dash and Viraktamath, 1968), Cicadulinabipunctata (Melichar, 1904), Macrostelesindrina (Pruthi, 1930), Neoaliturustenellus (Baker, 1896), Grammacephaluspallidus (Linnavuori, 1978), Grammacephalusindicus (Viraktamathand Murthy, 1999), Stirelluslahorensis (Distant, 1918), Stirellusviridulus (Pruthi, 1930), Austroagalliarobusta (Sawai Singh and Gill, 1973), Austroagalliasarobica (Dlabola, 1964), Agalliarobusta (Pruthi, 1930), Agalliacuspidata (Dlabola, 1957), Platyproctusmaculatus (Pruthi, 1930), Cofana spectra (Distant, 1908) and Cofanaunimaculata (Signoret, 1854). These species were examined in detail, including diagnostic morphological features, ecological notes, illustrations, and material examined. The results revealed that the diversity of Cicadellidae varied significantly with habitat type.

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