Leafhopper fauna associated with rice ecosystem in Thrissur District, Kerala T.K. Nesmi Abdul Khader*, Mathew Maicykutty P. Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 680654 *Email: nesmishijad@gmail.com
Online published on 27 July, 2018. Abstract A study was undertaken in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2015–2016, to document the leafhopper fauna associated with rice ecosystem in Thrissur district of Kerala. Leafhoppers were collected from paddy fields of Vadakkanchery and Kole lands. Different parts of leafhoppers viz., head, pronotum, scutellum, male genitalia, abdominal apodemes and female seventh sternum were studied in detail and illustrations were made. Results revealed nine species of leafhoppers associated with rice: Cofana spectra (Distant), C. lineata (Distant), Nephotettix nigropictus (Stal), N. virescens (Distant), Exitianus indicus (Distant), Maiestas dorsalis (Motschulsky), Hecalus porrectus (Walker), H. lutescens (Distant) and Doratulina sp. Occurrence of H. lutescens (Distant) in rice ecosystem is a new report for Kerala. C. lineata and H. porrectus are new records on rice in Kerala. A dichotomous taxonomic key to separate these nine species is also given. Top Keywords Leafhoppers, rice, Kerala, Vadakkancherry, Kole, taxonomic characters, illustrations, taxonomic key, habitus images, new records, new reports. Top |