Preferential host plants and nesting sites for foam building by the spittlebug, Poophilus costalis Walker (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae)

Nymphs and adults of the spittlebug, Poophilus costalis Walker (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) are highly polyphagous and feed on xylem. Moreover, the host-plant association and preference of P. costalis is imperative. Therefore, this study aimed to record its nymphal abundance among the various plants, food plant preference, foam size, nymphal stage present in the foam, and temperature variation between the environment and within the foam. Results Observations revealed that spittlebugs preferred to construct their nests in 33 plant species belong to 14 families. Spittlebug constructed its nests in Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees. (Acanthaceae) (12.16%), followed by Cenchrus setigerus Vahl (Poaceae) (11.35%) and Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. (Fabaceae) (10.86%). The recorded foams in T. purpurea is ranged from 1 to 13 foams. One or more individuals of different nymphal instars were recorded in foams. Most of the spittlebugs preferred to construct their nests either in nodes (45.45%) or internodes (48.48%) regions. Length, breadth and area of P. costalis foam also varied among plants. Temperature variation between immediate surrounding and foam reveals that spittlebugs maintained lower temperature (26.3 ± 0.17 °C) when compared to environmental temperature (31.4 ± 0.19 °C). This study showed that P. costalis prefers specific plants and parts for foam construction and to establish its population. Therefore, it is preferable to not cultivate these plants in the same field, which reduces the abundance of this pest where the foam covers surface area of host plants and maybe reduce the photosynthetic areas as well as plant growth.