Abstract
To establish the host-plants of Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott), vector of a new virus-disease in Colombia, under greenhouse conditions at the ICA Experimental Center "Tibaitatá", in Mosquera (Cundinamarca), 19 plants between gramineous and legumens, including corn were tested.
Initially the survival of both nymphs and adults and the oviposition was studied; later in a second test on the survival of adults on gramineous and broad leaf-plants the adults survived more than 10 days. The results indicate that nymphs are only able to survive and reach the adult stage on corn. The least survival was observed on potatoes. 50% of the population died on all tested plants, with the exception of corn, during the first five days. On none of the gramineous plants survival was more than 30 days. The results of a second test, where only those plants on which the adults had survived for more than 10 days were used, were similar to those obtained in the first one.
Eggmasses were only observed on gramineous plants, but in a much lesser number than on corn. They were almost always found on the central nervure or near, toward the base of the leaf. These eggmasses are apparently normal, being the question whether they are capable of eclosion and development to the adult stage.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.