THE BIOLOGY OF THE SNAKEWEED LEAFHOPPER, EMPOASCA-BITUBERA (HOMOPTERA, CICADELLIDAE), IN NEW-MEXICO

The life history of the snakeweed leafhopper, Empoasca bitubera DeLong , was studied at four sites in southern and central New Mexico. This a pparently monophagous leafhopper was found to live on woody snakeweeds , Gutierrezia spp., throughout its life cycle. At least three apparent population peaks were observed during the year. Ten other leafhopper species were collected, of which only one, Gyponana delta Ball, was ob served feeding on snakeweed in the field. Three other species were obs erved to feed on snakeweed in the laboratory. Empoasca bitubera was fo und to be attacked by a dryinid wasp, Aphelopus sp. Gyponana delta and Balclutha neglecta (DeLong and Davidson) were also found to have dryi nid parasitoids (genus unidentified). Two other species of leafhopper, Ceratagallia bigeloviae (Baker) and Aceratagallia uhleri (Van Duzee) were parasitized by a strepsipteran, Halictophagus sp.