THE GENUS LAEVICEPHALUS (HOMOPTERA, CICADELLIDAE) - HOSTS, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND 3 NEW SPECIES

The genus Laevicephalus is comprised of small deltocephaline leafhoppe rs of North American grasslands. Although most species are southwester n and/or Mexican, some are northern or eastern. Southwestern species a re largely associated with chloridoid (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) grasses . Some species are monophagous; others are oligophagous. Oligophagy co efficients are presented for 15 species of prairie and/or southwestern grasslands. Three new species are described: L. warnocki from chino g rama (Bouteloua ramosa) in Big Bend National Park in Texas, L. navajo from montane blue grama (B. gracilis) grasslands of the Mogollon Rim a nd Sacramento Mountains of Arizona and New Mexico, and L. nosabe from side-oats grama (B. curtipendula) in Durango, Mexico.