Importance of spittle bugs, Locris rubens (Erichson) and Poophilus costalis (Walker) on sorghum in West and Central Africa, with emphasis on Nigeria

Locris rubens (Erichson) (Cercopidae: Homoptera) and Poophilus costalis (Wa lker) (Aphrophoridae: Homoptera) are endemic pests of sorghum (Sorghum bico lor (L.) Moench) in Nigeria and some other countries in West and Central Af rica. Other hosts are maize, pearl millet, rice, sugarcane, and grasses. On sorghum, L. rubens lays eggs in the epidermis of the leaf sheath. There ar e five nymphal instars and development from egg to adult takes about 33 day s. Both species of spittle bugs feed on all growth stages and all parts of sorghum, including the panicle. Feeding symptoms include yellow leaf blotch ing. Severe infestations often kill young leaves and plants. Under artifici al infestation in cages, the severity of damage and associated symptoms as well as grain yield loss increased with an increase in the population densi ty of spittle bugs. Infestation by 15 pairs of adult L. rubens dyer a perio d of 5 wk reduced grain yield by 35% in 1994. It is concluded that spittle bugs are important pests of sorghum in Nigeria.