Spittlebugs associated with actinorhizal host plants

Abstract

Actinorhizal plants are major hosts for many spittlebugs, particularly species of the genera Clastoptera and Aphrophora. World host records indicate that at least 20 spittlebug species have primary associations with at least 17 actinorhizal hosts in the genera Alnus, Casuarina, Ceanothus, Comptonia, Elaeagnus, and Myrica. The highly polyphagic spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.), has also been observed in association with Hippophaë and Coriaria. Several other spittlebugs have minor associations with actinorhizal hosts.Key words: actinorhizal plant, spittlebug, host, nitrogen-fixing.