Instar duration, adult consumption, oviposition and nitrogen utilization efficiencies of leafhoppers feeding on different quality food (Auchenorrhyncha: Homoptera)

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Abstract
1. Plant material of Holcus lanatus L. removed from an artificially fertilized trial was used to rear leafhoppers of three feeding types: Dicrano‐tropis hamata Boheman and Ebmana sulphurella Zetterstedt, (phloem feeders), Eucelis incisus Kirschbaum (xylem feeder) and Zyginidia scutellaris Herrich‐Schaeffer (mesophyll feeder).2. In the laboratory, leafhopper instar durations, adult consumption rate, oviposition rate, and nitrogen utilization efficiency were influenced by the quality of the food consumed. Adult longevity was unaffected by the level of food quality normally found in plants.3. Z.scutellanis consumed mesophyll contents equivalent to 72% of its body weight each day but only digested about 30% of its intake. Eincicus had a low dry weight consumption rate (12% body weight/day) but digested its food more efficiently (60%) than the other feeding types. The two phloem feeders consumed mounts equivalent to 25% of their body weight each day and digested 40–50% of their intake.4. Each species reached maximum nitrogen utilization efficiencies at different plant nitrogen levels. This suggests that leafhopper species may be associated with a particular nitrogen concentration in the grasses.