Feeding Behavior of Graminella nigrifrons (Forbes)

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Abstract
The feeding behavior of Graminella nigrifrons (Forbes), a vector of maize chlorotic dwarf virus, was studied by electronic monitoring. Waveforms produced by leaf-hoppers on plants were interpreted by comparison with waveforms of leafhoppers observed feeding on membrane bound solutions and by observing salivary tracts in leaf tissue by using histological sections. Leafhoppers produced salivary, ingestion, and X-waveforms similar to those reported for aphids and other leafhoppers. The function of X-waves is unknown, but always they preceded ingestion from phloem. In addition to these, G. nigrifrons produced a unique, intermittent salivary spike during phloem ingestion. Feeding behavior was recorded from hosts, including maize (Zea mays L.) in the 2-leaf and 5-leaf stage, oats (Avena sativa L.), johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense [L.] Persoon) and the nonhost broadbean (Vicia faba L.). Nonsieve element ingestion occurred on all plants, but X-wave patterns and subsequent phloem ingestion occurred only on hosts.