Histological and Behavioral Studies of Threecornered Alfalfa Hopper (Homoptera: Membracidae) Feeding on Soybean

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Abstract
Threecornered alfalfa hoppers, Spissistilus festinus (Say), feed on vascular tissues of soybean; most stylet insertions terminate in phloem. Girdles, formed by repeated stylet punctures encircling the stem or petiole, are characterized by disruption of the vascular system, and frequently by a swelling of the stem above the girdle. Hoppers exploit this blockage of translocation by feeding preferentially above the girdle. Location of nymphs and associated girdle damage changes with the phenology of the soybean plant, from the main stem to the petioles to the racemes.