First report of the African leafhopper Leptodelphax maculigera in South America, and its potential role as vector of corn stunt pathogens in Brazil
The African planthopper Leptodelphax maculigera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) was reported for the first time in the State of Goiás, Brazil in November 2022. This oligophagous species develops on Poaceae and was recorded in Brazil on maize (Zea mays), elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) and brachiaria grass (Brachiaria sp.). Its identity was confirmed by morphological identification. This is the first report of L. maculigera outside of the African continent. It has since been detected in the states of Parana, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo throughout 2023, as well as in Santa Catarina and Minas Gerais in 2024. Pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus) has been identified as a major host.
Experiments conducted in the field found that L. maculigera tested positive for three corn stunt complex pathogens 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' (EU RNQP), maize rayado fino virus (Marafivirus maydis- MRFV) and maize striate mosaic virus (Mastrevirus striatis -MSMV) but did not test positive for Spiroplasma kunkelii (formerly EPPO Alert List) suggesting that L. maculigera is a potential vector of at least three pathogens from the corn stunt complex. Another study (Vilanova et al., 2025) showed that L. maculigera could acquire but does not transmit MSMV and MRFV. Further investigations are needed to confirm the ability of L. maculigera to transmit these viruses.
Previously only Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) has been confirmed as a vector for corn stunt complex pathogens in Brazil.
Sources
Canale MC, Pompelli Manica MA, Silva de Andrade MV, Castilhos RV (2024) Leptodelphax maculigera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) harbors the corn stunt complex pathogens. Plant Disease 108 (9), 2653-2657.
Ferreira KR, Bartlett CR, Asche M, Silva LR, Magalhães VS, Albernaz-Godinho KC (2024) First record of the African species Leptodelphax maculigera (Stål, 1859)(Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in Brazil. Neotropical Entomology 53(1), 171-174.
Silva PD, de Souza IRP, Mendes SM, da Silva AF, Landau EC, dos Santos NM, Redoan ACM, Lima DD (2025). Co-ocorrência e frequência de Leptodelphax maculigera e Dalbulus maidis em milho e plantas daninhas no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical 55 (2025), p. e80820. https://revistas.ufg.br/pat/article/view/80820.
Vilanova ES, Zuin AJ, Spada LC, Froza JA, Mejdalani GL, Lopes JR (2025) Identification of pearl millet as a major host of Leptodelphax maculigera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), a potential vector of plant viruses. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 132(2), 76.