First reports of Leptodelphax maculigera in Argentina and Paraguay
Leptodelphax maculigera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) is an oligophagous pest of Poaceae recently reported for the first time outside the African continent, in Brazil (EPPO RS 2025/059). It is a potential vector for corn stunt complex pathogens (RS 2025/059).
In Argentina, L. maculigera is reported for the first time. Several specimens were found during weekly surveys using sweep nets conducted in commercial and experimental fields of the National Agricultural Technology Institute in Santa Fe and Entre Ríos provinces between August and October 2024. Specimens were also collected from sweep nets and sticky traps in Chaco and Formosa provinces. Male and female specimens of L. maculigera were reported on wheat (Triticum aestivum), Setaria sphacelata and on two previously unreported host species; oat (Avena sativa) and Chloris gayana. The identity of the pest was confirmed by morphological analysis.
In Paraguay, two male and two female specimens of L. maculigera were reported for the first time in black light traps set in an area where trees had recently been cleared in preparation for planting elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus), a known host of L. maculigera, in an adventure sports centre outside Pedro Juan Caballero city, Amambay Department in February 2025. The identity of the pest was confirmed by morphological tests.
A tentative distribution map is now available in EPPO Global Database: https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/LPDHMA
Sources
Leavengood JM, Bartlett CR, Ivanov K (2025) First record of the African species Leptodelphax maculigera (Stål, 1859) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in Paraguay. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 127(1), 121-127
de Remes Lenicov AM, Mariani R, Almada MS, Saluso A, Szwarc DE (2025) The exotic delphacid Leptodelphax maculigera (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) in Argentina: taxonomy and biological aspects. Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina 84(2), e0211