Comparison of Feeding Behavior of the Potato Leafhopper Empoasca fabae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) on Alfalfa and Broad Bean Leaves

A quantitative comparison was made of the feeding behavior of the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), on the leaves of two host plants, alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) and broad bean ( Vicia Jaba L.), using an AC electronic feeding monitor. Results showed significant differences in feeding between the two hosts, primarily because of the variable occurrence of still-stylet ingestion, a behavior (correlated with the I c , waveform) that may indicate ingestion of phloem sap. The similarities between the hosts were due to the dominance of the lacerate-and-flushfeeding style in mesophyll and perhaps some phloem tissues, represented by the I a , waveform. Differences in feeding between hosts probably contribute to the wide host range of this species, as well as the differences in feeding injury on these two crop plants.