Host plants of Aetalion reticulatum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae) in Brazil: a new record on Couroupita guianensis Aubl. (Lecythidaceae) and occurrence patterns on native and exotic species

Couroupita guianensis Aubl. (Lecythidaceae) is a species native to the Amazon region that exhibits exuberant flowering and conspicuous fruits and is widely found in several Brazilian regions as part of urban tree planting. As few phytophagous insects have been recorded in association with C. guianensis, this study aimed to report, for the first time, the occurrence of Aetalion reticulatum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aethalion [sic] Latreille, 1810) (Hemiptera: Aetalionidae) on C. guianensis, and to analyze patterns of occurrence of this insect on native and exotic plants in Brazil. Treehoppers were collected from a C. guianensis tree in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, and subsequently identified as A. reticulatum. Eggs, nymphs, and adults were found, indicating that the insect can complete its entire life cycle on this plant. Ants of the genus Camponotus Mayr, 1862 (Formicidae: Formicinae: Camponotini) were found in a beneficial association with the treehoppers. This study also shows that records of the treehopper on exotic plant species are more numerous than those on native species in Brazil, although records on native plants have been increasing each year.