Observations on movement of spittlebug adults

Abstract

Heights at which spittlebugs travel was monitored by trapping adults on 3 m tall sticky traps painted green. A majority of the adults were captured within 1 m from the ground. About 60% of the adults were males, and 91% of the females were mated. No association was found between numbers caught in the trap and those obtained by sweeping in the trap vicinity. Spittlebug adults were marked with powder Dayglo® and released in pastures. The insects tended to remain within 20 m of the release point, and in some instances as many as 1/3 were recovered 24 hours after the release. Some marked insects traveled as much as 750 m. Very few of the adults released in adjoining pastures of different kinds or between rice or pastures moved from one field to another. Spittlebugs flew at a velocity of 11 km/hour. In a single flight, one adult flew as far as 910 m; thereafter the insect flew higher and disappeared from sight. Flight durations of spittlebugs suspended in laboratory were measured. Based on the flight duration, and flight speed, it was estimated that some spittlebugs could travel up to 3 km.