First Report of a Proconiine Sharpshooter, Anacuerna centrolinea (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in Chile, with Notes on Its Biology, Host Plants, and Egg Parasitoids

Abstract

The first representative of the leafhopper tribe Proconiini (subfamily Cicadellinae), Anacuerna centrolinea (Melichar) is reported herein from the Tarapacá region in northern Chile. This species was discovered at high elevation (≈4,000 m) in the course of a survey conducted in South America by the USDA–ARS for the neoclassical biological control program against the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say) in California. New data are given on the biology and host plants of A. centrolinea. Information also is provided on its egg parasitoid, Gonatocerus tuberculifemur (Ogloblin) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) which also was a first record from Chile. This discovery encourages further exploration for leafhopper egg parasitoids in northern and central regions of Chile to identify new perspective biological control agents that are more adapted to Mediterranean climate (winters and wet summers), which are similar to California climate. In addition, it is possible that G. tuberculifemur may be a good candidate for the biological control of the recently discovered H. coagulata in Easter Island, Chile.