Oviposition Behavior and Egg Parasitoids of Sophonia rufofascia (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Abstract

Oviposition behavior of Sophonia rufofascia, a polyphagous leafhopper recently introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, was studied on 6 common plant hosts in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The average number of eggs per leaf was approximately 1 in ’a’ali’i (Dodonea viscosa) and firetree (Myrica faya), and closer to 2 in Hawaiian holly (Ilex anomala), ’ohi’a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), sandalwood (Santalum paniculatum) and ’ohelo (Vaccinium calycimum). Over all plant species there was a weak positive correlation between leaf size and the number of eggs. All oviposition scars were in the midvein of ’a’ali’i, firetree, ’ohi’a lehua, and ’ohelo, but in holly and sandalwood oviposition also occurred away from the midvein. In holly, the proportion of eggs laid away from the midvein was positively correlated with leaf thickness. Variation among host plants also existed for egg position relative to the basal, middle, and apical third of the leaf, but in all species the middle third of the leaf was the most common oviposition site. S. rufofascia eggs in the park are attacked principally by two endemic mymarids in the genus Polynema; this represents a host shift or host range expansion for these native wasps.