Dalbulus maidis

Definition

A small, pale leafhopper (family Cicadellidae) that feeds exclusively on maize and its wild relatives; the principal vector of maize stunt spiroplasma (Spiroplasma kunkelii) and maize bushy stunt phytoplasma in the Americas. Adults are wedge-shaped, 3–4 mm long, and pale green to yellow; nymphs develop within the whorl of host plants. Unlike many cicadellids, D. maidis rarely disperses to non-grass hosts, making it a classic specialist herbivore and economically significant pest in continuous maize cultivation.

Etymology

Generic name Dalbulus from Latin dalbulus (diminutive, possibly referring to small size); specific epithet maidis from Latin maidis, genitive of maize (Zea mays), denoting its exclusive host association.

Example

In the Brazilian Cerrado, Dalbulus maidis populations peak during the rainy season, transmitting maize stunt spiroplasma to susceptible hybrid maize and causing yield losses exceeding 30% in untreated fields.

Synonyms

• maize leafhopper
• corn leafhopper

Related Terms

• Cicadellidae
• Spiroplasma kunkelii
• phytoplasma
• Vector
• monophagy
• maize stunt disease
• hemipteran
• leafhopper

Usage Notes

The specific epithet is sometimes misspelled 'maidis' in older literature; current usage follows DeLong's original 1923 description. D. maidis is distinguished from the congeneric D. elimatus (western maize leafhopper) by male genitalia and geographic range; the two species overlap in Mexico and Central America. In vector competence studies, 'D. maidis' refers specifically to the Neotropical populations that efficiently transmit S. kunkelii; North American populations show variable transmission efficiency.