Phasia robertsonii

(Townsend, 1891)

ball-nosed planthopper

A in the Phasia, originally described from North America. The species has been reclassified from the genus Fitchiella, where it was previously placed as a . As a member of the , it is a fly. A 1995 study by Day documented biological observations identifying it as a of () feeding on alfalfa and grasses.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Phasia robertsonii: /ˈfeɪ.zi.ə ˌrɒbərtˈsoʊni.aɪ/

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Distribution

North America. Historical records from 16 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada, though current presence in many localities is uncertain.

Host Associations

  • Miridae - of

Misconceptions

The was long known as Fitchiella robertsonii and was classified as a (Caliscelidae) rather than a . This misclassification persisted until taxonomic revision placed it in Phasia (: ). The extensive biological study of "Fitchiella robertsonii" conducted in Iowa prairies from 2008–2017 actually refers to a different species—the ball-nosed planthopper—which remains the valid Fitchiella robertsonii, while the tachinid fly is Phasia robertsonii.

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Sources and further reading