On the polymorphic meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.) (Homoptera: Cercopidae).

Due to its interesting biological aspects, the meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius has received great attention from biologists for decades. It has been one of the extensively studied species in ecology and genetics. This homopteran insect shows very high habitat diversity and therefore has a wide global distribution. Adults exhibit a heritable colour/pattern polymorphism on the dorsal surface throughout its range. A similar colour/pattern variation also occurs in certain ventral parts. Recent laboratory studies have dealt with its polyandrous aspect that is, females may mate several times with different males and the offspring of a single female may be fathered, therefore, by several males. Although the effects of multiple mating on natural populations of P. spumarius are not well known, it may have great evolutionary importance through increased genetic heterogeneity and high fitness. Key Words: Meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius, Homoptera, Cercopidae, polymorphism, melanism, genetics, polyandry Polimorfik ayÝr Kpk BceUi, Philaenus spumarius L. (Homoptera: Cercopidae) zerine Bir Derleme zet: ayÝr kpk bceUi olarak bilinen Philaenus spumarius, ilgin biyolojik zelliklerinden dolayÝ uzun yÝllardÝr biyologlarÝn byk ilgisini ekmistir. Bundan dolayÝ ekoloji ve genetikte en ok alÝsÝlan trlerden birisi olmustur. Bir homopter olan bu bcek ok es itli habitatlarda yasayabildiUinden dnyada genis bir daUÝlÝma sahiptir. Erginleri btn daUÝlÝm alanÝnda, genetik olarak kontrol edilen dorsal renk ve desen polimorfizmi gsterir. Benzer bir renk ve desen varyasyonu aynÝ zamanda ventral yzeyde de grlr. YakÝn zamanda yapÝlan laboratuvar alÝsmalarÝ, bu trn poliandri ile ilgili zelliklerini ortaya koymustur. Disi P. spumarius bireyleri yasam devrelerinin reme periyodunda birden fazla erkekle defalarca iftlesebilir. Sonuta tek bir disiden bir defada meydana gelen yavrularÝn babalarÝ farklÝ olabilir. PoliandriOnin bu trn doUal populasyonlardaki evrimsel ve diUer etkileri tam olarak bilinmemekle beraber, bu davranÝs P. spumarius populasyonlarÝnda genetik esitliliUi arttÝrabilir ve dolayÝsÝyla bu trn evrimsel basarÝsÝnda nemli bir faktr olabilir. Anahtar Szckler: ayÝr kpk bceUi, Philaenus spumarius, Homoptera, Cercopidae, polimorfizm, melanizm, genetik, poliandri in masses of froth, they are commonly called spittlebugs, but are also known as froghoppers from their adult leaping ability (5). The nymphs derive their nourishment from xylem elements by piercing them with their stylets and sucking the sap. The spittle is derived from fluid voided from the anus and from a surfactant secreted by epidermal glands on the seventh and eighth abdominal segments. Air bubbles are introduced into the spittle by means of the caudal appendages of the insect (6). A spittlebug nymph usually rests head downward on the plant, and as the spittle forms, it flows down over and covers the nymph, providing the nymph with a moist habitat. Adults are free living individuals and do not produce spittle. There are ten British Cercopid species producing spittle (1), and three European species are known in the genus Philaenus (7,8). P. signatus and P. loukasi are two of these. The third P. spumarius is the most abundant, and is usually known as the meadow spittlebug. There is a large body of literature about it, dating from late sixteenth century (2). The studies dealing with P. spumarius can be grouped into two categories. The first category involves surveys of its noxious effects as a serious pest on cultivated and wild plants. The second category involves surveys of the colour/pattern polymorphism of populations from different geographic areas, since adults of the meadow spittlebug exhibit great colour/pattern variations, both in wing markings and the colour and pattern of the ventral parts. In recent decades the meadow spittlebug P. spumarius has increasingly become one of the most studied species on various aspects of biology, since it is very suitable for genetics, ecology and other population studies. This review emphasises its importance based on the information obtained from previous surveys and my own study.