Influence of Latitude and Elevation on Polymorphism Among Populations of the Corn Leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), in Brazil

• Published in: Environmental entomology 2004-10, Vol.33 (5), p.1192-1199
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, Charles Martins, Lopes, João Roberto Spotti, Dias, Carlos Tadeu Dos Santos, Nault, Lowell R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: altitude; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; body measurements; body size; body weight; corn; Dalbulus maidis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gender differences; geographical variation; head capsule width; insect morphology; insect vector; latitude; morphological variation; PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY; pigmentation; polymorphism; Protozoa. Invertebrata; wing length; Zea mays
• ISSN: 0046-225X; 1938-2936
• DOI: 10.1603/0046-225X-33.5.1192

Morphological variations in insects have been shown to be influenced by latitude and elevation. Here we show that these two parameters markedly influence the appearance of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott). Leafhopper samples were collected in maize from 27 localities in 10 Brazilian states, with latitudes from 5 to 28° S and elevations from 16 to 1,628 m. D. maidis was the only Dalbulus species found in the samples. Up to 10 males and 10 females of D. maidis from each collection site were evaluated for size, pigmentation, and body weight. Females were always bigger and heavier than the males in the same locality. For both sexes, there was a positive and significant correlation between the morphological variables measured and the latitude and elevation from where specimens were collected. Individuals from higher latitudes (southern region) were bigger, darker, and heavier than those from lower latitudes (northeastern region). There was also a tendency for an increase in body weight, head capsule width, and wing length at higher elevations.