Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead)

Swezey, O. H., 1946, Notes On Some Fulgoroidea Of Guam, Insects of Guam II, Honolulu, Hawaii: Bernice P. Bishop Museum, pp. 149-156 : 150-151

2. Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) .

Delphax maidis Ashmead , Psyche 5: 323, 1890.

Peregrinus maidis, Kirkaldy , Entomologist 37: 176, 1904.

The corn leafhopper was first recorded from Florida where it was noted as an immigrant pest in 1888. It is now known wherever,corn is grown in the tropics. It was reported in Guam by Fullaway in 1911 as a pest on corn , though not so injurious as it is in Hawaii. Its greatest importance lies in the fact that it transmits a streak disease which stunts the growth of the corn plants and prevents production of ears. The variety of corn grown in Guam is mostly resistant to this disease, but some examples of it are occasionally seen. The leafhoppers were usually to be found in small numbers on corn in all districts, but our collections include them from only a few places: Dededo, May 11, Usinger ; Merizo , June 11, Swezey ; Piti , July 21 , 31, Swezey .

At Dededo, an egg parasite was reared which was determined by A. B. Gahan as Anagrus flaveolus Waterhouse. A small green bug, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter , is associated with the corn leafhopper, feeding by sucking the eggs where inserted into the midribs of the leaves. It is no doubt effective in the control of the leafhopper, keeping it from becoming so abundant as to be a serious pest.