Oviposition Characteristics of Ricania sp.(Homoptera: Ricaniidae), a New Fruit Pest

Abstract

An unknown planthopper was discovered in 2010 in an apple orchard in Sinpoong-myun, Gongju-si and in a blueberry orchard in Deogsan-myun, Yesan-gun. This pest have arrived 4 or 5 years ago and the population density then rapidly increased. It was identified as Ricania sp. by Dr. Murray J. Fletcher. Adult Ricania sp. was found on 26 plants including blueberry, grape, peach, sumac, japanese angelica, jujube, kiwi, Rubus coreanus, apple, apricot, plum and chestnut. Females lay eggs on 1-year-old branches. The mean number of eggs laid on apple and plum were 18.7 and 15.3, respectively. The mean length of egg masses on apple and plum were 12.35 and 11.45 mm, respectively. The distance between eggs laid on apple and plum branchs were 1.3 and 1.5 mm, respectively. The mean number of eggs in the same length of egg mass on apple and plum branchs were 17.1 and 13.3, respectively.