First record of Aethalion reticulatum (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) in Vernonia condensata (Asteraceae), a medicinal plant from Brazil

Abstract

Vernonia condensata Baker, 1875 (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant from Brazil considered as a host plant of leafhopper pests in agricultural crops. Aethalion reticulatum Linnaeus, 1767 (Hemiptera: Aethalionidae) was observed in V. condensata in Lavras county, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Immature and adult individuals of A. reticulatum were collected from V. condensata for identification, which represents the first recording of this pest in this plant. The presence of eggs, nymphs and adults of this insect on the plant shows that A. reticulatum has completed its life cycle, indicating that V. condensata is a potential host plant for A. reticulatum.