Leafhopper fauna associated with rice ecosystem in Thrissur District, Kerala

A study was undertaken in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2015–2016, to document the leafhopper fauna associated with rice ecosystem in Thrissur district of Kerala. Leafhoppers were collected from paddy fields of Vadakkanchery and Kole lands. Different parts of leafhoppers viz., head, pronotum, scutellum, male genitalia, abdominal apodemes and female seventh sternum were studied in detail and illustrations were made. Results revealed nine species of leafhoppers associated with rice: Cofana spectra (Distant), C. lineata (Distant), Nephotettix nigropictus (Stal), N. virescens (Distant), Exitianus indicus (Distant), Maiestas dorsalis (Motschulsky), Hecalus porrectus (Walker), H. lutescens (Distant) and Doratulina sp. Occurrence of H. lutescens (Distant) in rice ecosystem is a new report for Kerala. C. lineata and H. porrectus are new records on rice in Kerala. A dichotomous taxonomic key to separate these nine species is also given.