Untersuchungen zur Ökologie von Micantulina stigmatipennis (Mulsant & Rey, 1855)

(Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha)

Abstract

In a study on the ecology of Micantulina stigmatipennis (Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha), in 2003 and 2004 24 locations with different Verbascum species were examined in the southern part of Saxony-Anhalt. Of those, seven were populated. M. signatipennis is classified in the red lists of Germany and Saxony-Anhalt as “endangered”, in the lists of Thuringia and Saxony as “severely endangered”. The results showed that Verbascum lychnitis (White Mullein) is the main host plant of Micantulina stigmatipennis, but Verbascum thapsus (Great Mullein) may also be used if it occurs on the same sites as Verbascum lychnitis. The other Verbascum species sampled, V. densiflorum and V. nigrum, could not be confirmed as host plants. Micantulina stigmatipennis usually shows two generations per year. Young larvae (L1), which were found in late autumn apparently belonged to a third generation that did not reach the adult stage in the same year. Living Micantulina adults and nymphs which were determined in late autumn and at the beginning of winter in 2004, indicate hibernation attempts. Young hatched larvae (L 1) on the host plants in the spring confirm the egg hibernation. In the winter 2003/2004, no successful hibernation could be found for nymphs or adults. Larvae and adults of M. stigmatipennis both live on the lower surface of the ground-leafs. A vertical migration on the host plants could be observed only in few cases. In the cold months, M. signatipennis was observed in the proximity as well as in the ground-leafs of the host plant. In addition to M. signatipennis, both larvae and adults of Emelyanoviana mollicula were sampled on the Verbascum plants. This species clearly showed two generations per year and also was observed mainly on Verbascum lychnitis, but also on V. thapsus and V. nigrum.