Species Peregrinus maidis - Corn Delphacid

Corn Planthopper, Maize Planthopper

Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead)

Orig. Comb: Delphax maidis Ashmead, 1890

maidis 'of corn'

1 Nearctic sp.(1)

distinctive, larger than many delphacids with slightly patterned wings and a pale stripe along the midline of the body; the middle carina of the face is forked well below the top of of the head in frontal view. Also, when viewing the specimen from the front, the face is often straw-colored near the top of the head and darker on lower portions of the face. On host plants, short-winged forms can be very abundant.(1)

chain of pale spots on a dark band along the wing tips is characteristic - comment by Andy Hamilton, 2010

se US, Calif. / pantropical sp. - Map(1), everywhere corn is grown, originally from Africa

feeds on a variety of grasses; best known as a pest on corn and sugar cane

vector of Finger millet mosaic virus (FMMV), Iranian maize mosaic virus (IMMV), Maize sterile stunt virus (MSSV), and Maize stripe virus (MSV). It is a very common and mobile species that is frequently found at lights considerable distances from likely host plants.(1)

Considered invasive in this country (from Africa). (Capinera, John L. North American Vegetable Pests. The Pattern of Invasion. American Entomologist. Spring 2002)

Tsai, J.H. 1996. Development and oviposition of Peregrinus maidis (Homoptera: Delphacidae) on various host plants. Florida Entomologist 79(1): 19-26.

Tsai, J.H. and S.W. Wilson. 1986. Biology of Peregrinus maidis with descriptions of immature stages. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 79(3): 395-401.

Genus page - Univ. Delaware(1)