in Sri Lanka - Ministry of Environment

ThreatsThe majority of leafhoppers except tiny Typhlocybines (which can disperse by wind) aregenerally slow dispersers associated with specialized habitats or limited numbers of host plants.Therefore, these species are potentially threatened by habitat destruction or fragmentationdue to human activities. Only a few species were observed in vegetable plots (S = 25) andpaddy fields (S = 27) compared to Grassland (S=49) and forest with scattered grass patches(S=58) in the Mid country Wet Zone of Sri Lanka (Gnaneswaran, 2010) and species diversityappears to be high in natural habitats. Thus, damage to such natural habitats as a result ofhuman activities pose a major threat to leafhoppers.Research GapsThe natural history of the Sri Lankan leafhoppers has been neglected by native scientistsfor nearly 100 years since the work done by Distant (1918). Their role in the ecosystem wasnot given due consideration apart from being considered as a pest/ disease vector in agroecosystem.Recent studies have led to the discovery of several new species of leafhoppersfrom Sri Lanka. This clearly indicates that there can be more species present in Sri Lankaunknown to science and the need to carry out detail investigation on this less known yeteconomically important faunal group.Recommendations1. An intensive island wide survey should be conducted by academic/research institutions todocument the diversity, density and distribution of the leafhoppers.2. Appropriate molecular biological studies should be promoted within the country to confirmthe taxonomic and vector status of the leafhoppers.3. Ecological studies should be encouraged in different ecosystems throughout the island,with the aim of identifying whether leafhoppers can be used as indicator species tomeasure habitat quality.ReferencesDietrich, C.H., 2005. Keys to the families of Cicadomorpha and subfamilies and tribes of Cicadellidae (Hemiptera:Auchenorhyncha). Fla. Entomol. 88: 502- 517.Dworakowska, I., 1994. Typhlocybinae (Auchenorrhyncha, Cicadellidae) known to occur in Sri Lanka. Ann. Zool.Bot. 216: 3-39.Gnaneswaran, R. 2010. Taxonomy and Ecology of Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Sri Lanka. PostGraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Ph.D. Thesis , Pp. 243Gnaneswaran, R., Hemachandra, K.S., Viraktamath , C.A., Ahangama , D., Wijayagunasekara H.N.P., Wahundeniya.I. 2007. Idioscopus nagpurensis (Pruthi) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Idiocerinae): A New Member of MangoLeafhopper Complex in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agricultural Research. 19: 78 – 90.Gnaneswaran, R, Viraktamath, C.A., Hemachandra,K.S., Ahangama, D., Wijayagunasekara, H.N.P. andWahundeniya,I. 2008 Typhlocybine Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) Associated withHorticultural Crops in Sri Lanka. Tropical Agiricultural research. 20: 1-11.Gnaneswaran, R., Hemachandra,K.S. Ahangama,D . Wijayagunasekara,H.N.P. and Wahundeniya,I, 2008a. Speciesof Nephotettix Matsumura Hemiptera: Auchenorhyncha: Cicaedellidae) Sri Lanka. Short communication:432