Eumetopina flavipes
Encyclopedia
Eumetopina flavipes, the island sugarcane planthopper, is a species of planthopper
present throughout South East Asia. E. flavipes is a vector for Ramu stunt disease, a plant disease which affects sugarcane. Ramu stunt disease is widespread throughout Papua New Guinea, but has not been detected in Australia.
Eumetopina is thought to have evolved in Papua New Guinea
, where up to four undescribed species have been collected, but many more may be present. In Papua New Guinea, E. flavipes occurs on Saccharum officinarum
, S. robustum, S. edule and Saccharum hybrids sugarcane. Virus-free populations of E. flavipes are present on Saccharum hybrids and S. officinarum on many islands in the Torres Strait
, and a number of small populations persist on the northern Cape York Peninsula
- the very tip of Queensland, mainland Australia.
Planthopper
A planthopper is any insect in the infraorder Fulgoromorpha within the Hemiptera. The name comes from their remarkable resemblance to leaves and other plants of their environment and from the fact that they often "hop" for quick transportation in a similar way to that of grasshoppers. However,...
present throughout South East Asia. E. flavipes is a vector for Ramu stunt disease, a plant disease which affects sugarcane. Ramu stunt disease is widespread throughout Papua New Guinea, but has not been detected in Australia.
Eumetopina is thought to have evolved in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, where up to four undescribed species have been collected, but many more may be present. In Papua New Guinea, E. flavipes occurs on Saccharum officinarum
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
, S. robustum, S. edule and Saccharum hybrids sugarcane. Virus-free populations of E. flavipes are present on Saccharum hybrids and S. officinarum on many islands in the Torres Strait
Torres Strait
The Torres Strait is a body of water which lies between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea. It is approximately wide at its narrowest extent. To the south is Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost continental extremity of the Australian state of Queensland...
, and a number of small populations persist on the northern Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
- the very tip of Queensland, mainland Australia.