Variability in the occurrence of the sugar cane froghopper, Aeneolamia flavilatera (Homoptera: Cercopidae), on sugar estates in Guyana and Surinam

Significant numbers of the sugar cane froghopper, Aeneolamia flavilatera, are generally not found to be present on sugar cane during the periodically occurring prolonged dry periods. This is primarily attributable to drought induced quiescence in the froghopper eggs, which delays the appearence of the next generation of active froghopper stages. It appears that the density of the post-drought populations of active froghopper stages is primarily dependent on the density of the pre-drought, quiescence sensitive egg populations. Effective froghopper control depends on the timely control of the first generation of post-drought active stages, because of the potentially rapid build-up of the froghopper infestation during prolonged rainy periods through a combination of relatively high reproduction capacity and wind accelerated adult dispersal. Control of the first generation of post-drought populations of the active stages should be based on a field by field prognosis through the interpretation of regularly updated field records of the approximate density of the active froghopper stages. The spatial distribution of froghopper infestations within one sugar estate can be influenced markedly by 'block-wise' harvesting. This in turn allows the potential effectiveness and efficiency of froghopper control measures to be greatly enhanced.