01619naa a2200181 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000180006024501380007826000090021652010500022565000110127565000170128665000210130365300110132465300200133577300820135511070652002-04-30       1989    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aHEWITT, G. B.  aEffects os Spittlebug Feeding on Forage and Root Production of Brachiaria Decumbens and Brachiaria Brizantha cv. Marandu (BRA-000019)  c1989  aThe spittlebug Zulia entreriana was used in laboratory feeding tests to evaluate the degrec of damage to the fobage and roots of Brachiaria decumbers and Bracchiaria brizantha. Nymphal feedmg on B. decumbens reduced die weight of foliage by an average of 21 % and the roots by 36%; adults reduced the foliage weight by 27% and the roots by 48%. Nymphs and adults feeding on the same plant reduced the foliage weight by an average of 36% and the roots by 50%. The degree of damage was in direct proportion to insect density; the more inseus per plant, the greater the amount of damage. In one test, significandy (P &lt 0.05) more new shoots were produced on B. decwnbens plants that conWned a high density of adults. The reduction in root weights due to insect feeding was about 1112 úMe greater than that for foliage. Brachiaria brizantha  was less affocted by msect feeding Um was B. decwnbens. Weight differences between the control plants and die infested plants were less on B. b~ha and plant recovery, once inseus were removed, was faster.  aadults  aplant damage  aZulia Entreriana  ainsect  animphal feeding  tPesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, Brasíliagv.24, n.3, p. 307-314, mar.1989