01618naa a2200181 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000180006024501350007826000090021350000110022252010630023365000130129665000170130965000140132665300150134077300810135513187151991-03-20       1989    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aHEWITT, G. B.  aEffects of spittlebug feeding on forage and root production of Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria brizantha marandu (bra-000019).  c1989  aCNPGC.  aThe spittlebug Zulia entreriana was used in laboratory feeding tests to evaluate the degree of  damage to the oliage and rods of Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria brizantha, Nymphal feeding on B. decumbens reduced the 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 insects per plant, the grater the amunt of damage. In one teste, significantly (P&lt0,05) more new shoots were produced on B. decumbens plants that contained a hight density of adults The reduction in root weights due  to insect feeding was was abourt 1 1/2 time greater than that for foliage. Brachiaria brizantha was les affected by insect feeding than was B. decumbens. Weight differences between the control plants and the infested plants were less on B. brizantha and plant recovery, once insects were removed, was faster.  aPastagem  aVeterinária  aZootecnia  aForrageira  tPesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, Brasiliagv.24, n.3, p.307-314, mar. 1989.