DIVERSITY OF AUCHENORRHYNCHA SPECIES DETECTED IN AN APPLE AGROECOSYSTEM IN MOARA DOMNEASCĂ (SOUTHERN ROMANIA) DURING THE YEARS 2022-2024

Abstract

This paper presents data on the evaluation of range and structure of Auchenorrhyncha (leafhoppers, planthoppers, treehoppers, spittlebugs and cicadas) in a conventionally managed apple orchard in Moara Domnească experimental field from 2022 to 2024 and characterization in terms of ecological parameters and indices of similarity, diversity, species richness and evenness of distribution of the species. Insects were collected on yellow sticky traps (9 traps/orchard) which were replaced every two weeks between mid-April and early November for each year. The total number of collected specimens was 10,730 classified into 39 species, of which 6,058 (56.46%) in 2022, 2,763 (25.75%) in 2023 and 1,909 (17.79%) in 2024. Overall, the most abundant species in the study period were Empoasca decipiens (52.98%), Fieberiella florii (14.45%), Neoaliturus fenestratus (6.15%), Zyginidia pullula (5.92%), Zygina flammigera (5.54%), Edwardsiana rosae (3.08%), Reptalus quinquecostatus (2.56%) and Orientus ishidae (1.71%). The other species identified totaled 7.61%. Expressed by calculating of three indices, Simpson, Shannon Wiener and Brillouin, higher species diversity was observed in the monitoring year 2023 comparative to 2022 and 2024.