title: Egg morphology, laying behavior and record of the host plants of Ricania speculum (Walker, 1851), a new alien species for Europe (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae).
abstract: The exotic planthopper, Ricania speculum (Ricaniidae) was recently detected in Liguria, in northern Italy, and recorded as a first alert for Europe. The first morphological description of eggs and laying behavior are given. Eggs are inserted into the woody tissue of a wide range of different host plants in such a unique manner among native and alien planthoppers of Italy that it can be used to describe the prevalence and diffusion of the species in new environments, though in the absence of juveniles and/or adults. In addition, the paper lists the host plants utilized for egg laying and describes the eggs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa.; Email: elisabetta.rossi@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS, Wilcza Street 64, 00-679 Warszawa, Poland.; Email: adam@miiz.waw.pl.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stroiński
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa.; Email: ndrea.lucchi@unipi.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucchi
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D017753:Ecosystem; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D058507:Host Specificity; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010058:Oviposition; D010063:Ovum / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology