The twolined spittlebug (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) invades Hawaiʻi: establishment, biology, and management of a destructive forage grass pest

Abstract The twolined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta (Say) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), is a major economic pest of turfgrass, forage grass, and sugarcane. Native to the southeast United States, it impacts rangelands and the landscape trade by damaging pastures, golf courses, urban landscapes, and lawns. This insect pest was reported and confirmed in Hawaiʻi for the first time in 2016, the first species in the family Cercopidae to invade Hawaiʻi. On Hawaiʻi Island, P. bicincta is severely devastating Hawaiʻi’s beef cattle industry. Since its initial detection, P. bicincta has rapidly expanded its range across an estimated 72,183 ha area on Hawaiʻi Island, and it continues to disperse to new locations. In areas of high infestation, this pest has caused 100% dieback of key pasture grasses for livestock forage, including kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex Chiov) and pangola (Digitaria eriantha Steud) grasses, leading to the establishment of low-quality forage grasses and weeds. Additionally, this pest may affect the Hawaiʻi landscape trade and impact golf courses, urban landscapes, and homeowners. The taxonomy, detection history, range, biology, ecology, economic damage, and management strategies for P. bicincta are discussed.