''Ricania speculum'', common name Black planthopper or Ricaniid Planthopper, is a species of planthoppers belonging to the family

Ricaniidae Ricaniidae is a family of planthopper insects, containing over 400 species worldwide. The highest diversity is in tropical Africa and Asia and in Australia, with a few species occurring in the Palearctic and Neotropical realms. It is one of the sm ...

. This species is considered a major agricultural pest for several crops in tropical and subtropical areas (apples, coffee plants, oil palms,

Citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering plant, flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as Orange (fruit), oranges, Lemon, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and lim ...

species, etc.).

Distribution and habitat

This species is widespread in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines and Vietnam. Recently, it has been accidentally introduced in northern Italy, possibly with ornamental plants or crops. This species can be found in the low-elevation mountains and prefers dark environments.

Description

''Ricania speculum'' can reach a length of about , with a wingspan of about . These planthoppers have dark brown wings with central wavy horizontal bands and irregular transparent patches of different sizes.Ricania speculum at gaga.biodiv.tw
/ref> The precostal area of the forewings shows dense transverse veinlets and the costal margin is distinctly convex near the base.Cui-Ping Bu and Ai-Ping Lian
First Record of the Genus Aprivesa Melichar (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from South India, with Description of One New Species
/ref> In males the tip of the abdomen is pointed, while in females is rounded. The final instar nymphs are white with dark brown markings and waxy secretions on the abdomen.E. Rossi, A. Lucch
The Asian planthopper Ricania speculum (Walker) (Homoptera: Ricaniidae) on several crops in Italy
/ref>

Biology

These insects feed on sap that they suck from the leaves of the host plants. ''Ricania speculum'' has a single generation per year. The eggs overwinter in the bark of the branches waiting for the spring hatching.

References

* Lin Jiang, Zhang Ya-Lin e Wang Ying-Lu
A comparative study on the female reproductive system of four species of the Fulgoroidea (Hemiptera)
Acta zootaxonomica Sinica, vol. 36, nº 3, Pechino, Beijing Kexin Printing Co., Ltd., 2011 Hemiptera of Asia Ricaniidae {{Fulgoromorpha-stub