Austrolopa brunensis, Evans, 1936

Percy, Diana M. & Day, Max F., 2005, Observations of unusual acoustic behaviour in two Australian leafhoppers (Hemiptera; Cicadellidae), Journal of Natural History 39 (38), pp. 3407-3417 : 3409

Biology of Austrolopa brunensis

Austrolopa brunensis is a widespread ulopine species found in all states in eastern Australia. Little is known about the biology of the group. These insects are inconspicuous and brown coloured, of small size (male length ca 4 mm, females ca 4.5 mm) and generally believed to inhabit ‘‘concealed’’ (epigeal) habitats, as ground feeders ( Evans 1966). However, A. brunensis has been captured on a number of plants from several plant families ( Podocarpus , Podocarpaceae ; Bossiaea , Pultenaea , Fabaceae ; Richea , Epacridaceae ) ( Evans 1966), though it is uncertain whether these records signify food plants or incidental capture during random collecting. Recently, we have collected A. brunensis on numerous occasions from the shrub Cassinia (Asteraceae) in New South Wales and ACT, and have been able to maintain nymphs and adults on this host for several weeks in the laboratory.

Details of the life cycle are unknown, but although the shrub Cassinia is locally abundant, the insect is sparsely distributed with individuals on widely separated plants, and often with only one individual to a plant. Of the three local Cassinia species , A. brunensis appears to show a preference for C. quinquefaria and C. aculeata , and is not found on C. longifolia in the same localities. Males are found less often than females but both sexes occupy the same habitat. Another unusual biological feature is that adults have been collected in all months of the year, even in mid-winter when few other insects are to be found.