Species Account for Ribautodelphax imitans
PLEASE NOTE, many records in this group are not yet available
Ribautodelphax imitans (Ribaut, 1953)
Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacidae
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Taxonomic group: leafhoppers and allies (Auchenorrhyncha) - Available county data
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Status: RDB K;Section 41 Priority Species
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Species text
At the time of the national status review (Kirby, 1992) Ribautodelphax imitans was known in Britain only from old records from Dorset, but there is a recent record of the planthopper in numbers at Rammey Marsh (Middlesex) in 2000 (Harvey, 2000) and P.R. Harvey also found the species at a brownfield site near Tilbury in 2006, in both cases the specimens being identified by Dr Peter Kirby. The species has been recorded from calcareous grassland, and also occurs on other types of dry grassland, such as at Rammey Marsh and the Tilbury site. The grass Festuca arundinacea feras is a known foodplant in France and Greece. This subspecies does not occur in Britain, but tall fescue Festuca arundinacea arundinacea could be a host. Grassland management should be adjusted to a level at which a varied structure is maintained, including both short turf and taller tussocks and swards. Rabbit grazing produces the best structure, and rabbit populations should be maintained or encouraged wherever possible (Kirby, 1992). References
Habitats
Recorded management for locations with Ribautodelphax imitans
Recorded substrate and hydrology for locations with Ribautodelphax imitans
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