Kybos populi (Edwards, 1908)

Figs 11, 36, 46–47, 56, 62, 77–78

Empoasca populi Edwards, 1908: 81

Empoasca (Kybos) populi Kloet & Hincks, 1945: 57

Kybos populi tremulae Zachvatkin, 1953: 208

Kybos zaisanensis Mitjaev, 1968: 635

Description. Brownish green with lighter and darker spots in fore part of body. Forewings smoky hyaline in apical parts, dorsal side of abdomen dark, visible through folded forewings (Fig. 11).

Dorsal apodemes almost undeveloped, look like narrow transverse sclerotized band at base of abdomen. Ventral apodemes about twice as long as wide at base, separated by narrow V-shaped notch (Fig. 36). Aedeagus without lateral processes (Figs 46–47). Style shape typical of genus. Pygofer appendages with distinct expansions in apical halves (Fig. 56). Anal collar appendages narrow, falcate (Fig. 62).

Hosts. On many poplar species including Populus tremula, P. alba, P. nigra, and related species and cultivars.

Calling signal. Signals of two males from Russia (Beloozerskiy Town, Voskresensk Region, Moscow Oblast, on cultivated P. alba, 23. VII. 2021, recording at 25 oC) were investigated .

The temporal pattern of the calling signal is generally the same as in K. niveicolor . It is a succession of 5–10 pulses, following each other with a period of 300–480 ms; usually, the pulse repetition period increases towards the end of a signal (Fig. 77). Pulse duration averages 65–95 ms (Fig. 78). Differs from K. niveicolor by distinctly longer pulses with an abrupt amplitude outbreak in the initial part.

Distribution. Transpalearctic within the boreal zone. In Kyrgyzstan, was found only in Bishkek and in one village on the northern coast of the Issyk-Kul Lake (Chelpakova, 1994), despite the fact that its host plants are among the most common trees in all regions of this country. This probably indicates that K. populi is introduced in Kyrgyzstan.

Remarks. Despite collecting leafhoppers on different species of poplars throughout almost all regions of Kyrgyzstan for many years, we never found this species. The above description is based on specimens from European Russia.