Polymorphism of the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius Linnaeus, 1758 (Auchenorrhyncha: Aphrophoridae) in the Nizhny Novgorod Region

The paper studies the polymorphism of the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius Linnaeus, 1758 (Auchenorrhyncha: Aphrophoridae) in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Counts were conducted using a standard entomological net sweeping method and counting the number of sweeps. Collections were made in the north, south, southeast, and center of the region. A total of 16 morphs of the spittlebug were identified in the region (Pustynsky Nature Reserve). The lowest number (12) was recorded in the north of the region (Voskresensky District). A trend toward increasing morph richness from north to south is confirmed. The diversity of each morph in different regions of the region was assessed. The typ morph was found to predominate in all the studied biotopes. The light morph pop ranks second, and the tri morph is third. The remaining morphs are not found everywhere and their diversity indices are low. The diversity of light morphs increases toward the south of the region. Based on habitat distribution, meadow, forest, and meadow-forest spittlebug morph groups are distinguished. The typ morph predominates in all biotopes, with a frequency ranging from 60 to 70%. Black-and-white morphs prefer wet habitats (flood meadows), light-colored morphs prefer dry habitats, and both light-colored and black-and-white morphs prefer mixed habitats.