The meadow spittlebug Philaenus spumarius L. (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) has been identified as the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa Wells in Europe. With a proactive approach toward a potential arrival of X. fastidiosa in Switzerland, we are studying the phenology and ecology of P. spumarius in the southern Alps so as to inform risk assessment for X. fastidiosa and suggest timely and effective management measures. The study of phenology allowed to identify the developmental periods, the host plants and their specificity for the nymphs in the Insubric climate. The ecology was studied across Canton Ticino according to a stratified design that considered different combinations of environmental factors (climate, geology and topography, summarized by the Swiss Environmental Domains), habitat (vineyards, olive groves, orchards, hay meadows and pastures) and management (intensive vs. extensive). This provided information about host plants preference and specificity within different regional pools, and estimates of the density of P. spumarius in different habitats. Nymphs select preferentially host plants from Asteraceae, Plantaginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Fabaceae families, in particular Taraxacum officinale, Plantago lanceolata, Silene vulgaris, Trifolium pratense. Nymphs’ host preference varies according to regional pools and habitat type. Density of spittle nests is significantly higher in hay meadows compared to the other surveyed habitats and in extensively-managed habitats.
