Skip to main content

Prokelisia marginata -

Current distribution Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) (83 GBIF-datapoints)
Prokelisia marginata is an American species of planthopper living on smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). It originates from the east coast of the United States. The first individual was observed in Europe in 1994, in the Portuguese Algarve region. Presumably, Prokelisia marginata reached Belgium in 2010, although it took until 2011 before the species was sighted. Probably, this planthopper got introduced to Europe via transport on cordgrass leaves. Prokelisia marginata exclusively occurs on cordgrass and feeds on its nutritional sap. This species got introduced along the American west coast (Washington) as a biological control against the introduced common cordgrass.