# Drosicha corpulenta (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) in an Arid New City: Phenology, Host Suitability, and Spatial Distribution of Overwintering Eggs

## TL;DR

This study tracks the life cycle and egg distribution of Drosicha corpulenta in a new arid city, identifying key control points and host preferences.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the phenology, host suitability, and spatial distribution of Drosicha corpulenta in an arid urban setting.

## Key findings

- Drosicha corpulenta has one generation per year and overwinters as eggs in shallow soil near tree trunks.
- Platanus acerifolia and Prunus padus are the most suitable host plants for the pest.
- Overwintering eggs are aggregated within 30 cm of the trunk and at depths less than 10 cm.

## Abstract

Drosicha corpulenta is a major pest in urban gardens in China. This study was conducted from 2024 to 2025 in Cocodala City, Fourth Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, to investigate the life cycle, host plant suitability, and spatial distribution of the species’ overwintering eggs. This pest has one generation per year and overwinters as eggs in soil. Nymphs emerge and climb trees in early March, and peak egg laying by females occurs in late May. Among seven common tree species, Platanus acerifolia and Prunus padus have been identified as the most suitable hosts, whereas Sophora japonica, Pinus spp., and Malus spectabilis are regarded as less suitable. Overwintering eggs are clustered in shallow soil within 30 cm of a trunk and at depths of less than 10 cm. These findings confirm and extend earlier work by Cui Meixiang et al. in temperate regions. Critical control periods include the nymph eclosion in early spring and adult egg laying; soil pesticides should be applied near tree bases to eliminate eggs. This study provides a scientific basis for the precise monitoring and targeted control of Drosicha corpulenta in urban greening.

Drosicha corpulenta (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) is a major polyphagous pest affecting street and garden trees in arid regions of northern China, causing increasing damage in newly developed cities like Cocodala, Xinjiang. This study was conducted from 2024 to 2025 to investigate this pest’s life cycle, key damage periods, and spatial distribution in seven host plants, focusing on nymph emergence, female soil entry, and overwintering egg distribution. The results show that D. corpulenta has one generation per year, which overwinters as eggs. Nymphs emerge in early March, and male pupation occurs from mid-April to early May. Females mate after the third molt in early to mid-May and enter the soil to lay eggs from late May to early June, with consistent timing over two years. The suitability of the host varied significantly: Platanus × hispanica was the most preferred, with the highest daily nymph emergence of 840.8 individuals in 2024 and 1196.0 in 2025, followed by Prunus padus and five other plant species (Populus spp., Fraxinus chinensis, Styphnolobium japonicum, Pinus spp., and Malus spectabilis). Female soil entry reached a maximum on 23 May (979.8 individuals−1 day−1) and gradually decreased with increasing distance from the trunk. Overwintering eggs showed no obvious azimuthal bias, but were mainly concentrated near the trunk (0–30 cm) and in shallow soil (0–10 cm; 179.8 eggs per 100 g composite soil sample per sampling point), decreasing sharply in number with distance and depth. Both Taylor’s power law and Iwao’s regression confirmed the aggregated distribution. This study identifies key phenological stages, highly susceptible hosts, and the near-trunk shallow soil layer as critical for oviposition and overwintering and provides a basis for precise monitoring and targeted control in urban green spaces.