leafhoppers

Leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae) are a diverse group of small to medium-sized sap-sucking insects in the order Hemiptera. They typically have wedge-shaped bodies, relatively short antennae, and powerful hind legs for jumping. Wing form and coloring vary widely among species. They feed on plant fluids using piercing-sucking mouthparts.

Leafhoppers occur in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and crop fields. They feed on many different plants and can move quickly from host to host. Many species communicate via substrate-borne vibrations and other acoustic signals; some produce audible sounds by drumming body parts or wings.

Diet and impact: Leafhoppers feed on phloem or xylem sap, depending on the species. Feeding can cause leaf stippling, curling, or reduced vigor. They also excrete honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold and secondary problems. In some cases, leafhoppers transmit plant pathogens.

Life cycle: Most leafhoppers undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid in plant tissue or on leaves, and hatch into nymphs resembling small adults. Nymphs molt through several instars before becoming winged or wingless adults. In warm climates, several generations may occur per year; some species overwinter as eggs, others as adults.

Significance: Leafhoppers are economically important pests because of direct feeding and their ability to transmit phytoplasmas and bacteria such as Xylella fastidiosa. Management includes monitoring, cultural controls, resistant plant varieties, and, when needed, targeted insecticides, with attention to non-target effects and resistance development.