Leafhopper
Leafhoppers are small insects belonging to the family Cicadellidae, known for their distinctive habit of sucking the sap from plants. They are found worldwide, with a higher prevalence in tropical and temperate regions, although they are absent from certain areas such as the far northern hemisphere and parts of Australia. These pests can exist alone or in large groups and can cause significant damage to plants by feeding on them and transmitting plant diseases. Leafhoppers possess specialized mouthparts called rostrums, which allow them to pierce plant tissues and extract sap.
With a typical size of up to 1/2 inch (1 cm), some species can reach 3/4 inch (2 cm) in length. Their appearance varies widely, with some being brightly colored while others blend into their green surroundings. Leafhoppers are notable for their ability to run sideways and leap between plants, aided by their two pairs of wings. Mating occurs late in summer, and females lay eggs inside plant shoots using ovipositors. The life cycle includes a juvenile stage that resembles adults but lacks wings, maturing after several molts. There are approximately 15,000 species of leafhoppers globally, with around 2,500 species identified in North America.
Subject Terms
Leafhopper
Leafhoppers, like their relatives the aphids, are tiny bugs which suck the juices of plants. Whether singly or in large numbers, these bugs harm plants by feeding on them and by carrying diseases. They are named for their ability to run sideways and to leap between plants.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Hermiptera
Family: Cicadellidae
Genus: Magicicada
Species: Septendecim
Leafhoppers live in nearly every part of the world and are particularly common in the tropics and in temperate regions where there is plenty of vegetation. They do not appear in the far northern hemisphere, a central western region of the United States, southern South America, parts of southwestern and north central Africa, southern Arabia, north central China, and western Australia.
Wherever they live, these insects are pests to plants. They may appear singly, in small groups, or in large numbers. Depending on the species, these animals feed on the saps of a wide variety of plants. Two pairs of needle-like tubes form their mouthparts. The outer pair has sharp teeth for piercing plants, and the inner pair has channels for saliva and sucking food into their mouths. These piercing and sucking mouthparts are called rostrums and are the reason these insects are classified in the order of insects called bugs. Sucking the saps from plants causes them to wither and die, and the leafhoppers also carry many plant diseases. Birds prey upon leafhoppers, but the best way to control these pests is with insecticides.
The body shapes and colors of leafhoppers vary between species and within species between males and females. Many of them have small, slender bodies with pointed abdomens, or lower bodies. Many are brightly colored, while others are camouflaged in green. Their bodies are usually up to 1/2 inch (one centimeter), while a some may be up to 3/4 inch (two centimeters). All species have two compound eyes, which means that each eye has a large number of lenses through which to see instead of only one per eye. Members of all species also have two pairs of wings. The front pairs have thin, skin-like membranes at the tips but are thick at the bases. These serve as protective covers for the thin membranes of the rear wings.
Leafhoppers receive their name from their habit of running sideways on leaves and leaping or hopping to other leaves or plants. Their long wings also enable them to fly well, and some may migrate hundreds of miles in search of food.
Mating occurs late in the summer. The leafhoppers sing to attract mates. Their songs are similar to those of cicadas, but they are too low-pitched and too soft for people to hear. The sound waves travel through the plants instead of through the air. Females use special tubes called ovipositors to lay small batches of eggs inside plant shoots. The period it takes for the eggs to hatch varies according to the temperature, and some eggs may not hatch until spring. The adults die during the winter. The young leafhoppers look like the adults but do not have wings. After several moltings, or sheddings of their skins, the young are full-sized adults with wings and are able to mate. The life span of leafhoppers is up to one year.
The 15,000 species of leafhoppers are in the family Cicadellidae. Of these, 2,500 species live in North America.