Leaf+hoppers+and+sap+suckers

__**Leafhoppers**__

Kingdom:Anamalia Phylum:Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hemiptera Family: Cicadellidae

Cicadellidae, better known as lead hoppers, are the largest family of hemimetabolous insects and one of the largest families of plant eating insects. There are over 25,000 described species and the family is well known for its high level of diversity. Leafhoppers are located in almost every place that is inhabited by vascular plants which is why species vary so much in coloration patterns. (1)

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Description: Adult leaf hoppers range from 2 to 30 mm in length are usually cylindrical or have a wedge shape to them. The heads of the hoppers are highly variable in shape, ranging from short to long, round to flat, and sometimes they can bear spines or other ornamentation (1). They have 4 rows of enlarged spine-like setae on the hind tibia, the closely resemble treehoppers but they lack the posterior pronotal process that is present in treehoppers. Cicadelliae are the only insects that produce small granules called brochosomes. These brochosomes are produced after each molt of the leafhopper and are spread over the newly formed integument; it’s believed this process helps keep the bodies of the leafhopper water repellent (3). Fig. 3

Life Cycle: Details of the life cycle vary from species to species, in general the female lays her eggs into living tissue of the plant she finds suitable to be the host. The eggs can remain dormant for a month or for an entire year. The eggs are able to develop quickly and hatch in just a few weeks. The newly hatched nymphs feed by inserting their beaks into the tissues of the plant and feeding on its sap. After a series of five molts the nymphs reach the adults stage after several weeks, (they lack a pupal stage). Once matured, the adult females and males locate each other through vibrational signals, these vibrations are made by sound producing organs located at the bottom of the abdomen called tymbals. (1) Fig. 4

Predators and prey: Due to their abundance, leafhoppers are attacked by a wide variety of different predators. These include birds, lizards, spiders, assassin bugs, robber flies, and syrphid flies (1). Leafhoppers prey on plant sap from vascular plants including, but not limited to, grasses, broad-leaf woody and herbaceous plants, and conifers. Frequently several species of leaf hoppers can be found coexisting on the same plant. (2)

Ecological Importance and Human Impact: Because of their jumping ability, leafhoppers are very hard to control, fortunately they rarely become over abundant due to their large diversity in predators. Sometimes leafhoppers can be harmful to plants by sucking out the sap of the plant, robbing the plant of vital nutrients, or they can transmit plant pathogens such as viruses, mycoplasma-like organisms, or microorganisms. (2)

Created by Spitler, J.

References:
 * 1) 1. Dietrich, Chris H., “Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) ” //Encyclopedia of Entomology//, 2nd edition vol. 4, New York: Springer, 2008. 2160 -2163, Web. 11 Nov. 2013 <[|http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-1-4020-6359-6_1985#page-1]>
 * 2) 2. Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of California “How to manage Pests: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes, Leafhoppers” (2013) Web. 11 Nov 2013 <[]>
 * 3) 3. Alvarez, P. A., Deitz, L. L., and Nimocks D. R., “Leafhoppers” //A resource on cicadas, leafhoppers, planthoppers, spittlebugs and treehoppers//. North Carolina State University. Dec. 2008, Web 11 Nov. 2013 <[]>

Images: Fig 1: “Leafhopper” Retrieved 11 Nov. 2013 <[]> Fig 2: “Leafhopper” Retrieved 11 Nov. 2013 <[]> Fig 3: “Leafhopper Anatomy” Retrieved. 11 Nov. 2013 <[]> Fig 4: “Leafhopper Lifecycle” Retrieved 11 Nov. 2013 <[]>