Leafhoppers, colloquially known as hoppers, are a group of true bugs that constitute Cicadellidae, the second-largest family within the order Hemiptera. They have a nearly cosmopolitan distribution (except Antarctica), with maximum diversity in the tropical and temperate regions. There are at least 20,000 described species of leafhoppers, of which around 2,500 are found in North America.1
These insects are specialized herbivores that feed exclusively on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts. They tend to congregate on the undersides of leaves and along plant stems, which offer direct access to the tissues they feed on, as well as protection from predators.
While excreting their body waste, they produce a unique secretion made up of microscopic, wax-like granules called brochosomes. Using comb-like rows of spines on their hind legs, they spread this substance all over their bodies to protect their outer covering, the cuticle, from moisture and the sugary excretions of other sap-feeding insects.
Most leafhoppers are less than about 0.5 in (13 mm) long.2 Their bodies tend to be parallel-sided and taper towards the end. They have a wedge-shaped head that bears a pair of bristle-like, sensory antennae. Unlike planthoppers (infraorder Fulgoromorpha), the bulbous base of each antenna is short.
They have a pair of large compound eyes positioned laterally on the head. Additionally, a pair of simple eyes (ocelli) is usually located between the compound eyes.
Although many species appear dull in color, others are strikingly vivid. For example, sharpshooters (tribe Proconiini) display brilliant patterns of blue, red, orange, and yellow.
Leafhoppers are classified into 19 confirmed extant subfamilies and a single informal group (incertae sedis).
While most species prefer high-calorie phloem sap, some, such as sharpshooters, prefer xylem sap.3
A few leafhoppers have occasionally been observed piercing the bodies of soft-bodied insects such as aphids. However, they do not rely on insect hemolymph for their nutrition. Instead, this behavior is thought to be defensive, driven by competition for feeding sites. Similarly, leafhoppers rarely bite humans, and when they do, it is either accidental or defensive.
Leafhoppers are hemimetabolous insects that develop through 3 life stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
Depending on the species, a female leafhopper may lay around 200 eggs in her lifetime, depositing 2 to 4 eggs per day inside living plant tissues. She uses a hollow, needle-like structure called an ovipositor to pierce a hole in the leaf or stem of a suitable host plant and deposit her eggs.
After an incubation of about 6 to 14 days, the eggs hatch into pale, wingless nymphs. These nymphs then undergo 4 successive molts (5 instars), after which they become adults.4
Adult leafhoppers typically survive between 30 and 90 days.
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