Potato Leafhopper
Empoasca fabae
This record describes Empoasca fabae (species). Recorded family: Cicadellidae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pale green with a row of six white spots behind the head seen only with help of a lens Pest of alfalfa, fruits, and vegetables; most damaging to alfalfa and clover ( 6 ) ; major pest of potato ( 7 ) Can't survive cold winter and migrates every spring from TX northward ( 6 ) Two bean varieties, Phaseolus vulgaris and P. lunatus , have hooked trichomes on their leaves. These hook the leafhopper through the intersegmental membrane of the abdomen and limbs. ( 8 ) These leafhoppers induce changes in potato plants that make them more resistant to Leptinotarsa decimlineata ( 9 )
Wikipedia reference for Empoasca fabae: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empoasca_fabae.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Auchenorrhyncha
- Superfamily
- Membracoidea
- Family
- Cicadellidae (Typical Leafhoppers)
- Subfamily
- Typhlocybinae
- Tribe
- Empoascini
- Genus
- Empoasca
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e. N. Amer., Calif., scattered w. records / Mex. to C. Amer. - Map , (migrates north every year from TX)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: hosts: >200 cultivated and wild plant spp. , particularly legumes Is disturbed by dense trichome of certain bean varieties.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Empoasca fabae (Harris 1841)
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Empoasca fabae. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Potato Leafhopper (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , Graham M , v belov , Marci Hess
Frequently Asked Questions About Potato Leafhopper
What is Potato Leafhopper?
Potato Leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) is a species in the family Cicadellidae, within the order Hemiptera.
How do you identify Potato Leafhopper?
Pale green with a row of six white spots behind the head seen only with help of a lens
Where is Potato Leafhopper found?
Range: e. N. Amer., Calif., scattered w. records / Mex. to C. Amer. - Map , (migrates north every year from TX)
What does Potato Leafhopper eat?
The diet of the Potato Leafhopper includes hosts: >200 cultivated and wild plant spp. , particularly legumes Is disturbed by dense trichome of certain bean varieties..