Click on the image for a larger version
 
|
|
Leafhopper |
|
|
Click on the image for a larger version
|
|
|
Leafhopper |
|
Leafhopper
(Hemiptera: Cicadomorpha: Cicadellidae), |
Credit & Copyright: Dr. Bruce G.
Marcot
| Explanation: As
tiny as the nail on your pinky
finger, this leafhopper belongs to one
of the largest families of plant-eating insects. Worldwide, there are more
species of leafhoppers than there are of birds, mammals, reptiles, and
amphibians together. Identifying
subfamilies and tribes of leafhoppers is daunting enough for the expert
entomologist.
As beautiful as they are. leafhoppers are viewed as pest insects that consume many agricultural crops including sugarbeets, rice, grapes, apples, potatoes, and many other foods. Leafhoppers cause a symptom of plants they feed on called hopperburn as they suck the juices of the plants. Leafhoppers are distinguished from similar-appearing froghoppers and spittlebugs (family Cercopidae) in that leafhoppers have hind tibiae with 1 or more rows of small spines, as clearly shown in the above photos. |
Next week's picture: Nyika Plateau, Malawi
Member Theme of Taos-Telecommunity