Cicadellidae

Definition

A large cosmopolitan family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha) commonly known as leafhoppers, characterized by minute to small body size, hind legs modified for jumping, and piercing-sucking mouthparts used to feed on plant xylem or phloem sap. Members exhibit partial metamorphosis (hemimetabolous development) and many species are significant agricultural pests or vectors of plant pathogens including viruses and phytoplasmas. With at least 20,000 described species, Cicadellidae constitutes the second-largest family within Hemiptera and is divided into numerous subfamilies including the economically important Deltocephalinae and Typhlocybinae.

Etymology

From Cicadella, the type genus (diminutive of Cicada, referring to resemblance to small cicadas) + -idae, family suffix.

Example

The potato leafhopper Empoasca fabae (Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) causes hopperburn in alfalfa and beans through direct feeding damage and transmits the aster yellows phytoplasma to lettuce and carrot crops.

Synonyms

• leafhoppers (common name)

Related Terms

• Auchenorrhyncha
• Membracoidea
• Hemiptera
• Deltocephalinae
• Typhlocybinae
• phytoplasma
• Vector
• xylem-feeding
• hopperburn

Usage Notes

Cicadellidae is treated as plural in taxonomic usage (e.g., "the Cicadellidae are diverse") but takes singular verb agreement in some traditional treatments. Distinguished from the related treehopper family Membracidae by the unmodified, non-hoodlike pronotum and generally more slender body form. The common name "leafhopper" properly applies to this family but is sometimes applied loosely to other small jumping Hemiptera; specialists reserve "sharpshooter" for certain cicadelline groups with distinctive head morphology.