Leafhoppers

Definition

Members of the family Cicadellidae (Hemiptera), a hyperdiverse group of small, phytophagous insects with hind legs modified for jumping. They possess piercing-sucking mouthparts for extracting xylem or phloem sap, and many species are economically significant as direct crop pests or vectors of plant pathogens including viruses and phytoplasmas. The family comprises at least 20,000 described species, making it the second-largest hemipteran family.

Etymology

From 'leaf' + 'hopper', referring to their plant-feeding habit and saltatorial locomotion

Example

The beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus) transmits the curly top virus to sugar beets and tomatoes, while the potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) causes hopperburn through direct feeding damage.

Synonyms

• cicadellids

Related Terms

• Cicadellidae
• Planthoppers
• Treehoppers
• Sharpshooters
• typhlocybines
• Vector
• phytoplasma
• hemipteran
• xylem feeder
• phloem feeder

Usage Notes

In strict usage, 'leafhopper' refers specifically to Cicadellidae and excludes superficially similar groups such as planthoppers (Fulgoroidea) or treehoppers (Membracidae), though all share the common name 'hopper'. The subfamily Typhlocybinae contains many minute species that feed on mesophyll rather than vascular tissues. Specialist literature often reserves 'sharpshooter' for larger, xylem-feeding cicadellines with distinctive head morphology.