Scaphoideus

Uhler, 1889

Species Guides

Scaphoideus is a of leafhoppers in the Cicadellidae, Deltocephalinae. The genus is best known for Scaphoideus titanus, the American grapevine , which is the primary of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma, a serious of grapevines in European vineyards. Members of this genus are small, plant-feeding insects with . The genus has a Nearctic origin, with S. titanus introduced to Europe approximately 150 years ago, likely via American rootstock material.

Scaphoideus cylindratus by no rights reserved, uploaded by Ken Kneidel. Used under a CC0 license.

Scaphoideus opalinus by (c) Victor Engel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Victor Engel. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Scaphoideus: /skæfɔɪˈdiːəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Leafhoppers in this can be distinguished from other Deltocephalinae by features of the male genitalia, particularly the structure. -level identification requires examination of these structures. S. titanus specifically can be recognized by its association with grapevines and its known distribution in both North America and Europe.

Images

Distribution

Nearctic region (native range), including eastern United States and Canada. Introduced and established in temperate European wine-growing regions including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Moldova, and others.

Human Relevance

The is economically significant primarily through S. titanus, which Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis), causing a devastating grapevine yellows in European vineyards. This has necessitated intensive use in affected regions, conflicting with EU reduction goals. Research into alternative control methods, including vibrational , is ongoing.