Insect-plant-microbe-interaction
Guides
Macrosteles
leafhoppers
Macrosteles is a genus of leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) comprising more than 80 species distributed primarily in the northern hemisphere. Members are phloem-feeding insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Several species are economically significant as vectors of phytopathogenic phytoplasmas, including "Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris" (aster yellows disease) and "Candidatus Phytoplasma oryzae" (rice yellow dwarf). Some species exhibit migratory behavior. The genus harbors complex endosymbiotic microbiota including obligate nutritional symbionts "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" and "Candidatus Nasuia deltocephalinicola".