Phytoplasma
Guides
Agallia albidula
Agallia albidula is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae. It has been identified as a vector of a phytoplasma associated with "Huanglongbing"-like symptoms in citrus in Brazil. The species was described by Uhler in 1895 and occurs in the Americas, with records from Brazil, Argentina, and the United States.
Colladonus
Colladonus is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, established by Ball in 1936. Species in this genus are native to North America and are economically significant as vectors of X-disease phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni), which affects stone fruit crops including cherries, peaches, and nectarines. The genus includes notable species such as Colladonus clitellarius (saddled leafhopper) and C. montanus, both documented as important disease vectors.
Fieberiella
Fieberiella is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, comprising at least 20 described species. The genus was established by Signoret in 1880. Members are phloem-feeding insects with documented significance as vectors of plant pathogens, particularly phytoplasmas affecting fruit trees. The best-studied species, Fieberiella florii, has been confirmed as a vector of "Candidatus Phytoplasma mali" causing apple proliferation disease.
Gyponana hasta
Gyponana hasta is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, first described by DeLong in 1942. It is currently treated as a synonym of Gyponana angulata in major taxonomic databases. The species has been documented as a vector of California aster-yellows virus. Like other members of genus Gyponana, it produces brochosomes—complex protein-lipid nanoparticles that create a superhydrophobic, anti-reflective coating on the body surface.
Haplaxius crudus
American Palm Cixiid, palm leafhopper
Haplaxius crudus is a cixiid planthopper and the primary known vector of lethal yellowing phytoplasma, a devastating disease of palms. The species has a complex life cycle split between two distinct host groups: nymphs develop on grasses and sedges, while adults feed exclusively on palms. This host alternation makes management challenging, as nymphs and adults occupy different habitats. The species is economically significant across the Caribbean, Florida, and tropical America, where it has caused millions of palm deaths and substantial agricultural losses.
Hishimonus sellatus
Hishimonus sellatus is a leafhopper species in the tribe Opsiini, known primarily as a significant agricultural pest and phytoplasma vector. It transmits multiple plant pathogens including the agents of Jujube Witches Broom disease, Mulberry yellow dwarf disease, and Rhus yellows. The species has been collected from mulberry fields and shows persistent transmissibility of phytoplasmas throughout its lifetime. Its mitochondrial genome has been characterized, representing the shortest mitogenome reported in Deltocephalinae at 14,690 bp.
Homalodisca liturata
smoketree sharpshooter, lacertate sharpshooter
Homalodisca liturata, commonly known as the smoketree sharpshooter or lacertate sharpshooter, is a relatively large leafhopper species native to North America, measuring approximately 13 mm in length. The species exhibits strong host-plant associations, with documented preference for desert smoketree (Psorothamnus spinosus) where available, though it utilizes multiple host species. H. liturata is a known vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterial pathogen causing Pierce's disease in grapevines and other plant diseases. Both sexes produce acoustic signals, a notable behavioral trait among sharpshooters. The species has been documented harboring phytoplasma bacteria related to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma hispanicum' in its salivary glands, suggesting potential involvement in transmitting yellows-type diseases.
Jikradia olitoria
Coppery Leafhopper
Jikradia olitoria, commonly known as the Coppery Leafhopper, is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae found primarily in eastern North America. It is a putative vector of the NAGYIIIβ phytoplasma strain associated with North American Grapevine Yellows, a destructive disease of grapevines. The species has been documented in Virginia vineyards and surrounding vegetation, with adults active from May through October. Laboratory studies have confirmed its ability to release phytoplasmas during phloem-feeding, though whole-plant transmission remains to be demonstrated.
Jikradia olitoria olitoria
Jikradia olitoria olitoria is a leafhopper subspecies in the family Cicadellidae. It has been identified as a potential vector of phytoplasmas causing North American Grapevine Yellows (NAGY), specifically transmitting the NAGYIIIβ strain of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni'-related phytoplasma in artificial feeding assays. The subspecies exhibits seasonal movement from woodland vegetation into vineyard edges.
Latalus
Latalus is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae, established by DeLong and Sleesman in 1929. Members of this genus have been documented as vectors of plant pathogens, with the first report identifying a Latalus species as a natural vector of 'Candidatus' Phytoplasma ulmi, the causal agent of elm yellows disease in North America. The genus belongs to the tribe Paralimnini and is part of the diverse leafhopper fauna associated with woody and herbaceous vegetation.
Limotettix vaccinii
Blunt-nosed Leafhopper
Limotettix vaccinii is a leafhopper known as the blunt-nosed leafhopper, recognized as the primary insect vector of phytoplasma causing false blossom disease in cranberries. Nymphal development occurs on cranberry plants, with slower development but larger adult size on phytoplasma-infected hosts. Females preferentially oviposit on uninfected plants despite showing no detectable preference in olfactory attraction assays. The species has been recorded across northern and western North America.
Macrosteles divisus
Macrosteles divisus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Deltocephalinae. It is known primarily as a vector of carrot yellows disease (phytoplasma) in agricultural systems. The species overwinters as eggs in plant tissues, with nymphs emerging in spring and multiple generations occurring through the growing season. Population activity peaks in mid to late summer.
Neoaliturus tenellus
Beet Leafhopper
Neoaliturus tenellus, commonly known as the beet leafhopper, is a significant agricultural pest in western North America. This leafhopper species is a documented vector of Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii (CPt) and beet curly top virus (BCTV), pathogens that affect potato, sugar beet, and other vegetable and seed crops. The species exhibits complex seasonal movement patterns between crop and noncrop hosts, utilizing weedy vegetation for overwintering and summer development. Its population dynamics and pathogen transmission ecology have been studied extensively in the Columbia River Basin and southern New Mexico to improve pest management forecasting.
Paraphlepsius irroratus
bespeckled leafhopper, irrorate leafhopper, brown-speckled leafhopper, irrorate spittlebug
Paraphlepsius irroratus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, commonly known as the bespeckled leafhopper. It is a documented vector of plant pathogens, specifically the clover phyllody mycoplasmalike organism (phytoplasma) and Peach X-disease. The species has been successfully reared in laboratory conditions, revealing broad host plant associations and a development period of 31.8–59.2 days across five nymphal instars.
Pentastiridius
Pentastiridius is a genus of planthoppers in the family Cixiidae with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes at least three described species, with P. leporinus emerging as a significant agricultural pest in central Europe. This species vectors two bacterial pathogens causing syndrome "basses richesses" in sugar beet and related diseases in potato and carrot. Originally associated with reed grass (Phragmites australis), P. leporinus has undergone rapid host range expansion to become polyphagous on crops.
Saccharosydne saccharivora
West Indian Canefly, West Indian Sugarcane Fulgorid
Saccharosydne saccharivora is a delphacid planthopper and major pest of sugarcane with a 6½–7 week life cycle. It has been documented as a vector of sugarcane yellow leaf phytoplasma, the first confirmed phytoplasma transmission by this species. Population dynamics in Jamaica showed epidemic versus endemic patterns, with generation segregation and synchronization occurring in epidemic areas due to parasitoid pressure. Outbreaks require plant cane under favorable climatic and agricultural conditions.
Saccharosydnini
Saccharosydnini is a tribe of delphacid planthoppers (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Delphacidae) established by Vilbaste in 1968. The tribe includes at least one new genus, Lacertina, described from Argentina with distinctive dorsoventrally flattened morphology. Some members are associated with sugarcane and serve as vectors of plant pathogens.
Scaphoideus luteolus
White-banded Elm Leafhopper
Scaphoideus luteolus is a phloem sap-feeding leafhopper native to the eastern United States and the only confirmed vector of Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi (CPu), the causative agent of elm phytoplasma disease. The species does not cause direct damage through feeding but transmits this pathogen to elm trees (Ulmus spp.), resulting in heavy damage to North American elm populations. It has three developmental stages—egg, nymph, and adult—with overwintering occurring in the egg stage. Both nymphs and adults can acquire and transmit CPu and remain infective for life.
Scaphoideus titanus
American grapevine leafhopper
Scaphoideus titanus is a leafhopper native to North America that has become a major agricultural pest in Europe. Introduced accidentally around 150 years ago, likely via American rootstock material, it now acts as the primary vector of the grapevine phytoplasma disease Flavescence dorée (FD). The species exhibits unique vibrational communication for mating, with males producing substrate-borne signals detected by females. This trait has been exploited for developing mating disruption control methods. In Europe, the species is monophagous on cultivated grapevines, whereas in North America it feeds on various Vitaceae including wild grapevines.
Scaphytopius
leafhopper
Scaphytopius is a large genus of leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae) containing at least 170 described species. The genus was established by Ball in 1931 and is classified in the subfamily Deltocephalinae and tribe Scaphytopiini. Multiple species have been documented as vectors of plant pathogens, including phytoplasmas affecting citrus and peach. The subgenus Cloanthanus, revised by Hepner in 1947, is poorly represented in Canada compared to more southerly distributions in North America.
Scaphytopius acutus
Sharp-nosed Leafhopper
Scaphytopius acutus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, commonly known as the Sharp-nosed Leafhopper. It serves as a documented vector of Peach X-Disease, a phytoplasma pathogen affecting stone fruit cultivation. The species has been studied for its ecological role in bridging wild host plant reservoirs and cultivated peach orchards, with seasonal dispersal patterns between these habitats. It possesses a nationwide distribution across the United States.