Potato-leafhopper
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Empoasca
Empoasca is a genus of leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae) containing approximately 20 described species. Several species are significant agricultural pests, most notably Empoasca fabae (potato leafhopper), which causes hopperburn injury to over 200 plant species including potatoes, alfalfa, and beans. Members of this genus are characterized by their small size, typically bright green coloration, and production of brochosomes—unique nanoparticles that create a superhydrophobic, anti-reflective coating on their bodies. The genus has a wide distribution with some species showing strong migratory behavior.
Empoasca fabae
potato leafhopper
Empoasca fabae, commonly known as the potato leafhopper, is a small, lime-green leafhopper native to North America and a significant agricultural pest. It migrates northward annually from Gulf States to the Midwest and eastern United States, causing damage to over 200 plant species. The species feeds on plant sap and injects a toxin that causes 'hopperburn'—characteristic drying, curling, and rotting of plant tissues. Climate warming has been linked to earlier arrival dates (approximately 10 days earlier than in the 1950s) and more severe infestations in warmer years. It completes one to two generations per year in northern regions like Québec, with population peaks occurring in June-July.