Proconiini
Guides
Cicadellinae
sharpshooters, leafhoppers
Cicadellinae is a subfamily of leafhoppers (family Cicadellidae) within the order Hemiptera. Members of the tribe Proconiini within this subfamily are commonly known as 'sharpshooters.' The subfamily currently contains five tribes: Cicadellini, Makilingiini, Phereurhinini, Proconiini, and Tungurahualini. Cicadellinae leafhoppers are globally distributed and are significant agricultural pests due to their role as vectors of plant pathogens, particularly the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes diseases including Pierce's disease of grape, phony peach disease, and citrus variegated chlorosis.
Cuerna
Cuerna is a genus of leafhoppers (sharpshooters) in the family Cicadellidae, established by Melichar in 1924. The genus comprises 26 described species distributed across North America from Canada and Alaska to Panama, with highest species diversity in the southwestern United States. As members of the tribe Proconiini, these insects are part of a group known for their xylem-feeding habits and association with diverse plant hosts.
Cuerna alba
Cuerna alba is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Oman and Beamer in 1944. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group of relatively large and often strikingly patterned leafhoppers. Records indicate presence in several western and midwestern U.S. states including Colorado, Illinois, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico. Like other members of the genus Cuerna, it is likely associated with woody host plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Cuerna alta
Cuerna alta is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Oman and Beamer in 1944. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group known for their relatively large size and robust build among leafhoppers. The species is documented from the southwestern United States, specifically New Mexico and Texas. Like other members of the genus Cuerna, it is presumed to feed on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts, though specific host plant associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Cuerna balli
Cuerna balli is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Oman and Beamer in 1944. It belongs to the genus Cuerna, which is placed in the tribe Proconiini. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States, with records from Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. A comparative developmental biology study of Cuerna arida and C. balli was conducted in Arizona, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Cuerna costalis
Lateral-lined Sharpshooter
Cuerna costalis, known as the lateral-lined sharpshooter, is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae. It is native to the eastern half of the United States. The species is distinguished by its black and red coloration with longitudinal stripes on the forewings and a prominent white stripe running from the eye along the side of the abdomen. It is the only species in the genus Cuerna with red on its legs.
Cuerna curvata
Cuerna curvata is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Oman and Beamer in 1944. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group of relatively large and often colorful leafhoppers. Records indicate this species occurs in the western United States, specifically California, Nevada, and Utah. As with most members of its genus, detailed ecological and behavioral information remains limited in published literature.
Cuerna emeljanovi
Cuerna emeljanovi is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini, described in 2015. It belongs to the genus Cuerna, a group of relatively large, robust leafhoppers within the subfamily Cicadellinae. The species was described by Krishnankutty and Rakitov. Like other members of its tribe, it likely exhibits the characteristic enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping that define the family.
Cuerna fenestella
Cuerna fenestella is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Hamilton in 1970. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group of relatively large and often colorful leafhoppers. The specific epithet 'fenestella' refers to small windows or openings, likely alluding to distinctive translucent or pale markings on the body. Records of this species are sparse, with documented occurrences in Manitoba and North Dakota.
Cuerna lyrifora
Cuerna lyrifora is a species of sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described in 2015. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group known for their large size and powerful jumping ability among leafhoppers. The species was established based on morphological distinctions from congeners.
Cuerna n-sp-ok-i
Cuerna n-sp-ok-i is an undescribed species of sharpshooter leafhopper in the tribe Proconiini, known from Oklahoma. The genus Cuerna includes medium-sized leafhoppers that are part of the diverse egg parasitoid research conducted by Dr. S.V. Triapitsyn and colleagues. Species in this genus are associated with egg parasitoids in the families Mymaridae and Trichogrammatidae, which have been studied extensively for biological control applications. The 'n-sp-ok-i' designation indicates this is a new species awaiting formal description, with the suffix denoting its Oklahoma origin.
Cuerna obesa
Cuerna obesa is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, described by Oman & Beamer in 1944. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group of relatively large and robust leafhoppers. The species is recorded from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Like other members of its genus, it likely feeds on plant vascular fluids using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Cuerna obtusa
Cuerna obtusa is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini. It was described by Oman and Beamer in 1944. The species belongs to a genus of sharpshooters, a group of leafhoppers known for their ability to shoot liquid waste droplets away from their bodies. Distribution records indicate occurrence in the southwestern United States.
Cuerna occidentalis
Cuerna occidentalis is a species of sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini. The species was described by Oman and Beamer in 1944. As a member of the Cuerna genus, it is part of a group of leafhoppers known for their association with woody host plants and their role as vectors of plant pathogens. The species has been documented in California, USA.
Cuerna possibly-undescribed-az
A potentially undescribed species in the sharpshooter genus Cuerna, known from Arizona. The genus Cuerna belongs to the tribe Proconiini and comprises large, robust leafhoppers often associated with woody host plants. This putative species has been documented but awaits formal taxonomic description.
Cuerna sayi
Cuerna sayi is a species of sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini, described by Nielson in 1965. It is native to North America and has been recorded as a host for egg parasitoids in the families Mymaridae and Trichogrammatidae. The species is part of the economically important sharpshooter group, some members of which are vectors of plant pathogens including Xylella fastidiosa.
Cuerna striata
Striped Leafhopper
Cuerna striata, commonly known as the Striped Leafhopper, is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae. It is a member of the tribe Proconiini, which includes many economically significant agricultural pests. The species has been documented across western and central North America, with records from Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, and Illinois. It is a true bug (Hemiptera) that feeds on plant sap using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Cuerna unica
Cuerna unica is a species of leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Nielson in 1965. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group of relatively large and often strikingly marked leafhoppers. The genus Cuerna is native to the Americas. Distribution records indicate this species occurs in western North America.
Cuerna yuccae
Yucca Sharpshooter
Cuerna yuccae is a sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Oman & Beamer in 1944. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group known for their role as vectors of plant pathogens including Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterium causing Pierce's disease in grapevines. The species is associated with yucca plants and occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States. Like other proconiine sharpshooters, it feeds on xylem fluid and has potential significance in plant disease epidemiology.
Gonatocerini
Gonatocerini is a tribe of minute egg parasitoids within Mymaridae (Hymenoptera). Members are idiobiont parasitoids of insect eggs, with several species employed in biological control programs against leafhopper pests (Cicadellidae: Proconiini). The tribe currently comprises 14 recognized genera. A survey in tobacco crops of central Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, documented 698 individuals across 21 species in four genera: Gonatocerus (most abundant), Cosmocomoidea, Lymaenon, and Tanyxiphium.
Homalodisca elongata
Homalodisca elongata is a species of sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini. It was described by Ball in 1936. The species belongs to a genus containing several economically important vectors of plant pathogens, including the glassy-winged sharpshooter (H. vitripennis), though H. elongata itself has received limited specific study. Like other proconiine sharpshooters, it possesses piercing-sucking mouthparts adapted for feeding on plant xylem.
Homalodisca ichthyocephala
Homalodisca ichthyocephala is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini, first described by Signoret in 1854. The species has been documented exhibiting thanatosis (death-feigning), representing the first comprehensive report of this antipredator behavior in the family Cicadellidae. Research from Zirándaro, Guerrero, Mexico identified five sequential phases of thanatosis: mechanical disturbance, catatonic, myoclonic, motor recovery, and escape. Females demonstrate significantly longer motor recovery phases than males. The species belongs to a genus containing important vectors of plant pathogens, including Xylella fastidiosa.
Oncometopia
sharpshooters
Oncometopia is a genus of sharpshooters (leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae) found in North and South America, erected by Carl Stål in 1869. Species range from 9.4 to 15.0 mm in length and are characterized by distinctive morphological features including a moderately produced head, coriaceous forewings with apical membranes, and specialized hindleg tarsomere proportions. Several species are economically important as vectors of plant pathogens, particularly Xylella fastidiosa, which causes diseases such as phony peach disease and citrus variegated chlorosis.
Oncometopia alpha
Oncometopia alpha is a species of sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, first described by Fowler in 1899. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group known for their powerful jumping ability and xylem-feeding habits. The species has been recorded from multiple U.S. states including Florida, Georgia, Arizona, and Massachusetts, as well as from Durango, Mexico, suggesting a broad but patchy distribution across North America.
Oncometopia hamiltoni
Oncometopia hamiltoni is a species of sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, described by Rakitov in 2016. It belongs to the tribe Proconiini, a group of large, active leafhoppers known for their xylem-feeding habits and distinctive "raining" behavior caused by forceful excretion of excess fluid. The species is part of a genus containing several economically significant sharpshooters that have been studied for their role in plant disease transmission and their interactions with egg parasitoids.
Oncometopia nigricans
Black-winged Sharpshooter
Oncometopia nigricans, commonly known as the Black-winged Sharpshooter, is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Proconiini. It is a suspected vector of lethal yellowing disease of coconut palms, a devastating phytoplasma disease affecting coconut production. The species has been documented in Florida and Brazil (Bahia), with studies focusing on its molting patterns and longevity across various host plants.
Oncometopia orbona
Broad-headed Sharpshooter
Oncometopia orbona, commonly known as the broad-headed sharpshooter, is a large leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae. It feeds on xylem sap from plants, processing large volumes of nutrient-poor fluid and excreting the excess as honeydew—a behavior that creates the phenomenon of 'raining trees.' The species possesses distinctive white chalky brochosomes on its sides, used to powder egg-laying sites. It is a strong flier with excellent eyesight and serves as a host for egg parasitoids in the family Mymaridae.
Paraulacizes
sharpshooters
Paraulacizes is a genus of sharpshooters (leafhoppers) in the family Cicadellidae, established by Young in 1968. The genus comprises approximately 11 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. Species in this genus are relatively large, robust leafhoppers with distinctive coloration patterns. Paraulacizes irrorata, the speckled sharpshooter, is among the most recognizable and well-studied species, serving as a representative for understanding the biology of this genus.