Spatial-aggregation
Guides
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.