Bug Identifier
Buffalo Treehopper
Community identification

Buffalo Treehopper

Stictocephala bisonia

Order & Family
Hemiptera: Membracidae
Size
6 to 8 mm (approx. 0.25 to 0.31 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Orchards, gardens, and edges of deciduous forests where host trees like apple, cherry, and citrus are present.

Diet & Feeding

Nymphs and adults feed on plant sap (phloem) from various herbaceous plants and trees.

Behavior Patterns

Known for their unique humpbacked appearance and'jumping' ability when disturbed. Females lay eggs in slits cut into the bark of twigs, which can cause minor damage to young trees.

Risks & Benefits

Generally harmless to humans but can be considered a minor agricultural pest due to 'branch flagging' caused by egg-laying incisions; provides a food source for birds and predatory insects.