Leafhopper (likely a Broad-headed Sharpshooter)
Scientific Name: Likely in the genus Homalodisca (e.g., Homalodisca vitripennis), but exact species identification requires closer examination.
Order & Family: Order: Hemiptera, Family: Cicadellidae
Size: Typically 3 mm to 15 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Widely distributed in diverse terrestrial habitats, including grasslands, forests, agricultural fields, and gardens, wherever host plants are abundant.
Diet & Feeding
Plant sap, primarily from grasses, trees, and shrubs. They use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the xylem or phloem.
Behavior Patterns
Often attracted to lights at night; generally nocturnal. Adults are strong fliers. May overwinter as eggs, nymphs, or adults depending on the species and climate.
Risks & Benefits
Potential Risks: Many species are significant agricultural pests, causing direct feeding damage to crops and, more importantly, vectoring plant diseases (e.g., Pierce's Disease, aster yellows). Potential Benefits: Some species feed on weedy plants, and they are a food source for various predators. Due to their role as disease vectors, the risks often outweigh the benefits.
Identified on: 8/9/2025