Insects - Pests of Ornamental Trees, Shrubs and Flowers - page 23

Family CICADELLIDAE (leafhoppers)

Alebra albostriella (Fallén) ( 20 )
Infestations of this generally distributed and often
common leafhopper are found on oak ( Quercus ), and
frequently result in foliage damage on young
ornamental trees. In mainland Europe, damage also
occurs on alder ( Alnus ). Adults are variable in colour
but often have the pronotum yellowish, marked with a
pair of longitudinal red or orange streaks; the elytra are
yellow to hyaline, marked with red or orange. In Alebra ,
unlike all other European genera, the wing venation
includes a distinct appendix.

Adults and nymphs are free-living on the foliage of
various plants. The hind legs of the very active adults
are adapted for jumping and bear two rows of fine
spines along each tibia (cf. family Cercopidae, p. 28).
Reliable identification of most species involves
examination of genitalia and is a specialist task; some
species, however, are distinguishable by characteristic
markings on the body or the fore wings (elytra). The
following are representatives of those most frequently
associated with ornamental plants, and include those
often reaching true pest status.

Alebra wahlbergi (Boheman)
This generally common leafhopper is widely distributed
in mainland Europe and in the southern half of Britain,
causing noticeable damage to the foliage of various
trees, especially elm ( Ulmus ), horse chestnut ( Aesculus
hippocastanum ), lime ( Tilia ), maple ( Acer ) and
sycamore ( Acer pseudoplatanus ). Adults, which occur
from July to September, are relatively large (females up
to 4.5 mm long); the elytra are mainly pale yellow,
sometimes streaked with yellow or orange, with the
inner margin usually orange, pink or yellow.

Aguriahana stellulata (Burmeister) ( 19)
Cherry leafhopper
A distinctive, mainly white and generally common
leafhopper, occurring on various ornamental trees,
including flowering cherry ( Prunus ) and lime ( Tilia ).
Infestations are rarely important but leaf discoloration
on exotic hosts such as Indian horse chestnut ( Aesculus
indica ) is unwelcome.

19 20

19 Cherry leafhopper ( Aguriahana stellulata ). 20 Adult of Alebra albostriella .