Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Family CICADELLIDAE
(leafhoppers)
Edwardsiana rosae
(L.)
Rose leafhopper
This widely distributed leafhopper is a common
pest of rose; infestations also occur on fruit
trees and ornamentals (Rosaceae), and on vari-
ous other hosts. Infested foliage becomes speck-
led and bleached, owing to the removal of
chlorophyll from the cells; heavy attacks affect
growth and often result in premature leaf-fall.
The cast-off nymphal skins often remain at-
tached to the leaves and, in the absence of live
insects, are a clear indication of the cause of the
damage.
Fig. 183
Forewing of
Cercopis vulnerata
(x7).
with corky blemishes. Nymphs, each sheltered by
a mass of 'spittle', develop mainly on the roots of
Rumex
and various other herbaceous plants. The
adults (10-11 mm long), which have distinctive
black and red forewings
(Fig. 183)
occur from
May or June onwards.
Philaenus spumarius
(L.)
Common froghopper
BIOLOGY
This species overwinters in the egg stage.
Nymphs occur on the underside of leaves of
host plants from spring onwards. They develop
through five instars and eventually attain the
adult stage in June. The adults are more active
than the nymphs and readily fly from the
foodplant when disturbed. After mating, eggs
are laid and the next brood of nymphs feeds
during the summer months. Second-generation
adults are active from August to October.
This insect is a generally common but minor pest
of cultivated plants, most notably fruit crops
(especially loganberry, raspberry and straw-
berry) and ornamentals; attacks also occur on
sugar beet and other field crops. Infested foliage
is contaminated by 'cuckoo-spit' (this is often an
inconvenience to strawberry pickers), and young
infested tissue may become distorted; direct
damage to host plants, however, is of no eco-
nomic importance.
DESCRIPTION
Adult
3.4-4.0mm long, mainly pale yellow, and
usually unmarked.
Nymph
whitish to creamish.
NOTE Various other species of
Edwardsiana
are as-
sociated with cultivated plants (especially fruit trees
and ornamentals); one species,
E. flavescens
(F.) is
found, occasionally, on potato.
BIOLOGY
Adults are active from June onwards. They
rarely fly but spring into the air when disturbed.
Eggs are laid in September, typically in batches
of up to 30. The eggs hatch in the following
spring and sedentary nymphs then feed on host
plants, each individual imbibing sap and sur-
rounding itself with protective, spittle-like froth
which forms the familiar 'cuckoo-spit'. Nymphs
develop through five instars before moulting into
adults.
Empoasca decipiens
Paoli
A green leafhopper
Infestations of this generally common leaf-
hopper occur on fruit trees and many other
hosts, including potato; the insects cause the
foliage to become speckled or more generally
discoloured. Heavily infested leaves on fruit
trees often become silvery and such foliage is
sometimes thought to be suffering from silver-
DESCRIPTION
Adult
5-7 mm long, stout-bodied, frog-like, pale
whitish-yellow to black;
elytra
often noticeably
patterned.
Nymph
plump, pale and shiny;
eyes
purplish.
