Leafhoppers

Jacobiasca lybica, Scaphoideus titanus and Empoasca spp.

1. Identification

• Common name: Leafhoppers
• Main species: Jacobiasca lybica Bergevin & Zanon, Scaphoideus titanus Ball, Empoasca vitis Göthe, Empoasca decipiens Paoli, Empoasca fabae Harris, Empoasca solani Curtis and Empoasca kraemeri Ross & Moore.
• Order: Hemiptera
• Family: Cicadellidae

2. Pest description

• Small adults (≈ 3–6 mm), green or yellowish, with translucent wings.
• Greenish nymphs, very mobile, located on the underside of the leaves.
• Eggs inserted in the leaf tissues, generally along the veins.

3. Main hosts

• Jacobiasca lybica: grapevine, cotton plant, citrus and various other wild plants.
• Scaphoideus titanus: grapevine.
• Empoasca spp.: polyphagous, attacking grapevine, fruit trees, vegetable crops and ornamentals.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Necrosis and marginal yellowing of the leaves (“tip burn”).
• Leaf rolling and reduction of the photosynthetic area.
• Premature leaf drop in severe attacks.
• Reduction of vigour and yield.
• Scaphoideus titanus is a vector of ‘Grapevine flavescence dorée phytoplasma' or 'Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis’ (flavescence dorée - a phytoplasma that colonises the phloem of the grapevine, causing yellowing, rapid decline and loss of productivity).

5. Biological cycle

• Winter spent as an egg in the leaf tissues or in the bark, depending on the species.
• Nymphs appear in spring and feed on the underside of the leaves.
• Adults present from spring to autumn.
• 2 to 4 generations per year, depending on the species and the climate.

6. Monitoring

• Observation of marginal necrosis and rolling of the leaves.
• Counting of nymphs on the underside of the leaves.
• Sampling of adults by beating or sticky traps.
• Reinforced monitoring in vineyards due to the risk of flavescence dorée.

7. Management measures

• Removal of wild host vegetation.
• Conservation of generalist predators.
• Regular monitoring and intervention only when the thresholds are reached.
• Mandatory control of S. titanus in areas with flavescence dorée.

Bibliographic references

• EPPO Global Database – Jacobiasca lybica, Scaphoideus titanus, Empoasca spp.
• CABI Invasive Species Compendium – Cicadellidae.
• Chuche, J. & Thiéry, D. (2014). Biology and ecology of Scaphoideus titanus.
• Weintraub, P. G. & Beanland, L. (2006). Insect vectors of phytoplasmas.