White leaf hopper

Table of content

Introduction of the Insect
Classification
Distribution and Status
Identification
Problems with Identical signs
Habit and Habitat
Life cycle (Bionomics)
Damage
Common signs and symptoms of infestation
Symptoms of damage
Why is it important?
Management
Cultural practices
Biological control
Chemical treatment
Restrictions
Genome sequences
Published research.
References

Introduction of the Insect

Leaf hoppers are small, wedge-shaped insects belonging to the family Cicadellidae. They are known for their jumping ability and are often found on the undersides of leaves where they feed on plant sap. Some leafhoppers are considered pests in agriculture as they can transmit plant diseases and cause damage to crops through their feeding activities. While leafhoppers can vary in color, the name “white leafhopper” may refer to species with pale or whitish coloration. Leafhoppers feed by piercing plant tissues with their needle-like mouthparts to extract sap. Excessive feeding can lead to leaf discoloration and stunted growth.

English name White leaf hopper

Bangla name সাদা পাতা ফড়িং

Scientific name Cofana spectra

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Hemiptera

Family: Cicadellidae

Genus: Cofana

Species: C. spectra

Distribution and Status

Widely distributed in the tropics from Africa, the Oriental region and the Pacific and recorded from Queensland, the Northern Territory and Lord Howe Island. Recorded on a number of economic grass species overseas including rice, barley, wheat, sugarcane and sorghum although few reports indicate that any significant damage was caused to those hosts (Young 1979).

Host Range
Attacks specific host plants, As a group they feed on leaves of a wide variety of plants including many types of grasses, flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, shrubs, deciduous trees, and weeds.

Identification

The Cicadellidae combine the following features:

The thickened part of the antennae is very short and ends with a bristle (arista).
Two ocelli (simple eyes) are present on the top or front of the head.
The tarsi are made of three segments.
The femora are at front with, at most, weak spines.
The hind tibiae have one or more distinct keels, with a row of movable spines on each, sometimes on enlarged bases.
The base of the middle legs is close together where they originate under the thorax.
The front wings not particularly thickened.
An additional and unique character of leafhoppers is the production of brochosomes, which are thought to protect the animals, and particularly their egg clutches, from predation as well as pathogens.

Problems with Identical signs

No Information Found

Habit and Habitat

No Information Found

Life cycle (Bionomics)

No Information Found

Damage

C. spectra feeds externally on the leaves, may cause discoloration and dwarfing or stunting of leaves

Common signs and symptoms of infestation

Plants/Leaves/abnormal colours
Plants/Leaves/abnormal forms
Plants/Leaves/honeydew or sooty mould

Symptoms of damage

C. spectra feeds externally on the leaves, may cause discoloration and dwarfing or stunting of leaves

Why is it important?

C. spectra is a minor pest of rice that rarely occurs at large enough populations to cause yield loss (Dale, 1994). The effect of feeding by large populations may cause hopper burn.

Management

Control measures against C. spectra are rarely needed, but sanitation of ricefields is generally advised to reduce populations living on ratoon rice.

Cultural practices

No Information Found

Biological control

Control measures against C. spectra are rarely needed, but sanitation of ricefields is generally advised to reduce populations living on ratoon rice.

Chemical treatment

No Information Found

Restrictions

No Information Found

Genome sequences

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1819/1/012025

Published research

References