Leafhoppers

Order: Hemiptera
Family: Cicadellidae

Leafhoppers are small insects, generally less than 1/2-inch long, with hind legs modified for jumping. They have piercing sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. They can be vectors of many different pathogens that cause plant disease. Most leafhoppers overwinter as an egg or an adult and have only one generation per year but some species can have up to six. Eggs are usually inserted into plant tissues. When the nymphs hatch out they are wingless and gradually develop larger wing pads with each molt. Most species go through five molts or instars until they become adults with full-sized wings.