Leafhopper

/lˈiːfhɒpə/

/ˈɫifˌhɑpɝ/

[noun]

Leafhopper

[NOUN]

a small insect that feeds on plant sap by piercing and sucking fluids from leaves and stems

What is a "leafhopper"?

A leafhopper is a small insect that belongs to the family Cicadellidae and is known for its ability to jump and its distinct leaf-like appearance. These agile insects are found in a variety of habitats and are often associated with plants, where they feed on sap by piercing and sucking fluids from leaves and stems. Leafhoppers can be found in various colors and patterns, camouflaging themselves among foliage to evade predators. They play a role in plant diseases as some species can transmit plant pathogens, making them important subjects of study in agricultural and ecological research.

Examples

1. The leafhopper nymph isn't the only creature David Weiller has been able to get an up-close look at during his rainforest adventures in Rio Claro.

2. Froghoppers, and their cousins planthoppers and leafhoppers, do this using an incredibly cool simple machine.

3. This behavior is known as velocity parallax and is vital for animals like the leafhopper nymph that have a primitive vision system compared to us humans.

4. (light upbeat music) Allow me to introduce you to the leafhopper nymph, captured up-close in this clip by wildlife photographer and rainforest enthusiast David Weiller.