Leafhopper taxa and populations in Southern Idaho

Authors: Strausbaugh, Carl; WENNINGER, ERIK - University Of Idaho; Vincill, Eric

Submitted to: PhytoFrontiers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/19/2025
Publication Date: 8/26/2025
Citation: Strausbaugh, C.A., Wenninger, E.J., Vincill, E.D. 2025. Leafhopper taxa and populations in Southern Idaho. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-04-25-0043-R.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-04-25-0043-R

Interpretive Summary: Plant pathogens, including viruses, phytoplasmas, and spiroplasmas can be transmitted by leafhoppers, which can cause important yield-limiting diseases in vegetables, orchard crops, vineyards, and field crops. The species distribution and vector status of leafhopper taxa in southern Idaho is an understudied but critical component for developing sustainable management approaches. Thus, during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons, 11,215 leafhoppers were collected on yellow sticky cards in sagebrush steppe areas and next to sugar beet and common bean fields in five counties in southern Idaho. Thirty-four genera were identified with the primary genera being Euscelidius spp., Amblysellus spp., Ceratagallia spp., Dikraneura spp., Empoasca spp., Macrosteles spp., Psammotettix spp., Hecalus spp., and Giprus spp. Nineteen of the 34 genera found were not previously reported in Idaho and some of these leafhoppers are capable of vectoring pathogens. For example, preliminary evidence for an Amblysellus sample suggests Spiroplasma kunkelii was present, which is the causal agent for corn stunt disease which was not known to be present in Idaho. These results contribute substantively to the cataloging of leafhopper taxa present in southern Idaho and will aid in developing vector and disease management

Technical Abstract: Plant pathogens, including viruses, phytoplasmas, and spiroplasmas can be transmitted by leafhoppers, which can cause important yield-limiting diseases in vegetables, orchard crops, vineyards, and field crops. The species distribution and vector status of leafhopper taxa in southern Idaho is an understudied but critical component for developing sustainable management approaches. Thus, during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons, 11,215 leafhoppers were collected on yellow sticky cards in sagebrush steppe areas and next to sugar beet and common bean fields in five counties in southern Idaho. Thirty-four genera were identified with the primary genera being Euscelidius spp. (46% of leafhoppers; mostly E. variegatus), Amblysellus spp. (14%), Ceratagallia spp. (12%), Dikraneura spp. (8%), Empoasca spp. (5%), Macrosteles spp. (5%; includes M. quadrilineatus), Psammotettix spp. (4%; includes P. attenuens, P. dentatus, and P. lividellus), Hecalus spp. (2%), and Giprus spp. (1%). Nineteen of the 34 genera found were not previously reported in Idaho and some of these leafhoppers are capable of vectoring pathogens. For example, preliminary evidence for an Amblysellus sample suggests Spiroplasma kunkelii was present, which is the causal agent for corn stunt disease which was not known to be present in Idaho. These results contribute substantively to the cataloging of leafhopper taxa present in southern Idaho and will aid in developing vector and disease management decisions.