The Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) in North America: Biology, Rapid Invasion, Economic Impact, and Integrated Control Measures

Authors: Sampson, Blair; Sakhanokho, Hamidou; Kumpatla, Siva Prasad

Submitted to: Journal of Integrated Pest Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/13/2026
Publication Date: 8/7/2026
Citation: Sampson, B.J., Sakhanokho, H.F., Kumpatla, S. 2026. The Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) in North America: Biology, Rapid Invasion, Economic Impact, and Integrated Control Measures. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 17. http://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmag033.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmag033

Interpretive Summary: A tiny invasive insect called the two-spot cotton leafhopper (TSCL) has become a major agricultural problem in the United States. First discovered in South Florida in 2023, this pest spread incredibly fast, covering about 2,500 kilometers across nine southeastern states in less than a year. It now has breeding populations in over 170 counties and parishes. This 2-3 mm long, green bug might seem insignificant, but it attacks more than twenty-four different crop species, including nationally vital cash crops like cotton and soybeans. The damage occurs when both young and adult leafhoppers feed on host leaves and inject toxic saliva that destroys plant cells. This causes a condition known as "hopperburn," where leaves turn yellow, scorch, die, and prematurely fall off the plant. The economic stakes are enormous. In Africa and Asia, these pests have already reduced cotton yields by 40% to 60%. If similar damage occurs in the U.S., the cotton industry alone could lose $1.8 billion in revenue. The rapid spread and potential economic impact of TSCL represents a significant challenge for American agriculture that requires immediate attention and a truly integrated approach to combat this unusually destructive pest.

Technical Abstract: The two-spot cotton leafhopper (TSCL), Amrasca biguttula (Ishida), emerged as a severe agricultural threat in North America following its invasion of the Western Hemisphere in 2023. Within eleven months of its initial detection in South Florida, TSCL dispersed 2,500 km across nine southeastern states, establishing reproducing populations in over 170 counties and parishes. This 2–3 mm pale green leafhopper attacks 24 crop species from 10 major plant families, with primary hosts including multibillion-dollar commodities like cotton and soybean, plus okra, hibiscus, eggplant, and sunflower. Nymphs and adults of this species inflict extensive phytotoxic injury via salivary enzymes that cause systemic cellular damage known as hopperburn, a syndrome characterized by severe chlorosis, scorching, necrosis, and premature leaf abscission. Infestations reduce yields 40–60% in African and Asian cotton-growing regions, foreshadowing the potential for U.S. cotton producers to face similar revenue loss, perhaps as much as ~$1.8 billion. The pest's rapid reproduction, insecticide tolerance, and cryptic behavior dictates coordinated Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involving improved monitoring, newer chemical controls, conservation of key biological agents like tiny mymarid wasps that kill leafhoppers through egg parasitism, and the development of hopper resistant cultivars. Critical research priorities include determining colonization patterns, establishing regional economic thresholds for decision-making, and identifying genetic resistance traits.