Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Emplacing)
The two-spot cotton leafhopper, a major agricultural pest of cotton, okra, hibiscus and several other economically important crops in the southeastern U.S., has been identified in multiple states across the region, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.
To prevent the artificial spread of the two-spot cotton leafhopper throughout the continental U.S., Florida growers and nurserymen moving any host plant material are required to sign a compliance agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Division of Plant Industry and observe all guidelines established with the compliance.
Two-spot cotton leafhopper nymphs and adults feed on the underside of leaves, sucking out their contents and causing symptoms collectively referred to as hopperburn. Heavy infestations cause host plants’ leaves to yellow, redden and brown, alongside wilting and curling. Damage can be extensive to multiple crops, including but not restricted to the following:
- Amaranthaceae: Amaranthus (amaranth)
- Asteraceae: Calendula (marigolds), Guizotia abyssinica (niger), Helianthus annuus (sunflower)
- Brassicaceae: Raphanus sativus (radish)
- Chenopodiaceae: Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera (sugarbeet)
- Fabaceae: Arachis hypogaea (groundnut), Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea), Cassia (sennas), Crotalaria juncea (sunn hemp), Glycine max (soybean), Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean), Vigna radiata (mung bean), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea)
- Malvaceae: Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), Gossypium (cotton), Hibiscus spp. (including kenaf and roselle)
- Moraceae: Morus alba (mora)
- Poaceae: Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), Zea mays (maize)
- Tiliaceae: Corchorus (jutes)
- Solanaceae: Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), Solanum melongena (eggplant), Solanum tuberosum (potato)