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Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae)
Leafhoppers are small, wedge-shaped insects that feed by piercing plant tissue and sucking sap from a wide variety of grasses, ornamentals, vegetables, and trees, causing stippling, yellowing, and leaf distortion. Some species also inject toxic saliva that causes additional plant damage beyond mechanical feeding injury. Certain leafhoppers are also significant vectors of plant diseases including yellows, mosaic, and other viral pathogens. Targeted insecticide applications combined with removal of weed hosts reduce leafhopper pressure on valuable plants.