Buffalo treehopper

The buffalo treehopper (Stictocephala bisonia) is a notorious pest belonging to the order Hemiptera and the family Membracidae. Its common name refers to the distinctive, hump-shaped pronotum of the adult, which bears a striking resemblance to the profile of a buffalo or bison when viewed from the side.

This insect is known to damage a wide variety of plant hosts. While it primarily affects fruit trees such as apple, pear, and plum, its nymphs thrive on various herbaceous weeds found in orchards and gardens. This duality of habitat makes the buffalo treehopper a particularly persistent problem for orchardists.

The life cycle of the species consists of one generation per year. The insect overwinters in the egg stage, which are embedded directly into the bark of young twigs by the female. Upon hatching in spring, the nymphs migrate down to the weeds to feed on xylem sap, before eventually molting into adults and returning to trees in late summer.

The main injury is caused by the female's oviposition process. The insect uses its sharp ovipositor to create deep, crescent-shaped slits in the bark to deposit eggs. These mechanical wounds often result in severe dieback of terminal shoots, stunted tree growth, and the creation of entry points for secondary fungal and bacterial pathogens.

Management strategies focus on eliminating favorable breeding environments. Keeping orchards clear of tall grass and weeds is essential to prevent nymph survival. During the winter, inspecting trees for damaged twigs and pruning them can significantly reduce the overwintering population. In severe cases, targeted insecticide applications during the nymph stage are highly effective.