Grape leafhopper

The grape leafhopper (Erythroneura leveri) is an insect species belonging to the order Hemiptera and the family Cicadellidae. It is recognized as a significant pest in viticulture, capable of causing physiological stress to vines and reducing fruit quality in various production regions.

This pest feeds primarily on the foliage of grapevines. Both nymphs and adults inhabit the underside of the leaves, where they pierce the epidermis and suck the cell contents, essentially stripping the plant of its vital resources and nutrients.

The biological cycle of this insect involves overwintering as adults in protected environments, such as leaf litter, bark crevices, or cover crops. As temperatures rise in spring, they migrate to the vines, where they lay eggs in the leaf tissues, beginning the first generation cycle.

The presence of the pest is characterized by distinctive stippling—tiny white spots on the leaves—which can eventually lead to complete leaf yellowing (chlorosis) and necrosis. Heavy infestations cause premature defoliation, which severely impacts the vine's ability to store energy for the subsequent season.

Management strategies focus on early detection and integrated pest management (IPM). Key actions include maintaining clean vineyard floors to reduce overwintering sites, utilizing yellow sticky cards for monitoring populations, and applying selective insecticides specifically timed to coincide with the hatch of the nymph stages.