Buckthorn leafhopper

The buckthorn leafhopper (Zygina rhamni) is a small sap-sucking insect belonging to the order Hemiptera and the family Cicadellidae. It is widely recognized as a significant agricultural pest that primarily targets grapevines and various woody plants.

This pest prefers feeding on the undersides of leaves, piercing the leaf tissue with its mouthparts to extract plant sap. Beyond its primary host, buckthorn, it frequently infests vineyards, where high populations can cause substantial economic losses for growers.

Regarding its biology, the species typically overwinters as adults in leaf litter or sheltered spots near host plants. As temperatures rise in spring, they emerge to feed and lay eggs. Throughout the summer, several overlapping generations can occur, leading to a continuous presence of the pest.

The damage caused by Zygina rhamni is characterized by stippling or mottling of the leaf surface, which eventually turns yellow or brown. This feeding damage reduces the photosynthetic capacity of the plants, often leading to premature leaf drop and weakened vine health.

Effective management requires a multi-faceted strategy:

• Sanitation: Removing and destroying leaf litter to eliminate overwintering sites.
• Monitoring: Placing sticky traps to track the migration and peak activity of adults.
• Chemical control: Applying targeted insecticides during the nymphal stage before they develop wings.
• Biological control: Encouraging natural predators, including predatory bugs and lacewing larvae, in the vineyard.