Honeylocust Leafhopper – Macropsis fumipennis

Honeylocust Leafhopper (Macropsis fumipennis)

Common Name: Honeylocust Leafhopper

Latin Name: Macropsis fumipennis

Appearance:

• Honeylocust plant bugs and leafhoppers are little, green insects usually found on the leaves of honeylocust trees in late spring. Initially observed in mid-spring, both species are small, energetic, light green nymphs.
• Honeylocust plant bugs are oval and may reach lengths of 1/8 inch as nymphs and 14 inches as adults.
• Adults and nymphs are both light green and blend nicely with the flora.
• Adults have fully developed wings.
• Nymphs are extremely active and resemble large mobile aphids.

Host plant:

Honeylocusts are the host plants

Damages caused by Honeylocust Leafhopper:

Honeylocust leaf damage varies widely from year to year, location to location, and even tree to tree. Much of this fluctuation appears to be connected to early spring conditions and the growth of tree leaves before insect emergence. If the tree already has leaves, the foliage will become stippled, speckled, twisted, and stunted at the branch tips. The leaves will not emerge if the assault began before the tree leafed out.

Life history and habits:

There is only one generation of leafhopper and plant beetle each year on honeylocust. The eggs spend the winter in woody tissues and hatch in late April. The nymphs eat for many weeks before maturing into adults in early to mid-June. The feeding harm for the year is finished when the adults emerge, and no new symptoms appear. New leaflets will appear when the insects have stopped feasting, and new foliage will gradually cover up the early-season signs. Otherwise, by mid-summer, healthy trees will appear entirely normal.