Virginiacreeper Leafhopper – Erythroneura ziczac

Virginia creeper Leafhopper – Erythroneura ziczac

Common Name: Virginia creeper Leafhopper

Latin Name: Erythroneura ziczac

Appearance:

Adult Virginia creeper leafhoppers have a reddish-brown zigzag pattern on each front wing and reddish-brown eyes on a pale white to yellow background. Kidney-shaped eggs are placed beneath the epidermis on both species’ undersides of fully-grown leaves.

Host plant:                 

Virginia creeper and grape are the most usually injured plants. Grape leafhoppers may be found on various hosts, including mints, maple, strawberry, and burdock.

Damages caused by Virginia creeper Leafhopper:

The nymphs’ feeding causes conspicuous white flecking damage on the leaves owing to mesophyll breakdown. Small black fecal drops are also found around feeding areas. Plants that are heavily affected may become an unattractive grey and defoliate prematurely. The leafhoppers are normally light in appearance, with some colorful patterning, and the nymphs are quite active, crawling swiftly when disturbed.

Life history and habits:

Erythroneura ziczac is closely related to another widespread vineyard pest, the Western grape leafhopper, which is consistently tolerated in many vineyards at low population levels. Both E. ziczac and E. elegantula overwinter as adults in the vineyard’s leaf litter and detritus, as well as on shrubs and trees. Overwintering adults briefly feed on various plants found surrounding the vineyard, such as dandelions and roses, when temperatures and photoperiod increase in the spring. As grapes form shoots and leaves, E. ziczac moves onto the vines and begins to eat and lay eggs in grape leaves, preferring varietals with more glabrous leaves. When grapes shed their leaves at the end of the season, adults of E. ziczac and E. elegantula undergo reproductive diapause and travel to overwintering shelters, remaining until the following spring.