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Leafhopper

There are more than 10,000 species of leafhoppers. They can range in size from a half inch to one inch in length. Adults are typically brightly colored. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts in order to feed on the fluids contained in leaves and stems. Because of this feeding method, their mouthparts can become contaminated with plant diseases and spread the disease easily from plant to plant. Females lay their eggs inside living plant tissue where they hatch and the larvae feed on plant sap from the inside. They molt several times and emerge as adults. Adult leafhoppers have organs that are made to produce sounds on their abdomen, but their sounds are too soft for humans to hear.