Biosecurity threat, not present in Australia
Cicadulina mbila (Naudé)
South African maize leafhopper
Caution
Many of the insects depicted on these pages are outwardly similar and you should not use photographs as the sole means of identification. These pages form part of a scientific key which will assist a trained entomologist to identify the species accurately.
Cicadulina mbila (Naudé, 1924)
Common Name: Maize Leafhopper
Subfamily/Tribe: Deltocephalinae: Macrostelini
Distribution: The current distribution of Cicadulina mbila encompasses Africa, Mauritius, India, Tajikistan and Yemen.
Economic Status Cicadulina mbila transmits Maize Streak Monogeminivirus disease or Maize Streak Virus (MSV) and is polyphagous on a number of economically important host plant species. These include oats, barley, rice, millets, sugarcane, sorghum, wheat and other Poaceae (grasses).
Notes: There are two species of Cicadulina present in Australia and C. mbila could easily be confused with these. A key is presented here to separate these species, however, it is important that a trained taxonomist verify the species as there are 12 Cicadulina species globally and not all are treated here. Further detailed information on C. mbila’s life history, impact and control is available at: https://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/Datasheet.aspx?dsid=13420
Images: Holger Löcker, Orange Agricultural Institute