Cofana spectra (Distant)
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.
Common Name: White Leafhopper
Subfamily/Tribe: Cicadelliinae: Cicadellini
Distribution: Widely distributed in the tropics from Africa, the Oriental region and the Pacific and recorded from Queensland, the Northern Territory and Lord Howe Island
Economic Status: Recorded on a number of
economic grass species overseas including rice, barley, wheat, sugarcane
and sorghum although few reports indicate that any significant damage was
caused to those hosts (Young 1979).
The Cicadellinae, which includes the North American
group known as sharpshooters, are potential vectors in Australia of xylem-resident
diseases such as Pierce's Disease of Grapevines if the pathogen itself
is ever accidentally introduced.
Notes: One of three species of Cofana in Australia, the others being C. perkinsi (Kirkaldy) and C. unimaculata (Signoret)
