Distantasca smithi (Fletcher & Donaldson)
Australian citrus 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.
Distantasca smithi (Fletcher & Donaldson 1992)
Common Name: Australian Citrus Leafhopper
Subfamily/Tribe: Typhlocybinae: Empoascini
Distribution: Qld, NSW, Vic.
Economic Status: This species was discovered in 1989 causing damage to developing citrus fruit in Queensland and subsequently also found in the coastal citrus areas of New South Wales. It is closely related to Empoasca citrusa Theron which causes similar damage to citrus fruit in South Africa. The feeding of this insect causes areas of the skin to collapse and dry out. Fruit affected in this way is unmarketable.
Notes: Externally, D. smithi appears very similar to several other species of microleafhoppers (subfamily Typhlocybinae) from which it can be reliably differentiated only by examination of the structures of the male genitalia.