Euryaulax carnifex (Fabricius)
Sugarcane froghopper
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.
Euryaulax carnifex (Fabricius, 1775)
Common Name: Sugarcane froghopper
Family: Cercopidae
Distribution: Australia (NSW, NT, Qld, WA) and New Guinea
Economic Status: Adults and nymphs of Euryaulax carnifex feed on the xylem of host plants, of which sugarcane is the main host plant of economic concern. The resulting damage includes streaking and death of leaves and leaf tips. Heavy infestations can result in reduced productivity of the sugar cane. Chemical control is considered impractical and is not used (Sallam et al. 2007).
Euryaulax carnifex is not a known vector of plant pathogens.
Notes: The genus Euryaulax includes 12 species native to Australia and New Guinea (Liang, et al. 2012). Euryaulax carnifex is the most widely distributed, and the only known pest species, of the genus. Its distinctive black and orange patterning varies across its range (see images here) but it is relatively easy to distinguish from most other spittlebugs and froghoppers because of this colouring. Confusion could be created with E. arctofasciatus which has very similar colouring but the two species can be differentiated by examination of male genitalia (see Liang et al. 2012).
