Biosecurity threat, not present in Australia
Lawana conspersa (Walker)
White moth planthopper
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.
Lawana conspersa (Walker, 1851)
Common Name: White moth planthopper (sometimes incorrectly called White moth cicada)
Subfamily/Tribe: Flatinae/Lawanini
Distribution: Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, China, Myanmar (Burma) and an unverified report in Thailand.
Economic Status: Lawana conspersa is polyphagous and is a pest of a variety of economic plants, including timber (Indian Rosewood - Dalbergia sissoo), lac host plants in India, mango, citrus, cocoa, coffee, durian and tea. Lawana conspersa is another flatid that produces copious amounts of honeydew, which gives rise to sooty mould outbreaks, and inhibits photosynthesis in host plants. Not a known vector of plant viruses.
Notes: Lawana conspersa features two yellow stripes on the forewing, which appears to be common in species of Lawana, but are not present in any known Australian species. The genus includes 24 species, none of which has been found in Australia. If you believe that you have a species of Lawana, please have the identification verified by a trained taxonomist.
[image: Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, Can Tho University, Vietnam]