# Potato Leafhopper (*Empoasca fabae*) The Potato Leafhopper is a tiny insect that loves to jump around! It has bright green wings and can be found on plants, especially potatoes. These little critters are fun to spot in gardens. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens ![Potato Leafhopper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Empoasca_fabae_P1400582a.jpg&width=800) Photo: xpda, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Empoasca_fabae_P1400582a.jpg) ## Appearance The Potato Leafhopper is a tiny, wedge-shaped insect, typically bright green to yellowish-green. It has clear wings that extend beyond its body and a distinctive pale stripe, often iridescent, running down its back. Its slender form helps it blend seamlessly with plant foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hemiptera - **Family:** Cicadellidae - **Genus:** Empoasca ## Interesting facts - A single female can lay up to 100 eggs in her short adult lifetime! - Female leafhoppers lay their tiny, invisible eggs safely inside plant stems! - Potato Leafhoppers cause 'hopperburn,' making plant leaves turn brown and crinkly! - They can travel hundreds of miles carried by strong winds across continents! ## Special abilities - **Sap Sucker:** Potato Leafhopper has a needle-like mouthpart that helps them drink sap from plants, getting all their nutrients from leaves. - **Wind Rider:** Potato Leafhopper can fly on wind currents over long distances, which helps them find new food sources and spread widely. - **Green Camouflage:** Potato Leafhopper has a bright green color that helps them perfectly blend in with plant leaves, hiding from hungry birds. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 3-4 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-21 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny sap-suckers, they drink nourishing juices straight from plant leaves and stems! - **Primary Foods:** alfalfa, potato, bean, apple, maple - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — A common bird that preys on insects in gardens. - **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spins webs to catch flying and jumping insects. - **Eats:** [Potato](https://www.snappit.app/explore/potato) (*Solanum tuberosum*) — Feeds on the sap, sometimes causing plant damage. - **Eats:** [Alfalfa](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alfalfa) (*Medicago sativa*) — A preferred host plant where they feed and lay eggs. ## Traits - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be gentle and watch where you step in gardens to protect little insects. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Potato Leafhopper? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Potato Leafhopper? 3-4 mm ### How long does Potato Leafhopper live? 14-21 days ### What does Potato Leafhopper eat? Tiny sap-suckers, they drink nourishing juices straight from plant leaves and stems! ### Where is Potato Leafhopper usually found? Urban areas, Gardens ### How does Potato Leafhopper hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Potato Leafhopper have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Runnymede Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/runnymede-park) — Virginia, US · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Potato Leafhopper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/potato-leafhopper)