16 Nebraskaland • August-September 2025
True bugs, classifi ed under the order Hemiptera, include
a variety of families, such as cicadas, leaf hoppers, plant
hoppers and shield bugs. One of the defi ning features of
true bugs is their specialized mouthparts, known as stylets,
which are adapted for piercing and sucking fl uids from plants
or other organisms. These mouthparts are often enclosed
within a beak-like structure.
With a name like "hopper," it's no surprise that these
insects can leap great distances. Young plant hoppers can
leap around 3 feet in a single bound. While this might not
sound impressive to humans, it's astonishing when you
consider their entire body is only up to a half-inch long.
While leaf hoppers and plant hoppers share some
similarities, they exhibit distinct diff erences in their
morphology and behavior. Leaf hoppers, members of the
family Cicadellidae, are typically characterized by their small
size, often ranging from 2 mm to 8 mm, and their fl attened,
wedge-shaped bodies. They exhibit a unique appearance
with prominent, sometimes colorful patterns or markings
that provide camoufl age.
Leaf hoppers' feeding habits involve using their specialized
mouthparts to pierce plant tissues and extract sap, which can
lead to characteristic damage, such as stippling (when leaves
have a spotted appearance) and the yellowing of leaves.
In contrast, plant hoppers belong to the family Delphacidae,
and they tend to be slightly larger and have more varied body
shapes, often with a more pronounced, angled or triangular
profi le. Their feeding behavior also involves piercing plant
tissues to feed on sap, but they are known for their ability to
produce a notable frothy substance, which can be seen on the
plants they infest.
Treehoppers, part of the family Membracidae, are
renowned for their often elaborate physical features. These
small- to medium-sized insects, typically ranging from
4 mm to 15 mm in length, are easily recognizable due to
their pronounced, horn-like structures or exaggerated body
projections, which can resemble various shapes such as
spikes, plates or ridges. These unique adaptations serve as
camoufl age or deterrents against predators. Treehoppers
possess specialized mouthparts adapted for piercing and
sucking plant sap, and their feeding can sometimes cause
deformities or stunted growth in plants.
IN THE FIELD
Plant hoppers, like this one from the genus Stobaera, have an angled or triangular profi le and are known to pierce plant
tissues to feed on sap. BRIANNA NUGENT
By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist
HOPPERS
