Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper Pest Alert

Introduction

This alert is to bring attention to and ask stakeholders to be on the lookout for a federally regulated pest, the two-spot cotton leafhopper. The two-spot cotton leafhopper (referred to by some as the two-spotted cotton leafhopper or the cotton jassid), Amrasca biguttula (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), was first detected in Puerto Rico in 2023 and on the mainland United States in Florida in 2024. In 2025, extensive surveying efforts have identified the pest as far west as Texas and as far north as Northampton County, North Carolina, just south of the Virginia border. As of December 31, 2025, the two-spot cotton leafhopper has not been confirmed anywhere in Virginia. This pest can cause significant economic injury to major crops grown in Virginia, including cotton and peanut.

Additionally, it can feed on a wide range of vegetables and ornamentals, including okra, hibiscus, and snap beans. Monitoring for the pest's presence in Virginia will be critical for early identification and mitigation of its spread and economic injury. If you suspect you may have discovered the pest, please contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent (ext.vt.edu/offices) and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. More information specific to identification and reporting can be found below.

Identification

The two-spot cotton leafhopper has three life stages: egg, nymph (immature), and adult. The adult stage is the easiest to identify without dissection or molecular confirmation.

Adults

The adult two-spot cotton leafhopper is a tiny (2–3 mm long) green insect (Figure 1). It is a member of the family Cicadellidae, a family of insects characterized by a series of spines on the hind legs. There are several species of leafhopper commonly occurring in Virginia that may be similar in appearance to the two-spot cotton leafhopper. The most common look-alike species is the potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Figure 2). The two- spot cotton leafhopper can be distinguished by the presence of a dark spot at the hind end of each wing (hence the name “two-spot”) and the two spots at the top of the head. If you suspect you may have found a two-spot cotton leafhopper, either freeze it or preserve it in 70% alcohol for expert identification. Please handle suspected specimens gently and with care, as confirmation of this insect’s identity is already quite difficult due to its small size.

Nymphs

Nymphs are similar in appearance to adults, but are smaller and lack wings, and thus lack the distinctive wing markings used to identify adults (Figure 3). However, if nymphs are found, adults are also likely to be present, which can be used to confirm the identity of the insects to species.

Eggs

Female two-spot cotton leafhoppers can lay between 13 and 60 eggs. Eggs are laid in slits in the leaf veins and are impossible to identify with the naked eye.

Host plants and symptoms of injury

This insect can be found on a range of agronomic and specialty crops as well as ornamental plants. Known hosts include okra, peanut, soybean, cotton, sunflower, grape, eggplant, potato, mung bean, cowpea, and hibiscus. Not all these plants suffer severe damage as a result of feeding by this insect, but severe economic damage can occur in cotton, okra, and peanut. Yield losses of 50% have been reported in some crops with severe infestations.

It is likely that plant damage will be identified before the insects. The earliest sign of feeding injury is a characteristic “hopper burn” symptom: a yellowing of the leaf margins (Figure 4A). As damage progresses, leaves will turn various shades of yellow, red, and brown and often curl or pucker at the edges (Figure 4B). Damage can appear similar to potassium deficiency or drought stress in some cases, so it is important to confirm the presence of insects where these symptoms are observed.

Scouting and what to do if found

Cotton is often scouted throughout the season with a sweep net or drop cloth. Sweep net samples can be placed in a plastic bag and frozen to facilitate further examination of specimens. Early research also suggests that examining the underside of leaves on suspected plants is an effective way to check for the insect. Symptoms of injury will often be identified before insect populations are, and scouting efforts should focus on affected areas of the field.

If you suspect you have found the two-spot cotton leafhopper, try to collect a specimen and a sample of damaged plant tissue for expert ID (see earlier “Identification – Adults” section). Taking photos of the insect and plants is also helpful. Contact the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (ReportAPest@vdacs.virginia.gov) and your local Virginia Cooperative Extension agent to report the occurrence, for further identification, and for up-to-date management recommendations. Your participation in the early identification of this pest in Virginia will help track its spread and help prevent unnecessary economic losses. Official confirmation of this pest must be reported by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as this is a federally regulated pest.