Sharpshooter (insect)

See text The name sharpshooter is used to refer to any of various genera and species of large leafhoppers in the tribe Proconiini of the family Cicadellidae.

As with all cicadellids, they have piercing-sucking mouthparts and closely spaced rows of fine spines on their hind legs.

Both nymphs and adults filter a huge volume of dilute liquid through their digestive system to extract the trace nutrients, and much of the water and carbohydrates are squirted forcibly away from the body in a fine stream of droplets, thus earning them their common name.

This group includes a few species which are plant pests, the most serious of which is Homalodisca vitripennis (the "Glassy-winged sharpshooter").

Abana - Acrobelus - Acrocampsa - Acrogonia - Amblydisca - Anacrocampsa - Anacuerna - Aulacizes - Catorthorrinus - Cicciana - Ciccus - Cleusiana - Cuerna - Cyrtodisca - Dechacona - Depanana - Depanisca - Desamera - Deselvana - Dichrophleps - Dictyodisca - Diestostemma - Egidemia - Homalodisca - Homoscarta - Hyogonia - Ichthyobelus - Lojata - Mareba - Molomea - Ochrostacta - Omagua - Oncometopia - Paracrocampsa - Paraulacizes - Peltocheiras - Phera - Procama - Procandea - Proconia - Proconobola - Proconopera - Proconosama - Propectes - Pseudometopia - Pseudophera - Quichira - Rhaphirrhinus - Splonia - Strictoscarta - Tapajosa - Teletusa - Tretogonia - Yotala - Yunga - Zyzzogeton

Nymph form of Sharpshooter leafhopper
Nymph form of Sharpshooter leafhopper