leafhopper

leaf·hop·per | \ ˈlēf-ˌhä-pər

How to pronounce leafhopper (audio)

\

Definition of leafhopper

: any of a family (Cicadellidae) of small leaping homopterous insects that suck the juices of plants

Examples of leafhopper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Green leafhoppers arrive each summer to feast on the sap of its growing tea leaf tips, and the insects’ tiny bites cause the leaves to become partially oxidized, resulting in their distinct scent and flavor. — Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian, "How to Tea-Taste Your Way Through Taiwan," 26 Nov. 2019 For the next 15 years, Baumann, Moran, and their colleagues used similar DNA analyses to document equally long-term relationships between bacteria and white flies, spittlebugs, cicadas, leafhoppers, and psyllids. — Elizabeth Pennisi, Science | AAAS, "A love of insects and their microbial partners helped this biologist reveal secrets of symbiosis," 14 Nov. 2019 Legions of professional entomologists fret about sawflies, ambrosia beetles, scale insects and leafhoppers. — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "Learning to live with — even enjoy — insects in the garden," 7 Aug. 2019 Other species of true bugs include stink bugs, cicadas, aphids and leafhoppers. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Column: Milkweed offers great learning activity for kids," 10 Aug. 2019 Other leafhoppers and sharpshooters can also transmit the bacteria. — Ann Lien, House Beautiful, "Why You Should Check Your Garden for "Cuckoo Spit" on Your Plants," 29 May 2019 Pests controlled: Yellow traps attract whiteflies, fruit flies, male winged scales, leafhoppers, fungus gnats, midges, male winged mealybugs and leafminers, thrips, psyllids, and winged aphids. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "The 7 Best Organic Pest Control Techniques For Your Garden," 18 Dec. 2017 Pests controlled: Use horticultural oils to combat aphids, mites, beetles, leaf miners, caterpillars, thrips, leafhoppers, and whiteflies. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "The 7 Best Organic Pest Control Techniques For Your Garden," 18 Dec. 2017 Damsel Bugs Damsel bugs feed on aphids, small caterpillars, leafhoppers, thrips, and other pesky pests. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "10 Insects You Should Actually Want Around Your Plants," 11 May 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leafhopper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about leafhopper

Dictionary Entries near leafhopper

Statistics for leafhopper

Last Updated

1 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Leafhopper.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leafhopper. Accessed 8 December 2019.

WORD OF THE DAY

circumscribe

to constrict the range or activity of

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?

golf pear
hoax dutch

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.