leafhopper

noun

leaf·​hop·​per ˈlēf-ˌhä-pər How to pronounce leafhopper (audio)
: 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 These sprays are great for controlling mites, aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and hard scale insects. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024 The larvae also consume other soft-bodied prey, including mealybugs, scales, chilli thrips, thrips, leafhoppers, and spider mites and their eggs. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023 Fatty acid salts or insecticidal soaps can be a good choice against leafhoppers. oregonlive, 3 June 2023 Neem oil is labeled for soft-bodied pests such as aphids, beetle larvae, caterpillars, leafhoppers, mealybugs, thrips, spider mites, and whiteflies. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2023 Still others had noted candy-stripers using no web at all while nabbing nimble leafhoppers. Lesley Evans Ogden, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2023 First detected in Tahiti, the half-inch-long, mottled brown leafhopper carries a plant disease-causing bacterium, and the insect had spread to other islands in French Polynesia. Melba Newsome, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2014 The key vector for aster yellows is the aster leafhopper. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 28 July 2022 This has to be a leafhopper, Cicadellidae (Jassidae). Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 28 July 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leafhopper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leafhopper was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near leafhopper

Cite this Entry

“Leafhopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leafhopper. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

leafhopper

noun
leaf·​hop·​per ˈlēf-ˌhäp-ər How to pronounce leafhopper (audio)
: any of numerous small leaping insects that are related to the cicadas and aphids and suck the juices of plants

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