Two‑Spot Cotton Leafhopper: An Emerging Pest Concern for Texas Nursery and Landscape Professionals

The two‑spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula) is an emerging pest of concern in the U.S. The pest is also known as cotton jassid, Indian cotton jassid, cotton leafhopper, green jassid, Indian green jassid, and okra leafhopper. Adults are small (2 to 3 mm in length), wedge‑shaped insects that are pale green to yellowish.

The introduction of the two-spotted cotton leafhopper poses a critical economic threat to the Texas Green Industry as well as the cotton industry, particularly ornamental plant producers whose products must be visually appealing and unmarred for sale. Moreover, the frequent movement of infested plant material between nurseries, greenhouses, and retail centers increases the likelihood of rapid dissemination. These factors highlight the urgent need for early detection, comprehensive monitoring, and development of effective management strategies specifically tailored to ornamental production systems.

Identification Characteristics

Accurate identification of the two-spot cotton leafhopper is essential due to its similarity with other native small green leafhoppers, such as Empoasca spp. The key identifying features include the presence of two black spots on the apical part of forewings, a pair of black spots on the head (this diagnostic feature may vary in prominence among specimens), and its small size (adults approximately 2 to 3 mm; nymphs <1 mm) (Fig. 1).

Diagnostic confirmation of this invasive species requires dissection of the male genitalia or molecular methods. Both adults and nymphs display a lateral scuttle movement when disturbed. Nymphs are highly mobile and difficult to detect visually (Figs. 2 and 3).

Distribution and Recent Invasion of the U.S.

The two‑spot cotton leafhopper is native to Asia, from Iran to Japan and south to Indonesia, and the species made entry into West Africa in 2024 and the Caribbean in 2023. In the United States, it was first detected in Puerto Rico in 2023 and made its way to Florida in 2024 on cotton, eggplant, okra, and hibiscus.

By mid-2025, it had been confirmed in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. In Texas, the pest was detected in August 2025 in retail nurseries on ornamental hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). Regulatory response includes an emergency quarantine by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), restricting the movement of host plants and associated materials, along with ongoing inspections of retail locations and shipment tracking.

Biology and Life Cycle

The life cycle of the two‑spot cotton leafhopper consists of three stages: eggs, nymphs (five instars), and adults. Females lay 14 to 60 eggs in leaf veins or midribs, which are yellowish‑white, oblong, and less than 1 mm long. Nymph development occurs for 5 to 16 days, depending on environmental conditions. The adults can live 15 to 37 days and can produce multiple generations per growing season. The peak reproductive period is in the hottest months of the year.

Populations thrive from 81°F to 93°F with approximately 70% relative humidity and decline under high rainfall adults feed on the undersides of leaves, stems, and petioles, coexisting year-round in warm climates. In Texas, where warm temperatures prevail for much of the year, leafhoppers can complete their life cycle in about 2 to 3 weeks, producing multiple overlapping generations.

Cold winters may limit their establishment in the northern part of the state. In greenhouses, where conditions remain favorable year‑round, this can lead to persistent populations that are difficult to eradicate without an integrated management plan.

Plant Injury and Symptoms

The nymphs and adults of the two‑spot cotton leafhopper use their piercing‑sucking mouthparts to feed within the mesophyll (parenchyma cells of the leaf), not the xylem or phloem. Despite damage resembling vascular disease, there is no conclusive evidence that this species transmits plant pathogens.

However, the insect injects toxic saliva within the plant, which expresses injury commonly referred to as “hopper burn” (Fig. 4). The resulting injury causes yellowing (chlorosis), leaf curling, upward curling of margins, browning, necrosis, and, in severe cases, leaf drop. These symptoms can be mistaken for nutrient deficiencies or drought stress, which often delays diagnosis.

Chronic feeding reduces photosynthetic activity, weakens plant vigor, and diminishes overall plant appearance. For growers, even light infestations can mean significant economic damage, as aesthetic quality is the hallmark of the ornamental industry. Feeding injury often appears before insects are detected due to their small size.

Common Host Plants

The two‑spot cotton leafhopper is a selectively polyphagous pest, feeding on economically important agronomic crops in plant families Malvaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Solanaceae. Examples include cotton, okra, sunflower, mung bean, cowpea, peanut, and eggplant. Ornamental hosts are broad, including members of the Malvaceae family (the family that cotton and okra belong to), such as tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) and Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), but also including ornamentals as varied as sunflower (Helianthus annuus), pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), and yellow bells or esperanza (Tecoma stans).

Many other ornamental species serve as hosts or potential hosts for the pest. Many popular homeowner vegetable crops like tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum), and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) have also been identified as hosts.

Management Tools and Options

Effective management of the two-spot cotton leafhopper involves an integrated strategy that incorporates regulatory measures, monitoring, cultural practices, biological control, and chemical interventions to protect ornamental crops.

Economic Impact, Regulatory Measures, and Reporting

In its native range, the two‑spot cotton leafhopper can cause yield reductions of up to 50% in economically important agronomic crops. The Texas green industry contributes $30 billion annually to the state’s economy; thus, even a small reduction in yield could mean significant economic impacts. Detection of the pest in plant shipments triggers quarantines, resulting in stock destruction, trade interruptions, and increased inspection costs.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) emphasize heightened inspections and reporting of any suspected two‑spot cotton leafhopper prevalence or outbreaks. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) maintains quarantine regulations to prevent the spread of the two‑spot cotton leafhopper. Movement of host plants from infested areas is restricted unless plants are inspected and certified pest-free. These regulations help limit long-distance dispersal and reduce new introductions into uninfected nurseries or landscapes.

Monitoring and Early Detection

Routine scouting is essential for identifying infestations before the two‑spot cotton leafhopper cause significant injury. Growers should regularly inspect the underside of leaves for any life stages of the two‑spot cotton leafhopper (Fig. 5), check the plant foliage for characteristic hopper burn symptoms, use sweep nets to detect active leafhopper stages, deploy yellow or green sticky traps to monitor adult activity, and check for cast skins (shed exoskeleton) (Fig. 6).

Early detection is important, and when identification is uncertain, submitting samples to diagnostic labs or Extension specialists is recommended.

Cultural Practices

Cultural control is a cornerstone of two‑spot cotton leafhopper management. Removing and destroying heavily infested plants can help reduce local populations. Maintaining clean production areas, practicing strict sanitation, and quarantining newly introduced plant material reduce opportunities for infestation and spread.

High‑pressure water sprays and the use of vacuums can reduce the pest populations. Managing weed hosts around nurseries is also essential, as many weeds serve as reservoirs for leafhoppers and can facilitate reinfestation, as many common weeds, including Hibiscus trionum (Venice mallow, flower-of-an-hour), Sida spinosa (Prickly sida), and Malvastrum coromandelianum (Three‑lobe false mallow), could serve as reservoirs for the two‑spot cotton leafhopper.

Biological Control

Several natural enemies can contribute to suppressing two‑spot cotton leafhopper populations. Predatory insects such as lady beetles, lacewing larvae (Fig. 7), minute pirate bugs (Orius spp.), ants, and spiders feed on leafhopper nymphs and adults. Conserving these beneficial organisms, by reducing broad-spectrum insecticide use and maintaining habitat diversity, can enhance natural suppression and support long‑term management (Fig. 7).

For example, products using flonicamid (a chordotonal modulator) are more target selective and considered very safe to non-target beneficial insects. It also has very low toxicity to predatory mites, lady beetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and bees, and is widely recommended in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs against sucking pests.

Chemical Control

The data on managing two-spot cotton leafhopper using insecticides in the U.S. are currently limited to field-grown economic crops such as cotton, okra, and eggplant. Insecticides containing the active ingredients imidacloprid, tolfenpyrad, flonicamid, flupyradifurone, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and spirotetramat have shown promise for managing this pest and may also be effective options for ornamental crops. However, these insecticides have not been evaluated for two-spot cotton leafhopper management in ornamentals.

At present, limited information is available regarding the efficacy of insecticides for controlling two-spot cotton leafhopper on ornamentals. Nonetheless, based on efficacy tests in cotton and laboratory bioassays, we have a good indication of which insecticides are likely to provide effective control. In ornamental production, insecticide applications typically fall into two categories: soil or pot drenches and foliar sprays.

Soil drenches of root-systemic insecticides, such as imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and spirotetramat, should be applied a few days to a week before shipping. Systemic drenches can offer extended protection but should be used judiciously to prevent the development of resistance and minimize risks to pollinators on flowering ornamentals. Because these products rely on root uptake and translocation within the plant, they are relatively slow-acting.

Foliar applications provide rapid pest knockdown but limited residual activity. For best results, foliar insecticides with translaminar activity, which allows penetration into leaf tissue, are recommended, as leafhoppers feed and reproduce primarily on the undersides of leaves. Insecticides with translaminar activity include imidacloprid, flonicamid, flupyradifurone, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and spirotetramat. In cotton, foliar applications of imidacloprid alone have shown limited effectiveness. Regardless of the product used, achieving thorough spray coverage is essential for optimal control.

Growers are encouraged to rotate insecticides with different Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) modes of action and follow all label guidelines. Overreliance on a single chemical class can rapidly lead to resistance, reducing future efficacy. Always refer to the product label for application guidelines, recommended rates, and safety precautions.