Abstract

We record for the first time the presence of the invasive Asian pest Amrasca biguttula (Ishida, 1913) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Central America. Several specimens were obtained from an okra farm in the Choluteca Department, Honduras. We provide a diagnosis of the species and the damage it causes and review the literature for potential control strategies for several crop species.

References

• Akonde ZFX, Moussa OZ, Atta S, Leyo IH, Guimbo ID. 2024. Cotton Leafhoppers, Amrasca biguttula (Ishida, 1913) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), identified as a new species on okra and guinea sorrel in Niger. Advances in Entomology 12(3): 183–194. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4236/ae.2024.123014 
• Ali M, Ashfaq M, Akram W, Sahi ST, Ali A. 2012. The physio-morphic characters of the brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) plant and their relationship with the jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida)) population fluctuation. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 49(1): 67–71.  
• Asif MU, Muhammad R, Akbar W, Sohail M, Tariq JA, Ismail M. 2018. Comparative efficacy of Neem derivatives and imidacloprid against some cotton pests. Journal of Entomology and Zoology studies 6(3): 113–117.  
• Azrag AAG, Niassy S, Bloukounon-Goubalan AY, Abdel-Rahman EM, Tonnang HEZ, Mohamed SA. 2025. Cotton production areas are at high risk of invasion by Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) (Cicadellidae: Hemiptera): potential distribution under climate change. Pest Managament Science 8659: 1–12. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8659 
• Badiane G. 2023. Évaluation de l’efficacité biologique du Fluxamétamide 31 g/ha pour le contrôle de Amrasca biguttula (I) ravageur du cotonnier (Gossypium hirsitum L.) au Sénégal. Available at https://rivieresdusud.uasz.sn/handle/123456789/1831  (Last accessed July 22, 2025.)
• Barman M, Samanta S, Atta K, Dutta S, Dey S, Samanta A, Tarafdar J, Ahmed B. 2024. Biochemical and morphological basis of resistance in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)) against whitefly and jassid. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 44(5): 2637–2654. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-024-01341-2 
• Bhandari S, Thakuri LS, Rimal S, Bhatta T. 2022. Management of okra jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) through the use of botanicals and chemical pesticides under field conditions in Chitwan, Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 10(100403): 1–4. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100403 
• Backus EA, Serrano MS, Ranger CM. 2005. Mechanisms of hopperburn: an overview of insect taxonomy, behavior, and physiology. Annual Review of Entomology 50(1): 125–151. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.49.061802.123310 
• Bindra OS, Mahal MS. 1981. Varietal resistance in eggplant (Brinjal) (Solanum melongena) to the cotton jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula). Phytoparasitica 9(2): 119–131. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03158454 
• Boeke SJ, Boersma MG, Alink GM, Van Loon JJA, Van Huis A, Dicke M, Rietjens IMCM. 2004. Safety evaluation of neem (Azadirachta indica) derived pesticides. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 94(1): 25–41. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.05.011 
• Cabrera-Asencio I, Dietrich CH, Zahniser JN. 2023. A new invasive pest in the Western Hemisphere: Amrasca biguttula (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Florida Entomologist 106(4): 263–266. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0409 
• Chandel RS, Chandla VK, Verma KS, Pathania M. 2013. Chapter 8 - Insect pests of potato in India: Biology and management. p. 227–268. In: Alyokhin A, Vincent C, Giordanengo P (eds.). Insect pests of potato: Global perspectives on biology and management. Academic Press; Oxford, UK. 616 p 
• Dahal BR, Rijal S, Poudel N, Gautam B, Neupane RB. 2020. Influence of different bio-pesticides and mulching in management of Okra jassids Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Chitwan district of Nepal. Cogent Food and Agriculture 6(1): 1829271. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1829271 
• Das K, Biswas S, Chakraborty G, Ghosh SK. 2010. Efficacy of insecticides against Jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida) on okra in terai agro-ecology of West Bengal. Journal of Applied Zoology Research 21(1): 33–35.  
• Dumbardon-Martial E, Pierre C. 2025. The invasive leafhopper Amrasca biguttula (Ishida, 1913) in our garden: a new report in Martinique (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 130(2): 160–162. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32475/bsef_2347 
• Gaikwad BP, Darekar KS, Chavan UD. 1991. Varietal reaction of eggplant against jassid. Journal of Maharashtra Agricultural Universities 16(3): 354–356.  
• Ghani MA. 1946. Studies on Cotton Jassid (E. devastans Dist.) in the Punjab X. Host plants. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences 24: 260–263. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03049890 
• BF03049890 Gosh SK, Karmakar R. 2021. Sustainable management of leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) on eggplant/brinjal (Solanum melongena Linn.)) and related crops. p. 233–257. In: Hasan W, Rohman MM, Lnu M, Panja P (eds.). Hi-tech crop production and pest management. Biotech Books; New Delhi, India. 384 p 
• Halder J, Sanwal SK, Deb D, Rai AB, Singh B. 2016. Mechanisms of physical and biochemical basis of resistance against leaf-hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) in different okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) genotypes. The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 86(4): 481–484. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v86i4.57457 
• Huss CP, Holmes KD, Blubaugh CK. 2022. Benefits and risks of intercropping for crop resilience and pest management. Journal of Economic Entomology 115(5): 1350–1362. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac045 
• International Plant Protection Convention. 2024. First report of presence of Indian cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula). Available at https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/barbados/pestreports/2024/03/first-report-of-presence-of-indiancotton-leafhopper-amrasca-biguttula/  (Last accessed July 22, 2025.)
• Jacques HD, Socrates DN, Bouladji Y, Djague TL, Moïse A, Noé W. 2024. First infestation of an exotic crops pest, Amrasca biguttula on cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. in north Cameroon. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science 36(3): 16–22. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2024/v36i34394 
• Jayasimha GT, Rachana RR, Manjunatha M, Rajkumar VB. 2012. Biology and seasonal incidence of leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on okra. Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems 18(2): 149–153.  
• Kouadio H, Kouakou M, Bini KKN, Ouattara MAN, Adepo-Gourène BA, Ochou OG. 2022. Diagnostic des attaques de jassides sur des parcelles de gombos et d’aubergines au Centre et au Centre-Ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies 38: 408–416.  
• Liburd OE, Halbert SE, Samuel N, Dreves AJ. 2024. Two-spot cotton leafhopper, Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Empoascini; Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) - A serious pest of cotton, okra and eggplant that has become established in the Caribbean Basin. Pest Alert (FDACS-P-0222). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. Available at https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/117692/file/two-spot-cotton-leaf-hopperpest-alert.pdf  (Last accessed July 22, 2025.)
• Mabbett TH, Nachapong M, Monglakul K, Mekdaeng J. 1984. Distribution on cotton of Amrasca devastans and Ayyaria chaetophora in relation to pest scouting techniques for Thailand. Tropical Pest Management 30(2): 133–141.  
• Mandal SK. 2025. Trap crops: Emerging bio-intensive integrated pest management. Vigyan Varta 6(3): 78–82.  
• Rao BRS, Parshad B, Ram A, Singh P, Srivastava ML. 1968. Distribution of Empoasca devastans and its egg parasites in the Indian Union. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 11: 250–254.  
• Shankar U, Priya S, Kumar D. 2008. Vegetable pest management: guide for farmers. International Book Distributing Company; Lucknow, India. 182 p 
• Shelton AM, Badenes-Perez FR. 2006. Concepts and applications of trap cropping in pest management. Annual Review of Entomology 51(1): 285–308. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.150959 
• Siddiqui S, Abro GH, Syed TS, Buriro AS. 2018. Influence of trap crops on management of insect pests by exploitation of heteropteran predatory bugs in cotton. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research 31(3): 274–278. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjar/2018/31.3.274.278 
• Sonali D. 2008. Screening of brinjal cultivars against Jassid, Amrasca biguttula biguttula based on the leaf texture of the plant. Journal of Applied Zoological Research 19: 139–40.  
• Thapa R, Bista K, Bhatta M, Bhandari S, Acharya R, Sapkota B. 2019. Comparative performance and economic efficiency of different pesticides against okra jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula): Their impact on okra yield and growth attributes. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 7(5): 525–531.  
• Wawdhane PA, Nandanwar VN, Mahankuda B, Ingle AS, Chaple KI. 2020. Bio-efficacy of insecticides and bio pesticides against major sucking pests of Bt-cotton. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 8(3): 829–833.  
• Xu Y, Wang Y, Dietrich C H, Fletcher M J, Qin D. 2017. Review of Chinese species of the leafhopper genus Amrasca Ghauri (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae), with description of a new species, species checklist and notes on the identity of the Indian cotton leafhopper. Zootaxa 4353(2): 360–370. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4353.2.7 
• Yarou, BB, Francisco AR, De Troij A, Aboubakar Souna D. 2023. Amrasca biguttula Ishida: Quel avenir pour la production du gombo au Bénin? World Vegetable Center. Available at https://agritrop.cirad.fr/607265/2/607265.pdf  (Last accessed July 22, 2025.)