Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead)

Taxonomic position

Insecta: Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Delphacidae

Common names

Sorghum planthopper, maize planthopper

Habitat / Crop(s) damaged

Maize, sorghum.

 

Typical damage symptoms include yellowing of leaves with stunted growth; presence of a large number of insects on the foliage coated with sooty mould with ants hovering around, twisting of top leaves harbouring yellowish brown hoppers in the whorls, leaves with reddened midribs due to egg laying and earheads with shriveled and chaffy grains.

Pest status

Minor, occasionally serious

Images