Not known to transmit any human or animal pathogens.

Not known to vector any plant pathogens or other associated organisms. Amrasca biguttula has been associated with some plant pathogens but has never been confirmed as a vector.

Sticky cards need to be inspected and cleaned regularly, particularly in windy or dusty areas as dust-covered traps will be less effective. Hot melt adhesives are recommended as specimens collected in warm, humid areas with stickier glue will deteriorate rapidly, complicating identification.

Amrasca biguttula adults and nymphs feed on the underside of leaves using sucking mouthparts, causing "hopperburn"; brown, red or yellow spots that may merge into a mosaic pattern or lead to burnt leaf appearance. This damage can result in defoliation, upward curling of leaf edges, dry and crumbly leaves, stunted plant growth, and premature dropping of buds, flowers, and fruits. See the CAPS Pest Datasheet for images of the insects and related damage.

Visual survey for cotton jassid should take place during warm, dry periods of the year. In tropical and sub-tropical regions within its native range, jassid populations typically decline when temperatures decrease, though leafhoppers remain active year-round. In colder areas of the continental United States, surveys do not need to continue during the winter. Surveys at the end of a crop cycle may be preferred as pesticide use typically decreases reducing potential for exposure and increasing likelihood of finding active jassids.

Trapping There are no lures or traps specific to cotton jassid. Yellow sticky card traps placed 8-12 inches above host plants have proven effective in capturing this species, but will also capture many non-target insects. Visual Inspection & Manual Collection Surveyors may collect A. biguttula by hand, using an aspirator, with a sweep net, or by beating. Adults and nymphs are both found on the underside of the leaves of host plants, and placing a container of soapy water or alcohol beneath symptomatic leaves before shaking or tapping them facilitates their capture. Note: To avoid exposure to pesticides, do not aspirate insects in recently treated areas.

Bagging/Manual Collection

Hold open an inverted bag and lower it onto a suspected infested leaf or stem, trying not to disturb any of the insects (Fig. 4-1A). Seal the bag closed quickly once the leaf or stem is inside and either shake the bag to dislodge the insects from the leaf or clip, collect, and bag the leaf along with any insects.

Sweep Net Sampling

When sampling with a sweep net, complete at least twenty sweeps at each sampling point. Once the sweeping is completed, twist and close the net quickly to prevent escape. Invert the net into a gallon-sized re-sealable bag or other container, then keep the specimens in a cooler for transportation back to the lab.

Note: sweep net sampling may damage crops; for instance, sweep net sampling may dislodge flowers, cotton bolls, or fruits such as okra. Because these methods may damage plants, obtain permission from landowners or growers before sweep net sampling.

Beat Sampling

To beat sample for cotton jassid, use a sampling tray or tub filled with a small amount of alcohol (enough to cover the entire bottom of the tray). Ethanol is preferred for DNA preservation and specimen collection, but isopropanol or soapy water will also work. Gently tap infested host plants with a stick, net handle, or other object to dislodge insects into the alcohol-filled tray. Gentle tapping will dislodge insects from their resting positions during warm, humid weather but vigorous beating may be needed during colder weather. The alcohol and evolving fumes will incapacitate and kill the insects. Once the insects are collected in the pan, pour the liquid and any specimens into a vial and label. Preliminary surveys indicate that a traditional beating sheet technique (using a cloth beating sheet and aspirating fallen insects) is unlikely to be effective because of this species" mobility.

Surveys should target production areas where host plants are grown (primary targets are cotton, eggplant, okra, and sunflower), including post-harvest fields and poorly managed fields. Hoppers have been found in large numbers in post-harvest fields where host plants were not removed and were not actively managed.

Sampling evenly throughout survey sites is recommended for cotton jassid detection surveys. Depending on site-specific conditions, permissions, and the target host, surveyors can also choose to search for cotton jassids around the perimeter of a field/survey site.

If live specimens are collected, keep them in a cooler until they can be transported back to the lab. At the lab, place any containers with live specimens in a freezer for a minimum of 24 hours. After this time, the contents can be sorted. Dump the raw sample into a sorting pan or other shallow container and remove debris and non-target species. If possible, screen the sample to eliminate non-target families, genera, or "look-a-like" species. When in doubt, forward specimens to the identifier. The taxonomic level of sorting will depend on the expertise available. Once sorting and screening (if possible) have been completed, place specimens into vials of 75-90% ethanol and submit for identification following Procedures for Submitting Survey Samples.

See the References section below for two articles (Sagarbarria et al., 2020 & Xu et al., 2017) containing resources for A. biguttula identification. A Screening Aid is available to assist with field identification.

Several similar looking leafhopper species could be encountered when surveying for Amrasca biguttula in the United States. Species similar in appearance that could be mistaken for A. biguttula include Empoasca spp. and Typhlocyba pomeria, which differ from A. biguttula by the lack of black spots on the head and forewings. Alconeura spp. and Kyboasca spp. are easily mistaken species that have similar black spots on the forewing but lack the spots on the head. See the Easily Mistaken Species section of the CAPS datasheet for more details and images of the insects.