The Mexican Leafhopper (Empoasca mexara) is primarily a pest of which crop?

• A. Alfalfa
• B. Tomato
• C. Corn
• D. Rice

Answer: (A)

Leafhoppers are sap-sucking insects, and their feeding on the tender, new growth of plants disrupts nutrient flow and can cause stippling, yellowing, leaf curling, and overall stunting. The Mexican leafhopper is most problematic on alfalfa because alfalfa’s growth stages provide frequent, young tissue that these insects readily attack, allowing populations to build and repeatedly injure leaves across cuts. This combination of host preference and the alfalfa growth cycle leads to noticeable yield and hay quality losses, making it the crop where this pest causes the most consistent economic damage. While the insect may be found on other crops, the impact on alfalfa is typically the most significant, which is why it’s considered primarily a pest there.