Description

• Agrosoma placetis is a small to medium-sized sharpshooter leafhopper in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Cicadellinae, and tribe Cicadellini. Adults are about 8–9 mm long and have a distinctive contrasting pattern of dark and pale markings; females have several alternating black and white facial bands, while males have a more swollen, orange-toned face.

Range

• Agrosoma placetis occurs in Mexico and Central America, with records from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is therefore part of the leafhopper fauna of southern and western Mexico and may occur in Guerrero, including the Zihuatanejo region where suitable vegetation is present.

Habitat

• It occurs on cultivated and wild vegetation in warm environments, including agricultural areas, gardens, tropical woodland, and areas of herbaceous vegetation. It has been associated with crops and plants in several families, including Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Poaceae, and other broadleaf plants.

Diet

• Agrosoma placetis feeds by piercing plant tissues and sucking sap from foliage, buds, and occasionally fruits. Recorded host plants include eggplant, beans, and potatoes, and it has also been associated with Jatropha curcas and other cultivated plants.