Molecular Identification of Leafhoppers Infesting Okra, Eggplant, and Cotton

Leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) are major pests of key crops, including okra, eggplant, and cotton, in tropical Africa. Several closely related species, which are often challenging to differentiate, infest these crops, yet little is known about their relative roles in causing crop damage. The study aims to clarify the taxonomy of the species and provide a preliminary assessment of their impact on eggplant, okra, and cotton production. A biomolecular analysis was conducted on 180 leafhopper individuals collected from 13 locations across the three crops during the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons. The findings revealed that the same species were present on cotton, okra, and eggplant. Three primary species were identified: Empoasca papayae, Jacobiasca lybica, and Amrasca biguttula. The abundance of these species varied between the two years. In 2021, the predominant species found on okra, eggplant, and cotton were J. lybica and E. papayae; J. lybica was the most abundant, proportions on okra, eggplant, and cotton were 90, 95.8, and 91.7%, respectively. In contrast, by 2022, A. biguttula emerged as the most abundant species with proportions of 100, 100, and 85% on okra, eggplant, and cotton, respectively. Although J. lybica was present on cotton, it was less abundant. The introduction of A. biguttula, a species new to West Africa, marked a shift in the leafhopper community, replacing the local species on African eggplant, okra, and cotton. These results enhance our understanding of leafhopper species composition on these important crops and will inform the development of targeted pest management.