Stictocephala bisonia
Copyright, Norbert Maczey
The Buffalo Treehopper is
one of many treehoppers in our area. Treehoppers are small
insects which usually mimic thorns, buds, or other plant
parts. Treehoppers are usually strange-looking, brightly
colored, jumping insects. Buffalo Treehoppers are
large for treehoppers. They grow up to 3/8 inch long. They
are bright green and triangle-shaped. They have clear
wings. Buffalo Treehoppers live
in woods, meadows, and fields. Copyright, Bill
Johnson Slits made by female Buffalo
Treehopper.
Copyright, Whitney
Cranshaw, Colorado State University Buffalo Treehopper nymph.
The Nova Scotia
Fruit Growers' Association Buffalo Treehoppers mate
in the summer. Females lay eggs from July through October.
Each female has a knife-like ovipositor that she uses to cut
slits into a twig. In each slit she then lays up to 12 eggs.
Eggs overwinter in the twigs. The following Spring, in
May or June, treehopper nymphs hatch from the eggs. Nymphs
look somewhat like adults, but are more spiny and don't have
wings. Nymphs crawl down from
their tree and feed on grasses and weeds. Over the next six
weeks, nymphs shed their skins several times as they eat and
grow. Each time, they look more and more like an adult. At
the end of six weeks they have become adult Buffalo
Treehoppers and return to trees. Both nymphs and adults
suck sap for food. Favorite plants include: willows, elms,
cherry, Black Locust, clovers, goldenrods, and
asters. Buffalo Treehoppers only
have one generation each year. Male treehoppers call
females with a song that humans can't hear. Predators of treehoppers
include insect predators, such as birds, spiders, mantids,
toads, and others. Whitney Cranshaw,
Colorado State University
