Stictocephala bisonia Insect Cicada Hemipterus Rhynchota Homoptera Membracidae

Stictocephala bisonia mm 8-10 Insect Cicada Hemipterus Rhynchota Homoptera Membracidae.
Family: Membracidae-
Common name: The Buffalo Treehopper.
Syn. (wrong):  Ceresa bubalus.

Stictocephala bisonia is a rincote insect  of the family Membracidae native of North America, now widespread throughout southern Europe. In Italy it is widespread, especially in the northern regions.
The name comes from its shape reminiscent of an American bison, given by triangular pronotum with basal expanded toward the head. It has long been indicated with the name Ceresa bubalus, a similar Treehopper diffused in Central America but never reached Europe. The misunderstanding was cleared up after a systematic review in 1977.
Its nutrition bites made by the insect on the plant to suck the phloem sap can cause damage to the screw, especially severe on nursery seedlings.
They cause the appearance of an annular constriction on internodes. In some cases, the reaction of the tissue causes the formation of a tumor enlargement. The vegetation that dominates the affected part turns slightly yellow or reddish and the leaves curl up toward the bottom page. This type of injury is usually negligible effect on production and screws can cause delayed growth on young plants in the nursery.
Damage can also be caused by oviposition, in fact spawning through the ovipositor in young twigs can cause the formation of small cancers, or can hinder the normal development of tissues as well as opening the way for various infections.
In agronomic fight it is advisable to remove and burn the branches that show signs of oviposition during the pruning. The oviposition may be hindered by applying entangled bands around the trunks to prevent the ascent of females about to reproduce. In nurseries and in young plants is recommended to eliminate weeds (especially Fabaceae), while in the grassy plants should perform periodic cuttings to limit the development of youth forms the insect.
The struggle toward adults, to limit the damage to young plants. it is also difficult by performing a large number of chemical interventions. Of production plants in the chemical control it is rarely warranted for the slight damage caused by the insect.
The wasp mimaride Polynema striaticorne can be used in biological control as pest oofago of leafhoppers buffalo.