First Report of Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Commercial Cotton in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

The two-spot cotton leafhopper, <i>Amrasca biguttula</i> (Ishida, 1913) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is a polyphagous pest native to the Indian subcontinent, where it is a significant pest of cotton (<i>Gossypium</i> spp.), okra (<i>Abelmoschus esculentus</i>, Moench), and other crops. At adult and immature stages, they feed on leaf cell contents, causing characteristic &ldquo;hopperburn&rdquo; symptoms and yield losses of up to 40% in cotton in its native range. In July 2025, <i>A. biguttula</i> was detected for the first time during the cotton growing season in commercial and experimental fields across multiple counties in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Identification was confirmed through morphological examination of diagnostic external features and male genitalia. Within four weeks, the pest was found in 101 counties, with injury symptoms ranging from mild chlorosis to severe necrosis and defoliation. Given the southeastern United States&rsquo; average of 979,339 hectares of cotton valued at USD 1.7&ndash;USD 2.8 billion annually, the potential for economic impact is considerable. Rapid symptom development, broad host range, and multiple generations per year underscore the need for coordinated monitoring and research to determine preliminary control measures and to identify potential alternative hosts. This report documents the first confirmed occurrence of <i>A. biguttula</i> in U.S. cotton and highlights its potential as an established recurring pest threat in the region.