Knowledgebase

Insect on milkweed #757559

Asked June 21, 2021, 5:21 PM EDT

What is this insect? Will it hurt the milkweed?

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

(Graphocephala coccinea) has many common names Candy-striped Leafhopper Red-banded leafhopper, Scarlet-and-green leafhopper, and Red-and-blue leafhopper. They are in the order, Homoptera, with cicadas, spittlebugs aphids, and scales. It feeds on plants by sucking the juices from them with piercing-sucking mouthparts. After eating, the leafhopper releases bubbles of sweet liquid waste from its abdomen. They are usually found on blackberry and raspberry leaves. It is not listed an insect that commonly feeds on milkweed.

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/common-milkweed-insects/

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Pat M MN master gardener and TCA Replied June 21, 2021, 6:00 PM EDT

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