Common Brown Leafhopper: Orosius orientalis

Nymph of common brown leafhopper

Class: Insecta 

Order: Hemiptera 

Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha 

Infraorder: Cicadomorpha 

Superfamily: Membracoidea 

Family: Cicadellidae 

Subfamily: Deltocephalinae 

Tribe: Opsiini

Orosius orientalis

Common Brown Leafhopper is a tiny leafhopper measuring about 2 -3 mm in length. It has a pale brown colour with remarkable lace like pattern on its wings. The eyes have a horizontal orange stripe with a dot in the centre. The leafhopper hops short distances and capable of flight as well. 

A group on these leafhoppers were seen in my kitchen garden feeding on spinach leaves. 

Common Brown Leafhoppers are pests which attack crops, hence of economic significance. They directly feed on the leaves and plants. More importantly they are vectors and transmitters of various viruses which infect the plants and destroy them.

Reference:

Key to identification of Australian Leafhoppers by NSW Gov