<scp>DNA</scp> Barcoding Reveals Taxonomic Insights Into Pest Species of Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Fruit Trees in South Korea

ABSTRACT Severe leafhopper pests infesting fruit trees (apricot, grape, peach, persimmon and plum) in South Korea were investigated. DNA barcoding using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COI) sequences identified four Typhlocybinae species: Arboridia kakogawana and Arboridia maculifrons on grape, Singapora shinshana on Prunus trees and Zorka sp. on persimmon, spanning both nymphal and adult life stages. Notably, DNA barcoding revealed phylogenetically relevant colour variation among adult specimens of the grape pest, A. kakogawana . This study presents, for the first time, live nymphal and adult photographs alongside neighbour‐joining trees, host plant associations and updated DNA barcode sequences for these Korean leafhoppers, which have not previously been included in global datasets.