Coarse Stained-glass Leafhopper

Argaterma alticola, the coarse stained-glass leafhopper, is a critically endangered hemipteran insect in the family Cicadellidae, known only from a highly restricted distribution in Azerbaijan. Leafhoppers in this family are small, typically fast-moving plant-feeding insects that suck phloem sap from their host plants and can be economically significant in agricultural contexts. Argaterma alticola is associated with montane or high-altitude grassland or scrub vegetation in the Caucasus region, where its highly localized range makes it exceptionally vulnerable to habitat alteration. The Critically Endangered assessment reflects the tiny known range, presumed small population size, and threats from overgrazing, agricultural intensification, and climate-driven vegetation shifts in the Caucasus mountain systems. The family Cicadellidae is among the most species-rich families of insects globally, with over 20,000 described species, but many specialized species with restricted ranges remain poorly studied and face extinction before they can be formally surveyed. Conservation of this species depends on identifying and protecting the specific grassland habitats in Azerbaijan where it persists and understanding its host plant associations and population size.