There were 213 records between 2017 and 2023. Originating from North America, they appeared in Europe in 20th century including Russia in the second half of the century. They are usually found in summer and early autumn. Russian researchers wanted to review the impact of climate change on their species distribution across Russian wood and herbaceous plants.

They studied S.bisonia species, collecting and reviewing samples caught in entomological nets across Samsara region. They completed surveys in 2011, 213, 2014, 2017 and 2023. They noted that there was at least one on a lawn in an urban village, in / around trees and on steppe vegetation such as carrot plants. In late October 2023 they found species on blackberry plants. They think the microclimate associated with floodplain allowed the treehoppers to withstand autumn frosts.

They used lab analysis and found phytoplasma bacteria in several samples, suggesting that they can potentially spread diseases across plants. They are characterising S.bisonia as a pest for young plants in fruit and berry orchards, noting the increase and distribution over a longer period of the year. They recommend fruit and berry growers should monitor their plants for the treehopper.

Bogoutdinov D, Kastalyeva T, Girsova N, Ovsyannikova E and Mityushev I, (2024), Distribution and trophic relationships of the buffalo treehopper, Stictocephala bisonia, in the Samara region of Russia, E3S Web Conf., 494 (2024) 04007, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202449404007