It is known to occur as far west as the Rocky Mountain region, but is relatively uncommon in the Great Plains. Its distribution extends southward through Central and South America to Argentina. In Florida it is a common garden pest, though not commonly a pest of commercial crops. This fleahopper has a broad host range, but leguminous crops are most frequently damaged. Vegetable crops that host garden fleahopper include bean, beet, cabbage, celery, cowpea, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pea, pepper, potato, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, and tomato.
Field crops injured include alfalfa, clover, and sweet clover.
Occasionally it will feed on other insects. There appears to be five generations annually in Virginia, although there is considerable overlap among the generations, and all stages can be found through the warmer months. A life cycle can be completed in about 30 days. Overwintering occurs in the egg stage, with hatch of overwintering eggs occurring in April. In Florida, fleahoppers are present earlier in the season, and it has not been determined whether eggs hatch earlier or whether adults are the predominant overwintering form.