Leafhoppers
Leafhoppers feed on several flower hosts such as aster,
chrysanthemum, dahlia, and nasturtium. Most adult leafhoppers
are slender and less than or about equal to 1/4-inch long. Some
species are brightly colored, while others blend with their
host plant. Leafhoppers
are active insects; they crawl rapidly sideways or readily
jump when disturbed. Adults and nymphs and their pale
cast skins are usually found on the underside of leaves.
Identification
of species | Life
cycle
Damage
Leafhopper feeding causes leaves to appear stippled, pale, or brown, and shoots may curl and die. Certain species secrete honeydew on which foliage-blackening sooty mold grows. Foliage can distort, discolor, and sometimes die. Some species vector pathogens. The aster leafhopper and other species vector the aster yellows phytoplasma, which infects many flower crops.
Solutions
Because of their mobility, leafhoppers
are difficult to control. Fortunately, control is rarely
needed. Remove alternate hosts to reduce populations. Insecticidal
soap or other insecticides applied when nymphs are small
may be used if necessary to reduce populations but will not
reduce virus transmission significantly.
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Adult aster leafhopper
Bleached or stippled rose leaves
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