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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines


Potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae.

Citrus

Potato Leafhopper

Scientific Name: Empoasca fabae

(Reviewed 7/03, updated 7/03)

In this Guideline:


DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST
The potato leafhopper is a potential pest of citrus in some areas, especially in groves near tomato fields, cotton fields, or pastures in the San Joaquin Valley. It is a green, slender insect with bristlelike antennae and rows of spines along its hind legs. It breeds in large numbers on wild plants and field crops. During late summer and fall, the leafhoppers may migrate to citrus groves to spend the winter in the shelter of the trees.

DAMAGE
The potato leafhopper feeds on fruit by puncturing rind cells, causing yellowish to light brown, roundish scars on fruit. The scars are particularly apparent on green fruit and resemble thrips oviposition sites except they are more clustered and do not have darkened centers.

MANAGEMENT
Leafhoppers are not a problem every year. Use a yellow, sticky card, such as the one used for the California red scale, or traps to determine if leafhoppers are present. If you apply a Bordeaux spray in fall against brown rot and Septoria, you may want to add some additional hydrated lime to repel leafhoppers. Because this is a preventative treatment, it must be made before migration into the grove occurs.

Common name
(trade name)
Amount to Use
(type of coverage)**
Minimum Days
before Harvest+

A. HYDRATED LIME# 15-30 lb/100 gal (OC) 12 hours
  RANGE OF ACTIVITY: Narrow (leafhoppers)
  PERSISTENCE: Intermediate
  COMMENTS: For use on all varieties.

** OC - Outside coverage uses 50-500 gal water/acre.
+ Minimum days before harvest takes into account the California restricted entry interval and the federal preharvest interval and lists the longer interval. (See Table 1 Mandatory Intervals Between Application, Reentry and Harvest, and Hazards to Bees.)
# Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Citrus
UC ANR Publication 3441
Insects, Mites, and Snails
E. E. Grafton-Cardwell, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
J. G. Morse, Entomology, UC Riverside
N. V. O’Connell, UC Cooperative Extension, Tulare Co.
P. A. Phillips, UC IPM Program, UC Cooperative Extension, Ventura Co.
C. E. Kallsen, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern Co.
D. R. Haviland, UC Cooperative Extension, Kern Co.
Acknowledgments for contributions to the insect, mite, and snail section:
J. Barcinas, E. S. I., Corona, CA
R. Dunn, Badger Farming Co., Exeter, CA
J. Gorden, Pest Management Associates, Exeter, CA
H. Griffiths, E. S. I., Corona, CA
D. Machlitt, Consulting Entomology Services, Moorpark, CA
C. Musgrove, retired entomologist, Riverside, CA
K. Olsen, S & J Ranch, Pinedale, CA
T. Roberts, E. S. I., Corona, CA
J. Stewart, Pest Management Associates, Exeter, CA
P. Washburn, Washburn & Sons Citrus Pest Control, Riverside, CA

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2004 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r107300611.html revised: October 19, 2004. Contact webmaster.