Potato Leafhopper

Empoasca fabae

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various lifestages of potato leafhopper Various life stages of potato leafhopper.

potato leafhopper adult
Potato leafhopper adult.

potato leafhopper damage to hemp Potato leafhopper damage to hemp.

potato leafhopper damage to hemp leaf
Potato leafhopper damage to hemp leaf.

Hosts

  • Greenhouse and field-grown hemp
  • Alfalfa
  • Beans
  • Eggplant
  • Potato
  • Weeds (including pigweed and shepherd's purse)

Description

Adults are wedge-shaped, light green, and widest at the head with an elongated body. The adult has clear wings and large white eyes. Nymphs are smaller and lack wings. Both adults and nymphs move quickly and can run forward, backward, or sideways, and are capable of jumping. 

Life Cycle

Egg | Nymph | Adult

  • 4 to 5 generations annually. 
  • Several overlapping generations per year.
  • Overwinter in warmer locations (not northern Utah) and migrate north.
  • Females lay eggs in stems or leaves.
  • Eggs hatch and nymphs generally feed on the undersides of leaves. 

Damaging Lifestage(s): Nymph, Adult

Damage Symptoms

Adults and nymphs feed with piercing-sucking mouthparts that result in white-flecked
injury (stippling) on the foliage. With heavy feeding, leaves may show scorching (browning) at the feeding sites.

Time for Concern

June through harvest.

When and Where to Scout

  • Monitor for scorched (brown) leaf margins, curling leaves, and stippling, starting in June.
  • Look under symptomatic leaves for green flying or jumping insects or for the pale, flightless nymph which readily moves when disturbed. 

Threat Level

Low. The feeding injury resulting in light stippling and white flecks on leaves is of little consequence to overall plant health. 

Occurrence in Utah

Leafhoppers and leafhopper damage have been observed on hemp in low levels.

Management

  • Manage weeds, as they can harbor leafhoppers.
  • If populations and damage are high, approved insecticides are available. 

When to Consider Treatment

Generally, potato leafhopper has not caused enough damage in Utah hemp to warrant treatment

Look-alikes

Other leafhopper species (e.g. beet leafhopper); symptoms resemble damage from spider mites.

Insecticides for Leafhoppers

Utah-Registered Product Active Ingredient(s) Notes
AzaGuard azadirachtin  
Azatin O Biological Insecticide azadirachtin  
Azatrol EC Insecticide azadirachtin  
Azera Insecticide azadirachtin  
Bayer Advanced NATRIA Insecticidal Soap Ready-To-Use potassium laurate  
Bonide Insecticidal Soap MultiPurpose Insect Control Ready To Use potassium laurate Greenhouse use only.
Botanigard Maxx pyrethrins Greenhouse use only.
Bug Buster-O Extinguish Ant Bait pyrethrins Greenhouse use only.
Captiva capsicum oleoresin extract  
Captiva Prime capsicum oleoresin extract  
Deadzone diatomaceous earth  
Evergreen Crop Protection EC 60-6 pyrethrins  
Ferti-lome Fruit Tree Spray pyrethrins  
Garden Safe Brand Insecticidal Soap Insect Killer potassium laurate  
Kopa Insecticidal Soap potassiums salts of fatty acid  
Molt-X azadirachtin  
M-Pede Insecticide Miticide Fungicide potassium laurate  
Natural Guard Brand by Ferti-lome Insecticidal Soap Concentrate potassium salts of fatty acids  
Neemix 4.5 Insect Growth Regulator  azadirachtin  
Pycana pyrethrins Greenhouse use only.
Pyganic Crop Protection EC 1.4 II; 5.0 II pyrethrins  
Pyrethrum TR Total Release Insecticide pyrethrins  
Safer Brand #567 Pyrethrin & Insecticidal Soap Concentrate II potassium salts of fatty acids Use prior to flowering.
Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap Concentrate II potassium salts of fatty acids  
Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap with Seaweed Extract II potassium salts of fatty acids  
Safer Brand Yard & Garden Insect Killer II potassium salts of fatty acids  
Surround WP Crop Protectant  kaolin  
Tersus Insecticide pyrethrins  
Venerate CG; XC Burkholderia sp. strain A396  
Xpectro OD pyrethrins  

Photo Credits

Life Stages - USU Extension IPM Program
Leaf damage - USU Extension IPM Program
Hemp damage - Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Adult - Steve L. Brown, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org


Precautionary Statement: Utah State University and its employees are not responsible for the use, misuse, or damage caused by application or misapplication of products or information mentioned in this document. All pesticides are labeled with ingredients, instructions, and risks, and not all are registered for edible crops. “Restricted use” pesticides may only be applied by a licensed applicator. The pesticide applicator is legally responsible for proper use. USU makes no endorsement of the products listed in this publication.