Potato Psyllid

Potato Psyllid Life StagesPotato Psyllid Life Stages

Adult Potato PsyllidAdult Potato Psyllid

Psyllid YellowsPsyllid Yellows

Potato Psyllid on Yellow Sticky TrapPotato Psyllid on Yellow Sticky Trap

HOSTS

  • Eggplant
  • Pepper
  • Potato
  • Tomato

DESCRIPTION

Adults resemble small cicadas or winged aphids, readily jump when disturbed, and have black bodies with white markings and a white inverted ‘V’ on the back. Nymphs are flat, green (yellowish green or orange when newly hatched), with red eyes, and an oval-shaped body with spines around the edges.

BIOLOGY

Egg | Nymph | Adult
Potato psyllids have multiple generations a year. They overwinter as adults in warmer locations (not northern Utah).

SYMPTOMS

Nymphs and adults feed with piercing-sucking mouthparts causing disruptions in plant growth, collectively described as “psyllid yellows”. Common symptoms of psyllid yellows are leaf curling, slowed plant growth, and color changes. Damage to potatoes results in reduced size, premature sprouting, and rough skin. Tomato damage includes the production of small, soft, poor quality fruits. Potato psyllids also vector 
Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum which causes zebra chip disease in potato, tomato, and pepper.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

  • Place yellow sticky cards as soon as the potato season starts to detect the first occurrence of psyllid in the area.
  • Look for nymphs and eggs on the undersides of leaves by collecting 10 mature leaves from the middle of the plant at 10 locations among the outer rows of the field.
  • A hand lens is needed to see nymphs and eggs.

Psyllid yellows is generally less damaging than zebra chip disease. Zebra chip can be destructive for potato (especially for chip production), tomato, and pepper and is occasionally seen in these crops in Utah.

  • Monitoring is a critical component of management decisions.
  • Application of insecticides; there are currently no effective non-chemical controls for potato psyllid.

INSECTICIDES

Consider treatment if potato psyllids have caused zebra chip disease or psyllid yellows in past years, if nearby fields are experiencing these problems, or if potato psyllid is detected, even if populations are low.
Click here to reference insecticide options for commercial growers.
Click here to reference insecticide options for home gardeners.





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.