Leafhoppers

Pest Description

• adults: 1/8 – 1/4 inch long; vary in color from whitish green, brown gray, to yellow; wings held tentlike over the back; one to two rows of spines on hind legs
• nymphs: smaller than adults, typically lime green in color; wings absent but wing buds present
• leafhoppers fly low over turf areas when disturbed by human or mechanical traffic

Host Plants, Diet & Damage

• feed on turfgrasses
• feed on sap from leaf cells
• white to yellow stippling/flecking on leaves
• hopper burn: yellowing/bleaching dieback of turf
• rarely cause manageable damage

Biology, Life Cycle & Damaging Life Stage

• overwinter as eggs inserted into plant tissue or as adults
• eggs hatch in spring and nymphs begin feeding
• overlapping life stages present during summer
• two or more generations per year
• nymphs and adults are the damaging stages

IPM Recommendations

• Maintain healthy plants with proper cultural practices.
• Management or pesticide applications are not typically needed for leafhoppers in turfgrass even though leafhoppers may be noticeable.