Leafhoppers

Pest Description

• adults: ~ 1/8 – 5/8 inch; wings held tentlike over the back; one to two rows of spines on hind legs
• many are whitish to light green; coloration highly variable including reds, browns and patterns
• nymphs: smaller than adults, typically lime green in color; wings absent but wing buds present

Host Plants, Diet & Damage

• apple, birch, cherry, cottonwood, dogwood, elm, grape, hawthorn, honeylocust, linden, oak, poplar, red maple, sumac, Virginia creeper, willow and other ornamentals
• feed on sap from leaf cells
• white to yellow stippling/flecking on tops of leaves
• hopper burn: yellowing, browning, stunting, leaf curling
• some transmit plant diseases

Biology, Life Cycle & Damaging Life Stage

• overwinter as eggs inserted into or on 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

• Manage trees and shrubs to improve or maintain overall health.
• Monitor the undersides of leaves for leafhopper adults and nymphs.
• Insecticide applications are not typically needed for leafhoppers and may have varying efficacy.
• Apply insecticidal oils or soaps to undersides of leaves to control nymphs.
• Apply an insecticide (azadirachtin; carbamate; pyrethroid; systemic neonicitinoid) when nymphs or adults are present.

For more information, see our Leafhoppers in the Home Garden fact sheet.