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Pests: find out more LEAFHOPPER
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The Pest
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Leafhoppers have become much more of a problem since the use of biological control has led to a reduction in pesticide use. They have a wide host range including tomatoes, cucumbers and many ornamental species.
All stages of the pest feed on the underside of the leaf. The characteristic symptom of feeding is irregular clusters of white spots which go right through the leaf from the upper to the lower surface. If damage becomes severe the spots may join together to form large bleached areas sometimes covering the whole leaf. In common with whitefly and aphids, leafhopper produces honeydew on which sooty moulds can grow but this is rarely a problem. Cast skins of the insect can often be found on the under surface of affected leaves and may also lead to confusion with whitefly or aphid. | 
Leafhopper nymph
Leafhopper Adult
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Life Cycle
The life cycle can last from 25 days in the summer to 85 days in the winter. Eggs are laid in slits in the veins of leaves and hatch after about 17 days at 18oC. There are five nymphal stages which take 42 days to adult emergence at this temperature. Adults are slender white and about 4-5mm long. They readily jump and fly when they are disturbed. While young stages are similar in appearance to adults they do not have wings and therefore are less mobile. |
Leafhopper damage
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