Potato leafhopper adults are wedgeshaped, green, and about 18 inch long. On may 2, dave feltes, ipm educator, quad cities extension center, reported his first observations of potato leafhoppers for the 2001 growing season. The adult potato leafhopper is pale green, wedgeshaped, winged, and about 2. Harvesting will kill a high percentage of potato leafhopper nymphs and some adults. The potato leafhopper adult is highly mobile, wedgedshaped, green in color, and about 18 inch 3 mm long. Leafhoppers can be direct pests, such as the potato leafhopper, empoasca fabae, or indirect pests transmitting phloemlimited bacteria such as. Storms along the gulf of mexico bring adult potato leafhoppers north and drop into fields every spring. Pest description and crop damage the most important leafhopper for potato producers in the pnw is the beet leafhopper, due to its ability to transmit the beet leafhopper transmitted virescence agent bltva phytoplasma. Some of these populations already exceed the treatment threshold with just adults, so hatching nymphs.
There are many insects under the umbrella term of leafhoppers of which the two that are economically important to potato growers are the aster leafhopper macrosteles quadrillineatus and the potato leafhopper empoasca fabae. Those of the intermountain potato leafhopper empoasca. A leafhopper is the common name for any species from the family cicadellidae. It feeds on developing leaves and overwinters among fallen grape leaves. More than 70 percent of alfalfa is now resistant to potato leafhopper. Myerslopiidae, with only two genera, and the enormous family cicadellidae, which, with more than 22,000 described species and 2600 genera, ranks among the 10 largest insect families. Sternorryncha aphids, whiteflies, scales, psyllids. As the insects molt from one instar to the next, they leave behind white cast skins. The pale green to yellow nymphs, are wingless, smaller than the.
Host plants the potato leafhopper feeds on a variety of plant species and has been reported to feed on nearly 200 kinds of plants. Could not find significant populations in fields swathed within the last 710 days but as regrowth occurs and immigration continues, these fields need to be monitored. Among entomologists, the leafhopper ranks third as the most important insect pest in north america. Crops that are impacted the most are potatoes, clover, beans, apples and alfalfa. This is earlier than usual for these pests as they typically dont migrate into the state for another month, between the 2 nd and 3 rd cutting. The potato leafhopper s toxic saliva causes considerably more damage in orchards. Jul 30, 2015 potato leafhopper is a pest of many agricultural crops. Description the potato leafhopper, empoasca fabae, is perhaps the most abundant insect pest in new york state alfalfa fields. Available keys now include 1,690 species and 376 higher taxa genus and above, linked to 21,884 illustrative digital images. Most people notice the first symptom of potato leafhopper injury as a vshaped yellowing at the tips of the leaflets, commonly referred to as hopperburn or tipburn. The potato leafhopper feeds on more than 100 cultivated and wild plants including. For potato leafhopper, treatment has been recommended if densities exceed 1030 nymphs per 100 leaves johnson and radcliffe, 1991. The potato leafhopper empoasca fabae is a destructive potato pest that causes that plants leaves to.
The body is widest at the head and tapers toward the wing tips. Potato leafhoppers are true bugs, in the same insect order as aphids. Shade department of entomology purdue university, west lafayette, in 47907. Leafhoppers, also known as hoppers, are minute plant feeding insects in the superfamily cicadelloidea in. The pale green to yellow nymphs, are wingless, smaller than the adults, and very quick. In north america they are a serious agricultural pest. Aster leafhopper does not pick up the mlo from potatoes. Adults are greenish white, 1 3 inch 8mm long, and have a wedge shape when viewed from. Jun 02, 2014 there have been recent reports of potato leafhopper in iowa alfalfa photo 1, and its time to think about assessing alfalfa stands. Consequently they can remain unnoticed until the plants show hopperburn.
Sweep samples, beginning 5 to 7 days after harvest, will determine whether or not a treatment is necessary. Potato leafhopper nymphs take about 25 days to pass through five life stages, each larger than the previous stage. Approximately 200 additional images were added to the key to species of the leafhopper genus, empoasca, the largest leafhopper genus with 500 described species. Note potato leafhopper resistance may vary based on synthetic generation of seed used. Potato leafhopper infestation is most severe in seeding stands. Potato, irishleafhopper pacific northwest pest management. Only the last three instars possess visible wing pads, which become wings in the adult. The grape leafhopper erythroneura is a slender yellowcoloured insect with red markings and is about 3 mm long. Ranger7 tennessee state university, school of agriculture and consumer sciences otis l.
Note that aster leafhopper adults are a more drab olive green in contrast to the light green of potato leafhopper adults. Cicadulina mbila, potato leafhopper empoasca fabae, twospotted leafhopper sophonia rufofascia. Soybeans are rarely damaged by potato leafhopper feeding because hairs on leaves and stems provide a level of protection. Pest description and crop damage the most important leafhopper for. Potato leafhopper can be distinguished from white apple leafhopper by the tendency of white apple leafhopper to walk forward and backward while potato leafhopper walks sideways as well as forward and backward. Potato leafhopper nymph movement on a grape leaf youtube. Nymphs of the beet leafhopper circulifer tenellus, are pale yellowish green. The adults will return when the regrowth is about 4 to 6 tall. Evaluation of systemic insecticides for potato leafhopper. Eight potato cultivars, including russet burbank, ranger russet, shepody, umatilla russet, atlantic, fl1879, fl1867, and fl1833.
Potato leafhoppers prefer to feed on young succulent leaves so managing canopy vigour through the use of balanced pruning, cover crops and appropriate fertilizer applications will reduce food sources for them. Adult potato leafhoppers are green with white spots on the head and thorax and are about 3 mm long. There are small nymphs, many adults, and the adults seem to still be migrating into the fields. Yield loss in potato can occur before visual symptoms of potato leafhopper damage are obvious. It is potentially the most damaging of the alfalfa pests because of the debilitating effect of its feeding on newly established alfalfa stands and stunting of regrowth alfalfa. Potato leafhopper emposaca fabae, plh is native to eastern north america and is found on apple, pear, grape, potato, strawberry, soybean, alfalfa, and many other field crops, as well as some forest trees. Small 18inch long, yellowgreen, wedgeshaped insects that move sideways, jump or fly when disturbed. Every year millions of dollars are lost from reduced crop yields and on pest management. The adult potato leafhopper is winged, pale green, wedgeshaped insect about 18inch long. Although the potato leafhopper does not overwinter in northern areas, it may complete several generations in these areas. The adult potato leafhopper is winged, pale green, wedgeshaped insect about 1 8inch long. Leafhopper damage on plants can be extensive, so learning how to kill leafhoppers in the garden and ridding lawns of leafhopper pests is important. The potato leafhopper is generally distributed northward by wind. Only the last three instars possess visible wing pads, which become wings in.
Potato leafhopper populations are very active throughout north central kansas. Potato leafhopper is here june, 1998 potato leafhopper management in alfalfa june, 1999. Cicadellidae transmits the columbia basin potato purple top phytoplasma to potatoes, beets, and weeds j. Identification and life cycleseasonal history the potato leafhopper, empoasca fabae harris, occasionally damages alfalfa in our area. Though its host range extends to over 100 plants including alfalfa, soybean, beans, apples, potatoes, and grapes, the potato leafhopper causes the most significant amount of injury to alfalfa and clover. Time wise efficacy of different insecticides against potato leaf hopper. Managing potato leafhoppers in alfalfa integrated crop. There is no threshold established for aster leafhopper treatment. Potato leafhoppers are also more lime green in colour, while white apple leafhoppers are more yellowish white. Leafhoppers go through incomplete metamorphosis in their development.
These minute insects, colloquially known as hoppers, are plant feeders that suck plant sap from grass, shrubs, or trees. The life cycle of leafhoppers is an incomplete metamorphosis as they. Experiments showed that as the density of hairs on leaf veins increased, the potato leafhopper damage decreased. Potato leafhopper rufus isaacs, msu entomology home scouting guide potato leafhopper the adult leafhopper is pale to bright green and about 18 inch long. Leafhopper control treating leafhoppers in lawns and gardens. Rating rating can be taken at any time during the establishment year when the susceptible check is showing severe and uniform stunting and yellowing.
Injured plants typically exhibit vshaped yellowing of the leaf tips hopperburn. They are strongly attracted to lights at night and are small enough to. Species that are significant agricultural pests include the potato leafhopper, beet leafhopper, white apple. Recent classification within the hemiptera has changed the old term homoptera into two new suborders. Adult potato leafhoppers are green with white spots on. Evaluation of systemic insecticides for potato leafhopper control in fieldgrown red maple1 j. Common host plants include beans, corn, lettuce, beets, potato, grapes, roses and many others. Leafhopper adults 14 inch long are slender, wedgeshaped insects that fly or disperse rapidly when disturbed.
Temperature, plantgrowth stage, and insect population effects on seedling survival of resistant and susceptible alfalfa infested with potato leafhopper. Adults are very active, jumping, flying or running when disturbed. Host plants the potato leafhopper feeds on a variety of plant species and. When the density of hairs exceeded 3 per mm2, no feeding damage was observed. Leafhoppers, also known as hoppers, are minute plantfeeding insects in the superfamily cicadelloidea in the homopterous division of the order hemiptera.
Potato leafhopper adults are already present in all alfalfa fields we checked over the past week. Potato leafhopper is a pest of many agricultural crops. Leafhopper is a common name applied to any species from the family cicadellidae. Floyd nursery research center, mcminnville, tn 37110 abstract.
These are pests throughout the us midwest and southern canada. Management with insecticides insecticides are used to control potato leafhopper in most commercial vineyards. Potato leafhopper is primarily a pest of potatoes and snap or dry beans, but also can affect eggplant and other vegetables, raspberries, apple and other fruits as well as field crops including alfalfa, cowpea. Some common leafhopper species in gardens and landscapes are the rose leafhopper, grape leafhopper, variegated leafhopper, potato leafhopper, and the aster leafhopper. Leafhoppers are common and abundant insects worldwide. It is found on the grapevine, virginia creeper, and apple tree and is controlled by spraying or dusting. White apple leafhopper overwintering eggs begin hatching at pink, and hatching is usually.
Journal of the entomological society of ontario volume 4, 2003 3. This species has a row of six spots along the margin of the front thorax. The potato leafhopper plh, empoasca fabae harris homoptera. Trees most likely to be damaged are maples especially red, norway and sugar, birch, apple and crabapple, and viburnum. This leafhopper varies in color but is always one of the smaller species and lacks. Leafhoppers range in size up to about 10 mm long and have five nymphal instars. It is broadest toward the head and tapers to the wing tips. Their hind legs are modified for jumping, and are covered with hairs that facilitate the spreading of a secretion over their bodies that acts as a water repellent and carrier of pheromones. Immatures pass through five nymphal instars which develop by incomplete metamorphosis. Adults are repelled by plant hairs, and nymphs get caught in the sticky hairs and starve. Empoasca fabae belongs to family cicadellidae and genus empoasca within order hemiptera. His observations are 3 weeks earlier than last year. Other articles where potato leafhopper is discussed.
The potato leafhopper, empoasca fabae harris, has a much broader host range than the white apple leafhopper, feeding on apple, grapes, strawberry, potato, many other vegetable crops, beans, alfalfa and approximately 200 other species of plants. The potato leafhopper empoasca fabae is a destructive potato pest that causes that plants leaves to turn brown and curl. Chapter 4 leafhopper and psyllid pests of potato adult aster leafhoppers are small, measuring about 3. An established stand takes about 6 weeks to develop the. An early harvest usually allows the stand to avoid extensive plh damage because the leafhoppers generally have not arrived or. Damaged plants show large increases in respiration that deplete photosynthates required for haulm and tuber development. Management sustainable agriculture monitoring fields for populations and correctly identifying the leafhopper is essential to good management as there are many leafhoppers that do not damage potato.
Jul 01, 2015 green berets ultralight bug out bag with gear recommendations duration. They run forward, backward or sideways when disturbed. Their wings are positioned like a roof over their backs, and they have small spines on both hind legs. Adults are wedge shaped with wings held folded and arched over their back. Most species of leafhoppers feed on only one or several closely related plant species. Female leafhoppers insert tiny eggs in tender plant tissue, causing pimplelike injuries. Potato leafhoppers do not overwinter in iowa, but they are persistent alfalfa pests every growing season. Potato leafhopper, empoasca fabae harris click on the map above for a larger version. The potato leafhopper is an important insect pest of alfalfa, fruits, and vegetables. Both potato leafhopper adults and nymphs may cause injury to plants. Pdf management of potato leaf hopper amrasca devastans dist. Protecting alfalfa from potato leafhopper usually involves a threepronged approach.
Entomology image gallery cicadas and leafhoppers leafhoppers potato leafhopper. The phytoplasma previously was found to be associated almost exclusively with the beet leafhopper, suggesting that this insect is the probable vector of bltva in this important potato growing region. They feed on weeds during the early spring, and then adults fly into alfalfa fields where several generations may be completed during the rest of the growing season. Adults of the beet leafhopper are about 18 inch in length and gray to greenish yellow in color. They undergo a partial metamorphosis, and have various host associations, varying from very generalized to very specific.
Adults are greenish white, 1 3 inch 8mm long, and have a wedge shape when viewed from above. The use of glandularhaired alfalfa varieties can significantly reduce yield losses. Beet leafhopper circulifer tenellus other leafhoppers empoasca spp. They are more commonly referred to as the potato leafhopper. Potato leafhoppers are small 18 inch long, wedgeshaped insects.