COMMON NAME
Leafhopper
Order

Suborder

Family

Genus

Species

Alias
Hemiptera

Auchenorrhyncha

Cicadellidae






Description

These tiny insects belong to the same family as cicadas. They have a broad head and a wedge-shaped body, and range in colour from bright green, through yellow to brown. Their clear wings fold past their bodies (like a cicada). They have very powerful back legs like a grasshoppers and can jump a long way when disturbed. They can also run sideways. The nymphs are similar to the adult but are smaller and don’t have wings.

Adult size: 3mm

Out and about

Most numerous in summer. Found in temperate and tropical climates world-wide, including all states and territories of Australia.

Reproduction and Life cycle

The female lays her eggs in the stems or the veins of plants. The nymphs will moult 5 times during their growth cycle Their breeding cycle is very short, about 3 weeks, allowing dense populations to build up quickly.

To deter

To control

- Spray with neem - Spray with pyrethrum - Diatomaceous earth - Keep weeds down to reduce breeding areas - They like warm dry conditions so keep water up to plants - They are attracted to yellow sticky traps

Plants to repel

Plants to attract

Predators

Lady beetles / Lacewings / Minute pirate bug
Why they are a Pest
Both adults and nymphs are plant suckers, and can be present in great numbers. They inject toxins which kill the plant cells and they can also transmit diseases from plant to plant. They like leafy greens, young shoots, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and beans. Damage appears as white spots where they have pierced the plant, and results in wilting and silvering of the leaves.
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