Common crops affected
- Cotton
- Vines
- Potato
- Vegetables
What is it?
Leafhoppers are wedge-shaped insects that feed on sap and inject saliva, disrupting the plant's vascular tissue. Some species also vector phytoplasmas and viruses, adding disease risk to direct feeding damage.
How to identify it
- Small (a few mm), green to brown wedge-shaped insects that run sideways and hop/fly when disturbed.
- Leaf yellowing, marginal browning and upward curling — 'hopperburn' — starting at leaf tips/edges.
- Stippling and pale speckling from feeding; stunted, distorted growth in heavy infestations.
- Cast skins and rapid nymphs on leaf undersides.
Life cycle & spread
Eggs are inserted into leaf/stem tissue; nymphs develop through several instars on leaf undersides; multiple generations per season, with rapid build-up in warm weather.
Conditions that favour it
Warm, dry weather and lush growth favour build-up; migratory species can arrive in waves.
Damage and how it spreads
Direct feeding causes hopperburn and yield loss; pathogen transmission (phytoplasmas, viruses) can add disease losses well beyond the feeding damage.
Monitoring & scouting
Scout leaf undersides for nymphs; watch for early tip/edge yellowing; sweep-net to gauge populations and time treatment to nymphs.
How to control it
- Target nymphs with thorough underside coverage;
- manage early before hopperburn develops;
- conserve natural enemies.
Recommended Vegalab solution: Spider Mite Control
Spider Mite Control — all-natural contact product (geraniol with peppermint, cottonseed and rosemary oils) that controls leafhoppers and other soft-bodied pests on contact; spray with thorough leaf-underside coverage, repeated per pressure.
| Role | Product | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary control | Spider Mite Control |
Preventing it next season
Early scouting, prompt treatment of nymphs, weed management, and avoiding excess nitrogen that fuels lush, attractive growth.
Claims and product availability vary by jurisdiction. Always read and follow the product label.