Potato and Beet Leafhoppers


WHERE:

Potato leafhoppers are found in the eastern half of North America. Beet leafhoppers are found in the hot, dry areas of the West.

DESCRIPTION:

Potato leafhoppers are about an eight of an inch long and greenish. Beet hoppers are about a sixth of an inch long and green, brown, or yellow usually with darker blotches.Nymphs are similar to adults.

Potato leafhoppers migrate north each spring by the blowing winds. Beet leafhoppers migrate north and east from the southwest each spring. Both overwinter only where temperatures remain above freezing. Eggs are inserted into plants and hatch into nymphs that feed and develop for several weeks before becoming adults that survive for about a month.

SYMPTOMS:

The potato hopper usues its straw-like sucking mouth parts to feed on beans, potatoes,and alfalfa. Beet hoppers feed on sugar beets, beets, tomatoes, spincah, squash, melons,and many other ornamentals.

Feeding by the potato hopper blocks the flow of liquids inside the plant. Leaves yellow at the edge, then curl and turn yellow, brown, or darker green. Adults and nymphs of the beet leafhopper can transmit curly top virus while feeding, which can stunt, deform, and kill plants.

CONTROLS:

Plant dill and fennel. Let them flower to attract big-eyed bugs that eat leafhoppers.

Cover gardens with row covers.

Spray leafhoppers directly with insecticidal soap solution if you don't mind contaminating your garden. The liquid must touch them to be effective.

Grow resistent varieties such as fuzzy leaf varieties. Potato hoppers hate those.

The copyright of the article Potato and Beet Leafhoppers in Garden Pests is owned by Carla Goodloe. Permission to republish Potato and Beet Leafhoppers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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