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Leafhoppers

Leafhoppers are small, wedge-shaped insects that suck sap and leave a fine pale mottling. Most are cosmetic, but the aster leafhopper spreads aster yellows to carrots and lettuce.

Pests
Pale stippling from leafhoppers on a basil leaf
Pale stippling from leafhoppers on a basil leaf

What it looks like

Tiny insects that spring away.

  • Fine white or yellow dots on the upper surface.
    Pale stippling Fine white or yellow dots on the upper surface.
  • Pale green or yellow insects that hop or scuttle sideways.
    Jumping insects Pale green or yellow insects that hop or scuttle sideways.
  • Cast skins under leaves.
    White skins Cast skins under leaves.
  • On potatoes, leaf edges yellow and brown.
    Hopperburn On potatoes, leaf edges yellow and brown.

How to confirm it

Disturb the plant.

  1. Watch for hopping

    Insects leap away sideways.

  2. Under leaves

    Nymphs sit under leaves.

  3. Distinguish from mites

    No webbing, and the insects are visible.

What to do

Usually tolerate; protect sensitive crops.

  1. Tolerate on herbs

    Light damage does not affect the harvest.

  2. Row covers

    Cover carrots and lettuce where aster yellows occurs.

  3. Soft soap

    Spray nymphs directly if numbers are high.

  4. Remove weeds

    Weeds host both insects and disease.

Prevent it next time

  • Keep plants well watered.
  • Clear weeds around crops.
  • Encourage predators.

What not to do

Do not confuse the pale stippling with disease and spray fungicide.

In the growing guides

Where the guides mention it, with plant-specific advice.

Sources

  1. Leafhoppers, University of Maryland Extension