If small, wedge-shaped insects jump off your plants every time you brush past them, you've probably met leafhoppers. Around your Westfield home, they can show up on roses, shade trees, vegetables, flowers and even the lawn. Most of the time they're a minor nuisance, but large numbers can leave plants speckled, curled and stunted. Below, we'll cover how to identify leafhoppers, the damage they cause, whether they're harmful and what you can do to keep them in check. If you're finding insects you can't put a name to, our pest inspection services can help.
What Leafhoppers Are
Leafhoppers are small sap-feeding insects related to cicadas, treehoppers and planthoppers. There are many species, and they come in a wide range of colors, from plain green to brightly striped. Most share a few traits that make them easy to recognize:
- Shape. Slender and wedge-shaped, wider at the head and tapering toward the wing tips.
- Size. Usually small, from about the size of a grain of rice to a little larger.
- Legs. Rows of tiny spines along the back legs, which help set them apart from similar insects.
- Movement. They often scoot sideways around a stem before hopping or flying away.
Young leafhoppers, called nymphs, look like smaller, wingless adults. They often leave pale, papery cast skins on the undersides of leaves.
Why Leafhoppers Show Up
Leafhoppers feed on plant sap, so they go wherever there's healthy, tender growth. Some species spend the winter locally as eggs or adults in plant debris. Others are carried north on spring winds each year. Weedy areas, tall grass and dense plantings give them food and shelter, and lush new growth after fertilizing can attract them too. Some species are also drawn to lights at night, so you may see them on screens and porch walls in summer.
Numbers usually build through late spring and summer. Because many species have more than one generation a year, a few leafhoppers in June can turn into a lot by August. Hot, dry weather can make plants more stressed and the damage easier to see. The good news is that cold weather ends the season, and most leafhoppers don't come indoors to spend the winter the way stink bugs or boxelder bugs do.
Signs Of Leafhopper Damage
- Pale speckling. Tiny white or yellow dots on the upper leaf surface where cells were drained.
- Hopperburn. Leaf edges turn yellow, then brown, and may curl upward. Potato leafhoppers are known for this on beans, potatoes and some trees.
- Curled or stunted growth. New shoots and leaves may twist or stay small.
- Cast skins. Pale, empty skins stuck to the underside of leaves.
- Insects that jump. Small wedge-shaped insects leaping away when you touch the plant.
Speckled leaves can also come from lace bugs or spider mites. If you're seeing dark spots on the undersides of azalea or andromeda leaves, our guide to signs of lace bug damage can help you compare.
Are Leafhoppers Harmful?
Not to people or your home. Leafhoppers don't infest houses, damage structures or get into food. One that lands on your arm may poke around briefly, but they aren't considered a health concern.
To plants, the effect depends on the species and the numbers. Light feeding is mostly cosmetic. Heavy feeding can weaken vegetables, roses and young trees, and hopperburn can cut into a garden harvest. Some leafhoppers also carry plant diseases, such as aster yellows, which can stunt and deform flowers and vegetables. That spread of disease is often the bigger concern for gardeners.
How To Keep Leafhoppers In Check
- Look under the leaves. Check for nymphs and cast skins early in the season, when numbers are still low.
- Rinse plants. A firm spray of water knocks leafhoppers and nymphs off smaller plants.
- Use row covers. Lightweight fabric keeps them off young vegetable plants.
- Manage weeds. Keep nearby weedy areas and tall grass trimmed.
- Remove diseased plants. Pull plants showing aster yellows so leafhoppers don't spread it further.
- Protect beneficial insects. Spiders, lacewings, lady beetles and other predators eat leafhoppers.
- Adjust outdoor lighting. Fewer bright lights near doors means fewer insects gathering at night.
When To Call A Professional
Leafhoppers on garden plants are usually managed with the steps above, and a certified arborist is the right call for problems on large trees. EcoFusion doesn't treat trees or vegetable gardens. Where we help is with identification and with insects that move from the yard toward your house. Our NJ DEP-licensed technicians can inspect your home and property, tell you what you're dealing with and recommend a plan using Integrated Pest Management and EPA-registered, eco-safe products.
Leafhoppers are common garden visitors that rarely need more than good habits to manage. Keeping an eye on your plants and the areas around them is the simplest way to stay ahead of them at your Westfield home.