Leafhopper Control: How To Get Rid of Leaf Hoppers

This page is an expert guide on getting rid of Leaf Hopper infestations using the products and methods suggested by our experienced pest control specialists. Follow this guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee you will be successful in eliminating Leaf Hoppers from your property.

When spring comes around, many gardeners are eager to begin planting and growing their favorite vegetation. The side effect of the warm weather returning is that it also signals the return of plant-eating pests such as Leafhoppers.

Leafhoppers (also spelled Leaf Hoppers) have over 12,000 different species worldwide and are known by many other names such as torpedo bugs, lantern flies and treehoppers. They range in size from 1/8th of an inch to 1/4th of an inch long and come in many different colors—from green to white, brown, and with colorful designs.

Leafhoppers are known to eat a wide range of different plants such as grasses, shrubs and garden plants and can cause some minimal damage but its the sticky, waxy honeydew that they leave behind that can make plants look unsightly. The honeydew can eventually cause mold and plant diseases to develop which can lead to plant discoloration and death if there's a heavy infestation.

If you have noticed Leafhoppers doing damage to your plants, our guide below will let you know a little about these garden pests and how you can remove them from your yard and keep them gone using our methods and professional products.

Identification

Before you can proceed with a treatment program, you need to identify and make sure that pest you are dealing with is, in fact, a Leafhopper. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong pesticides and treatment methods that will be ineffective, wasting your time and money. Below we have shared some listed traits for Leafhopper identification.

• Leafhoppers come in various types and colors. Depending on the species, they may be colored varying shades of green, yellow or brown with numerous specks on their body.
• Leafhoppers are very small, ranging in size from 1/8th of an inch to 1/4th of an inch long.
• The common trait of this small pest is a blunt-shaped head and wings which resemble a leaf.
• The reasons the Leaf Hopper got its name was because of its exceptional leaping skills; they can jump up to two feet high when they feel threatened. The nymphs look similar to the adult, except that they don't have wings.
• Some of the common Leaf Hoppers are the Beet Leaf Hopper, Grape Leaf Hopper, Potato Leaf Hopper, Rose Leaf Hopper and six-spotted Leaf Hopper, etc.
• Because they are so tiny, Leafhopper damage is often very minor but if they are large in number you can see noticeable damage to plants they target for a food source.

Inspection

After you have properly identified Leafhoppers, you can move forward with an inspection. You will need to locate where the Leafhoppers are gathering and what plants they are targeting most. This will help you to know where to focus your pesticide applications.

Where To Look 

Leafhoppers are found in warmer climates in nearly any type of habitat that there is vegetation growing. Focus your inspection on the garden plants on your property. Depending on the species of Leaf Hopper, they may enjoy a wide variety of plants or a particular plant, fruit, or vegetable. Look for areas where your plants appear damaged.

What To Look For

Aside from looking for Leafhopper adults and nymphs, you should be looking for signs of plant damage. The most clear sign of Leaf Hopper presence is the sticky substance they leave behind which is called honeydew. Leaf Hoppers secrete honeydew after feeding on a plant and it could look like little spots of tar. Honeydew has the ability to quickly break down plant tissue and may develop a fungus growth called sooty mold.

Treatment

If you have confirmed that Leafhoppers are infesting your plants, you will need to apply treatment using professional products. Make sure before you apply any chemicals that you wear personal protective equipment (gloves, long-sleeved clothing, protective eyewear and mask).

You will use two products, Supreme IT Insecticide and Viper Insect Dust. Supreme IT will be used to repel and kill Leafhoppers from your turfgrass, ornamentals and small landscaping bushes. Viper Dust will be used on fruit-bearing trees, flowers and garden plants.

Step 1 - Apply Supreme IT Insecticide To Yard and Ornamentals

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide that is labeled for treating over 70 different pests, including Leaf Hoppers. It also has a long residual effect that can continue to control pests for up to 90 days after application. Measure the square footage of your lawn to determine how much Supreme IT you need to cover the entire area. .25 to .5 oz. of Supreme IT with a gallon of water will treat 1,000 square feet.

Mix the product in a sprayer (especially if you have a large yard) and spray Supreme IT over your entire yard and garden via fan spray to get nice uniform coverage. If you have a large yard, it may be better to use a hose-end sprayer. You will want to use enough water to evenly treat the area -- up to 10 gallons.

Spray your whole lawn starting from the back to the front. Also, spray ornamentals and landscaping, making sure to only focus on non-edible vegetation areas. Make sure not to forget to spray the underside of leaves as these can be where Leaf Hoppers hide out of view. Do not spray fruit-bearing trees or flower beds.

Do not let people or pets enter areas sprayed until 2 to 4 hours have passed.

Step 2 - Apply Viper Insect Dust

If you have fruit-bearing plants, vegetables or flowers, you should apply Viper Insect Dust. Viper Insect Dust is a pesticide dust that can be safely applied to fruit-bearing trees, vegetables, and garden plants such as sweet corn, potatoes, apples, celery and lettuce. It contains the active ingredient Permethrin and delivers a quick knockdown to Leaf Hoppers which come in contact with it.

To use Viper Dust you will need a handheld duster. Fill the duster halfway with Viper Dust, leaving plenty of room for air to circulate inside. Apply to cover both on top of leaves and under leaves of fruit-bearing trees and gardens where Leaf Hoppers or their damage have been spotted.

Prevention

Prevention is the final step to completely control Leaf Hoppers and limit the possibility of re-infestation. Here are some preventative measures we suggest to keep Leafhoppers from being a reoccuring problem:

• Spray your yard with Supreme IT every 3 months to keep the Leafhopper population in check, especially in the Spring and Fall seasons when their appearance is more likely.
• You can also prevent Leafhoppers from finding places to harbor by clearing up leaf litter and garden debris.

Key Takeaways

What are Leafhoppers?

• Leaf Hoppers are a destructive species of pest known to suck-sap from plants and cause plant diseases such as sooty mold.
• While plant damage from a single Leafhopper is insignificant because they are so small, if there is a large outbreak of them feeding on your plants, they could be at risk.

How To Control Leafhoppers in your Yard

• Using a combination of contact insecticide treatment with Supreme IT and Viper Insect Dust (for food-bearing plants) can effectively eliminate and protect your yard and garden plants from Leafhoppers.

Preventing Leafhopper Reinfestation

• Preventative applications of Supreme IT Insecticide will ensure Leaf Hoppers stay away from your garden.
• Reduce leaf litter and excess debris as much as possible from your yard and gardens to take away overwintering sites where Leafhoppers can hide.