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 successfully eliminate leaf hoppers from your property.

When spring comes around, many gardeners are eager to plant and grow their favorite vegetation. However, the return of warm weather also signals the return of plant-eating pests such as Leafhoppers.

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

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

If you have noticed leafhoppers damaging your plants, our guide below will explain 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 ensure that the pest you are dealing with is, in fact, a leafhopper. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong pesticides and treatment methods, which will be ineffective and waste 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 from 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long.
• The common trait of this small pest is a blunt-shaped head and wings, which resemble a leaf.
• The leafhopper got its name because of its exceptional leaping skills; it can jump up to two feet high when it feels threatened. The nymphs look similar to adults, except that they don't have wings.
• Some common leafhoppers are the beet leaf hopper, grape leaf hopper, potato leaf hopper, rose leaf hopper, and six-spotted leaf hopper.
• Because they are so tiny, leafhopper damage is often very minor, but if they are large in number, noticeable damage can be seen to plants they target for a food source.

Use the image and description above to identify leafhoppers on your plants and around your property properly. If unsure, contact us through email or phone, or stop by in person at one of our store locations with a pest sample in a sealable plastic container. This will help us assist in proper pest identification and suggest the appropriate treatment method.

Inspection

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

Where To Look 

Leafhoppers are found in warmer climates in nearly any type of habitat where vegetation grows. Focus your inspection on the garden plants on your property. Depending on the leafhopper species, they may enjoy various 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, it would be best to look for signs of plant damage. The most clear sign of leafhopper presence is the sticky substance they leave behind, which is called honeydew. Leafhoppers 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 called sooty mold.

Treatment

If you have confirmed that leafhoppers infest your plants, you must treat them using professional products. Before you apply any chemicals, make sure 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 repels and kills leafhoppers from your turfgrass, ornamentals, and small landscaping bushes. Viper Dust is 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 labeled for treating over 70 pests, including leafhoppers. Its long residual effect 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. Find the square footage by measuring the length and width in feet and multiplying them together (length X width = square footage).

Apply 0.25 to 0.5 oz. of Supreme IT with a gallon of water to 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 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 treat the area—up to 10 gallons evenly.

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. Do not forget to spray the underside of leaves, as these can be where leafhoppers hide out of view. Do not spray fruit-bearing trees or flower beds.

Do not let people or pets enter areas sprayed until the spray completely dries.

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 leafhoppers that 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 in controlling leafhoppers and limiting the possibility of re-infestation. Here are some preventative measures we suggest to keep leafhoppers from being a reoccurring problem:

• Spray your yard with Supreme IT every three months to keep the Leafhopper population in check, especially in the spring and fall, 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?

• Leafhoppers are a destructive species of pest known to suck and 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, they could be at risk if there is a large outbreak of them feeding on your plants.

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 leafhoppers stay away from your garden.
• Reduce leaf litter and excess debris as much as possible in your yard and gardens to eliminate overwintering sites where leafhoppers can hide.