When dealing with leafhopper infestation, natural predators will usually suffice. But if your plants are heavily infested, dormant oil, which can be applied with a hose-end sprayer, may provide additional help.
Plants that attract beneficial insects such as lacewings, minute pirate bugs and lady beetles will help naturally reduce leafhopper populations.
Insecticidal Soap
Spraying plants with soapy water may not be as effective as applying neem oil or diatomaceous earth, but it is still an inexpensive and safe solution for killing small soft-bodied insect pests such as leafhoppers. Commercial insecticidal soaps contain potassium salts of fatty acids which alter the structure and permeability of insect cell membranes to cause them to leak their contents and die – this action only works upon direct contact; most product labels recommend spraying at rates between 1%-2% of soap per volume of water so as to minimize plant damage while remaining effective against certain insect pests.
DIY insecticidal soap is easy and cost-effective to make from household ingredients, combining any natural oil (vegetable, olive, canola or sunflower) with 1 cup of liquid soap or Dawn dish soap as an example of an ideal formula containing no additional degreasers or ingredients that could cause harm to plants.
Preparing insecticidal soap spray requires using either distilled or soft water, as hard water can diminish its efficacy. Label the jug of spray water with an indelible marker so you can easily identify it for refilling your spray bottle without accidentally using plain tap water instead of insecticidal solution. Finally, ensure you shake well each time before refilling to ensure all ingredients are evenly dispersed and mixed together.
Spray soapy water only on leaves and undersides of foliage where most leafhoppers hide; do not apply it directly to flowers, berries, stems and trunks of trees, stems of stemless trees or in high temperatures as these could result in phytotoxicity (stress to plants). Avoid applying soapy water on hot days since high temperatures could result in phytotoxicity (stress to plants).
Neem Oil
Neem oil is an organic insecticide with great versatility for treating plant diseases and pests, including those that feed off them. This systemic solution absorbs into plant tissue before spreading throughout its vascular network for maximum effectiveness. Neem oil kills or deters pests by disrupting their hormones that regulate reproduction, growth and feeding. Additionally, it smothers insects to restrict their absorption of nutrients as well as coating their breathing holes so they cannot escape plants or find shelter. Neem oil is most frequently combined with soaps or organic-listed compounds for all-around insect spraying solutions, although you can purchase it separately too. Azadirachtin (the active ingredient found in neem oil) has been approved as safe use on edible crops.
Leafhoppers are among the most widespread garden pests, often caused by tiny wedge-shaped bugs measuring just quarter to half an inch long and usually green, grey or brown in hue. Their mouthparts have piercing-sucking powers which puncture plant cells to drain out their contents – leaving weak or dead plants behind. Furthermore, leafhoppers may carry and spread plant diseases or aphids which further weaken host plants.
Leafhoppers differ from many insects in that they do not overwinter in the soil; instead, they migrate north during spring weather systems by hitching rides on winds – this makes crop rotation less effective at controlling them than it might be for other bugs.
Neem oil can help eliminate leafhoppers when they are still eggs or nymphs, while misting plants from bottom leaves up with foliar spray bottles is effective at coating all sides of leaves evenly with mist for effective coverage. Repeat your treatment every 7 to 10 days.
Diatomaceous Earth
Leafhoppers can be an extremely damaging threat to beans, corn, lettuce, cucumbers, squash tomatoes and pepper plants – as well as ornamentals like roses – in addition to roses. Both adults and nymphs puncture leaves of these plants with puncture marks to feed on their juices causing spots, yellowing curling stunting of foliage as well as spreading diseases through toxic saliva deposited onto them by this bug.
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is an effective natural insecticide made up of sharp microscopic silica particles. When applied in dry conditions, DE penetrates bugs’ exoskeletons by absorbing their outer lipid layers; this causes dehydration and death before dropping from plants. Safe for both humans and pets when applied correctly in dry conditions, DE is often used as a home deodorizer/cleanser/garden mulch/toothpaste additive/and mild kitchen/bathroom cleaner as well as deodorizing/cleanser/cleaner/toothpaining/cleanse/or as well as mild kitchen/bathroom cleaner.
Apply DE in dust or spray form as per label instructions, mixing organic insecticidal soap or neem oil as directed for enhanced results. For the best outcomes, it should be applied early morning when dew formation will be reduced and applied in small amounts throughout the day.
Beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, green lacewings, damsel bugs and assassin bugs that specifically target leafhopper eggs and nymphs will help control populations of leafhoppers in your garden. You can encourage their presence by planting dill, yarrow, cosmos sunflowers and zinnias for added support of these helpful creatures.
Sticky traps can be placed strategically around the garden to catch adult leafhoppers. You can purchase these at many retailers that sell plants and gardening supplies or DIY them yourself using yellow cardstock with an adhesive surface, designed to catch any that land on it.
Floating Row Covers
Leafhoppers, the tiny wedge-shaped creatures known as sap-sucking pests that feed on sap from outdoor plants, can quickly cause serious damage in a short amount of time. Their saliva triggers chemical reactions in plants which lead to spots or yellowed patches on foliage as well as leaf curling if left uncontrolled; in addition, leafhoppers may spread diseases to crop plants without proper control measures being in place. There are a few preventive steps you can take in order to keep these critters away from your garden
Floating row covers, available in various thicknesses and materials, are an effective way to insulate plants from cold temperatures, diffuse sunlight and protect crops from weather damage. You can purchase commercial versions or easily create them yourself; when buying them commercially be sure to look for ones with air vents so as to prevent your plants from overheating during hot spells. If purchasing, look for models that remain breathable when temperatures increase so as not to suffocate your crops.
If you are planting vegetables such as corn, squash and tomatoes that require insect pollination to thrive, remove their covers during flowering so bees can access the plants for pollination. If your yard is near vineyards or farms with gardens that produce vegetables like these requiring pollination – consider crop rotation strategies in order to limit potential infestation.
Yellow sticky traps can help lure and capture leafhoppers in outdoor plants infested by them, or be made yourself using cardboard, poster board or heavy cardstock cut into 5-by-7-inch pieces and coated with yellow sticky substance – either purchased commercially or homemade! They should also be checked regularly so as to recoat when necessary – or hang the traps from trees or large shrubs to capture pests clinging to leaves.
Natural Predators
Leafhoppers can be an especially troublesome pest in gardens and on farms. Their piercing mouthparts allow them to drink the fluids out of plants, leaving them weaker and susceptible to other diseases, causing millions in crop losses every year. Their agile movements and coloring, with many species being teal, green or brown. Furthermore, their unique movements resemble those of crabs: crawling sideways like crabs then jumping when disturbed or threatened is easily identifiable.
Natural predators such as lacewings, assassin bugs and minute pirate bugs help control leafhopper populations in most environments, but in cases with heavy infestations these natural defenses may need additional assistance from sticky traps to contain the problem.
Maintaining well-watered plants will help them withstand leafhopper attacks more effectively. Watering early and deeply will decrease plant stress, making it harder for leafhoppers to damage leaves. In some instances, minor signs such as nymphs or light damage may go without treatment; but for more serious attacks it may be necessary to spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap to treat undersides of leaves after sunset in order to avoid sunscald and harm pollinators.
Removing garden debris shortly after harvest can dramatically decrease hopper overwintering sites and the damage they cause, while floating row covers may help prevent pests from accessing the garden until plants have taken hold. Diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled around to kill them; its fossilized remains of algae with silica-based shells have silica content which dehydrates their exoskeletons, killing any that remain. When applying it be sure to use food-grade Diatomaceous earth labeled for use on plants for best results and follow all applicable instructions carefully so as not to harm beneficial insects!
