Potato Leafhopper, Empoasca fabae
(Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)

Potato leafhopper is found throughout the humid, low-altitude regions of eastern United States. It overwinters in Gulf Coast States from Louisiana to Florida and disperses northward annually. Potato leafhopper overwinters in the adult stage. During the winter months the adult leafhopper is in reproductive diapause. After leafhoppers invade an area in the spring, several overlapping generations may occur. The eggs are inserted into the veins and petioles of leaves, and hatch occurs in seven to 20 days. Nymphal development requires eight to 25 days. Adults are pale green in color, and marked with a row of white spots on the anterior margin of the pronotum. They average 3.5 mm in length.

Potato leafhopper feeds on over 200 wild and cultivated plants, including vegetable and field crops, ornamentals, and fruit and shade trees, though legumes are preferred. Feeding results in curling, stunting, and yellowing of foliage. The damage sometimes is called “hopperburn” because the plant appears to be singed by fire. Application of insecticides to foliage will prevent injury.

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Potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae, adult on snap bean.
(Photographer: L. Buss, University of Florida)

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Potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae, nymph on snap bean.
(Photographer: L. Buss, University of Florida)

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