Insect
Leafhoppers
Small wedge-shaped insects 3 - 6 mm long, pale green to yellow, that jump rapidly when disturbed and feed by sucking sap from leaf undersides.
Symptoms to Look For
- Pale stippled or bleached speckling across upper leaf surfaces
- Whitish cast skins on leaf undersides
- Curled, distorted, or yellowing leaf margins
- Stunted new growth on heavily infested plants
Affected Plants
PotatoBeanBrassicaStrawberryLettuceCarrotBeetrootAppleGrape
Organic Solutions
Insecticidal soap spray
Spray insecticidal soap solution onto leaf undersides where nymphs congregate, repeating every 5 - 7 days during hot dry spells.
Reflective mulch
Lay silver reflective mulch on the soil surface around plants to disorient and deter adult leafhoppers from landing.
Kaolin clay
Apply kaolin clay spray to foliage to create a physical deterrent that reduces adult feeding and egg-laying.
Prevention
- Remove weeds around the garden perimeter which serve as overwintering habitat and early-season host plants
- Use row covers on susceptible crops during peak leafhopper season
- Monitor with yellow sticky traps to track population build-up before damage becomes severe
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.