2 (1 = rare 5 = annual)

3 (1 = very little damage 5 = plants killed)

Potato, eggplant, bean, and many other plants.

Vegetable

• Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, P. lunatus)
• Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)
• Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Adult potato leafhoppers are green, 1/8-inch long, wedge-shaped insects that jump and fly readily when disturbed. Nymphs are smaller and wingless. Nymphs are more likely to walk to the other side of the stem or leaf rather than jump. Both nymph and adult move in a characteristic "sidestep" pattern of walking, in which they move sideways rather than forward.

Both nymphs and adults suck sap out of leaves, causing them to curl, turn yellow, and then brown. Heavily damaged leaves drop from the plant. The insect attacks potato, eggplant, bean, and many other plants. Heavily injured beans are stunted with small root systems, resulting in reduced amount and quality of yield. They can also cause serious injury to bean seedlings through leaf feeding.

This insect migrates north into Illinois from the southern United States each spring. There are several generations per year.

Treat potatoes when there are two adult potato leafhoppers per sweep of a net or one adult per sweep plus fifteen nymphs per twenty-five leaves. Treat beans if populations exceed one adult per sweep or one nymph per ten leaves. For bean plants smaller than the two-true-leaf stage, treat if counts exceed one adult per two sweeps.

Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide
The Home, Yard & Garden Pest Guide (C1391) provides is written for homeowners and other residents and provides nonchemical and current chemical recommendations for controlling pests associated with trees, shrubs, turf, flowers, groundcovers, vegetables, fruit, and houses. In addition, you'll find detailed information about integrated pest management, pesticide safety, and pesticide application and calibration techniques. This publication may be purchased at your local University of Illinois Extension Unit office, or by calling 800-345-6087, or by placing an order online (search for "C1391").
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U of IL - Distance Diagnosis through Digital Imaging
A free plant, weed, insect and disease identification service available through your local University of Illinois Extension office. Center Educators or State Specialists review & respond to information and digital images submitted by local Extension office personnel. Some samples may require further examination or culture work (nominal fee involved) at the U of IL Plant Clinic.
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U of IL - Plant Clinic
Services include plant and insect identification, diagnosis of disease, insect, weed and chemical injury (chemical injury on field crops only), nematode assays, and help with nutrient related problems, as well as recommendations involving these diagnoses. Microscopic examinations, laboratory culturing, virus assays, and nematode assays are some of the techniques used in the clinic.
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