2 (1 = rare 5 = annual)

2 (1 = very little damage 5 = plants killed)

Carrots, most leafy vegetables such as lettuce and potatoes.

Vegetable

• Carrots (Daucus carrota var. sativas)
• Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

The carrots infected with aster yellows tend to develop many hairy roots, become stunted, and turn pale.

In lettuce, yellowing of the infected plants, stunting and twisting of the leaves characterize it.

Potato leafhopper is a mid to late season pest. The adult and nymphs destroy the tissues where manufactured food from the leaves is transported to other parts of the plant. The attacked leaves turn yellow and roll. These symptoms are referred to as "Hopperburn". Yield loss can occur at relatively low populations and before the symptoms are visible.

Leafhoppers are piercing and sucking insects. The most common leafhopper is the aster leafhopper that transmits aster yellows disease to carrots and lettuce. The aster leafhopper may overwinter in grasses and small grain crop fields in northern Illinois but majority of them migrate in late spring from the southern states.

Scout the crops for adults using sweep nets and check underneath the leaf for nymphs.

Monitor aster leafhoppers by using yellow sticky traps positioned above the crop canopy and spray insecticides recommended in your state when 5-10 leafhoppers per field are trapped on yellow sticky cards. Use row covers, reflective mulch, and elimination of weeds that are alternate hosts to aster leafhopper. Potato leafhoppers can be controlled by application of foliar and soil applied insecticides recommended in your state.

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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Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook
The Illinois Commercial Landscape and Turfgrass Pest Management Handbook (ICLT) is written for professional applicators and provides nonchemical and current chemical recommendations as well as application timing information for all major pests of turf, woody ornamentals and herbaceous ornamentals. 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 "ICLT").
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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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