Southeastern Apple Production
ENTOMOLOGY
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Southeastern Apple ProductionENTOMOLOGY |
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Young potato leafhopper (PLH) nymphs are tiny, whitish green, and wingless. Unlike white apple leafhoppers, they move sideways as well as forwards and backwards. Adults are greenish white, 1/3 inch long, and appear wedge-shaped from above. They fly readily when disturbed. Eggs are about 1/25 inch long, creamy-white, and cylindrical.
 Adult |
 Adult |
 Nymph |
PLH overwinter in the Gulf States and migrate northward each year, reaching North Carolina by early summer. Mated females lay eggs inside veins on the bottoms of leaves. After approximately ten days eggs will hatch, and after another two weeks the nymphs will mature and mate. There are usually three or four generations in North Carolina.
Both adults and nymphs feed on leaf tissue on new shoots, causing stunting, curling, and a yellowing disease resulting from toxins PLH inject into the plant.
 PLH damage on potato leaves |
On apple, PLH populations rarely build enough to significantly impact mature trees. On new or high-density plantings the feeding can be damaging, but a wide range of insecticides have activity against PLH. Cutting new shoot growth can also reduce populations by removing the insects' primary feeding site.
Insect and Mite Management Overview
Insect and Mite Index
Southeastern Apple Production
Mountain
Horticultural Crops Research & Extension
Center
455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759
Phone: 828.684.3562 ~ Fax: 828.684.8715
Email: jim_walgenbach@ncsu.edu
Web Crafters: Anne S. Napier and
Steve Schoof
Email:
steve_schoof@ncsu.edu
Updated March 9, 2007