Notes on Strawberry Insects
Potato Leafhopper
Identification
Nymphs are light green and walk sideways across the leaf when disturbed.
The adults are green with long folded wings.
Leafhoppers suck sap from the leaves, which causes yellow mottling around
the edges. Potato leafhoppers also inject a toxin into the plant while
they feed. This toxin blocks the movement of water and nutrients to the
affected areas and reduces shoot vigour. Affected leaves turn pale green
and curl downward at the margins.
Period of activity
Potato leafhoppers do not overwinter in Ontario; adults are transported
to Ontario in the spring by wind currents from the southern United States.
Potato leafhoppers migrate into new plantings of strawberries in early
or mid June, often after the first cut of hay. Multiple generations are
active throughout the summer.
Monitoring and thresholds
Examine new leaves for leaf curl and yellowing. Look for leafhopper nymphs
on the underside of the leaf. There are no thresholds established for
potato leafhoppers. Consider control if there are one or two nymphs per
leaf and leaf curl is evident.
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