Page 46 - AG 7-2011 Revised 2016

Grape Leafhopper BLUE SHARPSHOOTER GREEN SHARPSHOOTER
adult & nymph

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- fine small thread like 6.Thorax- body cylinder shape Leafhopper
2.Eyes- compound 7.Petiole- none
3.Head- pointed with stylet 8.Abdomen- 16
4.Legs- 6 9.Color-various colors
5.Wings- yes 10.Other- sharpshooters can 25
transmit plant diseases
Drawing by Andrew Schaible
Life Cycle
Adult females insert eggs into soft tissues of plants in April and May. Eggs hatch a few
days later into nymphs. Nymphs grow and molt several times before becoming a winged
adult. Several generations can occur in a single season, each one lasting from three
to seven weeks. Some Leafhoppers can overwinter as adults, and are found the next
spring on leaves and weeds, while some overwinter as eggs on twigs.

There are many varieties of leafhoppers in the state, most are colored either green or brown,
and are about 1/4th inch in size. They all have a distinctive long, slender shape and are very
active . Some are also called “sharpshooters”, and can become significant problems for
landscaping and crops. The Blue-green Sharpshooter is quite a problem, being found on over
150 different types of plants. On grapes, it can spread the Pierce’s Disease virus, as does the
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter. Leafhoppers are usually noticed sitting on plant leaves.

The Glassy-winged Sharpshooter was accidentally brought into California, likely as egg masses
on plant foliage. They feed on plants, but rarely cause significant plant damage. The real
problem is that they can spread bacterium causing plant diseases such as Pierce’s disease of
grape, oleander leaf scorch, and almond leaf scorch. There is no cure at the present time for
any of these diseases. When Glassy-winged Sharpshooters feed on a plant that is infected, it
acquires the bacteria, and then transfers the bacteria to another plant when it feeds.

The Smoke Tree Leafhopper is unusual in that it is ½ inch long. It is also found on a wide
variety of plants, but especially likes trees, including the desert Smoke Tree, from which it gets
it’s name.
Nymphs and adults remove the contents of leaf cells, leaving behind empty cells that usually
appear as pale yellow spots. If Leafhopper populations are high, the entire leaf may be pale
yellow or white. Their excrement appears as minute, sticky clumps that darken with age, and is
associated with the growth of sooty mold.

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