Southern Garden Leafhopper – Ewardsiana Solana

Southern Garden Leafhopper – Ewardsiana Solana

Latin Name: Ewardsiana Solana

Common Name: Southern Garden Leafhopper

Appearance:

Leafhoppers are little, light green, wedge-shaped insects around 0.12 inch (3 mm) long. The western potato leafhopper is a nuisance across California, but the southern garden leafhopper is only found in the southern desert regions. Adult females lay single kidney-shaped eggs in the plant, right below the surface. The eggs hatch and the nymphs go through five stages. Nymphs are white to light green when disturbed and move quickly (typically sideways). They are mostly found on the undersides of leaves.

Damages caused by Southern Garden Leafhopper:

The leafhopper has to suck mouthparts which can cause severe white stippling and yellowing of the leaves, green spotting of the fruit, and premature leaf drop. Large populations can degrade both quality and yield.

Life history and habits:

The adults of most leafhopper species are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. They have slim bodies and angular, pointed skulls. Coloration varies per species, but leafhoppers are often green, brown, or yellow and mottled. Nymphs (immatures) resemble adults except that they are smaller and do not have wings. Nymphs usually feed on the underside of leaves, where the humidity is higher, and they are less vulnerable to predators. Every year, there are multiple generations of leafhoppers. Some species migrate south in the winter and return north in the spring.