1. Insect
  2. Legume, Grass, and Field Seed Crops
  3. Grass Seed Pests

Grass seed-Leafhopper

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Many species

Pest description and crop damage Small, 0.25 inch in length, pale to bright green, wedge or torpedo-shaped insects whose wings fold roof-like when resting. Similar in appearance to sharpshooters, though half the size. Large numbers cause stippling and a bleached look on leaf blades and chlorosis. They also excrete honeydew indicated by a black sooty mold on the leaf. The damage often looks like that of mites or aphids.

They develop through three distinct life stages; eggs, nymphs and adults. Adult females insert eggs into leaf tissues where eggs hatch and nymphs develop through 5 increasingly larger instars until developing into adults.

Yield loss has not been documented.

Management-chemical control

  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC and WSB) at 0.1 lb ai/A. Apply in spring and fall when aphids are seen. Maximum amount allowed is 0.2 lb ai/A per season. Applications made no less than 14 days apart. PHI 30 days prior to harvest for forage, hay and seed.
  • cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.013 to 0.015 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Maximum amount allowed per 5 day interval is 0.022 lb ai/A. Maximum amount allowed per crop season is 0.089 lb ai/A.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior) at 0.02 to 0.03 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days for grazing and cut for forage, 7 days for straw and seed crop. REI 24 hr.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin/chlorantraniliprole (Besiege) at 6.0 to 10.0 fl oz/A. PHI 0 days for grazing and cut for forage, 7 days for straw and seed crop. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed a total of 27.0 fl oz of Besiege or 0.09 lb ai of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per year.
  • malathion at 0.9375 to 1.25 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Maximum single application rate is 1.25 lb ai/A. Maximum one application of malathion allowed per year.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang MAX) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 0 days forage, hay; 7 days straw and seed screenings. REI 12 hr. For forage and hay use no more than 0.10 lb ai/A per season; make subsequent applications no closer than 7 days. For straw and seed screenings use no more than 0.125 lb ai/A per season; make subsequent applications no closer than 17 days.