Beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus)
Other leafhoppers (Empoasca spp., Ceratagallia spp.)
Pest description and crop damage The most important leafhopper for potato producers in the PNW is the beet leafhopper, due to its ability to transmit the beet leafhopper transmitted virescence agent (BLTVA) phytoplasma. This leafhopper varies in color but is always one of the smaller species and lacks prominent spots or other dorsal or head markings. Phytoplasmas can cause a wide range of symptoms in potatoes that are collectively referred to as "purple top," including leaf curling and purpling, aerial tubers, chlorosis, and early senescence. Beet leafhopper is the only known vector of BLTVA in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. Most BLTVA infection occurs early in the season, during May and June, although some evidence suggests damaging infections in July.
A wide diversity of leafhoppers can be found in potato fields. At least one species of Empoasca reproduces on potatoes in the PNW. These leafhoppers are small, pale green, and torpedo-shaped. They hold their wings roof-like over the body at rest. Empoasca leafhoppers are rarely found in significant numbers in the PNW. Other leafhoppers usually do not reproduce in potato fields but are present in large numbers like Ceratagallia spp.
Biology and life history The beet leafhopper overwinters as adult females in weedy and native vegetation, mainly from the mustard family, throughout most of the dry production areas east of the Cascade Mountains. Eggs are laid in stems of host plants, and a new spring generation begins developing in March and April. Beet leafhoppers begin to move and potentially affect potatoes during the first spring generation, which matures in late May to early June. Newly emerged adults in each generation tend to migrate from their birth areas to new areas, which causes them to encounter crop fields and potentially transmit BLTVA. Not all beet leafhoppers feeding on BLTVA-infected plants carry the disease, making management challenging. Also, early beet leafhopper infestation can reduce yield and quality. Potatoes are most seriously affected by BLTVA infections that occur early in the growing season. Beet leafhoppers can remain common through the summer, during which it goes through 2 to 3 overlapping generations. The final generation for the year matures during late October and can sometimes be the largest of the year. The favorite hosts of the beet leafhopper appear to be kochia, Russian thistle, and various weedy mustard species such as tumble mustard. It seems to thrive best in marginal unirrigated situations where its host plants are small and under stress.
Scouting and thresholds For detailed information on monitoring beet leafhoppers using yellow sticky traps, see: https://nwpotatoresearch.com/pdfs/PotatoProgressVIII(2).pdf
Management-biological control
Beet leafhoppers are preyed upon by a specific parasitoid in the fly family Pipunculidae. In potato fields, where beet leafhoppers occur almost exclusively as adults, the most likely biocontrol agents are the many species of spiders that commonly live in crops.
Management-cultural control
Controlling the favorite weed hosts of beet leafhopper is probably the most important cultural management option. Indications are that beet leafhoppers within several hundred feet of a potato field may be most important in BLTVA transmission. Therefore, controlling beet leafhopper's favorite weed hosts near potato fields may reduce BLTVA incidence.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
- acetamiprid
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- bifenthrin (as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
- capsaicin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- carbaryl
- cyfluthrin
- deltamethrin
- esfenvalerate
- horticultural oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- insecticidal soap-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage it acts to repel certain insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- malathion
- permethrin
- pyrethrins (often as a mix with other ingredients)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- plant essential oils (garlic, peppermint, rosemary, etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- spinosad (as a mix with insecticidal soap)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- zeta-cypermethrin
More information related to the biology and management of beet leafhoppers can be found at https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9282
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
The most important time to control leafhoppers that transmit BLTVA is early in the season-probably the first two months after emergence. Frequent applications may be necessary since the beet leafhopper vector is only a transient visitor to potato fields. One spray may kill the leafhoppers in the field as well as new invaders for a residual period, but more leafhoppers will invade from surrounding areas throughout the season.
Note: Pyrethroid insecticide (Group 3 in Tables 1-2) applications make beet leafhopper management more difficult and can lead to outbreaks of aphids, thrips, and spider mites.
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