1. Insect
  2. Tree Fruit Crops
  3. Cherry (Sweet and Sour) Pests

Cherry-Leafhopper

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Mountain leafhopper (Colladonus montanus)
Colladonus reductus
Colladonus geminatus
Cherry leafhopper (Fiebriella florii)
Scaphytopius acutus
Paraphlepsius irroratus

Pest description and crop damage Leafhoppers are slender, delicate insects about 0.125 inch or less in length. They are distinguishable due to the habit of the adult hopping or flying to escape danger, and by the ability of nymphs and adults to run forwards, backwards, or sideways easily. Several species of leafhoppers are found on cherry, which vary in coloration from green to brown. Leafhoppers suck juices from the leaves of cherries, ornamental plants and weeds. Certain species of leafhoppers can transmit the X disease phytoplasma from infected cherry trees to healthy cherry trees.

Biology and life history Varies with the species. Leafhoppers may overwinter as adults, nymphs, or eggs. There may be two or three generations per year. The leafhopper population within the orchard appears to peak after harvest, coincidently this is also when the X disease phytoplasma concentration is greatest within infected trees.

Pest monitoring Place yellow sticky card traps high in the cherry canopy early and late in the season. Leafhoppers may be present from February through November in some areas. The action threshold remains unknown.

Management-cultural control

Control weeds and alternative hosts such as, clovers, mallow, dandelion, curly dock, bitter cherry, and chokecherry, in and around your orchard.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

Warning: These pesticides are hazardous to bees. Look for bee precautionary statements on product labels and do not use these products during bloom or if bees are foraging in the orchard.

  • acetamiprid-Toxic to bees.
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • carbaryl-Highly toxic to bees.
  • esfenvalerate-Highly toxic to bees.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin-Highly toxic to bees.
  • horticultural mineral oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • imidacloprid-Soil drenches may have residual activity in woody plants lasting for 12 or more months. If short-term management is the goal, consider other approaches. Highly toxic to bees.
  • insecticidal soap-Some formulations OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to leaves, stems, and fruit, it acts as a repellant to target pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin-Highly toxic to bees.
  • malathion-Highly toxic to bees.
  • permethrin-Highly toxic to bees.
  • pyrethrins (often as a mix with other ingredients)-Highly toxic to bees. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • zeta-cypermethrin-Highly toxic to bees.

Management- chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

Post-harvest insecticides

  • acetamiprid (Assail 70WP) at 1.1 to 2.3 oz/A. REI 12 hr. PHI 7 days.
  • carbaryl (Carbaryl 4L) at 2 to 3 qt/A. REI 12 hr. PHI 3 days.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 4.8 to 14.5 oz/A. REI 12 hr. PHI 14 days.
  • imidacloprid (Prey 1.6F,) at 4 to 8 fl oz/A REI 12 hr. PHI 7 days.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 1.28 to 2.56 fl oz/A. REI 24 hr. PHI 14 days.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara 25WDG) at 2 to 2.75 oz/A. REI 12 hr. PHI 14 days. Do not exceed 11 oz /A per season.