Flatid Planthoppers
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Contents |
Importance
Flatid planthoppers occur throughout the Eastern United States, west to the Great Plains; one species, Metcalfa pruinosa, ranges from coast to coast. Planthoppers suck the sap from small diameter stems, but damage is usually minor. Oviposition injuries sometimes kill seedlings.
Identifying the Insects
Adult flatid planthoppers are pale or yellowish green to brown or black but are usually covered by white, powdery wax, which imparts a whitish-gray or bluish-green appearance. They have large prominent wings held at an acute, rooflike angle over the body and range from 6 to 13 mm long. Nymphs are wingless, slightly elongate, slightly flattened, and partially to completely covered with filaments of white, woollike wax.
Identifying the Injury
Feeding by large populations causes seedlings and terminals of older plants to wilt. Although sap-feeding may slow plant growth, it rarely causes widespread dieback. However, clusters of oviposition punctures along stems may cause mortality of seedlings and shoot dieback on older plants.
Biology
Overwintering eggs hatch during the spring. Nymphs feed singly or in clusters on tender shoots. Adult flatid planthoppers appear by June or July and are present until fall. They deposit their eggs in a series of short slits in the bark. There is only on generation per year.
Control
Natural enemies help keep populations in check. On young plants, pruning and destroying shoots that contain oviposition punctures (before the eggs are able to hatch) provides some control.
References
Solomon, J.D.; Leininger, T.D.; Wilson, A.D.; Anderson, R.L.; Thompson, L.C.; McCracken, F.I. 1993. Ash pests: A guide to major insects, diseases, air pollution injury and chemical injury. Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-96. New Orleans, LA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 45 p.
