How to Manage Pests
UC Pest Management Guidelines
Scientific names: Empoasca fabae and Empoasca solana
(Reviewed 11/05, updated 1/10)
In this Guideline:
DESCRIPTION OF THE PESTS
The two species Empoasca fabae and E. solana constitute over 90% of the Empoasca species found in sugarbeet. They are nearly identical morphologically and can only be distinguished by experts. The damage they cause is also nearly identical as are the treatment guidelines.
Empoasca leafhoppers are small (0.125 inch long), bright green, wedge-shaped insects. They may be distinguished from the green form of beet leafhopper by the lack of dark markings on the body. The small, wingless nymphs (immatures) are also wedge-shaped and green and move rapidly forward, backward, and from side to side. Both adults and immatures are found primarily on the underside of leaves.
Empoasca leafhoppers cause a symptom known as hopperburn in which the leaf margins turn yellow, particularly at the leaf tip, and these areas soon become necrotic. The entire leaf may become yellowed and the symptoms often resemble virus symptoms. The presence of adult and immature leafhoppers on the undersurface of the leaf serve to distinguish leafhopper injury from virus symptoms or mineral deficiencies. Empoasca leafhoppers do not spread beet curly top virus.
Sample for Empoasca leafhoppers by counting the number of adults and nymphs per leaf. Examine a minimum of 10 leaves from 10 plants in at least four areas of the field. Pick fully expanded leaves, avoiding older leaves or leaves in contact with the ground. Also, select leaves that are shaded by other leaves because leafhoppers try to avoid the sun. Leafhoppers are found on the under surface of the leaf, so turn the leaf over and quickly count the number of leafhoppers; both adults and immatures can run very fast so you must be quick. Before starting your actual count, look at and count three to four leaves so that you will know what the leafhoppers look like, particularly the small ones, and how they behave. Then begin your sampling and actual counts.
Apply treatments when leafhoppers (both nymphs and adults) reach 10 to 15 per leaf. Use the lower number for fields 2 to 3 months up to several months from harvest. Use the higher number for fields within 1 to 2 months of harvest. Do not treat if fields are within 2 to 3 weeks of harvest.
UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines:
Insects and Mites
E.T. Natwick, UC Cooperative Extension Imperial County