- Latin Name: Deltocephalus spp.
- Latin Family Name: Cicadellidae
- Common Name: Lawn leafhopper
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
A number of native species occur in North America.
Biology:
This is a group of several related species that commonly infest lawns in large numbers. They may be hidden until someone walks across the lawn, triggering the adults to fly a short distance, but often almost in waves of numbers. The female inserts her ovipositor directly into the blades of the grasses to deposit eggs. Even though large numbers may be present in a lawn the visible damage to the turf is minimal to insignificant. The problem is often a nuisance problem as the adults fly and land on people who are active on the lawn. The adults also fly to lights and may be present around porch lights by the thousands, often entering a home when doors are opened.
Identification:
Adult insects have fully developed wings that are held roof-like over the abdomen while at rest. Color is usually some shade of brown. They are about 3/16 inch long as adults.
Characteristics Important to Control:
Residual contact insecticide can be applied to infested lawns to kill large numbers of the insects, and this helps reduce the nuisance problem. If they are gathered at porch lights a residual material can be applied as a spot treatment around the light to kill them as well. Lights can also be left off at night during the season when the adult insects are active which is most common during hot summer days with warm nights.
