Eggplant leafhopper

Amrasca devastans (Distant)

Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae

The eggplant leafhopper is widespread in tropical and subtropical areas of South and Southeast Asia.

Host plants and damage

Eggplant leafhopper has a wide range of host plants within solanaceous and malvaceous crops. It is a common pest on Solanum melongena (eggplant), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), and Piper nigrum (black pepper). In contrast species of the related family Empoasca are seldom on these crops and found more frequently on Leguminosae.

Adults and nymphs suck plant sap from the under surfaces of leaves. The affected leaves show “hopperburn” symptoms. A. devastans is not known to transfer any viruses. Symptoms of eggplant leafhopper infection is yellowing of leaves, curling of leave tips and sometimes drying of the leaves. Leaf tips and margins develop necrotic areas.

Morphology & biology

Females lay white eggs, 0.7 mm in length and 0.2 mm width, in the midrib of leaf tissue. The incubation period is 8-10 days.

There are five instars, each last 3-5 days. The nymphs are green-yellow in color and have blueish legs.

Adult hoppers have black spots on both sides on the vertex of the head as well as on the forewing. Forewing ground color can vary from yellow to green. The lifespan for adults is 10-15 days.

Monitoring

Nymphs and adults can be found on the undersides of leaves. Nymphs tend to move sideways when disturbed while adults can fly. Use a net to catch adults for identification. Both nymphs and adults follow an aggregated distribution.

Pest management

Rainfall is a major mortality factor for the nymphs and adults.

Cultural control

Cultural practices are very important to control eggplant leafhoppers.

In glasshouse experiments okra was successfully used as trap crop to protect eggplant plants from damage.

Mulching is reported to reduce leafhopper populations in eggplant fields. Several resistant eggplant varieties are available in Asia.

Chemical Control

There are many effective insecticides in different groups of synthetic insecticides. Apply insecticides only if infestation is high.

Treatments with systemic insecticides have been found to promote survival of the green lacewing predator Chrysoperla carnea and the coccinellid Cheilomenes sexmaculata, both important natural enemies in the cotton ecosystem.