Leafhopper egg parasitoids (fairyflies) for leafhoppers
On grapes, UC IPM says 10–30 % parasitism of first-brood eggs can give economic control of grape leafhopper, so check leaves for red eggs and delay any spray to the second brood. It is less effective on variegated leafhopper, and in Washington vineyards parasitised Virginia creeper leafhopper eggs stayed scarce. A. nigriventris attacks potato leafhopper eggs in alfalfa, but no source shows it preventing hopperburn in gardens.
Before you act
Wasps half a millimetre long that develop inside leafhopper eggs and turn them red. On grapes, UC IPM says 10–30 % parasitism of the first brood can be enough to hold leafhoppers below damaging levels. No supplier of them was found; you keep them by giving them winter hosts nearby and not spraying. How to recognise it, what it is confused with and how to keep it around are on the full Leafhopper egg parasitoids (fairyflies) profile.
Other controls for leafhoppers
- Chrysoperla carneaGreen lacewing larvae · 2–20 /m² per release, weekly
- Orius insidiosusPredatory bug · 1–2 /m² per release; up to 10 /m² on hot spots
- LadybugsWild predator · wild, attract it
- Assassin bugsWild predator · wild, attract it
- Damsel bugsWild predator · wild, attract it