Aster Leafhopper

The aster leafhopper is a small species, with males reaching about 3.3 mm (0.13 in) in length and females about 3.7 mm (0.15 in). The fore-wings are greyish-green while the abdomen is yellowish-green. Six pairs of minute black spots or streaks on the head give the insect its alternative name of six-spotted leafhopper.

In the United States, strong southerly winds in the spring carry adults northwards to the Mid West and northern parts of the country, and these insects usually arrive earlier and exceed in number the resident insects that have been overwintering there, mostly on grasses and cereals. Eggs are laid on a wide range of host plants which include grasses and clovers, corn, oats, rye, carrots and various weeds. The eggs hatch in about one week and the whole life cycle takes about four weeks. Carrot, dill, potato and radish are selected by adults for feeding purposes but are not good for breeding purposes. The leafhopper is attacked by several parasitoids including Pachygonatopus minimus, Neogonatopus ombrodes and Epigonatopus plesius.