Proceedings of the Integrated Crop Management Proceedings of the 1990 Crop Production and Conference Protection Conference Dec 19th, 12:00 AM Potato Leafhoppers and Blister Beetle: Management of Traditional and Nontraditional Alfalfa Pests Marlin E. Rice Iowa State University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/icm Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Entomology Commons Rice, Marlin E., "Potato Leafhoppers and Blister Beetle: Management of Traditional and Nontraditional Alfalfa Pests" (1990). Proceedings of the Integrated Crop Management Conference. 30. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/icm/1990/proceedings/30 This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences and Symposia at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Proceedings of the Integrated Crop Management Conference by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. POTATO LEAFHOPPERS AND BLISTER BEETLES: MANAGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL ALFALFA PESTS Marlin E. Rice Extension Entomologist Iowa State University Potato Leafhoppers: Traditional Pests of Alfalfa The potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae, is one of the most destructive pests of alfalfa. Adults and nymphs can reach population densities that decrease alfalfa yields by 50 percent or more, alter nutritional quality, delay harvest schedules, and decrease stand regrowth capabilities. Adult hoppers are small, 1/8-inch long, greenish yellow, wedge-shaped insects, which can fly or jump rapidly. The nymphs resemble adults in shape and color but lack wings. Damage to alfalfa occurs when leafhoppers inject their needle-like mouthparts into the plant and remove plant juices.