How to control Mango Leaf Hoppers

Mangoes are becoming very important fruit trees because of their various uses and nutritional value. However, they are often affected by various pests, one of them being leaf hoppers.

Mango leafhoppers Damage mangoes and prevent them from yielding enough fruits.  Both the nymphs and the adults feed on the plant sap of the flowers, leaves, tender shoots, and newly formed fruitlets, there by damaging them.

They then suck out the liquid contents leaving behind the dead and empty cells which look like small, white spots. The affected flower heads turn brown and dry up, and fruit setting is affected. Some damage may also occur through egg laying into the leaves and flower stems. Heavy feeding results to burns which is caused by the toxic effects of the insects’ saliva. These pests are also carriers of mosaic virus.

Leafhoppers produce large amounts of a sugary liquid waste called honeydew. A fungus, called sooty mold, grows on honeydew deposits that accumulate on leaves and branches, turning leaves and branches black. The appearance of a sooty mold on plants is an indication of a leafhopper infestation. Description. The eggs are laid inside the soft plant tissue on the underside of the leaves.

They are curved, whitish to greenish, and about 0.9 mm long. Eggs hatch in about 10 days. The nymphs look similar to the adults but are very small, pale yellow-green, and wingless. They undergo five nymphal stages. Their cast skins usually remain on the lower surface of the leaf. Nymphs have the ability to walk sideways, forward or backward at rapid paces there by causing rapid damage to the infested crops.

They are named leafhoppers because their adults hop fast, fly quickly, and can run in all directions when disturbed. The adults are small, elongate, wedge-shaped insects about 3-4 mm long and brown in colour.

They can be effectively controlled by garlic spray. To prepare garlic oil spray, Chop very small pieces of 100 g of garlic. Soak the chopped garlic in mineral oil for one day (24 hours). Add ½ liter and 10 ml of liquid soap. Dilute filtrate with 10 liters of water. Constantly shake the container or stir the extract while in the process of the application to prevent oil from separating. This concoction can also control cabbage worm Squash bugs and Whiteflies.

Avoid using bathing soap because it may cause a burning effect.

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