Description of the Pest
Cherry leafhopper is an occasional pest of pomegranate. Adult cherry leafhoppers are brown and their shape and color mimic the buds of cherry. Nymphs are green and shiny. This leafhopper overwinters as nymphs on ornamental hosts (privet, boxwood, myrtle, hawthorn, pyracantha, Ceanothus, Cotoneaster, crabapple, and apple) and as eggs on ornamental hosts and deciduous fruit trees. Cherry leafhopper is found in pomegranate orchards situated near other hosts, especially cherry, its preferred host. There are three periods of adult activity: mid-April through May; July; and September through October.
Damage
Damage is mainly due to nymphs producing honeydew. Honeydew accumulates on fruit in thick, quarter-inch blotches. The black sooty mold growing on the honeydew can be washed off, but the fruit may fail to color underneath.
Cherry leafhopper vectors disease in cherry but does not vector disease in pomegranate.
Management
Look for cherry leafhopper from April through July. If easily found, apply an insecticide in July or August when nymphs are small.
| Common name | Amount per acre | REI‡ | PHI‡ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Example trade name) | (hours) | (days) | ||
| Not all registered pesticides are listed. The following are ranked with the pesticides having the greatest IPM value listed first—the most effective and least harmful to natural enemies, honey bees, and the environment are at the top of the table. When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to air and water quality, resistance management, and the pesticide's properties and application timing. Always read the label of the product being used. | ||||
| A. | BUPROFEZIN | |||
| (Applaud) | 12–34.5 oz | 12 | 14 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 16 | ||||
| COMMENTS: Controls other leafhoppers, but research has not been done on cherry leafhopper in pomegranate. | ||||
| B. | METHOMYL* | |||
| (Lannate SP) | 1 lb | 48 | 14 | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1A | ||||
| COMMENTS: Disruptive to natural enemies of mealybugs, caterpillars, soft scales, aphids, and other pests. Use of this pesticide may result in outbreaks of these pests. Methomyl is also toxic to bees and should not be applied when bees are actively foraging. | ||||
| C. | PYRETHRINS | |||
| (PyGanic EC 1.4)# | 2–4 pt | 12 | When dry | |
| MODE-OF-ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3A | ||||
| D. | AZADIRACHTIN | |||
| (Aza-Direct)# | 2–3.5 pt | 4 | 0 | |
| MODE OF ACTION: un | ||||
| E. | NEEM OIL | |||
| (Trilogy)# | 1–2% | 4 | 0 | |
| MODE OF ACTION: — (a botanical insecticide) | ||||
| F. | ROSEMARY OIL/PEPPERMINT OIL | |||
| (Ecotrol EC)# | 2–6 pt | 0 | 0 | |
| MODE OF ACTION: Contact including smothering and barrier effects. | ||||
| COMMENTS: Volumes up to 100, 150, and 200 gallons/acre, use 4, 5, and 6 pints/acre respectively. | ||||
| ‡ | Restricted entry interval (REI) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (PHI) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases, the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest. |
| * | Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use. |
| 1 | Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a group number other than 1B. Mode-of-action group numbers ("un"=unknown or uncertain mode of action) are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). |
| — | Not applicable. |
| # | Acceptable for use on organically grown produce. |