The rose leafhopper is a non-native pest of Rosaceous hosts throughout the United States and southern Canada, and originated from Europe. There are several generations of rose leafhoppers per year, with at least 3 being possible. In the fall, before frost occurs, females lay eggs inserted in wild or cultivated rose or blackberry and raspberry canes. Egg deposition sites may look like dark, raised, or purple spots on the canes. Up to 577 eggs per inch have been observed by researchers on infested plants. Eggs hatch in the spring once temperatures are consistently warm. The youngest rose leafhopper nymphs are white in color with red eyes. Rose leafhopper nymphs are only capable of moving forward, not sideways, as is the case with other closely related species. The young leafhoppers will settle on the undersides of host plant leaves to feed. It is possible, if the population isn't too crowded, that a nymph can complete its immature development, through 4 instars, on a single leaf. By the fourth instar, the nymph has lost the red color of its eyes. First generation adults may leave the springtime hosts and find a tree or shrub to inhabit. Adults may be found on apple by approximately June. Eggs of the next generation are inserted into the undersides of the leaves of these other host plants. This first summer generation of eggs hatches, and the nymphs begin to feed on the new woody host. Adults may be present again by August. An additional species of leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria, or the white apple leafhopper, is also known to feed on rose foliage; adults of the two species may be indistinguishable in the field.
Injury to host plants from the rose leafhopper occurs in three primary ways: yellow feeding spots on leaves, the removal of host plant fluids (sap), and fall egg laying on rose or Rubus spp. hosts. On apple hosts, leaves can be severely injured and may drop prematurely. On roses, feeding from the rose leafhopper can lead to the additional introduction of fungal spores, such as stem cankers, which may lead to the death of cultivated rose canes. The primary ornamental plant impacted by this insect is rose in early and late summer; however, the foliage of dogwood, oak, cherry, apple, maple, and others may be damaged by the summer broods. In some cases, roses may be killed by the activity of this insect.
In the fall and late winter, monitor for rose leafhopper eggs laid in rose canes by looking for dark, raised, or purple spots on the canes. On rose, look for nymphs in the spring and adult by May. On other woody host plants, look for adults in June and eggs inserted into leaf undersides shortly thereafter.
Presumably, to lower populations of rose leafhoppers near apple, removal of fall egg-laying host locations (wild rose, etc.) may help reduce local populations. In ornamental roses, if multitudes of eggs are noticed on individual canes and it is possible to remove them without disfiguring the plant, remove and destroy the canes prior to egg hatch in the spring. Encourage the presence of natural enemies of the rose leafhopper by using reduced risk management options.
A wasp parasite, Anagrus armatus, will impact the eggs of the rose leafhopper. Past reports indicate that this species may reduce the population significantly enough that management is no longer necessary. Predators of the rose leafhopper include lacewings such as Chrysopa californica and Hemerobius pacificus (Johnson and Lyon, 1991). In laboratory feeding tests, spiders belonging to the Salticidae (jumping spiders) and the Philodromidae (running crab spiders) both fed upon rose leafhoppers. Spiders in both of these families were, at the time, common in MA apple orchards. It is noted in the study that under field conditions, environmental factors, species, and age of the spider may impact their ability as predators of the rose leafhopper (Wisniewska and Prokopy, 1997).
Acephate (NL)
Acetamiprid (L)
Azadirachtin (NL)
Beauveria bassiana (NL)
Bifenthrin (NL)
Bifenthrin+imidacloprid (L)
Buprofezin (NL)
Carbaryl (L)
Chlorpyrifos (N)
Chromobacterium subtsugae (NL)
Clothianidin (NL)
Deltamethrin (L)
Dinotefuran (NL)
Fenpropathrin (NL)
Tau-fluvalinate (NL)
Gamma-cyhalothrin (L)
Imidacloprid (L)
Insecticidal soap (NL)
Isaria (paecilomyces) fumosoroseus (NL)
Lambda-cyhalothrin (L)
Malathion (L)
Neem oil (NL)
Permethrin (L)
Pyrethrins+piperonyl butoxide (L)
Pyrethrin+sulfur (NL)
Active ingredients that may be applied systemically include: Acephate (injection), acetamiprid (injection), azadirachtin (injection, soil drench), clothianidin (soil drench), dinotefuran (soil drench), imidacloprid (soil drench), and neem oil (soil drench).
Make insecticide applications after bloom to protect pollinators. Applications at times of the day and temperatures when pollinators are less likely to be active can also reduce the risk of impacting their populations.
Note: Beginning July 1, 2022, neonicotinoid insecticides are classified as state restricted use for use on tree and shrub insect pests in Massachusetts. For more information, visit the MA Department of Agricultural Resources Pesticide Program.
