A spray of an approved insecticide should be applied in summer against adults and nymphs if leaf damage starts to become unsightly and is increasing.
- Acetamiprid (Gazelle), though only specifically recommended by the manufacturer for control of aphids, may give incidental control of leafhoppers.
- A full approval for spirotetramat (Batavia) on apples for the control of sucking insect pests will control leafhoppers, but growers may prefer to reserve its use for more difficult to control pests such as woolly aphid or rosy apple aphid. It must be applied after flowering and works best when pests are moving from brown wood to green tissue. It will prevent population build-up but does not offer pest ‘knockdown’.
- A recent EAMU for Flipper (fatty acids) has increased the available options should growers wish to reserve other insecticides for control of pests later in the season. Although recommended for control of aphids, mites and blossom weevil, it is expected to offer incidental control of leafhoppers when applied for these pests. It is known to complement the use of Batavia as it provides quick ‘knockdown’.
- Synthetic pyrethroids are also effective but they are harmful to the orchard predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri and many other natural enemies and should only be used as a last resort where no alternative can be used.