Green Leafhopper Management in Green Gram: Symptoms, Identification, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural, and Organic Control

Green leafhoppers, Empoasca kerri, E. binotata, and E. flavescens, belong to the family Cicadellidae and are important agricultural pests that infest many crops, including green gram. Leafhoppers infest various host plants, including green gram, black gram, and cowpea, causing significant damage to these crops.

These leafhoppers cause significant damage to plants by piercing and sucking on the sap from plant tissues, leading to yellowing, stunted growth, and reduced yield. Green leafhopper infestation in green gram is a major concern for farmers, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, where warm and humid conditions provide a suitable environment for their growth and reproduction.

Several management strategies are available to control green leafhopper infestation in green gram, including cultural, biological, and chemical methods. Crop rotation, intercropping, and timely sowing can lower pest populations by disrupting their life cycle and limiting host availability. Biological control uses predatory insects, parasitoids, and diseases to reduce green leafhopper populations. Insecticides kill or prevent green leafhoppers.

Green Leafhopper Management in Green Gram

Identification of Green Leafhopper

Green leafhoppers are elongated, wedge-shaped, and active insects that their green color can identify. They are the primary pests of green gram, black gram, and cowpea and cause damage by piercing plant tissues and sucking the sap. The salivary toxins they introduce during feeding can damage plant tissue and impair photosynthesis, reducing crop yield and quality. In addition to visual identification, green leafhoppers can be detected using sticky traps and sweep nets.

The Life Cycle of Green Leafhopper

The life cycle of the green leafhopper of green gram begins with laying eggs in batches inside the leaf sheaths and on the leaf midribs. The eggs hatch in 7-9 days, giving rise to brown nymphs. Over the next 13-15 days, the nymphs molt five times, gradually developing into adult insects. During this time, they feed on the sap of the host plant and can cause significant damage.

4-8 days is the Incubation period. Each of the five nymphal instars lasts between 7 and 10 days. Once they reach adulthood, the green leafhoppers are active, elongated, wedge-shaped, and green in color, capable of reproducing and continuing the life cycle.

Causes/Conditions Favorable for Green Leafhopper Spread in the Field

Green leafhoppers thrive in moderate to high temperatures and humidity levels ranging from 21 to 31°C and 55 to 85%, respectively. These conditions favor their growth, development, and reproduction and contribute to their spread in green gram fields. In contrast, low temperatures and strong winds inhibit their activities and can limit their ability to feed and reproduce.

Damage Symptoms of Green Leafhopper

The primary damage symptoms include yellowing and mottling of the leaves, which is caused by the insects sucking the sap of the plants.
Infested plants will have green-colored insects visible on the undersides of leaves.
As the damage progresses, the affected leaves will turn yellowish, then brownish, starting from the margins and moving toward the midrib.
The leaves will gradually curl before drying completely and shedding.
The infestation of green leafhoppers can also significantly reduce the fruiting capacity of the plants, leading to lower yields.

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Yield Loss due to Green Leafhopper on Green Gram

Yield losses in green gram products due to green leafhoppers are estimated to be between 10 and 15 percent. The need for successful pest management methods is demonstrated that can reduce farmers’ major financial losses.

Green Leafhopper Management in Green Gram by Cultural Method

Removing weed hosts around the crop area.
Timely sowing of the crop.
Proper spacing of plants to avoid overcrowding.
Proper drainage system to avoid waterlogging.
Regular weeding to prevent alternative hosts.
Use sticky traps and yellow pan traps to attract and trap adult leafhoppers.
Incorporating organic matter into the soil promotes soil health and encourages natural predators of leafhoppers.

Green Leafhopper Management in Green Gram by Biological Method

Biological control methods can be used to manage Green Leafhopper in Green Gram. Common green lacewing, Orius, or Geocoris species, and certain ladybird beetles and spiders are natural predators of Green Leafhoppers. Promoting these predators and avoiding the use of broad-spectrum insecticides can be an effective way to control Green Leafhopper populations. Spinosad (0.35 ml/l) can also be applied when the first symptoms of infestation occur.

Green Leafhopper Management in Green Gram by Chemical Method

Application of insecticide formulations based on malathion, cypermethrin, sulfoxaflor, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, lambdacyhalothrin, or chlorantraniliprole + lambda-cyhalothrin. These should only be used in severe cases and on time, as they can also affect natural predators of leafhoppers.
Seed treatment with insecticides can help suppress leafhopper populations on the crop for up to 50 days.
Spray the infested crop with methyl-o-dimeton at a rate of 750 ml per hectare in 700-1000 L water. This should be done during the early stages of infestation to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Green Leafhopper Management in Green Gram by Organic/Natural Method

Use of neem-based products such as neem oil and neem cake as a natural insecticide
Introducing natural predators of green leafhoppers into the crop area.
Use physical control methods such as manually removing infested leaves and sticky traps to capture and control the spread of the pests.

Preventive Measures for Control of Green Leafhopper

Plant-resistant or tolerant varieties of green gram, as these are less susceptible to damage from pests.
Monitor crops regularly for signs of infestation, including yellowing and mottling of leaves and green-colored insects on the undersides of leaves.
Maintain a balanced fertilization program and avoid excessive use of nitrogen, which can attract green leafhoppers to the plants.
Use cultural control measures such as crop rotation and timely planting to minimize the risk of infestation.

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Conclusion

Green leafhoppers can damage green gram crops a lot, which can lead to lower yields. Infestations can be stopped and controlled with the help of the good advancement and timely use of management strategies, such as cultural, biological, and natural control methods. Chemical control should only be used as a last option when the problem is severe, and the cause of damage is to a great extent. Farmers should use integrated pest management methods to eliminate green leafhoppers in green gram crops in a way that works and lasts.