Rose Leafhopper Control – Leafhoppers do not mean any good to our beautiful roses. We reveal how to recognize the pests and how to fight rose leafhoppers naturally.
Wondering why some of your roses’ leaves are showing an unusual pattern of bright little spots that eventually coalesce into white areas? Rose leafhoppers (Edwardsiana rosae) leave such white spots and patterns when they infest roses. We will show you how to recognize an infestation and how to fight it naturally.
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How to Control Rose Leafhoppers Naturally
Oftentimes, an infestation by the rose leafhopper is not noticed until its too late. And, this little pest also transmits the rose mosaic virus by sucking on various plants. This virus weakens your rose even after the leafhopper has disappeared, which is why fighting rose leafhopper is recommended.
Using Nettle Decoction
In case of a light infestation of rose leafhoppers, you can apply a nettle decoction, the preparation of which we explain in our article on home remedies for aphids.
Chemical Treatments
If the decoction of nettles did not help, you should fight the infestation more effectively. Synthetic and biological pesticides are available commercially for this purpose. Synthetic agents use various active ingredients: acetamiprid, fenpyroximate, and flupyradifuron, for example.
It is not uncommon for them to be offered in combination with oils such as rapeseed oil to further improve the effect. Some biocides are based on pyrethrins. These are isolated from chrysanthemums, but their origin says nothing about their harmfulness.
Pyrethrins are highly toxic to beneficial insects and aquatic organisms. To protect beneficial insects and the environment from synthetic and natural poisons, we recommend that you control rose leafhoppers in the home garden with gentler means.
Neem-Based Organic Treatments
Neem-based preparations are particularly effective and environmentally friendly in controlling rose leafhoppers. Neem preparations are made from the seeds of the neem tree and the active ingredient azadirachtin is absorbed by the rose leafhopper when they suck. The small insects lose their appetite within a few hours.
In addition, the development of the larvae is disturbed, which is why eventually all generations of rose leafhoppers on the plant suffer damage and die. Organic Pest Control Neem uses the active ingredient azadirachtin from the neem tree and allows you to effectively control rose leafhoppers in the gentlest way possible.
Organic Pest Control Neem is mixed with water to create an oil-water suspension. This can then be sprayed onto the infested rose using a spray bottle. Just 0.3 milliliters of neem-based organic insecticide mixed with 200 milliliters of water is sufficient to treat one square meter. Since the rose leafhoppers are located on the underside of the leaves, make sure to wet the leaves from below as well.
Nevertheless, it is often difficult to hit the leafhopper with a spray bottle. Organic Pest Control Neem products are absorbed by the plant and it gets distributed systemically to all plant parts. This allows you to control even hidden rose leafhoppers.
#Tip: Neem-based treatments are safe for bees, which are attracted by the flowers of roses.
#Tip: Neem oil is also excellent for infestation by aphids on roses.
Identify Rose Leafhoppers in your Garden
The rose leafhopper itself is an elongated insect about three millimeters in size that is white to yellowish-green in color. Rose leafhoppers usually sit on the underside of leaves and are therefore difficult to recognize. They sting individual cells of the leaves and suck them out.
These sucked-out cells fill with air and then appear white on the leaf surface. Therefore, rose leafhoppers infested with rose leafhopper show many small white spots on the upper side of the leaf. These are the best way to recognize leafhoppers on roses.
The sharp edges of these small spots or areas are characteristic. Initially, the spots are seen mainly on the leaf veins and then spread over the leaf. The rose leafhopper goes through two generations in Central Europe with the following sequence:
#Tip: Infestation by spider mites (Tetranychidae) can cause similar symptoms, but the webs typical of spider mites are absent in a leafhopper infestation.
In addition, adult rose leafhoppers jump away when touching the infested leaf, which is also a good differentiation from a spider mite infestation. Larval skins of the rose leafhopper larvae on the underside of the leaf also help to identify a rose leafhopper infestation.
If the infestation is severe, the leaves dry out and fall off early. Rose leafhoppers occur primarily in sunny and dry locations beginning in May.
#Tip: If you have climbing roses in your garden in addition to noble roses, check the climbing roses in particular. An infestation by the rose leafhopper can usually be detected first on the climbing rose.
Prevent Rose Leafhopper Pest
To prevent infestation in the future, we recommend that you pay attention to a balanced supply of nutrients to your roses to optimally maintain resistance to pests. You can also consider using Organic Rose Fertilizers which help you to provide your roses with optimal care.
In addition, pruning the rose in the spring reduces the number of eggs that have been overwintered in the bark and also helps you prevent it. You can also learn proper rose pruning from us.
With these tips, you have the best conditions to fight rose leafhopper naturally. In our special article on roses you will find more exciting tips to care for your roses. This way you can enjoy your roses in full bloom.