Leafhoppers are sap-feeding insects of the family Cicadellidae, usually 3-10 mm long, wedge-shaped and quick to jump sideways or fly when disturbed. Most cause little direct harm to cannabis. The species that matters is the beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus), which carries beet curly top virus into hemp and cannabis crops in the dry western United States.
In practice
Direct feeding shows as pale flecks on leaves. The real concern is virus spread: one feeding visit from an infected beet leafhopper can transmit curly top, which then stunts and curls the plant with no cure. Outdoor growers in curly-top regions watch for leafhopper flights from weedy rangeland in spring and early summer. Yellow sticky traps help monitor. Row covers on young plants, reducing nearby host weeds and removing infected plants promptly are the main tools. Sprays rarely stop virus spread, because the insect transmits before it dies. Check what is registered for cannabis locally.
Don't confuse with
- Aphids: slow-moving, soft-bodied colonies; they do not jump.
- Thrips: tiny, slender and leave silvery scars.
- Planthoppers: a related group with different antennae placement.
