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Thursday, November 03, 2005

Treehoppers Like Tomatoes, but Whither in Winter?


These are keelbacked treehoppers, antianthe expansa. Like many of their homopteran kin (aphids, scale, whitefly) both the adults and nymphs of this species are found feeding together on the same food plant. Unlike other homopterans, the nymphs do not resemble the adults. The adult is camoflaged, looking very much like a thorn or even a young leaf. The nymphs contrast with their surroundings in shape and color. The spines serve as some protection, but what is the adaptive purpose of different morphs in the life stages? Insects with complete metamorphosis have different body forms in their developmental stages but they also have different lifestyles and food sources in each stage which their form complements and enables. This would seem to be part of an adaptive strategy to avoid being your dad and mom's own direct competition for food and shelter. Lots of homopterans including these treehoppers are tended and protected by ants; perhaps that protection has freed the nymphs to express their nymphness to the fullest.

Anyway, the first time I became aware of these bugs was when they erupted on a cherry tomato plant I had growing in a hanging basket. As is the case with other host-specific plant feeders, I had to wonder how they were able to zero in on my one tenuous tomato plant, there being (or having been) no discernable tomato-ness nearby for months and months.


A great little book I have, A Guide to Observing Insect Lives by Donald Stokes describes the egg laying and over-wintering behaviors of two other treehopper species, and also suggests there is a generalized theme applicable to all treehoppers. The eggs of the year's last generation are laid in slits in the bark of a host tree and
overwinter until hatching in spring. In the case of the two-spotted treehoppers, the nymphs begin feeding on the tenderest shoots of the host tree until they become winged adults able to fly off in search of more tender host plants. In the case of the buffalo treehoppers, the nymphs drop off the tree after hatching and begin feeding on tender plants growing below. In both species, after several generations feeding on the tender host plants, adults return to the host trees in autumn to lay eggs. And so on.

I couldn't find any mention anywhere of the egg-laying routine of the keelbacked treehopper; but seeing as it's called a treehopper, can we assume it resemble
s that described above and includes a tree or tree-like appurtenance? So, in the case of the tomato-loving keelbacks, our summer plantings of tomatoes, and peppers and eggplants are the tender summer host plants the newly mobile adults are seeking in late spring. They also feed on various other plants in the tomato family (solanacea) which includes the cestrum I found them on this summer. Cestrum newelii is a tender evergreen viney shrub which could also be an ideal winter host--in our mild southern California climate it grows in spurts throughout the year but has woody stems where eggs could be laid. Note to self: Other woody solanums to check for treehopper eggs this winter in the time between writing the annual newsletter and hanging the holiday lights: potato vine (solanum jasminoides), nightshades (s. seaforthianum and wendlandii), cup of gold vine (solandra maxima), angel's trumpet (brugmansia), and even tree tobacco (nicotiana glauca).

As for treehopper control, it looks like spiders will take their share of those the ants and spines don't save. Your typical blast of water or handpicking works well. Not sure how long
antianthe expansa has been here in California; maybe its parasitoid nemesis, a chalcidoid wasp by the name of anphoidea latipennis is already here or on its way north across the border.

Thanks to Peter Bryant's site for the fabulous images of treehopper nymphs and adults. No images or info on eggs could be found . . . stay tuned.

7 comments:

Cie Cheesemeister said...

Treehoppers are cool!
During the summer when I would come out of work in the morning, I would find them all over my windshield sometimes. We had a real "bumper crop" of them this year!
Peace
Cie

Nic said...

Your blog is so neat and informitive, keep up the good work.
-Nic

Anonymous said...

I live in San Diego where I have seen treehoppers for years with little damage from them. This year they have decimated my tomato vines even with use of various organic sprays. Also some damae to some pepper varieties. Any ideas for safe organic control?

Gail said...

Thanks for the great information. I didn't know what these leafhoppers were. I took the babies to Batavia Gardens in Orange and they convinced me that they were ladybug larve and to leave them alone. WRONG. I think they've killed two of my plants and have made a mess of my tomato plant. I wish they'd given me the right advice.

Gregg Lander said...

Brilliant post. I'm in Los Angeles, and I had a minor infestation on my cherry tomatoes and pepper plants. Now I will check my eggplant as well. I find just picking them off and squishing them is the best solution, but I have a small garden. Watching for an ant trail is a good way to find them, too. Thanks so much for the info.

Anonymous said...

I too (in Los Angeles) just found them clustering on a single stalk on my Romas. As I tend to my plants several times a week... I think I spotted them early... and thanks to google and a few well placed emails.. I was able to ID these critters inside a few hours.

To kill them... as I have seemed to now do with great success... I first NUKED them with (from PETCO) "De Flea, Pet and Bedding Spray"
from "NATURAL CHEMISTRY".

Then when I went back out after reading up on 'soap solutions'... I found 80% of them gone! I then sprayed the remainder with the soapy water solution (spray bottle and one spoon of dishwashing soap in warm water).

Today after an extensive search.. I found only 3 or 4!!!! They are now gone as well. Seems we MUST get rid of them in the black nymph stage... as they are nearly impossible to kill as adults.

Note to others.. I have NO ANTS... so 'farming' was not the cause of the clustering.

bigler.steve@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

After numerous attempts to rid my tomato plants of these little buggers I finally "juiced" a Jalapeno pepper in about one cup of water and added a little vegetable oil to make it stick. They fell off the tomato by the next morning. I have to check my plants every morning and keep this spray on hand.