Leafhoppers are currently being found in alfalfa, dry beans, potato, soybeans, and others. Sweep nets are useful for confirming their presence in a field. The nymphs are paler green, lack wings, and characteristically walk sideways when disturbed on the leaf surface. The nymphs can be found on the undersides of the leaves. The nymphs are generally more damaging than the adults since they feed for several weeks on the leaves where they hatch.
Adults move around much more.
The visual symptoms include leaves changing from green to yellow to brown as they deteriorate. When leaf injury is present, plant growth is impaired. Control of potentially damaging populations should not be delayed to the point where damage symptoms are visible. In alfalfa, potato leafhoppers that arrive early can cause problems with regrowth after the first cutting is complete. Because of their early arrival, monitoring regrowth with the use of 15 inch sweep nets to detect adults is highly recommended.