Though infestations are sporadic in occurrence, garden fleahoppers can be found throughout the eastern U.S. as well as in some western areas. A wide range of garden, ornamental and forage plants as well as many weeds and grasses are subject to infestation by this fleahopper. Vegetable hosts include bean, beet, cabbage, celery, corn, cowpea, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pea, pepper, potato, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, and tomato. Damage - Garden fleahoppers cause pale spots to develop on leaves by sucking sap from the foliage. Heavily infested foliage dies and drops from the plant.
Defoliation naturally interferes with growth and development of crop causing yield reduction.
Life History - Garden fleahoppers overwinter as eggs laid from August through September. Nymphs emerge in early spring and feed on undersides of leaves. Nymphs feed and develop from 11 to 35 days before maturing into adults, the duration depending on temperature. Adults live 1 to 3 months. Each female lays approximately 105 eggs.