Although found throughout much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, the potato leafhopper only overwinters along the Gulf Coast. The insect undergoes mass movements northward in the spring and early summer and becomes established in many areas of the country. The potato leafhopper is generally distributed northward by wind. Although the potato leafhopper does not overwinter in northern areas, it may complete several generations in these areas. The potato leafhopper feeds on a variety of plant species and has been reported to feed on nearly 200 kinds of plants.
Flowers attacked by the potato leafhopper include dahlia, rose, and sunflower.
Ornamental trees that are hosts for this leafhopper are Chinese chestnut, elm, English walnut, flowering Japanese cherry, hickory, locust, oak, and redbud. Flowering fruit trees, e.g., crabapple, also have been reported as hosts of potato leafhopper. A few of the economic plants that are infested with this insect are alfalfa, apple, eggplant, peanut, potato, soybean, and sweet potato. Damage - Feeding and egg laying cause damage, e.g., curling, stunting, and dwarfing, to the infested plant. The leaves turn yellow, or sometimes pink or purple, and become wilted or stunted.