They travel with the same winds that move gulf moisture northward in the spring. Since these small insects are at the mercy of weather systems, their distribution patterns vary tremendously from year to year. This variability accounts for the fact that Nebraska often escapes serious infestations of the potato leafhopper. Eastern states experience heavier and more frequent rains as a result of gulf moisture moving in their direction with regularity, and therefore have serious infestations of this pest nearly every year. Adult potato leafhopper.
Adults are capable of short distance movement from one field to another.
This commonly occurs when alfalfa fields are harvested. Nymphs are not capable of such movement because they lack wings. As a result, they often die of starvation when fields are harvested. As damage continues to develop, the chlorotic areas become purplish in color and, if severe enough, the leaflet will turn brown and die. Severely affected plants become stunted and entire stems or plants may eventually die.