Grape Leafhopper Damage or Fleabeetle Damage

Picture of grape demon from reader

Q. These critters have devastated one of my grape vines. Here is a picture. Thousands of little sucking holes ruin the leaves and thus the vine. They are about 1/4th inch long and may also fly. What are they and how can I defend against them for next year?

Grape leafhopper damage see the yellow speckling
from feeding damage and black poop spots

A. The picture was a bit blurry but appears to be grape leafhopper. However the description of the damage sounds like grape flea beetle. If leafhoppers the insects are small, maybe ¼ inch long. In their mature stage they can jump short distances. There can literally be thousands of them on a grapevine many of them jumping when you walk by the vine landing on your face and clothes. Very irritating.

Grape fleabeetle damage leaves holes in the leaves

They can be curtailed by applying an organic biological control of Spinosad in early May and again mid-May when the nymphs or immature forms are present. It will control the nymphs but does not do much to the adults. If you get it applied early enough this will reduce the population when the adults mature. Make sure you spray the underside of the leaves as well as the tops.

If these are grape flea beetles then they should be gone in about two weeks and a pesticide is usually not necessary as the damage is not long term.

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