Q.
I have a lot of midgets or gnats in the
leaves of my grape trees. I don’t know
what to do to kill them. If I touch the leaves these insects will fly all over
me.
I have a lot of midgets or gnats in the
leaves of my grape trees. I don’t know
what to do to kill them. If I touch the leaves these insects will fly all over
me.
A.
These are more likely leafhoppers and not gnats or midges. I have had others
report these as gnats too but after confirming their presence with some
pictures they agreed they were leafhoppers.
These are more likely leafhoppers and not gnats or midges. I have had others
report these as gnats too but after confirming their presence with some
pictures they agreed they were leafhoppers.
 |
| Leafhopper damage on grapes |
Leafhoppers are very small and jump rather
than fly. There can be hundreds, if not thousands right about now on grapes.
They cause some leaf yellowing, black specks on the leaves and fruit.
than fly. There can be hundreds, if not thousands right about now on grapes.
They cause some leaf yellowing, black specks on the leaves and fruit.
The biggest problem with them is they are
a nuisance. They will jump in your face and mouth when you walk by a grape
vine. Here are some posts on my blog about leafhoppers on grapes
a nuisance. They will jump in your face and mouth when you walk by a grape
vine. Here are some posts on my blog about leafhoppers on grapes
Not much will work on them when they are
adults like now. You can try soap sprays but I would not do much until next
year. A couple of applications of Spinosad in late April and May to the
undersides of leaves and tops will knock the populations back along with
horticultural oils applications while it is cool in the late spring.
adults like now. You can try soap sprays but I would not do much until next
year. A couple of applications of Spinosad in late April and May to the
undersides of leaves and tops will knock the populations back along with
horticultural oils applications while it is cool in the late spring.