Rose leafhopper

Pest description and crop damage The common leafhopper pest in the PNW is the white apple leafhopper, although a very similar-appearing insect, the rose leafhopper, is also present. Other species are found throughout the Pacific Northwest. Adults are about 0.2 inch long, white to yellow in color, with wings held tent-like over the body. Nymphs are light green and may move rapidly if disturbed. Adults and nymphs suck juices from leaves, causing stippling and mottling on leaves. Damage usually is most noticeable on poorly cared-for trees. In general, this pest is a minor problem, and even high populations rarely cause yield loss.
Biology and life history The insect overwinters as eggs just beneath the bark on 1 to 5 year-old twigs in the trees. Presence of the eggs is indicated by characteristic crescent-shape swellings in the bark. Eggs hatch at about the tight cluster stage (late March to mid-April), and nymphs feed for several weeks. Adults are flying by late May and can be observed from then until frost, when they are killed. Overwintering eggs are laid in September. There are two generations per year.