Vine Hopper

To get rid of vine hoppers follow these steps:

• Control of passion vine hopper and other hoppers is best achieved when the insects are in the immature nymphal stages, November to March. Kiwicare PLANThealth Spectrum is a combination insecticide and fungicide that will control these insect pests as they feed on treated plants and the sooty mould.
• If you do not wish to use insecticides you could use Organic Super Spraying Oil and spray the insects directly. This works by physically blocking the insect’s spiracles (breathing holes) and suffocating them. This would be best done before the nymphs reach maturity and grow wings. Once adults they tend to fly off in clouds as soon as disturbed and they will be difficult to spray with the oil the nymphs can be difficult to spray also, because of their hopping habits.
• Another option would be Organic Insect Control with Pyrethrum which can be used on fruit and vegetables that might be attacked. There is only a 1 day withholding period with these control options.

Passion Vine Hopper Life Cycle

• A similar insect is the nymph of the green plant hopper, however the nymphs of the green plant hopper keep their fluffy tails straight back rather than up in the air as the passion vine hopper does. The green plant hopper nymph body is pale green rather than the passion vine hopper white.
• The nymphs and adults suck sap and produce a sticky honeydew that can cover leaves and encourage growth of sooty moulds. If the honey dew is produced from sucking the sap of tutu shrub and bees collect the honey dew the honey they produce can be poisonous.
• The common species of vine hopper in New Zealand are the Passion vine hopper - Scolypopa australis.