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Redistribution: How to
redistribute leafhoppers (Zygina sp.) to new sites
When a site becomes heavily infested with leafhoppers (when
most of the foliage is 80-90% white with feeding damage),
it is possible to transport the insects to another site. Shifting
leafhoppers from one site to another will only work if the
site is heavily infested with leafhoppers (about 18 months
after the leafhopper is first released) and must be done before
October.
Find the nearest release site of the leafhopper in your area
(see Map of agent release
sites). NB: you cannot collect bridal creeper / leafhopper
from a National Park or A-class reserve without a permit.
Also many of the sites are on private property so be sure
to contact the landholder before entering the property.
To shift the leafhopper, take a few large plastic bags and
secateurs to the release site. Cut a large bunch (shopping
bag size) of heavily infested foliage and quickly put in the
plastic bag. If you harvest the foliage early in the morning
when temperature is low, you will collect some adults. Seal
the bag with an elastic band, keep it out of the sun and travel
to the next site.
At the new release site, remove the harvested foliage from
the plastic bag over the bridal creeper infestation. Tease
the foliage apart and spread thinly over the resident bridal
creeper, pushing the foliage into the infestation as you go.
Invert the plastic bag and shake off any nymphs and adults
stuck to the bag. Within a week, the harvested foliage will
have died and the nymphs and adults on the foliage will have
moved on and started to feed on the resident bridal creeper.
Any questions? Contact us
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