November 2015.What is this leafhopper on mango? Is it Idioscopus nitidulus, and how can i tbe controlled in ways that are suited to a non-commercial home garden? They are about 4-5 mm long. They are attacking one variety of mango and not touching others nearby. The home owner has three trees of this variety, but does not have a name for it. All three trees have heavy infestations of the leafhopper and sooty mold. The leaves and flower/fruit clusters are covered with sooty mold, and the leafhoppers (thousands of them) and yellow crazy ants, which are likely to be protecting them, are the only insects there. The home owner says the sooty mold only appears on this variety, and only when it flowers and fruits. It is so bad that even the grass under the trees has turned black.

There were several ideas for controlling the infestation, including tying a thread between the trees to encourage the movement of red ants. But encouraging the ants will only increase the populations of the hopper and also those of scale insects, mealybugs, aphids and other sucking insects. Removal of the ants, especially weaver ants (Oecophylla), and preventing ants from colonising the trees will eliminate their protection of the leafhoppers.

The use of ants is now discouraged in Australia because workers were getting badly bitten by the ants.