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Pacific Pests & Pathogens - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Tomato keeled treehopper (248)

Photo 1. Nymphs and adults, tomato keeled treehopper, Antianthe expansa.

Photo 2. Tomato plant (centre) infested with the tomato keeled treehopper, Antianthe expansa. The capsicum plants either side of the tomato have been killed by treehopper attack.

Summary

Widespread distribution. Central and North America, Oceania. On crops in the potato family, and weeds. An important although only occasional pest.
Eggs laid in double row of slits in stems; nymphs reddish-brown with black spines; adults with high ridge and triangular extensions. Suck sap, causing wilts, and death of seedlings and young plants. They make honeydew that attracts ants.
Cultural control: handpick hoppers when first seen; weed; remove ants (kill nests with hot water).
Chemical control: PDPs: derris, pyrethrum, or chilli; try white or horticultural oils or soap; use synthetic pyrethroids to kill ants.

Common Name

Keeled treehopper

Scientific Name

Antianthe expansa

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from King ABS, Saunders JL (1984) The invertebrate pests of annual food crops in Central America. Overseas Development Administration, London. Photos 1&2 Sione Foliaki, Deputy Director and Head of Agricultural Research and Information Division, MAF, Tonga.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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