Natural Ways To Control Passionvine Hopper Pests On Citrus

Some citrus pests are prettier than others, but don’t let their looks be deceiving. Fluffy passionvine hopper nymphs and their lacey winged adults can really affect the health of your citrus trees. Learn how to control sap-sucking passionvine hopper pests and keep your citrus trees healthy.

passionvine hopper nymph on citrus tree and adult passionvine hopper with wings

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What are passionvine hoppers?

Passionvine hoppers (Scolypopa australis) are small (6- 7mm long), sap-sucking insects. These pests are native to Austraian but are now also found in New Zealand. They are named for the fact that they are often found on passionfruit vines, and they jump or ‘hop’ when disturbed. However, passionvine hoppers can affect many different plants, ornamental or edible, including citrus trees.

Adult passionvine hoppers are oval shaped and have ornate brown lacey wings, spanning up to 10mm wide. In late summer or early Autumn, the adults lay tiny eggs, which hatch into nymphs in the spring. The nymphs grow to about 5mm long and have characteristic white filaments or “fluff” on their backs, earning them the nickname “fluffy bums”.

Passionvine hoppers can affect all types of citrus trees including lemon, lime, orange, mandarin and grapefruit. I have found them on my lemon and mandarin trees recently. The adults are most active during their mating from mid-summer through autumn.

How to tell if your citrus tree has passionvine hoppers

Fluffy passionvine hopper nymphs are quite easy to spot, often seen in large groups. You may notice theír white filaments or fluff on your citrus tree stems, especially new growth. Unlike fluffy white scale insects, nymphs have fluff that looks like a tuft of white hair.

You may also notice the adults flying near or landing on your trees. Eggs are harder to spot as they are very tiny and usually laid inside plants stems. Look for neat rows of small creamy coloured bumps, less than 1mm in size.

If you don’t notice the insects themselves, the first sign of a problem might be changes in your citrus tree like curling or wilting leaves, sooty mould (mold) or ants. Sooty mould is a type of fungus that forms on the sweet honeydew secreted by the sap-sucking passionvine hoppers. And ants are attracted to the sweet honeydew as well.

adult passionvine hopper insect with brown lacey wings — Adult passionvine hopper

If you notice any of these signs, carefully inspect your citrus trees – especially new growth – for any signs of passionfruit hoppers.

Problems caused by passionvine hopper pests

Passionvine hoppers can be a real problem for citrus trees. They are often found in large numbers and can quickly cause damage if not controlled.

Your citrus tree leaves may curl, start to turn yellow and drop. Sooty mould from honeydew can interfere with photosynthesis and affect the health of your tree, stunting growth and fruit production.

Unhealthy trees can also be more vulnerable to other citrus pests. And passionvine hoppers may spread to other plants in your garden too.

How to control passionvine hoppers on citrus

There are a few different ways you can control passionvine hoppers on your citrus. This doesn’t necessarily involve using chemical insecticides.

Passionvine hopper nymphs are active during growth periods in spring and summer and the adults in autumn, Make sure to check your citrus regularly for during these times for hoppers or related signs like sooty mould and ants. Spotting these pests early means you can treat the problem before it causes much damage.

Insecticide sprays seem like a convenient option, but I prefer to try other methods first. Checmical sprays can affect the beneficial or good insects that keep your tree healthy, like lady bugs (lady beetles), predatory wasps and lacewings. They can affect bees and other pollinators as well, or end up in soil and waterways.

More natural methods of pest control work best by targetting the passionvine hopper nymphs, in the “fluffy bum” stage, before they mature and lay eggs for another generation of pests.

Physical removal

If you do find any stems affected by passionvine hopper eggs, you can remove the stems before the eggs hatch.

Depending on the size of your tree and how many passionvine hopper nymphs you have, you may be able to physically remove these too. However this can be difficult becuase the hoppers will jump away when disturbed. I have had some luck with removing nymphs from small potted trees by hand by wiping the stems with soapy water and a cloth, squashing the nymphs in the process.

You could also use high pressure water to hose off active nymphs. Washing off any sticky honeydew is also going to help your tree to recover.

Beneficial pests and predators

Native parasitic wasps can help control passionvine hoppers. This includes the tiny native wasps in the Centrodora species, which lay their own eggs inside the passionvine hopper eggs and kill them.

Other insects like praying mantis and lacewings, and even jumping spiders and geckos, are natural passionvein hopper predators.

Avoid using insecticide sprays if possible

If you do decide to spray the passionvine hoppers on your citrus trees, please think carefully about using an insecticide. Insecticide can also kill the good insects that pollinate your flowers and help keep pests under control naturally.

Non-toxic soap spray

For a non-toxic alternative to insecticide, try spraying your citrus trees with a homemade soap spray. This can be made from simple ingredients you have at home:

half a cup of vegetable oil;
half a Tablespoon of dishwashing liquid detergent; and
5 litres of water.

homemade citrus aphid spray in trigger spray bottle in front of mandarin orange tree

If you don’t have a 5 litre container, you can just mix the oil and detergent in a lidded jar to make a concentrate. Use a marker on the jar to divide the concentrate into 5 equal amounts. When you are ready to use it, shake well to mix, and add 1/5th of the jar to 1 litre of water.

For small or potted citrus, fill a spray bottle and soak the leaves and buds of your citrus tree., including the uderside of the leaves. To spray a larger citrus tree, you’ll need a spray pack.

Spray once a week while the hoppers are still present. This homemade soap spray won’t kill the hopper pests, but will deter them from feeding on your citrus. (It’s also a great spray to use for pests like aphids, whiteflies and citrus leafminer.)

Stronger natural sprays

For more severe infestations, spraying with neem oil is another option. This natural pesticide made from the seeds of the neem tree. It might be natural, but neem oil can affect beneficial insects too. You can also use neem oil in place of the vegetable oil in the homemade spray above.

Another option is to spray with a natural pyrethrum spray. This will also affect beneficial insects too, so use with care.

Spray your tree twice, about 5-7 days apart, to make sure you haven’t missed any pests. Only spray in the early morning or evening to minimise spraying beneficial insects. And don’t spray when the weather is too hot or windy as you will burn your trees.

Disclaimer: These notes about spraying are for general information only. If you have any questions about whether a product is suitable for your needs, speak to your local garden centre or contact the manufacturer. Please also make sure to read and carefully follow any instructions on the labels of citrus pest sprays.

Preventing passionvine hopper problems

Maintining healthy citrus trees is one of the best ways to prevent pests like like passionvine hoppers from taking hold. If your citrus trees are unhealthy, they are more likely to have pest problems. So make sure to look after your citrus trees by feeding and watering regularly and treating any other pest problems quickly.

Encourage beneficial insects in your garden, as they help keep citrus pests at bay and reduce the need for spraying.

Also keep an eye out for ants on your citrus trees. They are attracted by sweet honeydew secretions and will defend the passionvine hopper nymphs to keep this food source. Controlling ants (manually with water or a soap and water mix) can help manage other pests too.

collage of passionvine hopper nymphs with fluffy bums on citrus trees and adult passionvine hopper

Take the time to regularly inspect your citrus trees for any unwanted pests. Spot check new growth and stems for rows of eggs or insects and watch for any changes in the leaves. The sooner you find a problem, the sooner you can take steps to bring it under control and prevent damage to your citrus trees.