Grasshoppers attacking blue Encephalartos flushes

[Tracy]

For some reason, my blue Cycads seem to attract grasshoppers to their new flushes and they like to nibble on the soft new leaflets.  I noticed it on a blue form of Encephalartos arenarius today that has a pup currently flushing.  I spotted 3 small grasshoppers which were managed to leap away into the lower foliage.  I finally found the one pictured below on an adjacent Encephalartos horridus leaflet and snapped its picture.  They can't and don't bother hardened off leaves,   I was able to squish this one, but know that 2 remain nearby.  Normally I find larger grasshoppers involved in this activity, including going after flushes on my Encephalartos inopinus.  The damaged leaflets were what attracted my eye and helped me find the culprits.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Use a mild soap spray or something. I tend to use a castile soap mixture to spray pests. Suffocates bugs and harmless to all plants I’ve tried as long as it’s not too concentrated. 

[Tracy]

53 minutes ago, TropicsEnjoyer said:

Use a mild soap spray or something. I tend to use a castile soap mixture to spray pests. Suffocates bugs and harmless to all plants I’ve tried as long as it’s not too concentrated. 

Soaps will permanently remove some of the wax surface which gives blue cycads the ultra blue.  You end up with splotches of green whereever you spray.  I learned that lesson long ago in trying to address an aphid and scale  infestation and overstay in treating adjacent plants.  I picked off two more this morning. 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

ohhh I wasn’t aware of that. bummer

[GeneAZ]

BTW, that's an assassin bug, not a grasshopper.  Their proboscis creates the scarring dimple you see.  Grasshoppers will chew out much greater chunks, in my experience.

[Silas_Sancona]

Don't think it would work on Assassin Bugs ( ..You actually want those around < eat other bugs > ...Never heard of them piercing leaves either ..though other sap sucking bugs do.. ) but, Spinosad supposedly helps deter grasshoppers -and other leaf eaters like some Beetles. Not sure if it will damage the cuticle wax on the leaves though.

Worth looking into..

[amh]

25 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Don't think it would work on Assassin Bugs ( ..You actually want those around < eat other bugs > ...Never heard of them piercing leaves either ..though other sap sucking bugs do.. ) but, Spinosad supposedly helps deter grasshoppers -and other leaf eaters like some Beetles. Not sure if it will damage the cuticle wax on the leaves though.

Worth looking into..

The assassin bugs do feed on the flushes, causing deformations, but I leave them alone because they eat more destructive insects.

I'm just hoping that there isn't some unknown cycad pathogen that will get introduced.

[Silas_Sancona]

56 minutes ago, amh said:

The assassin bugs do feed on the flushes, causing deformations, but I leave them alone because they eat more destructive insects.

I'm just hoping that there isn't some unknown cycad pathogen that will get introduced.

🤔I'm going to ask some University connected Entomologists i know about this ..Just doesn't seem right..  Leaf Footed Bugs ( Coreidae ) ..which are often confused with Assassins ( Reduviidae ) do pierce leaves / stems / are a pain in the butt at times..  Nymph stage instars look similar to on another / confuse many. 

https://bugguide.net/node/view/36695

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisbug/comments/1675hiy/psa_assassin_bug_vs_leaf_footed_bug_nymphs_see/

 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Looking again that is not a grasshopper. But iirc assassin bug nymphs are a bright red color rather than dull orange. This has gotten interesting 

[Tracy]

Whatever these are, they definitely are guilty of creating the damage.  Grasshoppers damage is more significant and they too like Encephalartos flushes.  I have not had problems on my Ceratozamias, Zamias, Cycas, Dioons, or Macrozamias with Grasshoppers or these little guys.

[Tracy]

A couple more photos for better identification. 

[amh]

23 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

🤔I'm going to ask some University connected Entomologists i know about this ..Just doesn't seem right..  Leaf Footed Bugs ( Coreidae ) ..which are often confused with Assassins ( Reduviidae ) do pierce leaves / stems / are a pain in the butt at times..  Nymph stage instars look similar to on another / confuse many. 

https://bugguide.net/node/view/36695

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisbug/comments/1675hiy/psa_assassin_bug_vs_leaf_footed_bug_nymphs_see/

 

I'm seeing the standard adult wheel bugs doing this on my C. taitungensis and C. revoluta. 

Maybe it's over-penetration, IDK.

[Gallop]

Tracy, grasshoppers destroy many of my flushes, primarily cycas and ceratozamia. They love my ceratozamia. It gets so bad If I want a decent flush I have to spray the garden with Talstar P.