Mary Jo
When you pick them off drop them in soapy water, they will not be back. Secondly, rather than spraying with water, which knocks them off so they can return, spray with Insecticidal soap or better yet Neem (both are organic). Using one then waiting a week or two and then spraying with the other may also help. You might also check the label of Spinosad, another organic product, to see if it will control the treehoppers. I know it works well on beetles and caterpillars...it is a bacteria that kills those insects. Be careful to not spray it on your beneficial insects.
These treehoppers feed on tomato, potato, eggplant and peppers. They do not feed on citrus. So, you need to control them in the veggie garden only.
Small green insects by: Mary Jo
I also live in Southern California (Rancho Palos Verdes) and have had a big problem this year with these insects killing my tomato and egg plants. Yes, the ants love them. I live tried to pick them off, but the just come back later in the day. I have also tried to get rid of them by spraying with the water hose, but that does not solve the problem for more than a day or two. I also have peach, fig, orange, and lemon trees on the property, but these insects don't bother my trees that I am aware of. I would like to be able to get rid of them without using poisons.
Keeled Tree Hopper by: Moni
Looks like you have Keeled tree hoppers. They do seem to like to live on and eat plants in the Solanaceae family...eggplant, tomato, potato.
The nymphs or young of the Keeled tree hopper are spiny. This treehopper seems to be only in southern California and south of there. The nymphs and adults suck the juices out of tomato plants, so you need to control them to prevent damage or killing of your plants.
Best control is insecticidal soap on the nymphs, but if you have adults you will need to spray with Neem.
One other item commonly mentioned with this insect is that there are usually ants around them. The ants feed on the "honeydew" or liquid droppings of the treehopper.
Hope that helps.
