Organic Spittlebug Control for Strawberries

Water is a recommended organic treatment for spittlebug problems in your strawberry patch.

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Spittlebugs are small insects commonly associated with leafhoppers. The picture on the left shows how they are easily identified in your strawberry patch as a mass of spit looking material attached to a stem or leaf. Juvenile or nymph spittlebugs feed on the plant and the liquid material is a protective byproduct of their feeding habits.

Spittlebugs are a common, though not fatal visitor to strawberry patches. Most experts suggest their presence results in a smaller harvest consisting of smaller berries.

Growing organic strawberries is a fun and challenging task. The most productive spittlebug management plan begins in the fall, after the growing season, as part of an overall strawberry management plan. Since strawberries are perennial plants that produce decent harvests over a couple of year's lifetime, your fall management options start by considering whether or not to maintain the current patch.

If your patch has reached its peak, fall removal of the plants might be your best spittlebug management option. Spittlebug eggs over winter in leaves in stems. Removing the source, including surrounding weeds, and starting with new plants, increases the probability of reducing spittlebug problems in spring.

If you plan to maintain your current strawberry patch, fall management means removing as many of the spittlebug eggs as possible, specifically by removing the dead plant stems and leaves along with the surrounding weeds.

Spring spittlebug management consists of checking your plants on warm and dry days for the characteristic spittle patches. When you detect them, spray a direct stream of water on the patches to try to dislodge as many of the nymphs as possible.

Don't go overboard on the water spraying. Strawberries thrive on warm sunny days. Spittlebugs require a moist environment to thrive. If nature cooperates, removing spittlebugs from the plant, and then keeping the plant and the surrounding area as moisture free as possible reduces potential spittlebug damage.

© 2007. Patricia A. Michaels