I need help identiying this jumping bug in my yard. - Ask Extension
I have hundreds of these small jumping bugs in my yard. Can you help me identify them and then tell mw what to do about them. We live next to horses a...
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I need help identiying this jumping bug in my yard. #376090
Asked November 08, 2016, 10:46 PM EST
I have hundreds of these small jumping bugs in my yard. Can you help me identify them and then tell mw what to do about them. We live next to horses and open space in Boulder country. I am not sure if they bite, I have not had one land on me, they just jump within the grass. THANKS for your help.
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Those are a type of insect known as a leafhopper. And they are harmless.
They feed by sucking a bit of sap from the stems of plants and there are several species that feed on lawn grasses. None do any observable damage to plants and they normally attract attention only when they are in such numbers that they become noticed when one walks through a lawn or other area where they occur.
A bit of information on these is at:
http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/leafhoppers-on-lawns-5-608/