My shrubs and trees have been taken over by fluffy nymphs, which I have tried nearly everything I can to get rid of. The shrubs are looking terrible, with spotty leaves, wilting, and yellow leaves. I had the same issue last year, but they seem to have come out earlier this year. I'm currently trying neem oil, but that doesn't seem to have done anything.

Hi Keely, this is the juvenile form of passionvine hopper, that has triangular lace wings. The best time to control the passionvine hopper is when it is in the juvenile (nymph) stage as it does not have wings, but it does flick away when disturbed.

The best way to help reduce the damage is to avoid letting your plants getting stressed as insects pick up on this and will invade the garden. Keep plants actively growing with regular watering and feeding, at the moment plants are a bit stressed from all of the rain we have been having, but with a bit of sun will recover quickly. Mulch around your plants to help conserve soil moisture in summer and remove weeds that can be hosts for insect pests.Collect up fallen leaves and dispose of in the rubbish rather than compost as the eggs can overwinter in the soil. 

Most insecticides will control the juvenile (nymph), but not the adult as they can fly, ask you local garden centre for a suitable control such as a low toxicity pyrethrum spray. Sometimes a hose is effective in moving them on, they come back, keep hosing them as you will never get rid of them as they are just as likely to be in your neighbour's garden.

Hope this helps,

Lianne