I am having the worst problem with leaf hoppers this year. They have infested quite a few plants - not sure if the drought is a factor in their success.

You start out by seeing white fuzz on the stem of a plant, kind of like powdered sugar. When you try to rub it off, pieces of it (chunks) hop away! In one woody plant, I didn't realize they had infected the backs of the leaves as well. They are literally sucking the life out of things!!

Here is a picture of the adults: