[Objectives] Nicotine is an important alkaloid in the eggplant. The repellent effect and field control efficacy of nicotine sulfate against Empoasca vitis Göthe, and the appetite-suppressive effect of nicotine sulfate on Ectropis obliqua, were investigated for the first time. [Methods] A Y-tube olfactometer and T-shaped test chamber were used to test the behavioral responses of E.vitis to nicotine sulfate, and leaf discs were used to test the appetite-suppressive effect of nicotine sulfate on E. obliqua. [Results] The results indicate that tea shoots treated with a 600 or 800 parts dilution of nicotine sulfate were significantly repellent to tea leaf-hopper larvae and deterred oviposition by female adults. The field control efficacy of nicotine sulfate was sufficient to prevent the infestation of tea plants by tea leaf hoppers. Nicotine sulfate was also an effective appetite suppressant of E. obliqua larvae, an effect that increased with the duration of feeding. The mortality of treated E. obliqua larvae was significantly higher than that of the control group after feeding for 8 d. [Conclusion] Our results provide a scientific reference for developing effective repellants for tea pests.