Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Balclutha rubrostriata - Red-streaked Leafhopper

Balclutha rubrostriata
© Marilyn Westphal- note red pattern		Balclutha rubrostriata
© Marilyn Westphal
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: Macrostelini
Taxonomic Author: (Melichar, 1903)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
Description: A distinctively colored species with reddish forewings with white venation (the extent of red can vary among individuals). The pronotum is a cream color with a medial line. There is a longitudinal stripe on each side of the pronotum, and the lateral margins are reddish or pink, with medial and lateral stripes extending onto the posterior margin of the vertex and scutellum. The head is equal in width to the pronotum. The male subgenital plates taper gradually to relatively short finger-like apices. Adult males are 3.6-4.0 mm long, while females are 3.6-4.7 mm. (Knight, 1987)

For more images of this species, see: BG. Note the images of nymphs, showing they range in color from pale to dark reddish-brown.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Native to the Old World where it is a largely Pantropical Species. Introduced in the West Indies, [eastern] United States, Central America, and Hawaii. First recorded in the United States from coastal Texas in 1971. It seemingly took about four decades before this species started to rapidly expand outside of Texas and has now been found as far north as Ontario. It can seemingly occur in huge numbers due to population outbreaks. (BG)
Abundance: Rare, recently recorded from a single county in the mountains. Likely to show up elsewhere as it becomes established.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Plant Associates: Rice (Oryza sativa) (Knight, 1987); King Ranch Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) (BG)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: This species has been found to carry phytoplasma known to be associated with sugarcane white leaf disease. (Hanboonsong et al. 2006)
Status: Introduced
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Balclutha rubrostriata Red-streaked Leafhopper 8

Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: Two additional ones (definitely new as the first one was still in the fridge) showed up on the sheet the next night after the first one. 		Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: Two additional ones (definitely new as the first one was still in the fridge) showed up on the sheet the next night after the first one.
Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: Two additional ones (definitely new as the first one was still in the fridge) showed up on the sheet the next night after the first one. 		Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: On uv light sheet
Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: On uv light sheet		Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: On uv light sheet
Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: On uv light sheet		Balclutha rubrostriataPhoto by: Marilyn Westphal
Henderson Co.
Comment: On uv light sheet; state record