Hoppers of North Carolina

Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Homalodisca vitripennis - Glassy-winged Sharpshooter

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE	Subfamily: Cicadellinae	Tribe: Proconiini
Taxonomic Author: (Germar, 1821)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A large leafhopper, adults are 11-14 mm in length and have a large flattened head. This species has a blackish head and thorax with white spots, and the sides of the abdomen are a mixture of black and white patches. Wing veins are reddish to brown in color; the base half of the wings have "glassy" or transparent wing patches while the other half is dark in color with red, brown, and black patterns. The face and legs of adults are yellow-orange. The underside of the abdomen is speckled black and white, and the head and thorax are yellow. Nymphs shape-wise resemble the adults, especially the head; they have a grayish to brown body. For additional pics of adults, see Glassy-winged Sharpshooter.

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Out of State Record(s)

Distribution: A species found in the Southeast/southern U.S. and Mexico. It has been introduced into the Southwest where it has become a serious threat to viticulture. BG

Abundance: Uncommon to locally common, recorded from a handful of counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; probably more abundant in the state in the right habitat.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Found in grassy/brushy areas during much of the year, and hibernates in the forests during winter months.

Plant Associates: This species feeds on the xylem, the water conducting tissue, of herbaceous and woody plants. It has been known to feed on more than 100 plant species; preferred plants depend on the season and locality, but typically include crape myrtle, citrus, oak, Vitis, Hibiscus, and holly. GWSS

Behavior: This species peaks in number during the summer months, with population declines starting around late August as Fall approaches. Before winter, adults migrate into forests and undergo incomplete hibernation until spring. Mating occurs in the spring and summer (GWSS). Glassy-winged sharpshooters tend to feed on last-year's growth and meristematic growth, excreting large amounts of liquid as they feed. They ingest 100 to 300 times their dry body weight in xylem fluid per day and in large populations their high volume of excreta ("leafhopper rain") can become a problem, leaving white residue on leaves (GWSS).

This species can be attracted at night with lights, but it is more frequently encountered during the day on herbaceous vegetation.

Comment: This species is a major vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa,which causes a variety of plant diseases such as phony peach disease and Pierce's disease on grape. It has become a serious threat to viticulture in the southwest, especially California, where it has been introduced. GWSS

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Homalodisca vitripennis Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: on herbaceous stem during day	Photo by: Mark Basinger Nash Co. Comment: Old field succeeding to young pine forest.rnThis individual was 11.5mm long.
	Photo by: Mark Basinger Nash Co. Comment: Old field succeeding to young pine forest.rnThis individual was 11.5mm long.	Photo by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment: Shrub at edge of loblolly pine forest.
	Photo by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment: Shrub at edge of loblolly pine forest.	Photo by: Mark Basinger Wilson Co. Comment: Shrub at edge of loblolly pine forest.
	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Wilson Co. Comment:	Photo by: John Petranka Orange Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
	Photo by: B. Bockhahn Durham Co. Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888709
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888758	Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: Numerous adult individuals seen.	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: Numerous adult individuals seen.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62146131
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Durham Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61718269	Photo by: Owen McConnell Durham Co. Comment: Remained still
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60116618	Photo by: Simpson Eason Durham Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261919	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261919
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261919	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261929
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58056035	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58056035
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56157739	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56157739
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54964054	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32125817
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: two adults also on the Ironweed	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: two adults also on the Ironweed
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31514466	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31514466
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31514466	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31374769
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31374769	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31374781
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090202	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090202
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090204	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090199
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090199	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090201
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090201	Photo by: aubrey wiggins Wake Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28589018	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28589018
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477233	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477233
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477233	Photo by: Mark Shields Dare Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Mark Shields Dare Co. Comment:	Photo by: Amber Sauder Harnett Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman Scotland Co. Comment:	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Weedy area near a trees.
	Photo by: aubrey wiggins Wake Co. Comment: Glassy-winged Sharpshooter	Photo by: aubrey wiggins Wake Co. Comment:
	Photo by: aubrey wiggins Wake Co. Comment: Glassy-winged Sharpshooter	Photo by: Out of state Co. Comment: Nymph, Caught Sweeping

Homalodisca vitripennis - Glassy-winged Sharpshooter

Species Photo Gallery for Homalodisca vitripennis Glassy-winged Sharpshooter