Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
Scientific Name: Search Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Oncometopia orbona - Broad-headed Sharpshooter


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- top view
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
© David Enrique- nymph to adult spectrum
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: CicadellinaeTribe: Proconiini
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: One of our most recognizable, distinct leafhoppers and also one of the largest in the state at 11-12mm (BG). This species has a mostly blue body with black markings; the color is typically a light blue, but some individuals can also appear dark blue. The tip of the wings are a solid dark, blackish color. The front of the head, as well as the scutellum, legs, and underside of the body are yellow. The nymph shares a similar body shape to the adults, especially the head. Nymphs typically have a mostly greenish body, especially the abdomen, with a pale head; the eyes are dark, sometimes red.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: A common and widespread species, recorded throughout the eastern U.S., from Texas through the Southeast and parts of the Central U.S., northeast to Pennsylvania (per Bugguide records). BG
Abundance: Very common species, has been recorded throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, as well as in the Mountains.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: A common inhabitant of grassy, field-type, brushy habitat as well as forest edge. Has also been found in mixed hardwood forests and pine forests.
Plant Associates: This species is host to dozens of plant species, including Silphium integrifolium and Catalpa. For a complete list of host plants, see this page: host plants. Has been found on pickerel weed before.
Behavior: This species forages on herbaceous plants in the warmer months in grassy, brushy habitats and moves to forests in the Fall where it lives on trees and shrubs behavior.

Can be attracted at night with black lights, but not too often; most commonly found during daytime searches or resting on herbaceous vegetation.

Comment: O. orbona is a vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce's disease on grapes. BHSS
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Oncometopia orbona Broad-headed Sharpshooter

Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Cumberland Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/214463184		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/214463184
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: sweep of low vegetation along the margin of an athletic field		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Columbus Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166510670		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166510670
Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124328537
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124049511		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124049511
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/122597918		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121952139
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110777130		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: R. Newman
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA		Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Photo by: Nell Cant
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Nell Cant
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91065306		Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88754534
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/89517212		Photo by: grinnin
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Hopped from Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) leaves to blackberry leaves
Photo by: grinnin
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Hopped from Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) leaves to blackberry leaves		Photo by: Melanie S Camp
Moore Co.
Comment: 2 about 4 to 6 inches apart. Both were still except when I would get close, but never went far. I couldn't get a picture of the 2nd one. The shrub is next to my porch in a wooded area in the north west corner of Moore.
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82748553		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82748560
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82748592		Photo by: N. Williamson
Moore Co.
Comment: WEWO
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83075146		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83075148
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81799992		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81799992
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81123505		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80044010
Photo by: Barbara McRae
Macon Co.
Comment: It was resting on stem.		Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Craven Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Craven Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Craven Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Craven Co.
Comment: Very flighty, reacted quickly to our presence and flew off after one picture. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50834633		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47569872
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47569872		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: trapped in Tanglefoot on a tree band
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on Quercus phellos		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: found stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: found stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band		Photo by: David Enrique
Wake Co.
Comment: Found inside of a small burrow of a Psen erythropoda wasp (I think), in a house plant pot.
Photo by: David Enrique
Wake Co.
Comment: Found inside of a small burrow of a Psen erythropoda wasp (I think), in a house plant pot.		Photo by: David Enrique
Wake Co.
Comment: Found inside of a small burrow of a Psen erythropoda wasp (I think), in a house plant pot.
Photo by: David Enrique
Wake Co.
Comment: Found inside of a small burrow of a Psen erythropoda wasp (I think), in a house plant pot.		Photo by: Jim Petranka
Madison Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28970631		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28970631
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28970631		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28705630
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28705630		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477234
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477234		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: vin stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: Moving in and out of holes in cucumber leaves		Photo by: Jacob Lemberg
Granville Co.
Comment: Insect was shy, moved to opposite side of leaf when I tried to photograph.
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: Landed several times on the box elder leaves.		Photo by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Dorothy E. Pugh
Carteret Co.
Comment: FOMA		Photo by: L. Amos
Warren Co.
Comment: KELA
Photo by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI		Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: landed on the sheet walked to the top and left the scene.
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_planthopper
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Greenway - weedy edge near woods. 		Photo by: R Emmitt
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Roger Shaw
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Britta Muiznieks
Dare Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Paul Scharf, B.Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: Nymph, Caught Sweeping
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW - Boardwalk		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, Caught sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH, Spotted on Unknown Plant Stem
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: tall grassy habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: tall grassy habitat
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYNPH, Caught Sweeping		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: tall grassy habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: pine forest habitat; a nymph
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Female , White pouch is wax she secrets to protect her eggs. Caught while sweeping