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

Cuerna costalis - Lateral-lined Sharpshooter

Cuerna costalis
© Kyle Kittelberger		Cuerna costalis
© Paul Scharf		Cuerna costalis
© Paul Scharf		Cuerna costalis
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: CicadellinaeTribe: ProconiiniSynonym: Southeastern Grass Leafhopper
Taxonomic Author: (Fabricius, 1803)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
Description: A large, dark, black and red species; the wings are reddish with black venation. There is a conspicuous white stripe running along the sides of the abdomen to the head, wrapping around the crown. Both the blackish head and thorax are sprinkled with orangish marks, particularly along the anterior margin of the pronotum; the scutellum is a mixture of orange and black. The final two segments of the abdomen are largely red, and the legs are a bright, bold red.

Nymphs are pretty distinctive, having repetitive black and yellowish-white stripes over their bodies and dark eyes. However, the nymphs do show the red-black legs (the red on the inner part of the leg) that are characteristic of the adults.

Click here for more images of the adults and nymphs.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Found primarily in the Southeastern U.S., but ranges as far north to Ontario and south into Mexico (Krishnankutty et al. 2015)
Abundance: Locally common, with scattered records across the entire state.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in fields, meadows, and other habitats with tall grass such as open forest.
Plant Associates: This species has dozens of host plants, including Rudbeckia and Monarda. Click here for a list of host plants: Host Plants.
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: There are normally two generations per year, with adults overwintering under matted grass in fields (BG).
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Cuerna costalis Lateral-lined Sharpshooter

Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 8.2 mm, caught during a sweep through a weedy field		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 8.2 mm, caught during a sweep through a weedy field
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field. 		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Weedy field.
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Moore Co.
Comment: Pine with scrub underbrush.
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Steve Hall
Brunswick Co.
Comment: Perched on a dead twig; roadside right-of-way		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Wake Co.
Comment: brushy habitat near mixed hardwood forest; adult and nymph
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Several along with nymphs in tall uncut grass. Caught while sweeping
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Several along with nymphs in tall uncut grass. Caught while sweeping		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy, field type habitat; a nymph
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: NYMPH, Caught Sweeping		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy, field type habitat; a nymph
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy, field type habitat		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, with adults in uncut grass. Caught while sweeping
Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Nymph, with adults in uncut grass. Caught while sweeping		Cuerna costalisPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: open forest habitat near pond