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

Graphocephala versuta - Versute Sharpshooter


© Kyle Kittelberger- blue and red
individual
© Ken Childs- green and orange individual,
typical form
© Paul Scharf- pair mating
© Mark Shields- pair mating
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: CicadellinaeTribe: Cicadellini
Taxonomic Author: (Say, 1830)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF                                                                                  
Description: A species with a couple color forms. The typical form (green and orange) has green forewings with several black tooth-like markings at the tip. There is a pale blue stripe, sometimes bordered on both sides by an orange stripe, that runs diagonally across the wing. The scutellum is yellow with several thin black lines, and the pronotum is green. The top of the head is light brown or orangish with a pale blue stripe along midline; hindwings are dark reddish-brown. Another form (blue and red) has mostly blue to turquoise forewings with bold red diagonal stripes. The scutellum is reddish and the top of the head and parts of the thorax are also red. Adults of both color forms are about 6 mm in length. See here for a neat picture of the two color forms mating. (BG)
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 very common and widespread species, found from the Northeast to the Southeast and west to Texas, with some recent records from California. It ranges into Central America as far south as Costa Rica (BG).
Abundance: A very common species, recorded across the state; often occurs in large numbers.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been recorded in the state in a variety of habitats, including grassy/brushy/field-type habitats as well as forest edge and mixed hardwood forest.
Plant Associates: Blackberry, grape, honeysuckle, privet (Ligustrum spp.), cherry and various other deciduous trees (BG). Has also been found on sweetgum, poplar, and magnolia, and has been recorded from Ambrosia, Brassica, Juniperus, Medicago, Trifolium pratense, Juglans, Platanus, Populus, Salix, and Vitis (DL).
Behavior: This species can have up to four generations per year and overwinters as an adult (BG). Can be attracted with a black light at night.
Comment: Some individuals of this species may be vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa that causes Pierce's Disease in grapes, and Bacterial Leaf Scorch in a variety of deciduous trees (BG).
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Graphocephala versuta Versute Sharpshooter

Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Iredell Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping.
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:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ted Wilcox
Watauga Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166510639
Photo by: Erich Hofmann, David George, Rich Teper, Jeff Niznik
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Grassy field.
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)		Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Photo by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
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/120084461		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120084467
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Bottomlands Biodiversity Survey
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey		Photo by: John Petranka
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94880280		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91799628
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87922578		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84251087
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/83575338		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82748559
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82748576		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82748591
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82934160		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547518
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80308377		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.9 mm, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band on Quercus phellos
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: dead female stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: dead female stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61815285		Photo by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57782702		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57782704
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Burke Co.
Comment: sitting on low vegetation		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56434012
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56173621		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736360
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736360		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736374
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55736395		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Randolph Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Scott Bolick
Randolph Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Scott Bolick
Randolph Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55446125		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54692421
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54692416		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52500092
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52182215		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.9 mm male, low vegetation along edge of athletic field
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.9 mm male, low vegetation along edge of athletic field		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51305261
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50922160		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50836740
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50620316		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49981076
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49981076		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49267804
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49267804		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49267804
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31017954
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29030075		Photo by: aubrey wiggins
Wake Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28327110		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping. Grassy, weedy area near hardwoods.
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27289614		Photo by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips
Polk Co.
Comment: Mating
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: Hopping from rhododendron leaf to leaf!		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: My first time to see any hoppers mating!
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: hiding in wingstem plants. - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Amanda Auxier
Pender Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Hunter Phillips
Onslow Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: I did not collect this one. - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: I did collect this one. - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: FKW
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI		Photo by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Durham Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Maria de Bruyn
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Maria de Bruyn
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Durham Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Randy L Emmitt
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Weedy area near hardwood forest edge.
Photo by: Paul Scharf, B Bockhahn
Rockingham Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping . Released in same condition		Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW
Photo by: Ken Childs
Out Of State Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught Sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: These color variations of the common G. versuta were all on the same plant as the common color form.
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: These color variations of the common G. versuta were all on the same plant as the common color form.		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: These color variation of the common G. versuta were all on the same plant as the common color form.
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: These color variation of the common G. versuta were all on the same plant as the common color form.		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: These color variation of the common G. versuta were all on the same plant as the common color form.
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy, field type habitat near mixed hardwood forest		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: must have followed me into my house; found on my computer
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Spotted on Magnolia Leaf