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

Erythroneura tricincta - Three-banded Leafhopper

Erythroneura tricincta
© Kyle Kittelberger- side view		Erythroneura tricincta
© Kyle Kittelberger- note thoracic band		Erythroneura tricincta
© Rob Van Epps- note dark thorax
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeTribe: Erythroneurini
Taxonomic Author: (Fitch, 1851)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
Description: A boldly marked but variable species with a yellow or white dorsum and a [typically] dark brown to black color pattern. There are two parallel pale yellow-orange lines on the head, though this mark may not be as bold or visible on some individuals; the midline is pale. The body has three dark transverse bands- on the thorax, middle of the wings, and wing tip. The thoracic band extends across the upper part of the mesonotum/scutellum and the pronotum, a key characteristic for this species; the rest of the scutellum is yellowish. The side of the band facing the vertex typically fades into the head, which is whitish. The band across the wings typically is broad, though band width can vary among individuals and even be a truncated bowtie shape. In some adults, the median band can have a reddish-tinge. The wing tips are blackish, and there is a large black spot on the costal margin of each wing, though this spot sometimes blends in with the dark median band. The face and underside of the thorax are completely pale. Adults are 2.9-3.3 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007)

Nymphs are pale with two incomplete blackish bands, one on the pronotum and the other on the base of the wing stubs.

For more images of this species, see: BG.

Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Central and eastern United States and southeastern Canada (3I)
Abundance: Has been recorded recently from several counties across the state, where it is locally common (at least in the Piedmont); likely more abundant in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Mixed hardwood forest, hedgerows, grapefields (BG)
Plant Associates: Primarily Vitis spp. (Grape), also on Aesculus sp. (3I)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light. There are one to two generations of this species each year, and adults overwinter in leaf litter (BG).
Comment: E. tricincta is similar in appearance to E. calycula and E. integra, but has different coloration and pattern. Additionally, reddish individuals of E. tricincta, with reddish tinting to the wing bands, could be confused with dark individuals of E. diva; however, note that the pronotum of tricincta is dark brown to blackish whereas it is predominantly reddish in diva, contrasting with the dark brown scutellum.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Erythroneura tricincta Three-banded Leafhopper

Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 3 mm male stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 3 mm male stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 3 mm male stuck on a tree band on Willow Oak		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Bo Sullivan
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.8 mm female, came to UV light at night		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 2.8 mm female, came to UV light at night
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: semi-wooded residential neighborhood		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Tracy S. Feldman
Wake Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: moth sheet - unid_leafhopper
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to ultraviolet light.		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light		Erythroneura tricinctaPhoto by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf, Patrick Coin
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy area and mixed hardwood forest edge near pine forest