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

Erythroneura vitis - Grapevine Leafhopper



© Kyle Kittelberger- side view

© Kyle Kittelberger- top view, form 'corona'

© Mark Shields
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: TyphlocybinaeTribe: Erythroneurini
Taxonomic Author: (Harris, 1831)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A very distinctive species that can strongly vary in coloration and pattern. It has a color pattern that can be a combination of red, green, or dark brown. The pronotum, mesonotum, and top of the head are largely dark reddish-brown, with this color extending onto the bases of the wings. The wings have two white wing bands surrounding a 'saddle' that is concolourous with the thorax. The wing pattern itself varies in shape, corresponding with three variations for this species. The nominate form has broad white bands, with the upper band having the outline of three circular shapes that are connected to one another; this form has red lines near the base of the lower white band. Form 'corona', the form most often encountered, has much thinner white bands that are outlined and often broken by red; the saddle in 'corona' is the largest of the three forms. Form 'flava' resembles the first form, but the white bands are much broader and therefore the median saddle is smaller. The face is pale, as is most of the underside of the thorax except for the mesosternum, which is dark. Adults are 2.8-3.1 mm long. (Dmitriev & Dietrich, 2007)

Nymphs have a saddled appearance, ranging in color from orange to dark reddish-brown as the nymph ages.

For more images of this species and the various forms, see: BL.

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 found throughout eastern and central United States and to the Southwest; also found in southern Canada (3I)
Abundance: Found across the state, with a majority of records in the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain where it is locally common; probably more abundant in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Has been found in mixed hardwood forest and forest edge.
Plant Associates: Vitis riparia, other Vitis spp. (3I)
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

This species pierces leaf cells to extract the contents, which can cause odd shapes and discoloured areas on the leaf (BG).

Comment: This species could be most confused with form 'stricta' of E. bistrata (this form was actually considered a form of E. vitis for a while). However, note that in bistrata, there are noticeably pointed posterior margins of the median red band, whereas in vitis the bands lack this characteristic. ore importantly though, the apex of the scutellum is dark in vitis, concolorous with the rest of the mesonotum; in bistrata, the apex of the scutellum is whitish, contrasting sharply with the rest of the dark mesonotum. For example, this inidividual of vitis looks just like var. 'stricta' of bistrata, but has a dark apex of the scutellum. In some cases, an ID may not be possible.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:
See also Habitat Account for General Vitaceous Tangles

Species Photo Gallery for Erythroneura vitis Grapevine Leafhopper

Photo by: Simpson Eason
Wake Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light.
Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: semi wooded residential neighborhood
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52182224 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52182224 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: I’ve light
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Durham Co.
Comment: ENRI
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: on moth sheet
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Hardwood forest, attracted to black light.
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn
Photo by: T. DeSantis
Camden Co.
Comment: DISW
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: mixed hardwood forest habitat; a greener individual
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf, Patrick Coin
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy area and mixed hardwood forest edge near pine forest; some reddish individuals
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf, Patrick Coin
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy area and mixed hardwood forest edge near pine forest
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Black Light