Hoppers of North Carolina

Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Empoasca fabae - Potato Leafhopper

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE	Subfamily: Typhlocybinae
Taxonomic Author: (Harris, 1841)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A pale green species, sometimes yellowish that can be highly variable. It typically has a row of six white spots along the anterior margin of the pronotum. These spots are evenly spaced from one another and are characteristic of this species, though sometimes these spots are missing or are indistinct. The vertex often has pale or dark green spots: the midline is pale and there are pale dashes on either side. The scutellum has the lateral triangles typically outlined with white, with multiple pale lines instead of a single central pale band. The head is broadly angled; it is not prominently pointed. The wings are greenish subhyaline. The male subgenital plates are long and slender, curving outwards near the tips and tapering to acute apices; they are divergent from one another. The female pregenital sternite is moderately produced and roundedly truncated; it appears largely rectangular. Adults are around 3.5 mm long. (DeLong, 1931)

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: The most common member of this genus on the continent. Extremely widespread, found primarily throughout eastern and central North America; also recorded as far west as California and Washington. Ranges from Canada south to Argentina and has been introduced to China. (3I)

Abundance: Common and widespread across the state, found from mountains to coast.

Seasonal Occurrence

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Has been found in a variety of habitats, including mixed hardwood forest, grassy areas, brush, pine forests, and high elevation forests.

Plant Associates: A generalist, feeding on more than 200 plant species, both wild and domesticated, especially legumes. See here for a list of known host plants: 3I.

Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.

Comment: This species is a major agricultural pest of alfalfa, fruits, and vegetables. It is most damaging to alfalfa and clover, as well as potato. This species can cause what is known as "hopper burn," which is when fluids are removed from vascular plant tissues and a toxic substance is simultaneously injected into the plant. Plants that experience this burn begin to become discolored, yellowing on leaves. It is also a cold intolerant species and migrates annually from the Gulf Coast northwards. (BG)

For more information on the economic importance of this species, and the damage it can cause to agricultural plants, see: 1, 2.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Empoasca fabae Potato Leafhopper
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.4 mm female came to UV light set up at night	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.4 mm female came to UV light set up at night
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment:	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: Found dead lying underneath a public night light. - unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: Found dead lying underneath a public night light. - unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: Found dead lying underneath a public night light. - unid_leafhopper	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Watauga Co. Comment: Found dead lying underneath a public night light. - 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: 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: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/120084459	Photo by: Lior Carlson Orange Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/82748583	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Erich Hofmann New Hanover Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61438759	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53007353
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52757821	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Macon Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52609691
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Macon Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52609692	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Macon Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52609692
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52088773	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52078692
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Swain Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52078692	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: male
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: male	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Wake Co. Comment: male
	Photo by: Margarita Lankford Orange Co. Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/51423911	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment:	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Mecklenburg Co. Comment: Attracted to UV light. Yard near woods.
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Mecklenburg Co. Comment: 3.2 mm female, dead in Tanglefoot on an oak tree band	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: male, photographed by K. Kittelberger;	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: male, photographed by K. Kittelberger;
	Photo by: Bo Sullivan Ashe Co. Comment: male, photographed by K. Kittelberger;	Photo by: Mark Shields Onslow Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Kneidel Yancey Co. Comment: 3.4 mm	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Ken Childs Out Of State Co. Comment:	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper
	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment: unid_leafhopper	Photo by: R Emmitt Orange Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Harry Wilson Wake Co. Comment:	Photo by: Brian Bockhahn Gates Co. Comment:
	Photo by: Paul Scharf Warren Co. Comment: Caught sweeping	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf Wake Co. Comment: mixed hardwood forest edge

Empoasca fabae - Potato Leafhopper

Species Photo Gallery for Empoasca fabae Potato Leafhopper