Hoppers of North Carolina

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

Family (Alpha):

CICADELLIDAE Members:	NC Records
Laevicephalus melsheimerii - No Common Name

Taxonomy

Family: CICADELLIDAE	Subfamily: Deltocephalinae	Tribe: Paralimnini
Taxonomic Author: (Fitch, 1851)

Identification

Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF iNaturalist Google
Description: A small greenish leafhopper with a slight orange tint to the wings. The abdomen is banded, with alternating black and pale bands. The vertex is noticeably long, longer than the width between the eyes, and is sharply angled and pointed; the face is pale yellowish-brown. Females are somewhat uniformly yellowish overall, with milky white wing venation. The male head, pronotum, and scutellum are a bright yellow, with a faint brown arc on either side of the vertex that extends from the apex to the black ocelli. The wing venation in males is faintly bordered with dark coloration. The female pregenital sternite has the median half of the posterior margin largely 'straight' without any major excavations or projections; there is a very slight excavation, bordered with black. The male subgenital plates are broad at the bases, narrowing slightly to broad rounded tips that curve dorsally and therefore appear truncated when viewed ventrally. Adults are 2.5-2.75 mm long. (DeLong 1948), (Ross & Hamilton 1972) For diagrams of this species, see: 3I.

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: Eastern North America

Abundance: Several records from the mountains, likely more abundant in the right habitat.

Seasonal Occurrence

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

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Grassy, brushy habitat; dry uplands, pastures, and meadows (DeLong 1948)

Plant Associates: Danthonia spicata, Danthonia compressa, Danthonia spp. (DeLong 1948)

Behavior:

Comment: NOTE: Laevicephalus is a challenging genus to identify without a detailed view of the female pregenital sternite or male subgenital plates. It is therefore important to photograph the undersides of members of this genus for an accurate identification.

Status: Native

Global and State Rank:

See also Habitat Account for Grassy Balds and Montane Semi-natural Grasslands

Species Photo Gallery for Laevicephalus melsheimerii No Common Name 5
	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment: female	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment: female
	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment: female	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment: female
	Photo by: John Rosenfeld Out Of State Co. Comment: female

Laevicephalus melsheimerii - No Common Name

Species Photo Gallery for Laevicephalus melsheimerii No Common Name 5