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

Draeculacephala balli - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger- side view
© Kyle Kittelberger- note the black triangles
© Kyle Kittelberger
© Kyle Kittelberger- rare blue
form
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: Cicadellinae
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist                                                                                  
Description: A small, short green sharpshooter with two small black triangles on its head and two small black triangles at the base of the wings, on the scutellum; these black triangles are characteristic of this species (BG). The underside and legs are brownish, with the face ranging towards a darkish brown color. Adult males are 4.8- 5.5 mm long, while females are 6.0- 6.7 mm (Young 1959).
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Distribution: Found throughout the southeastern U.S., primarily in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; also found as far west as Oklahoma (BG).
Abundance: Locally common, recorded across the state with a majority of records from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, though probably abundant throughout the state in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Grassy, field-type habitat; has also been found on lawns.
Plant Associates: Festuca lawn grass, clover, native grasses, etc.
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: This species is most easily confused with D. zeae. D. zeae lacks the small black triangles on the head.
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Draeculacephala balli No Common Name

Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.9 mm male		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.9 mm male
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 4.9 mm male		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166510654
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/166510654		Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022) - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022) - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Buncombe Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119270476
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110777124		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 5.9 mm, stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band, active between mid December when the band was put up and January 12
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/104052240		Photo by: John Petranka
Dare Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100957319		Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Grassy area near pond.
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: came to UV light and sheet at night		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90715887
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547521		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/80547521
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/72945381		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/72123486
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/72123493		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/71751173
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/71751173		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/66432753
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/66432753		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65294148, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65294143
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65294148, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65294143		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64969425
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61972666		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55853884
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55556927		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55090902
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55090911		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54210970
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53864487		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Swain Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52528511
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50836741		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50836741
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49267765		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/49267765
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47920857		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47920857
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42713167		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42713167
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42713167		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/42713167
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41327181		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/41327181
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Union Co.
Comment: 5 mm male, sweep in low vegetation at edge of a parking lot		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Union Co.
Comment: 5 mm male, sweep in low vegetation at edge of a parking lot
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Union Co.
Comment: 5 mm male, sweep in low vegetation at edge of a parking lot		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: blue
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Transylvania Co.
Comment: blue		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32660700
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32660700		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32660700
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 5.7 mm, forest and beaver dam edge		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 5.7 mm, forest and beaver dam edge
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy, field-type habitat		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Wake Co.
Comment: grassy, field-type habitat
Photo by: Brian Bockhahn
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Brian Bockhahn
Guilford Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn
Orange Co.
Comment: Field habitat with a sweetgum edge