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

Homalodisca vitripennis - Glassy-winged Sharpshooter


© Mark Shields
© Ken Kneidel
© Mark Shields- note spotted head
© Margarita Lankford- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: CicadellinaeTribe: Proconiini
Taxonomic Author: (Germar, 1821)
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF                                                                                  
Description: A large leafhopper, adults are 11-14 mm in length and have a large flattened head. This species has a blackish head and thorax with white spots, and the sides of the abdomen are a mixture of black and white patches. Wing veins are reddish to brown in color; the base half of the wings have "glassy" or transparent wing patches while the other half is dark in color with red, brown, and black patterns. The face and legs of adults are yellow-orange. The underside of the abdomen is speckled black and white, and the head and thorax are yellow. Nymphs shape-wise resemble the adults, especially the head; they have a grayish to brown body.
For additional pics of adults, see Glassy-winged Sharpshooter.
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: A species found in the Southeast/southern U.S. and Mexico. It has been introduced into the Southwest where it has become a serious threat to viticulture. BG
Abundance: Uncommon to locally common, recorded from a handful of counties in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain; probably more abundant in the state in the right habitat.
Seasonal Occurrence
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Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Found in grassy/brushy areas during much of the year, and hibernates in the forests during winter months.
Plant Associates: This species feeds on the xylem, the water conducting tissue, of herbaceous and woody plants. It has been known to feed on more than 100 plant species; preferred plants depend on the season and locality, but typically include crape myrtle, citrus, oak, Vitis, Hibiscus, and holly. GWSS
Behavior: This species peaks in number during the summer months, with population declines starting around late August as Fall approaches. Before winter, adults migrate into forests and undergo incomplete hibernation until spring. Mating occurs in the spring and summer (GWSS). Glassy-winged sharpshooters tend to feed on last-year's growth and meristematic growth, excreting large amounts of liquid as they feed. They ingest 100 to 300 times their dry body weight in xylem fluid per day and in large populations their high volume of excreta ("leafhopper rain") can become a problem, leaving white residue on leaves (GWSS).

This species can be attracted at night with lights, but it is more frequently encountered during the day on herbaceous vegetation.

Comment: This species is a major vector of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa,which causes a variety of plant diseases such as phony peach disease and Pierce's disease on grape. It has become a serious threat to viticulture in the southwest, especially California, where it has been introduced. GWSS
Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Homalodisca vitripennis Glassy-winged Sharpshooter

Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)		Photo by: B. Bockhahn
Durham Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey (2021-2022)
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888709		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93888758
Photo by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: Numerous adult individuals seen.
Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment: Numerous adult individuals seen.		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/62146131		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Durham Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61718269
Photo by: Owen McConnell
Durham Co.
Comment: Remained still		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/60116618
Photo by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261919
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261919		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261919
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/59261929		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58056035
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/58056035		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56157739
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56157739		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54964054
Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: stuck in Tanglefoot on a tree band
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32125817		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: two adults also on the Ironweed
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: two adults also on the Ironweed		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31514466
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31514466		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31514466
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31374769		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31374769
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31374781		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090202
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090202		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090204
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090199		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090199
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090201		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31090201
Photo by: aubrey wiggins
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28589018
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28589018		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477233
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477233		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28477233
Photo by: Mark Shields
Dare Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Mark Shields
Dare Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Amber Sauder
Harnett Co.
Comment: unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Tracy S. Feldman
Scotland Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: Weedy area near a trees.		Photo by: aubrey wiggins
Wake Co.
Comment: Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Photo by: aubrey wiggins
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: aubrey wiggins
Wake Co.
Comment: Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Photo by:
Out of state Co.
Comment: Nymph, Caught Sweeping