Hoppers of North Carolina:
Spittlebugs, Leafhoppers, Treehoppers, and Planthoppers
Scientific Name: Search Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
« »
CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Planicephalus flavicosta_flavocostatus complex - No Common Name


© Kyle Kittelberger
© Ken Childs
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: DeltocephaliniSynonym: Deltocephalus flavicosta/flavocostatus complex
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF                                                                                  
Description: A small dark leafhopper that is very highly variable in coloration, from pale to very dark. There is a small pale yellow border to the outer edge of the wings that ends in a short dash; another small white dash is found closer to the wingtip, and the wingtip itself has a white edge. There are several small white dots on the front of the head and behind the eyes. The legs are pale brown. P. flavocostatus is typically much darker overall than P. flavicosta, the latter of which typically has brownish wings. But the overlap between these species, and variations in the color of individuals makes it almost impossible to differentiate the two species by appearance alone. Nymphs are an overall brownish color with a black tip to the abdomen and several dark brown abdominal segments. (BG)
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 common and widespread complex. P. flavicosta is found from Canada south through the eastern United States to Argentina and into the West Indies. P. flavocostatus is a more northern species, found in the eastern United States (from the Northeast south to NC) and New Brunswick. Unfortunately for us, the two species' ranges overlap in NC. (BG)
Abundance: A common species where recorded, this species has been found across the state in all three regions.
Seasonal Occurrence
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Grassy, brushy areas
Plant Associates:
Behavior: Can be attracted at night with a light.
Comment: Due to the broad range overlap of P. flavicosta and P. flavocostatus (both species occur in the state), and the similarity in the appearance of the two species (both essentially have identical coloration), this complex will serve to represent any individuals that are one of these two species. The only true way to distinguish the two species is based on male genitalia.

While these two species are considered by most experts to be in the genus Planicephalus, some treat them as a subgenus of Deltocephalus.

Status: Native
Global and State Rank:

Species Photo Gallery for Planicephalus flavicosta_flavocostatus complex No Common Name

Photo by: Rob Van Epps
Iredell Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping in grassy/weedy field. 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Guilford Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118279910
Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey		Photo by: John Petranka
Orange Co.
Comment: New Hope Creek Biodiversity Survey
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/96838005		Photo by: Lior Carlson
Orange Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Simpson Eason
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/66152891
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65841916		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65651843
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/65651857		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/64184227
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/63045648		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61972659
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61815291		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61507649
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61507661		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57782665
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57782669		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57782675
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/57782681		Photo by: Erich Hofmann
New Hanover Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/56672865		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/55556923
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54210959		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/54210978
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53864474		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/53864474
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/48715639		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/43963137
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/36480418		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/35900497
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34808382		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34808394
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34223859		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34223859
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34223859		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34223879
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34041645		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34041645
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34041647		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33676719
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33676725		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33501673
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33345600		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33345600
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33345600		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33345603
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33345615		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33345617
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33345623		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33044020
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32660702		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32660677
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32660677		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32558131
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32558137		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32558144
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32558150		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32558150
Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: May be Deltocephalus flavocostatus, tentative id from "fieldguide" website. - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: May be Deltocephalus flavocostatus, tentative id from "fieldguide" website. - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Vin Stanton
Buncombe Co.
Comment: May be Deltocephalus flavocostatus, tentative id from "fieldguide" website. - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32233785
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32233792		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32233802
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/32007557		Photo by: Mark Shields
Onslow Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31947201		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31501652
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31491227		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31319221
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31209185		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/31017977
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29874462		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29874470
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29874476		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29673674 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29673674 - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29673674 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29673669		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28970637		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28696167 - unid_leafhopper
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28696167 - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28525395
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28525392		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28362391
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28362391		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28451159
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28262534		Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28262534
Photo by: Margarita Lankford
Orange Co.
Comment: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28262534		Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: lots of them, more a week or two ago.
Photo by: Randy Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: uv light		Photo by: Ken Kneidel
Mecklenburg Co.
Comment: 3 mm; male
Photo by: R Emmitt
Orange Co.
Comment: Deltocephalus flavicosta/flavocostatus complex - unid_leafhopper		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Paul Scharf
Halifax Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping		Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Caught sweeping
Photo by: Paul Scharf
Warren Co.
Comment: Attracted to Light		Photo by: Ken Childs
Out Of State Co.
Comment:
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: open forest habitat, near mixed hardwoods; on a lawn		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Gates Co.
Comment: grassy, brushy habitat; more likely D. flavocostatus
Photo by: Harry Wilson
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Paul Scharf
Dare Co.
Comment: open, coastal habitat near some pines
Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: Deltocephalus flavocostatus- nymph [ID determined by A.Hamilton]. Found sweeping grass		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger
Wake Co.
Comment: Deltocephalus flavocostatus- nymph [ID determined by A.Hamilton]. Found sweeping grass