Hoppers of North Carolina:
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CICADELLIDAE Members: NC Records

Planicephalus flavicosta_flavocostatus complex - No Common Name

Planicephalus flavicosta_flavocostatus complex
© Kyle Kittelberger		Planicephalus flavicosta_flavocostatus complex
© Ken Childs		Planicephalus flavicosta_flavocostatus complex
© Kyle Kittelberger- nymph
Taxonomy
Family: CICADELLIDAESubfamily: DeltocephalinaeTribe: DeltocephaliniSynonym: Deltocephalus flavicosta/flavocostatus complex
Identification
Online Photographs: BugGuide, GBIF  iNaturalist  Google                                                                                  
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
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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

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